Internet search use is more strongly associated with low cognitive function than digital device ownership among community-dwelling older adults

Digital device use has been associated with cognitive function; however, device ownership and internet search use are often considered together despite potentially differing levels of cognitive engagement. To examine the associations of digital device ownership and internet search use with low cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional study included 821 community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 78.4 ± 5.7 years; 91.7% female). Digital device ownership and internet search use were assessed by self-report. Participants were categorized as non-digital device owners, device owners without internet search use, or device owners with internet search use. Cognitive function was assessed using a validated virtual reality-based eye-tracking examination, and low cognitive function was defined as a total score below 75. Logistic regression analyses examined the associations between group membership and low cognitive function after adjustment for age, sex, educational level, living status, polypharmacy, depressive symptoms, hypertension, history of stroke, and history of Parkinson’s disease. The prevalence of low cognitive function was 70.2% among non-digital device owners, 57.8% among device owners without internet search use, and 30.6% among device owners with internet search use. Compared with non-digital device owners, device owners without internet search use did not have significantly different odds of low cognitive function (odds ratio: 0.70; 95% confidence interval: 0.37–1.35; P = .291), whereas device owners with internet search use had significantly lower odds (odds ratio: 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.20–0.75; P = .005). Digital device ownership accompanied by internet search use was more strongly associated with lower odds of low cognitive function than ownership alone.