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Why Zoom is good for your ageing brain: engaging with others – even online – helps moderate the effects of dementia, study shows
- Participants 75 and older who took part in weekly Zoom calls showed improved brain connectivity, which shields against cognitive impairment
- ‘The saying ‘use it or lose it’ really applies to the brain,’ says lead researcher Hiroko Dodge, who says online interaction helps strengthen the brain’s network
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![A recent study showed that regular Zoom calls helped protect the ageing brain against cognitive decline. Photo: Shutterstock](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2022/10/14/a8d1e89c-8b64-4930-afb3-0c9087dd1671_66d4ab6b.jpg?itok=To6LwGWt&v=1665734419)
Research has shown that social interactions, such as simply talking to friends and family members, can moderate the effects of dementia.
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Now, new findings indicate that such interactions do not have to take place in person – the chats are effective if they are conducted on Zoom, too.
In a study involving subjects who were 75 years and older, participants who took part in four 30-minute Zoom calls a week saw a boost in their cognitive reserve – resistance to damage of the brain – improving the brain’s ability to deal with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Boosting cognitive reserve does not prevent or cure dementia – it increases the brain’s capabilities to deal with it by improving its connectivity.
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