Computer, Cell Phone Use Linked To Better Health Among Older Generation
“Using tech to connect with loved ones was related to higher life satisfaction, lower loneliness and general attainment of meaningful goals — being happy, independent,” said researcher Tamara Sims of the Stanford Center on Longevity.
The Mercury News:
Elders Who Use Tech Tools Feel Less Lonely, More Physically Fit, Stanford Study Finds
Forget bingo and shuffleboard. Use of computers and cellphones is linked to higher levels of mental and physical well-being among those over age 80, according to new Stanford research. And these elders — dubbed “the oldest old,” a generation typically ignored by the youth-obsessed tech industry — are motivated for the same reasons as digital-savvy millennials: to stay connected. (Krieger, 11/28)
In other health and technology news —
KQED:
How Do You Know Which Medical Information On Wikipedia To Trust?
Reworking Wikipedia health entries is not a trivial task. A 2014 study found about 25,000 pages of English-language health-related articles. That number is now up to 32,000, Heilman says. The health pages worldwide attracted almost 4.9 billion pageviews in 2013. A 2012 survey of several hundred medical students found 94 percent use the site for health information. But despite its popularity, the reliability of Wikipedia’s medical content has often been questioned. (McClurg and Brooks, 11/28)