A new study suggests that regular smartphone use may help older adults maintain cognitive abilities. Conducted by American researchers, the meta-analysis involved over 400,000 participants aged 50 and above. The findings indicate that nearly 90% of regular smartphone users retained their cognitive skills better than non-users. The study highlights the potential of digital technology in supporting cognitive health among the elderly.
New Study Reveals Smartphone Use May Benefit Older Adults' Cognitive Health
New Study: When Scrolling Can Be Beneficial
Alarm reports about excessive scrolling making us less intelligent are frequent. However, there are groups that actually benefit from using their smartphones.
The debate often focuses on children and young people whose brains are still developing. But for already developed brains, daily use can have a completely different impact, according to researchers.
American researchers conducted a meta-analysis examining the results of several studies on the topic. In total, it involves over 400,000 people over 50 years old. The conclusion of the analysis is that nearly 90% of those who regularly used smartphones retained their cognitive abilities better than others.
– It is a very interesting study that supports previous research suggesting that technology can help delay the decline of cognitive abilities, says Line Christansen, a university lecturer and doctor in applied health technology at Blekinge Institute of Technology, who researches technology use among the elderly.
Internet-Free Childhood
The study participants were on average 69 years old and belong to a generation that did not have the internet from childhood.
– In the generation that pioneered the use of digital technology in everyday life, this is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, says Michael Scullin, a researcher in cognitive neuroscience at Baylor University and one of the study authors to the New York Times.
The conclusion of the study, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, is that those who used computers, smartphones, the internet, or a mix of all performed better on cognitive tests and were less likely to have a dementia diagnosis than those who avoided technology.
The studies cannot definitively state that digital use improves brain health. However, since many of the studies consider other factors affecting cognition such as education length, blood pressure, and physical activity among participants, researchers argue there is a strong association.
Learning New Things
The reason could be that apps facilitate various daily tasks such as paying bills and maintaining social contacts – something that has proven important for cognition in older ages. As well as learning new things in general.
– Today, there is no strong evidence that technology use improves cognition among the elderly, but that digital technology use can help maintain cognitive abilities is very good in itself. What we know for sure is that cognition deteriorates with age, says Line Christiansen.
– Then the question is which type of technology is best and when it should be introduced, we do not know yet, she says.