According to data presented by the Atlas VPN team, Internet users aged 50 and older have a 33% lower risk of death than those who do not use the Internet. Establishing new social connections and maintaining existing ones through the Internet reduces social isolation and depressive symptoms, thereby reducing the risk of death.
Facts from the study
- Internet users aged 50 and older have a 33% lower risk of death than those who do not use the Internet.
- Older people who use the Internet have a 19% lower risk of stroke than those who do not.
- Internet use among people aged 50 and older is also associated with a 17% reduction in diabetes risk.
- Internet users in the United States have a 42% lower risk of death than those who do not use it.
- Europeans who use the Internet have a 40% lower mortality risk.
Research.
The data are based on the study by Ren, Z., Xia, S., Sun, J., et al. “Internet use, cardiometabolic multimorbidity, and death in the elderly: a multicenter study covering developing and developed countries”. Global Health 19, 81 (2023).
The study analyzed adults aged 50+ years (n=104,422) from China, Mexico, the United States, and Europe. The researchers compared internet users with non-users to find out whether being online was associated with a lower risk of developing new diabetes, stroke, or death within 10 years.
Dependence on the region
While Internet use reliably protects the population over 50, the degree of risk reduction varies across the four regions analyzed. The benefits associated with Internet use appear to be most pronounced in higher-income regions.
Older people who use the Internet in China are 30% less likely to get diabetes or have a stroke than those who do not. They also have a 44% lower risk of mortality. These numbers may seem impressive, but they should be looked at closely. Of the 12,338 participants in China, only 236, or 2%, use the Internet.
In addition, the study claims that people in China who use the Internet are less likely to search for health information online than adults in the United States or Europe.
Mexicans over the age of 50 who use the Internet have an 8% lower risk of diabetes, a 1% lower risk of stroke, and a 9% lower risk of death. The lower numbers in Mexico can be explained by lower digital literacy and the fact that Mexicans are less likely to have access to high-quality health resources.
Internet users in the United States have a 42% lower risk of death than non-users. They also have a 13% lower risk of diabetes and a 16% lower risk of stroke. On the other hand, Europeans who use the Internet have a 40% lower risk of death, a 25% lower risk of stroke, and a 14% lower risk of diabetes.
Health funds in developed countries are enabling older adults to better utilize the Internet to improve their health. With an extensive preventive infrastructure and doctors already using online support to treat chronic conditions, connected seniors can build on this ecosystem to achieve positive results.
Increasing internet access for older people is a promising approach to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality by alleviating symptoms of depression. But societies must ensure that poor older people take advantage of the benefits of connectivity while being aware of the risks, such as dependence on the Internet.
