Mayo Clinic: Computer Use and Exercise Could Help Prevent Mild Cognitive Impairment

A team of researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that combining physical exercise and computer use could be beneficial in protecting against mild cognitive impairment, a brain disorder that affects the nerve cells involved in thinking abilities.

Earlier studies had established the value of exercise and computer use in helping to stave off cognitive impairment, but this new study found that combining the two creates even more beneficial results. In other words, study participants who both exercised and spent time on the computer saw greater benefits than participants who did just one or the other.

The study examined 926 individuals between the ages of 70 and 90. Of those, 109 had mild cognitive impairment and 817 were cognitively normal. The researchers used surveys to gather data on participants' physical exercise, cognitive activities (including computer use) and caloric intake over the course of a year. The results were then adjusted for age, sex, education, depression, other medical issues and caloric intake.

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