Technology Use Linked To Better Brain Health In Older Adults

By Kathleen Murphy

Science says the first generation to use the internet now shows lower dementia risk

You may have heard that spending time on your smartphone or computer can change your brain — and not always for the good. That point of view is reflected in our language. Consider current slang terms such as brain drain, internet dreck, AI slop, and digital dementia. And don’t forget Oxford Dictionary’s 2024 Word of the Year: brain rot.

You might assume the age group most vulnerable to tech-related cognitive decline would be older adults — people who first encountered the internet in their adulthood and who may already be struggling with challenges to memory and cognition. But surprisingly, a growing body of research suggests the opposite.

Research published in Nature Human Behavior found that rather than being linked to harm, older adults’ use of computers, smartphones, and the internet is associated with better cognitive aging outcomes, including fewer diagnoses of dementia and cognitive impairment and better scores on cognitive measures. Specifically, study authors reported that for those aged 50 and older, daily tech use is correlated with a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment.

“The generation that brought us the digital revolution is now reaching the age where dementia risks emerge,” study coauthor Jared Benge, PhD, a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, said in a statement. “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.”

A protective factor for the aging brain

For their analysis, Benge and co-author Michael Scullin, PhD, a neuroscientist at Baylor University, reviewed 136 studies with data from more than 400,000 older adults across the world. Interestingly, researchers found that technology’s effect on brain function was even stronger than other known protective factors — including engaging in physical activity (approximately a 35% risk reduction) and maintaining a healthy blood pressure (approximately a 13% risk reduction).

While these findings are encouraging, the study was observational and thus can’t show causality. But by following the brain health of individuals over an average of six years, researchers confirmed that the use of technology is linked to better cognition. This relationship is likely bidirectional, they said, with cognitively healthy seniors using technology, and seniors using technology experiencing better cognition.

And while people with more wealth or education may be more apt to use smartphones and computers, researchers found that when these factors were controlled, the positive correlation between cognition and tech use remained.

Just as education and lifelong learning help the brain resist damage, using technology may strengthen the brain’s ability to withstand age-related changes. This happens in three ways, researchers said: By challenging the mind with new learning, maintaining social connections, and offering systems that help compensate for normal age-related memory changes.

Building cognitive muscle

Research has consistently shown that human brains benefit from taking on mentally complex challenges. Engaging with digital tools — from playing Wordle to paying bills online — may require clicking past pop-ups, diagnosing hardware issues, recalling passwords, installing software updates, and other tricky tasks. These may be especially demanding for older adults, who were well into their adulthood when they were first introduced to technology.

“One of the things that middle-aged and older adults were saying is, ‘I’m so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn,’” study author Scullin said. “That’s actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain, even if it doesn’t feel great in the moment.”

The way we engage with technology seems to matter.

According to a 2022 study of more than 145,000 people aged 60 and older, watching TV was associated with a 24% increased risk of dementia. But spending time on the computer turned the equation upside down — it was associated with a 15% decreased risk of dementia.

“We know from past studies that watching TV involves low levels of muscle activity and energy use compared with using a computer or reading,” study author David Raichlen, professor of biological sciences and anthropology at the University of Southern California, said in a statement. “And while research has shown that uninterrupted sitting for long periods is linked with reduced blood flow in the brain, the relatively greater intellectual stimulation that occurs during computer use may counteract the negative effects of sitting.”

Avoiding loneliness

Nearly one-fourth of adults over age 65 are socially isolated. But using the internet improves the mental and cognitive health of older adults who live alone, research consistently shows. Texts, emails, and video calls can serve as a welcome lifeline by reducing a sense of social isolation, loneliness, and depression, which increase dementia risk.

But there are disadvantages. While technology use opens the door to healthy social interactions, it also invites certain dangers — including an increased exposure to conspiracies, scams, and false news stories, study authors said.

Aging in place safely

Technology can help seniors remain safe and independent, maintaining their mental health. Voice-activated assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Home can program lighting, set temperature controls, and activate security systems. A fitness tracker can monitor blood pressure and heart rate and send updates to a physician, while a smartwatch can detect falls and alert emergency services if needed.

Benge said that even for older adults already experiencing cognitive decline, “if their bills are on autopay, their GPS helps them avoid getting lost, and they’ve set timers to remind them to take medications, they can maintain their independence longer.”

A recent study out of King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia confirmed this, finding that telehealth, wearable devices, smart home technologies, and assistive robots contribute to the improvement of seniors’ autonomy in mobility, chronic disease management, mental health, and daily living activities.

Gunning for the 50-plus crowd

You know there’s a lot of interest in senior brain health when Corporate America gets in on the action. Last fall, in partnership with the vitamin manufacturer Centrum Silver, arcade franchise giant Dave & Buster’s launched Dave & Brain Busters — a pilot program offering special discounts to seniors who play video games specially designated as “brain enhancing.”

These included Pac-Man (for pattern recognition and strategy), Doodle Jump (for reflexes, prediction, and focus), Fruit Ninja FX (for processing speed and hand-eye coordination), and Grand Piano (for sequencing, rhythm, and coordination).