US Research Team Analyzes Technology Use Study Results
"Brain Training Effect Seen in Older Adults"
There have been many warnings that excessive use of digital devices could lead to a decline in human memory and cognitive abilities. However, a new study has found that, for older adults, such use may actually help maintain brain function.
According to the New York Times on August 9 (local time), Michael Scullin, a cognitive neuroscientist at Baylor University, and Gerard Benge, a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, recently published these findings based on an analysis of 411,000 people aged 50 and older (average age 69).
The researchers conducted a study on technology use and cognitive status, integrating and reanalyzing 57 previous research papers focused on older adults. They found that seniors who used computers, smartphones, the internet, or a combination of these technologies performed better on cognitive function tests than those who did not use or used such technologies less frequently. The rates of cognitive impairment or dementia diagnoses were also lower among technology users.
This is the exact opposite of previous warnings that technology would cause a phenomenon in our brains known as "digital dementia." For decades, there have been widespread concerns that excessive reliance on digital devices would lead to a decline in human memory and cognitive abilities.
The researchers themselves had expected that, although older adults had experienced both the analog and digital eras, they would be negatively affected by digital technology as they reached ages where cognitive impairment becomes common. However, the actual analysis showed the opposite.
The researchers explained, "Older adults were part of the analog generation, but many have become IT device users in order to adapt to the times." They analyzed that "the more new technologies are learned, the more it helps maintain brain health in the long term." After the basic framework for learning and cognition is established, learning new technologies to adapt to a rapidly changing society serves as brain training, which in turn brings about positive results.
Concerns about the effects of technology on cognitive function have mostly arisen from studies focused on children and adolescents, whose brains are still developing, which is a key difference in context.
While numerous studies show that the number of dementia patients is increasing globally due to population aging, the proportion of older adults with dementia is actually decreasing in the United States and several European countries. Among the various factors suggested as reasons for this trend, Duke University’s Dr. Murali Doraiswamy believes that technology use is likely a significant contributing factor.
Could this effect also be seen in generations born and raised in the digital era? Researchers believe that, since technology is constantly changing, these results may not be a one-time effect limited to today’s older adults. However, they also emphasized that simply using more digital media is not necessarily beneficial. Dr. Doraiswamy noted, "If you watch Netflix for 10 hours a day, you may lose social connections," adding that technology cannot replace other activities that support brain health, such as exercise or healthy eating habits.
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