Technology could reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly: “Encourage the elderly to interact with digital devices”

The use of technology could play an important role in maintaining mental health in the elderly, according to a recent study. Researchers have found that the use of digital devices is associated with a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Learning the use of a smartphone can bring benefits for the elderly. Photo: Archive

The analysis, which included data from 57 studies and over 411,000 people over 50, suggests that the use of technology could reduce the risk of cognitive damage by up to 58%. Also, the pace of mental decline was 26% to 34% more slowly among technology users, informs Science Alert.

“You can open the TV anytime and you will see people saying that technology is hurting us,” says psychologist and neuro -district Michael Carlin, from Baylor University.

“People frequently use expressions such as” brain atrophy “or” brain rot “, and now there is more and more the term «Digital dementia». As researchers, we wanted to know if it was true. ”

Research cannot prove a direct causal relationship, but the correlation is strong, even after factors such as the level of education, occupation or socio-economic status have been taken into account.

Technology can support mental health in several ways:

– Learning the use of new applications stimulates brain activity

– Social networks maintain human connections – important in preventing loneliness

– Reminder applications can provide support in everyday life.

“Encourage older people to interact with technology, in ways that cause their minds and connect them socially, could be a strong strategy for maintaining brain health,” There is also neuropsychologist Jared Benge, from the University of Texas, Austin.

Thus, the technology, used intelligently, is not an enemy of the mind, but an important ally in the struggle with cognitive aging. “If you have a parent or grandfather who avoids technology, maybe it would be time to re -analyze this,” Cullin concludes. “Start with something simple – an application of photos or messaging – and you have patience. It could make a big difference.”