Health - Diagnostic Health Imaging Services News
MRI proof: Web surfing increases brain activity
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 11:35 AM by Bea Karnes
Surfing the internet could provide the brain boost elderly adults are seeking.
Researchers at UCLA studied 24 older adults who didn't have dementia. Half regularly used the internet, the other half had very little experience. All the participants performed internet searches for an hour each day, for seven days.
Each participant underwent a brain scan and the start and end of the study.
Researchers found those with little experience had increased activity in an area of the brain that wasn't being used before they started searching the web.
Experts say using the computer could be a quick, simple way to exercise your brain -- which could be a big help for older adults whose brains are starting to deteriorate with age.
The study participants were between 55-78 years old. The lead author has written a book about the impact of technology on the brain called, "iBrain."
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