Social Media Use Among Seniors < Loneliness, Chronic Illness
Seniors Have Positive Attitudes Toward Technology Use
Technology has the ability to enhance and enrich the lives of older adults by facilitating better interpersonal relationships. However, few studies have directly examined associations between technology use for social reasons and physical and psychological health among older adults.
Data from nearly 600 participants in the national Health and Retirement Study showed that older adults rated their health better and had fewer depressive symptoms when they used social technology and they reported fewer symptoms of chronic illnesses.
A study examines the benefits of technology use in 591 older adults from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study.
Social technology use was assessed through five technology-based behaviors (i.e., using e-mail, social networking sites, online video/phone calls, online chatting/instant messaging, using a smartphone). Attitudes toward the usability and benefits of technology use were also assessed.
Older adults had generally positive attitudes toward technology. Higher social technology use was associated with better self-rated health, fewer chronic illnesses, higher subjective well-being, and fewer depressive symptoms. Furthermore, each of the links between social technology use and physical and psychological health was mediated by reduced loneliness. Close relationships are a large determinant of physical health and well-being, and technology has the potential to cultivate successful relationships among older adults.
Exercise Increases Brain Size, Lowers Dementia Risk
Seniors Who Get Little to No Exercise Have 50 percent Greater Risk of Dementia
Using the landmark Framingham Heart Study to assess how physical activity affects the size of the brain and one’s risk for developing dementia, UCLA researchers found an association between low physical activity and a higher risk for dementia in older individuals. This suggests that regular physical activity for older adults could lead to higher brain volumes and a reduced risk for developing dementia.
The researchers found that physical activity particularly affected the size of the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain controlling short-term memory. Also, the protective effect of regular physical activity against dementia was strongest in people age 75 and older.
The Framingham study was begun in 1948 primarily as a way to trace factors and characteristics leading to cardiovascular disease, but also examining dementia and other physiological conditions. For this study, the UCLA researchers followed an older, community-based cohort from the Framingham study for more than a decade to examine the association between physical activity and the risk for incident dementia and subclinical brain MRI markers of dementia.
What this all means: one is never too old to exercise for brain health and to stave off the risk for developing dementia.
Transport to the Polls
Here is a partial list of places offering free transport to polling places either on election day, during early voting or both:
- The Mecklenburg County Coalition is providing rides to the polls throughout all early voting. Request transport using this online form.
- Go to NCVoter.org/rides and request a ride or call 888-482-7353.
- Democracy NC and the Forward Together Movement has a campaign “Souls to the Polls” that includes assisting people to the polls during early voting. This is a non-partisan campaign, unaffiliated with any party. Contact – 1-888-OUR-VOTE.
- Ride to Vote NC has a Facebook page but not much current information – https://www.facebook.com/RideToVoteNC/.
- An email response from Uber indicated that they would not be offering any assistance.
- Lyft did not respond to our inquiry so you may want to check with them.
