Social media helps combat disease and loneliness in older adults, study says

For those of you with a grandparent who is "web-challenged" and thinks search engines are the only way to access a website, you're not alone.

But for those with web-savvy hipster grandparents, you'll be happy to know that new research shows older adults are benefiting from online social networks (such as Facebook and Twitter), discussion boards and online forums.

"Older adults can use social media to access health-related information and engage in patient-to-patient or patient-doctor conversations," says study author Anja Leist from the University of Luxembourg. "There are many online forums where people in difficult life situations, such as informal caregivers of a spouse with dementia or individuals with depression, can exchange thoughts as well as receive and provide social support."

Her research is a review of existing studies and also looks at the possibility of designing websites specially with older adults in mind -- ones that provide information on hip fracture prevention, for example.

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"Another positive consequence of social networks is that older adults can overcome loneliness through contact with family and friends and other users with similar interests," Leist says.

Yet she is quick to point out a couple negative consequences, including the elderly having access to harmful information and the misuse of their personal data.

Yep, this means that old stereotype about grandma getting suckered into a ludicrous online Ponzi scheme is rather possible.

But stay positive, because previous research on the topic also links online social networking among the elderly to a decrease in depression.

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"Internet use was associated with a 30 per cent decrease in depressive symptoms among older adults who used it regularly, while other studies have shown similarly impressive results," reports a 2011 article from The Atlantic, referring to a study from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

The article also notes that, at the time the story was written, the 74-plus demographic among Americans was the fastest growing demographic within social networks.

This data came from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and found users ages 65 and older doubled between April 2009 and May 2010, jumping from 13 per cent to 26 per cent.

Simply put, while your granny may very well be a slow adopter of technology, still struggling with the difference between a URL and an email, she might not remain that way for long.