Tech Use Isn’t Driving Dementia in Older Adults

Screens are steadily taking over more and more of our life, leading some researchers to worry about the effect of long-term use on older adults’ brain. It has been suggested that this might lead to so-called digital dementia—that depending on digital technology throughout our life might detract from cognitive functioning in our later years.

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One reason some researchers worried about “digital dementia” was previous research that linked television viewing, a passive activity, with negative outcomes such as an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. On the surface, most computer or smartphone screentime might seem similarly passive, says the new paper’s co-author Michael Scullin, a neuroscience researcher at Baylor University. But “for this group of middle-aged and older adults, [phones and computers] have been used for mentally stimulating activities and for social connections,” such as solving puzzles, engaging with the news, chatting with friends, or using reminders and alarms to help with daily activities.

Read the whole story (subscription may be required): Scientific American