The Digital Unite Blog

This week is National Dementia Awareness Week and we recently Tweeted from @digitalunite to raise awareness of this campaign that could touch anyone of us.

There are more than 750,000 people in the UK affected by dementia with numbers set to rise to 1 million by 2025. More than half of these have Alzheimers disease.

But computers, the internet and learning about digital technology is one way you can keep your brain stimulated and can fight dementia in a few different ways.

Research

A computer training company is releasing the results of a ‘Silver Surfer Survey’  which shows that using a computer can make the older generation feel significantly younger. Tutors 4 Computers recently conducted a survey of its older customers with results showing how surfing the internet can rejuvenate the elderly, putting a spring in their step and giving them a new lease of life.

“a full 80% believed that using a computer had made them feel younger” Ian Mabb

This study builds on information already known about the benefits of the internet highlighted in this article BBC News Article (14 October 2008) Internet use is good for the brain from a University of California Los Angeles team found searching the web stimulated centres in the brain that controlled decision-making and complex reasoning. The researchers say this might even help to counteract the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said:

“These fascinating findings add to previous research suggesting that middle-aged and older people can reduce their risk of dementia by taking part in regular mentally stimulating activities”

Connecting Carers

Talking Point is an online support and discussion forum, for anyone affected by dementia. The Alzheimers Sociaty have made this great video Connie on Talking Point about how life changed for Connie in so many many ways when she bacame a carer for her partner  “because your world grows smaller”. This is a similar experience that was recorded in the video about Carers made for Silver Surfers Day 2010 about the Internet being a Window to the World for Carers.

So a computer can be a lifeline for those who look after loved ones with dementia and also can help to fight the affects on the brain of aging – so keep challenging your brain with new things to learn and new experiences.

July 7th, 2010 kate | 1 Comment »

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