According to the digital barometer produced by Crédoc, 82 % of French people aged 12 and over connect to the Internet every day and 91 % of the population has a smartphone, including 70 % of people over the age of 70. These figures give an overview of the growing place that new technologies occupy In our daily lives and we are entitled to question their possible negative impacts in terms of cognition. Among the pathologies that would be linked to overexposure to screens, we can cite digital dementia. The latter would, among other things, cause memory losses and overall abstraction. However, according to American scientists, this disease is only a myth and the use of new technologies would reduce the risk of cognitive disorders, especially in the elderly.
A reduction in the risk of cognitive problems by 58 %
During their research, Jarede F.a neuropsychologist from the Dell Medical School, and the professor Michael K. Scullin of the Baylor University carried out the analysis of 136 studies and information from 400,000 adults. They have concluded that the use of technologies does not cause any digital dementia and makes it possible to reduce the risk of cognitive problems by 58 % in the elderly. According to them, learning to use digital tools, such as smartphones or tablets, constitutes a challenge that can be beneficial for the brain, especially for individuals who have not grown up with these devices. By performing tasks such as software installation or update, they stimulate their mental capacities. This leads to an improvement in their cognitive functions.
Better independence and improvement of social ties
Apart from the reduction in the risk of cognitive problems, the results of the study of American researchers have shown that despite the natural cognitive decline, new technologies allow seniors to maintain a certain autonomy. Indeed, thanks to applications such as GPS or online banking services, they can keep certain functional capacities and, therefore, limit their dependence. In addition, according to the team of scientists, technologies improve social ties and help in the fight against loneliness and isolation. According to Michael K. Scullinthey offer the elderly the possibility of communicating with family membersto see them, to share photos and to send emails in just a few seconds.
Encourage seniors to use new technologies to improve their cognitive functions
Following the research results, Michael K. Scullin encourages families to Help their elders in the use of new technologies. If the professor does not exclude the poor repercussions of an overexposure to screens, such as the driving distraction, he believes that the cognitive impacts are positive, since the 1990s. For him, parents or grandparents should be encouraged who avoid technologies to use them in a simple and manageable manner. By learning to manipulate, for example, messaging or calendars applications, from a smartphone or tablet.
He said the important thing is to start and stay patient when learning. More information on the study on nature.com. Have you ever taken the time to help your elders use a smartphone or a computer? I invite you to give us your opinion, your remarks or put an error in the text, click here to publish a comment.
