In September 2024, the University of Texas held a seminar on the future of aging research at UT. The Texas Aging & Longevity Consortium and the Center on Aging and Population Sciences sponsored the event.
One of the organizers, Jared F. Benge, a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas (UT) Health Austin’s Comprehensive Memory Center, recently co-authored a comprehensive meta-analysis published in Nature Human Behavior.
According to UT News, this analysis included 57 studies and revealed that technology users had a lower likelihood of cognitive impairment and reduced rates of cognitive decline over time.
The protective effects were observed across various forms of technology use, including computers, smartphones, and the internet.
The study analyzed data from over 411,000 adults aged 50 and older, indicating that engagement with digital devices may help guard against cognitive decline and dementia.
“The generation that brought us the digital revolution is now reaching the age where dementia risks emerge,” Benge noted to UT News.
Contrary to the concern over ‘digital dementia’ that some have expressed, researchers found that technology use is consistently associated with improved brain health, even considering factors like education, income, and physical health.
Additionally, the research found that the protective effects of technology use were robust in both single-snapshot and multiyear studies.
These effects were comparable to or even stronger than established factors such as physical activity and education.
The positive impacts were observed in the 50-65 age group and those older than 65. The study introduces the “technological reserve” concept as a protective factor against cognitive decline.
The data suggests encouraging older adults to engage with technology can promote cognitive health.
This engagement, particularly when it helps to challenge, connect, and compensate for mental issues, may strengthen the brain’s ability to cope with age-related changes.
Similar to the benefits of education and lifelong learning, technology can enhance cognitive resilience by stimulating the mind with new information, preserving social connections, and providing digital tools that assist with regular age-related memory changes.
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