There is a plethora of research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of older people. A study conducted by researchers from New York University found that regular Internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could be a link between being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the Internet may be associated with cognitive longevity".

有大量关于互联网潜在危害的研究。然而，新的研究表明，花时间上网可能对老年人的心理健康有益。纽约大学的研究人员进行的一项研究发现，经常上网可以降低50岁以上人群患痴呆症的风险。该研究的合著者弗吉尼亚·张博士解释了为什么上网和更好的心理健康之间存在联系。她写道:“上网可能有助于发展和保持认知储备，这反过来可以弥补大脑老化，降低患痴呆症的风险。”该研究得出结论:“经常上网可能与认知寿命有关。”

Researchers analyzed data from an American health and retirement study. This research involved questioning 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the participants were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their physical and mental wellbeing, and about how long they spent interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be diagnosed with having signs of dementia than those who were never online. The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may exacerbate the risks of developing dementia.

研究人员分析了美国健康和退休研究的数据。这项研究每两年对18154名50岁以上的成年人进行一次调查，持续了16年。所有的参与者在研究开始时都没有痴呆症。每个人都被问及他们的身心健康状况，以及他们与互联网互动的时间。研究人员发现，每天上网超过两小时的人被诊断出患有痴呆症的可能性是从不上网的人的一半。而过度上网(每天6到8小时)可能会加剧患痴呆症的风险。