Chronologists in Texas confirm prolonged exposure to technology might lessen the prospect of cognitive deterioration in the long term.
Hey there! Let's chat about an interesting topic that's been buzzing around: The impact of technology on our dear seniors' cognitive abilities.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University decided to tackle a controversial theory, suggesting that excessive technology use weakens the Gray matter over time. But they found something quite intriguing: the opposite! Turns out, using technology decreases the risk of cognitive decline by a whopping 42%!
Dr. Donna Newsome, a neurologist at Texas Health Plano, shares her insights on this surprising discovery. According to her, unlike passive activities like watching TV, engaging with technology in the digital world, such as emails, the internet, or smartphones, actually helps stimulate the brain. After all, technology's always evolving, and we gotta keep up!
Sam Baker from KERA had a thought: maybe it's just like physical exercise for the brain. If we stay engaged with technology, our noggin stays active!
To maintain a healthy brain, we should also exercise our bodies, get proper sleep, and eat well—the usual suspects. For the brain, though, it's not just about stepping back when the work's done. Dr. Newsome advises continuing to engage in meaningful activities to keep that brain humming.
But what about those folk who think we're spending too much time glued to our screens? Well, there's good tech and bad tech, says Dr. Newsome. Social media, for instance, can help sharpen the mind with increased social contact, which lowers the risk of developing dementia.
So, what's the secret recipe for healthy aging? Diversify your tech activities, avoid extended periods of mindless scrolling, and don't neglect face-to-face interaction. In short, it's all about balance and engagement!
Resources:
- Technology use may be associated with a lower risk for dementia, study finds
- A meta-analysis of technology use and cognitive aging
- The study conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University challenges the theory that overindulgence in technology weakens the brain over time.
- Instead, they found that using technology actually decreases the risk of cognitive decline by 42%.
- Neurologist Dr. Donna Newsome from Texas Health Plano explains that unlike passive activities like watching TV, engaging with technology in the digital world stimulates the brain.
- Sam Baker from KERA suggests that maybe it's similar to physical exercise for the brain—if we stay engaged with technology, our minds stay active.
- To maintain a healthy brain, Dr. Newsome advises not only stepping back when work is done but also continuing to engage in meaningful activities.
- However, it's important to avoid extended periods of mindless scrolling, and social media can be beneficial for mental health by helping sharpen the mind with increased social contact.
