iPad? It’s similar to ireserve.
a New research It has been found that older people who regularly tap, scroll and surf smartphones, computers and other digital devices are less likely to suffer from cognitive impairment.
This research is based on the so-called “Digital dementia hypothesisThis suggests that too much screen time in our daily lives can speed up mental decline with age.
The findings come when American seniors are plugged in more than ever.
in 2024 SurveyPew Research Center has found that a whopping 90% of US adults over the age of 65 are online.
But it’s not just about browsing the web. aarp’s 2025 Tech Trends Report 91% of seniors own smartphones, 78% use smart TVs and 62% use tablets.
For meta-analysis, researchers sifted through 57 studies, including over 400,000 elderly people around the world, examining the effects of the technology on the brain.
Participants, who averaged around 69 years old, had undergone cognitive testing or had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
Researchers found that regular use of digital devices and the Internet was 42% lower in risk of cognitive impairment compared to people who had not used the technology frequently.
“For first generations exposed to digital tools, their use is associated with improved cognitive function.” Dr. Jared BengeClinical Neuropsychologist at UT Health Austin’s Comprehensive Memory Center, I told the Guardian.
“This is a more hopeful message than would be expected given concerns about brain rot, brain drainage and digital dementia,” he continued.
However, don’t throw away these screen time limits yet.
“Our findings are not comprehensive approvals for mindless scrolling,” Benge said. I told CNN. “They are tips that instead the generation that gave us the internet found a way to get some net positive benefits to our brains from these tools.”
This idea is “Cognitive Preliminary TheoryThis suggests that engaging with technology can actually provide cognitive benefits.
However, further research is required to fully understand the connection. For example, scientists still don’t know if the use of tech itself helps prevent mental decline, or whether people with better cognitive abilities tend to use digital devices.
There were also some gaps in the research. For one, the study does not specify the time that older adults spend using their devices.
Experts not involved in the analysis told CNN they would raise questions about whether there is a harmful threshold for screen time.
Furthermore, this study does not investigate how older adults actually use technology. This can affect how it affects cognitive health.
“It may not be beneficial to use digital devices in a way that uses passive, sedentary television, both physically and mentally.” Dr. Michael Scarina cognitive neuroscientist at Baylor University in Texas told the Guardian.
“However, our computers and smartphones can also be mentally stimulating, socially connected, and provide compensation for cognitive abilities that are decreasing with age.”
The study also focuses on first generations to engage with digital tools, but does not address completely how future generations grown up with technology will be affected.
“When you think about the kind of technology this cohort had interacted with early in life, that’s when you really had to work to use it.” Dr. Christopher Andersona neurologist who was not involved in the study told CNN.
Their brains were already well-formed, Benji added.
Still, Anderson said the findings suggest that a balanced approach to activity is most beneficial.
“What this probably is more than anything else is providing a sense of security that there is no connection between at least moderate technology use and cognitive decline,” he said.
