Journal of Modern Education and Culture · Oct 30, 2026
Internet Use and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Narrative Review by Cognitive Outcome
By Zhao H, Meng X
Internet use has become a common part of later life, but whether its association with cognitive aging differs across cognitive outcomes remains unclear. This narrative review synthesizes evidence published between 2020 and 2026 on the association between internet use and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. Evidence for episodic memory is comparatively consistent; findings for orientation and executive function remain limited and heterogeneous—whether this reflects smaller effects or measurement differences is unclear. Studies using global cognition and dementia incidence generally report favorable associations, but the evidence is primarily observational and remains open to self-selection, confounding, and reverse causation. Proposed mechanisms include cognitive stimulation, social participation, and psychological well-being, but most mediation studies are cross-sectional and cannot establish temporal ordering. The associations also vary with duration, purpose, age at first use, and socioeconomic context. Future research should adopt domain-specific measures and longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs, and model internet use as a multidimensional exposure rather than a binary indicator.