A new study shows that technology use can protect against cognitive decline in older adults, countering the myth of “digital dementia.” Researchers suggest that engaging with digital devices strengthens the brain’s resilience and promotes cognitive health.
A new study by the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University has upended conventional beliefs by demonstrating that technology use among older adults may bolster rather than harm cognitive health. The comprehensive meta-analysis, published in Nature Human Behaviour, suggests that digital engagement can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia.
Examining data from over 411,000 individuals aged 50 and older, the study indicates that using devices such as computers, smartphones and the internet has a protective effect on the brain.
Co-author and board-certified neuropsychologist Jared Benge, from UT Health Austin’s Comprehensive Memory Center, noted the significance of these findings.
“The generation that brought us the digital revolution is now reaching the age where dementia risks emerge,” Benge said in a news release. “Far from causing ‘digital dementia,’ as some feared, we found technology engagement is consistently linked to better brain health, even after accounting for education, income and physical health.”
The meta-analysis synthesized findings from 57 separate studies, consistently showing that older adults who use technology face lower odds of cognitive impairment and experience a slower rate of cognitive decline. This introduces the concept of “technological reserve,” akin to the cognitive reserve built through education and lifelong learning.
Technological reserve is thought to fortify the brain against age-related changes through several mechanisms. Engaging with technology challenges the mind with new learning opportunities, maintains social connections and aids in compensating for normal age-related memory impairments.
“Our data suggests encouraging older adults to engage with technology, particularly in a manner that helps challenge, connect and compensate for cognitive problems, could be a powerful approach to promoting cognitive health,” Benge added.
This study’s implications are far-reaching. The findings not only dispel the myth of “digital dementia” but also highlight the importance of integrating digital literacy and technology use into programs aimed at older adults.
Source: The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School