As MAHA sweeps the nation, people are finding a renewed interest in their health and in living a beneficial lifestyle. Now that the first generation exposed to digital technology has reached the age where symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can start showing up, many worry that too much time on smartphones, tablets, and the internet causes digital dementia. According to a new study, the opposite may be true: Using digital tech may actually reduce the risk of cognitive impairment.
Digital Dementia and Technology
A 2018 article posted on the National Library of Medicine website describes the condition: “The hypothesis behind the term digital dementia is that overindulgence on the internet and internet-enabled devices causes cognitive impairment such as reduced attention and decreased memory span and can even expedite early-onset dementia.”
According to the article, digital dementia is caused by several factors:
Using cell phones stimulates the left side of the brain, while the right side, which is linked to concentration, remains untapped and eventually degenerates.
Forgetfulness has surged since smartphones hold notes and provide reminders.
Using search engines makes information easy to acquire, and people are less likely to remember the facts when they can just search for them again.
According to one of the researchers, Michael K. Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University, “You can flip on the news on just about any day and you’ll see people talking about how technologies are harming us. People often use the terms ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain rot,’ and now digital dementia is an emerging phrase. As researchers, we wanted to know if this was true.”
The study, "A meta-analysis of technology use and cognitive aging," was conducted by neuroscientists at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Researchers reviewed more than 136 studies of over 400,000 adults with an average of six years of follow-up data. It found that “digital technologies are actually associated with reduced cognitive decline,” Baylor confirmed in a press release. Furthermore, it showed that digital technology use “correlates with a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment.”
How Can Technology Reduce Cognitive Decline?
Researchers, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), estimate that 42% of Americans over the age of 55 will eventually develop dementia. It affects more than six million US citizens and accounts for over 100,000 deaths annually.
So, how can playing a game on your cell phone, looking up information on search engines, or doing anything else with digital technology help reduce the risk of dementia? The study suggests that using such tools may increase problem-solving skills. For those of us who were introduced to these technologies as adults, it can be challenging because of the ever-changing nature of tech.
“One of the first things that middle-age and older adults were saying is that ‘I’m so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn.’ That’s actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain even if it doesn’t feel great at the moment,” Scullin said. “If you’re doing that for years and you’re really engaging with it, even though you might feel frustration, that may be a sign of you exercising your brain.”
Then there’s something called digital scaffolding. This involves using tools such as GPS navigation, reminders, and online banking, tools that help older adults remain independent, even if they have cognitive difficulties. Researchers from the study said digital scaffolding “facilitates better functional outcomes in older adults while general cognitive functioning declines.” Technologies, in other words, can “serve as a compensatory support system to maintain general independence and reduce the risk of a dementia diagnosis even with the presence of some cognitive decline.”
Many older people suffer from loneliness for various reasons. Maybe they can’t drive anymore and spend their time alone in their homes, or their family may live too far away to see them often. With video calls, messaging apps, and email, the older generation can stay in touch and not feel so lonely.
Even using social media like Facebook or TikTok can be beneficial, according to Scullin. People can stimulate their brains by creating videos to share or by interacting with online communities. In fact, he encourages the use of technology. “If you have a parent or grandparent who’s just staying away from technology, maybe revisit that. Could they learn to use photo, messaging, or calendar apps on a smartphone or tablet?”
Overall, Scullin says digital technology is beneficial, at least when it comes to the aging brain. “We could spend a long time talking about all the specific ways in which technology use can be bad. However, the net effect since the 1990s has been positive for overall cognition in older adults.”
Gaming for the Brain
The study, published in Nature Human Behavior, isn’t the only one connecting tech with a reduced risk of dementia. The National Library of Medicine studied the effects of computerized cognitive training, including language, memory, and reasoning. The results showed an increase in gray matter, an essential type of tissue in your brain and spinal cord, which plays a big role in mental functions and could help preserve general cognition. Another review, this one in 2020, tested the impact of games on dementia. Using board games, video games, and virtual reality, researchers found that “participants with early and middle-stage dementia improved several cognitive abilities, including short-term memory, problem solving, reaction time, logical reasoning, and cognitive development,” as explained by ChenMed, a health-care company, on its website. It also listed “The 5 Best Brain Games to Prevent Dementia,” which included word puzzles, cards, dice, and board games.
The next time you’re frustrated with your laptop or tablet, remember that learning how to navigate technology may actually be good for the brain.
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