THE TABLET PROMOTES COGNITIVE ACUITY

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Lightweight and portable, with a user-friendly interface and hundreds of applications available, tablet computers can help the elderly to improve memory and thinking skills. Micaela Chan, University of Texas at Dallas (Texas, USA), and colleagues enrolled 54 men and women, aged 60 to 90 years, for a long three-month study. A third of the participants were placed in a groupand asked to use a tablet computer, after receiving a comprehensive training on the use, and spend an average of more than 15 hours per week for 10 weeks on the device.

Another group of participants carried out, however, some low-impact activities and without acquisition of cognitive skills, such as watching movies, completing puzzles and word games.
A third group was invited to socialize for 15 or more hours a week, mainly around topics of conversation suggested, such as travel, art and history. All three groups were given the same cognitive tests before and after 10 weeks of activity. When we compared the scores of these evaluation tests, the researchers found that the group that used the tablet has experienced significant improvements in episodic memory and processing speed.

The study's authors argue that: "The new technological devices for the elderly provide technological skills useful to facilitate daily activities (eg, management of bank accounts) and keep it longer cognitive abilities"

Source: Worldhealth

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