Is the Internet Really Ruining Your Memory? Keep Reading as Modifiable Protective Factor Against Cognitive Impairment

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202006.0150.v1
• Publication Date: 2020-06-15T09:33:25Z
• Authors: Hernán Ramos; Monica Alacreu; Mª Dolores Guerrero; Rafael Sánchez; Lucrecia Moreno
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; pharmacology_toxicology; 3. Good health

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) would correspond to a preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to find associations between lifestyle individual factors compatible scores with cognitive impairment (CI) in SCD people. Methods: This is a case-control study to detect SCD, CI and potential associated factors in 497 patients over 50 years in Community Pharmacies. Three screening tests detected possible CI and patients with at least one test compatible with CI were referred to Primary Care to be evaluated. Results: In self-complaint patients statistically significant with depressive feelings were found (86.8%) with benzodiazepines consumers (83.9%) and female patients (81.2%). Thirty percent of our sample obtained scores compatible with CI. Being older than 70 years old increased the odds of obtaining scores compatible with CI. High level education, reading and internet use were able to reduce the odds of positive scores compatible with CI (37%-91%, 7%-18% and 67%-86%), whereas, one extra hour television/day increased the risk in 8%-30%. Reading was able to nullify the effect of both internet and TV consumption. Conclusion: Not just the age but also modifiable lifestyle factors are acting in favour of a cognitive decline.