Affect and reason are intimately intertwined. Macintosh computers are highly affective computers. They have a reputation of being easy to use as well as fun to use.

A computer that is more fun to use -- which gives increased pleasure and less frustration to the computer user -- becomes used more often than other computers. Computers that are used more often promote neural activity and a greater number of synaptic connections in the minds of computer users. Increased neural activity is one way of delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Macintosh computers appeal to the those with a creative bent, to designers, musicians, filmmakers, publishers, artists, sculptors, bloggers and anyone else interested in the creation and shaping of ideas. It's no surprise at all that the world wide web was invented on a NeXT computer, designed by Steve Jobs.

What does enhanced creativity have to do with delaying the onset of Alzheimer's? Plenty, if you think about.

I started thinking about this topic in the context of my mom, the middle of 3 sisters. Her older sister had Alzheimer's. Her younger sister has Alzheimer's. Mom so far has emerged unscathed. Could it be that because she has been an enthusiastic Apple user for almost 20 years that her synapses withstand the onset of Alzheimer's? Mom loves to write. She sends and receives a ton of email every day. She also does creative writing and provides constructive feedback to various nieces and nephews working as writers and reporters.

It would be difficult to scientifically determine that Macs provide superior protection against the onset of Alzheimer's, but it's worth considering the nature of this hypothesis all the same. Gathering anecdotal evidence would be a first start. Are there other instances of a Macintosh-using asymptomatic sibling with several older and younger siblings encountering Alzheimer's?

Perhaps a starting point is to try to document all instances of intellectual vigor in later years in the Macintosh using population. You know, the 93-year-old sculptor who adores her Mac. The 83 year old Mac user who loves running marathons. The 88 year old Mac user who signed a contract to write 3 new books. Etc.

I thought about this topic, too, in conjunction with the downloadable audio books in Windows Media format that are not available to elderly Mac users. Intellectual stimulation provides nourishment to the mind. Denying that intellectual stimulation means denying that nourishment. A mind with less intellectual nourishment is at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's.

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Supporting material for including in this article.

References -

Computer Use and the Elderly, October, 1995. Washington Apple Pi Journal

Does Using GNU/Linux Prevent Alzheimers?