As the initial cohort broadly exposed to technology grows closer to elderly years, what impact has this exposure had on their likelihood of experiencing cognitive deterioration?
That's a question researchers from two Texas universities sought to answer in a new meta-analysis study, a review of previous studies, published Monday in the journal Nature Human Behavior . The query investigates the " digital dementia hypothesis which suggests that continuous usage might lead to greater dependence on technological tools and potentially diminish mental capabilities with prolonged periods.
"We say a really active brain "In both youth and middle age, having a more resilient brain can be beneficial in later life," stated Dr. Amit Sachdev, the medical director for neurology and ophthalmology at Michigan State University, who was not part of this research.
However, the researchers found that the concept of digital dementia might not hold up: An examination of 57 studies involving 411,430 elderly individuals revealed that using technology was linked to a 42% decreased likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline. Cognitive impairment was determined through diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, or via poor scores on cognitive assessments.
The forms of technology encompassed computers, smartphones, the internet, email, and social media, as indicated by the recent research. Alternatively: According to the latest study, the types of technology featured include computers, smartphones, the internet, email, and social media, or participants reported using multiple technologies together.
"It was also reassuring that these findings emerged from studies even after accounting for variables such as education, income, and various lifestyle factors; this suggests that the impact isn’t solely attributable to other aspects of brain health," explained Dr. Jared Benge, co-lead researcher and an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School, through an emailed statement.
The researchers examined eight different databases for studies up until 2024, selecting the 57 that were used primarily for their analysis. These included 20 studies where participants were tracked for roughly six years on average, along with 37 others. cross-sectional studies , measuring health metrics and outcomes at a single point in time. On average, the adults involved in these studies were 68 years old at the start.
Although technology utilization was mostly associated with a reduced likelihood of cognitive deterioration, the results were less clear social media use The authors stated that they were uneven.
None of the 136 studies examined by the authors collectively found an increased risk of cognitive decline associated with technology usage—a level of consistency described as "quite unusual" by co-lead study author Dr. Michael Sculline, who is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University, through email correspondence.
The research is "an exceptionally well-structured and executed meta-analysis covering nearly two decades of work within the broader scope of this field," stated Dr. Christopher Anderson, who leads the division of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Anderson had no direct involvement with the study.
However, if you believe that the research's conclusions imply you can use technology as much as you want because your brain will remain unaffected—think again.
“Our discoveries do not amount to an unconditional approval of aimless browsing,” explained Benge, who is additionally a clinical neuropsychologist at UT Health Austin's Comprehensive Memory Center. “Rather, they suggest that the generation responsible for bringing us the internet has discovered methods to derive certain beneficial outcomes from these technologies for our brains.”
Even with the study's importance, numerous uncertainties remain regarding the connections between different facets of technology usage and brain health.
Use of technology and its impact on the brain
A limitation of the study highlighted by experts is the lack of information regarding how individuals utilized technology. Because of this, it remains uncertain whether the subjects engaged with computers or smartphones in manners that effectively stimulated brain activity, or which particular usage might be linked most closely to safeguarding cognition.
Anderson pointed out that without knowing how much time was spent using technology, it’s unclear if there is a dangerous limit or if even minimal usage can provide cognitive advantages.
These questions are challenging for me to address 'because the extensive range of technological exposures we must contend with is immense,' according to Sachdev. 'Pinpointing the impact of a single tech-related influence can be tough, and quantifying an entire system composed of various technological influences along with their overall effect poses another hurdle.'
Moreover, Anderson stated that "it's uncertain how much we can generalize these findings to future generations, considering the widespread use of technology that individuals encounter from the moment they're born."
As Anderson pointed out, when considering the type of technology this group was exposed to early in their lives, it was an era where using tech required more effort from users.
Benge mentioned that their brains had also developed quite extensively.
The research might back an alternative to the digital dementia hypothesis: the cognitive reserve theory. This theory posits that engaging in intricate mental tasks contributes to improved cognitive health as one ages, regardless of typical age-associated alterations in the brain, as stated in the study.
Sachdev suggested that technology might lessen the chance of cognitive decline by keeping our brains more engaged. Additionally, using technology can promote social connections at times, whereas loneliness has been associated with such issues. with greater odds of developing dementia.
It’s equally plausible that elderly individuals utilizing technology might possess inherently more dynamic and robust minds, which facilitates their interaction with technological tools.
Managing your technology use
Experts stated that conclusions about optimal technology usage for maintaining cognitive health cannot be derived from this study because it lacked details regarding the participants' usage patterns.
However, Anderson stated, “It does suggest that having a variety of activities might be the most advantageous approach, which aligns with findings from other studies on this subject.” He added, “This finding primarily serves to reassure us that using technology moderately isn’t linked to any reduction in cognitive abilities.”
Engaging in moderation is best, Sachdev said. And that should largely bring joy, genuine connection, creativity and intellectual stimulation to your life, experts said.
"He mentioned that it needs to be productive in some manner," and finding amusement for oneself can occasionally fulfill this criterion. However, if you’re feeling discomfort in your eyes or neck due to prolonged screen time, it’s an indication that you might be overusing technology.
Sachdev stated that an excess of anything can be detrimental. He advised determining the objective and timeframe before proceeding accordingly as this approach is recommended for various subjects.
A number of elderly individuals have stayed away from using technology, believing it’s too challenging to pick up. However, as Scullin and his colleagues discovered, even those suffering from slight memory impairment can be taught how to operate these gadgets. Although this process can be exasperating at times, the struggle involved serves as an indication of the cognitive challenge provided by mastering new tech skills, according to Scullin.
READ MORE: Technology use may be associated with a lower risk for dementia, study finds
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