Vintage Senior Living

Good day to you!

Surfing the Internet just might be a way to preserve your mental skills as you age. Researchers found that older adults who started browsing the Web experienced improved brain function after only a few days.

"You can teach an old brain new technology tricks," said Dr. Gary Small, a psychiatry professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of iBrain. With people who had little Internet experience, "we found that after just a week of practice, there was a much greater extent of activity particularly in the areas of the brain that make decisions, the thinking brain -- which makes sense because, when you're searching online, you're making a lot of decisions," he said. "It's interactive."

"This makes intuitive sense, that getting on the Internet and exploring and getting new information and learning would help," said Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa. "It supports the value of exploring the Internet for the elderly." Most experts now advocate a "use-it-or-lose-it" approach to mental functioning.

Take home point: Have your grandchild show you how to set up a Facebook account as soon as possible!

Have a great day,

Joe Freudenthal

Principal

Credit: Healthday News

Find us on Facebook and Twitter!
Check out videos on our YouTube channel!