Internet-Based Social Activities and Cognitive Functioning 2 Years Later Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Prospective Cohort Study

Background: A number of studies document the benefits of face-to-face social interactions for cognitive functioning among middle-aged and older adults. Social activities in virtual worlds may confer similar if not enhanced cognitive benefits as face-to-face social activities, given that virtual interactions require the additional cognitive tasks of learning and navigating communicative tools and technology platforms. Yet, few studies have examined whether social activities in internet-based settings may have synergistic effects on cognitive functioning beyond those of face-to-face interactions. Objective: This study examined whether internet-based social activity participation is associated with concurrent and later cognitive functioning, after adjusting for face-to-face social activity participation and sociodemographic covariates. Methods: For cross-sectional analyses, we included 3650 adults aged 50 years and older who completed questions in the 2020 Health and Retirement Study about social activity participation, including specific internet-based social activities such as emailing or accessing social networks. Cognitive functioning was measured using the standardized cognitive tasks assessing working memory, episodic memory, and attention and processing speed. The longitudinal analyses included the 2034 participants who also completed follow-up cognitive assessments in 2022. Results: Our results revealed that those with higher levels of internet-based social activity participation had higher levels of concurrent cognitive functioning than those with low levels of internet-based social activity participation, after adjusting for demographic and health-related factors and face-to-face social activity participation (b=0.44, SE 0.07; P <.001). More internet-based social activity participation also predicted better cognitive functioning 2 years later, even when adjusting for baseline cognitive functioning and other covariates (b=0.35, SE 0.09; P <.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that greater engagement in internet-based social activities is associated with higher levels of concurrent cognitive functioning and slower cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults.