How older people are reaping brain benefits from new tech
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
It started with a high school typing course. Wanda Woods enrolled because her father advised that typing proficiency would lead to jobs. Sure enough, the federal Environmental Protection Agency hired her as an after-school worker while she was still a junior.Her supervisor "sat me down and put me on a machine called a word processor," Woods , now 67, recalled. "It was big and bulky and used magnetic cards to store information. I thought, 'I kinda like this.'"Decades later, she was still liking it. In 2012 -- the first year that more than half of Americans over 65 used the internet -- she started a computer training business.Now she is an instructor with Senior Planet in Denver, an AARP-supported effort to help older people learn and stay abreast of technology. Woods has no plans to retire. Staying involved with tech "keeps me in the know, too," she said.Some neuroscientists researching the effects of technology on older adults are inclined to agree. The first cohort of seniors to have contended -- not always enthusiastically -- with a digital society has reached the age when cognitive impairment becomes more common.Given decades of alarms about technology's threats to our brains and well-being -- sometimes called "digital dementia" -- one might expect to start seeing negative effects.The opposite appears true. "Among the digital pioneer generation, use of everyday digital technology has been associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia," said Michael Scullin , a cognitive neuroscientist at Baylor University.It's almost akin to hearing from a nutritionist that bacon is good for you."It flips the script that technology is always bad," said Dr. Murali Doraiswamy , director of the Neurocognitive Disorders Program at Duke University, who was not involved with the study. "It's refreshing and provocative and poses a hypothesis that deserves further research."Scullin and Jared Benge , a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, were co-authors of a recent analysis investigating the effects of technology use on people over 50 (average age: 69).They found that those who used computers, smartphones, the internet or a mix did better on cognitive tests, with lower rates of cognitive impairment or dementia diagnoses, than those who avoided technology or used it less often."Normally, you see a lot of variability across studies," Scullin said. But in this analysis of 57 studies involving more than 411,000 seniors, published in Nature Human Behavior, almost 90% of the studies found that technology had a protective cognitive effect.Much of the apprehension about technology and cognition arose from research on children and adolescents, whose brains are still developing."There's pretty compelling data that difficulties can emerge with attention or mental health or behavioral problems" when young people are overexposed to screens and digital devices, Scullin said.Older adults' brains are also malleable, but less so. And those who began grappling with technology in midlife had already learned "foundational abilities and skills," Scullin said.Then, to participate in a swiftly evolving society, they had to learn a whole lot more.Years of online brain-training experiments that last a few weeks or months have produced varying results. Often, they improve the ability to perform the task in question without enhancing other skills."I tend to be pretty skeptical" of their benefit, said Walter Boot, a psychologist at the Center on Aging and Behavioral Research at Weill Cornell Medicine. "Cognition is really hard to change."The new analysis, however, reflects "technology use in the wild," he said, with adults "having to adapt to a rapidly changing technological environment" over several decades. He found the study's conclusions "plausible."Analyses like this can't determine causality. Does technology improve older people's cognition, or do people with low cognitive ability avoid technology? Is tech adoption just a proxy for enough wealth to buy a laptop?"We still don't know if it's chicken or egg," Doraiswamy said.Yet when Scullin and Benge accounted for health, education, socioeconomic status and other demographic variables, they still found significantly higher cognitive ability among older digital technology users.What might explain the apparent connection?"These devices represent complex new challenges," Scullin said. "If you don't give up on them, if you push through the frustration, you're engaging in the same challenges that studies have shown to be cognitively beneficial."Even handling the constant updates, the troubleshooting and the sometimes maddening new operating systems might prove advantageous. "Having to relearn something is another positive mental challenge," he said.Still, digital technology may also protect brain health by fostering social connections, known to help stave off cognitive decline. Or its reminders and prompts could partially compensate for memory loss, as Scullin and Benge found in a smartphone study, while its apps help preserve functional abilities like shopping and banking.Numerous studies have shown that while the number of people with dementia is increasing as the population ages, the proportion of older adults who develop dementia has been falling in the United States and in several European countries.Researchers have attributed the decline to a variety of factors, including reduced smoking, higher education levels and better blood pressure treatments. Possibly, Doraiswamy said, engaging with technology has been part of the pattern.Of course, digital technologies present risks, too. Online fraud and scams target older adults, and while they are less apt to report fraud losses than younger people, the amounts they lose are much higher, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Disinformation poses its own hazards.And as with users of any age, more is not necessarily better."If you're bingeing Netflix 10 hours a day, you may lose social connections," Doraiswamy pointed out. Technology, he noted, cannot "substitute for other brain-healthy activities" like exercising and eating sensibly.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Travelling to these countries can put you at risk: CDC issues Level 2 alert for Germany, UK, and others amid rising poliovirus concerns
Federal health officials have issued an urgent warning about polio, a potentially crippling and deadly disease. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Poland, Spain, and other countries following the detection of poliovirus circulation. This highly contagious virus spreads through airborne droplets and fecal contamination, targeting the nervous system. While most infected individuals show no symptoms, severe cases can cause muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, paralysis, or even death if breathing muscles are affected. The CDC urges travellers to ensure they are up to date on polio vaccinations or get a booster before visiting these countries to reduce the risk of infection and prevent potential outbreaks. CDC issues travel warning as polio cases surge in popular countries Polio often remains undetected in infected individuals, with the majority showing no immediate symptoms. However, in severe cases, the virus can trigger: Muscle weakness and stiffness Painful spasms and difficulty swallowing Partial or full-body paralysis When polio affects the respiratory muscles, it can cause lung paralysis, making breathing impossible without medical assistance, and may lead to death. Polio was officially eradicated from the United States in 1979, following widespread vaccination campaigns launched in the 1950s. Since then, only sporadic cases have emerged, usually linked to international travel. Globally, polio has been detected in 39 countries and territories over the past year, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. In the affected European countries, routine vaccination is available, but virus traces may have been found in wastewater samples from individuals with no symptoms, indicating silent community spread. CDC's travel advisory and vaccination recommendations The CDC advises all Americans travelling to affected countries to take enhanced precautions: Ensure you are up to date on polio vaccinations Consider a booster shot before travel Maintain strict hand hygiene during your trip Polio vaccination in the US typically includes four doses by age six, offering lifelong protection. However, adults visiting high-risk areas may need an additional booster dose. Affected countries under poliovirus: Travel advisory alert These destinations are affected by circulating poliovirus: Afghanistan Algeria Angola Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Ethiopia Finland French Guiana Gaza Germany Ghana Guinea Indonesia Israel Kenya Liberia Niger Nigeria Papua New Guinea Poland Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Sudan Pakistan Spain Sudan Tanzania Uganda United Kingdom Yemen Zimbabwe Past epidemics and present day warnings highlight the need for polio vigilance Before vaccines, polio was one of the most feared diseases worldwide. In 1947, outbreaks filled hospital wards with children in wheelchairs or confined to iron lungs. One well-known survivor, Paul Alexander of Texas, contracted polio at age six and lived most of his life inside an iron lung breathing machine before his death in 2024 at 78. In the US, the last confirmed case occurred in 2022 in an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County, New York. This case led to the discovery of 21 positive wastewater samples in surrounding counties, signaling ongoing low-level circulation. Global Outlook and Prevention Efforts While wild poliovirus has been eliminated from most developed nations, vaccine-derived strains can still appear in under-vaccinated populations. Public health experts stress that high immunization rates are the best defense. The CDC continues to urge travellers to complete vaccination schedules, get boosters if necessary, and practice good hygiene to help prevent polio's return on a global scale. How Polio spreads Poliovirus is transmitted primarily through: Airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing Fecal contamination, especially in areas with poor sanitation The virus targets the spinal cord and brain stem, destroying nerve cells and impairing muscle control. Even in regions declared polio-free, such as the European Union in 2002, virus traces have been detected in wastewater — as was the case in the UK in 2022. Also Read | This small European nation has no airport, no currency, yet is richer than most nations; the answer may surprise you; know more about the nation
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Health Matters newsletter: The fate of the mRNA vaccine
On the U.S. halting mRNA vaccine contracts, setbacks in disease eradication, WHO health updates, lifestyle and nutrition research, advances in cancer care, environmental health risks and more The biggest story this week, not just in our neck of the woods, but globally is the U.S.'s position on mRNA vaccines .Why, because the United States, has over the years inveigled itself into a position of leadership in health care research and much of the research, worldwide, is led or funded or developed upon by scientists in that country. When Robert F. Kennedy Junior, a steady figure in our columns, decided to axe mRNA vaccine contracts, he cited safety concerns. The US will terminate 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines, questioning the safety of a technology that was actually credited with helping end the Covid pandemic and saving millions of lives. Tragically, Mr. Kennedy said: 'We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted.' The US health department's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority claimed the data shows these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. Without further clarity, he said, the US would be 'shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.' In total, the affected projects are worth 'nearly $500 million,' the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said. Certain late-stage projects were excluded from the move 'to preserve prior taxpayer investment.' Meanwhile, in related news, health experts and lawyers worry that Mr. Kennedy's changes will reflect his history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, which has alternately called for abolishing the program or expanding it to cover unproven injuries and illnesses that aren't connected to vaccines. He has, for a while now, been vowing to 'fix' the federal programme for compensating Americans injured by vaccines, opening the door to sweeping changes for a system long targeted by anti-vaccine activists. 'Kennedy and other critics believe the programme is 'too miserly in what it considers to be a vaccine injury,' said Jason Schwartz, a public health expert at Yale University. 'That's created great concern that he could expand what's included.' Nearly every week we hear of the resurgence of an infectious disease, in parts of the world it had not emerged for decades. This article, World nearly beat polio but fake records, imperfect vaccine, missteps aided its comeback , is an important story recording what went wrong where. The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners embarked on their polio campaign in 1988 with the bold goal of eradication — a feat seen only once for human diseases, with smallpox in 1980. They came close several times, including in 2021, when just five cases of the natural virus were reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But since then, cases rebounded, hitting 99 last year, and officials have missed at least six self-imposed eradication deadlines. The AP, reported in a story that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was derailed by mismanagement and what insiders describe as blind allegiance to an outdated strategy and a problematic oral vaccine. If we talk infectious diseases, can TB be far behind? The WHO called for research scale-up towards ending TB in South-East Asia region which continues to bear nearly half of the global TB burden, accounting for the highest share of cases and deaths worldwide. Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports that the WHO updated COVID-19 guidelines: antibiotics advised only with suspected bacterial infection . For patients with mild or non-severe COVID-19 and low suspicion of bacterial infection, WHO strongly recommends against empirical antibiotic use. Here's another interesting development in the sector : Scientists identify how children develop immunity to bacterial infection, paving way for vaccine s The National Organ Transplant Organisation's advisory last week that Women, kin of deceased donors should get priority in organ transplant , s eems to have set the cat among the pigeons. While it's a laudable objective to make sure that the gender imbalance is corrected, there should be care taken to ensure that this won't create a backdoor opportunity for out-of-order allocations. Dr. Idayachandran N. tells you why it is essential to register to become an organ donor? Switching on to another column favourite - non communicable diseaes, Anirban Mukhopadhyay had a clarifying article on urbanisation has a prime role in contributing to the NCD epidemic: How migration to urban areas is expanding waistlines in India . In a recent analysis of over 31,000 adults aged 45 and above, researchers Bittu Mandal and Kalandi Charan Prasad at the Indian Institute of Technology, Indore report a strong link between rural-to-urban migration and obesity. The longer someone lives in a city, the more likely they are to carry excess weight—especially around the waist, the fat most tied to chronic disease. Migration, they suggest, is not just demographic—it's metabolic. R. Prasad writes on an experiment: eating 250 grams of mangoes instead of bread for breakfast led to improved glycaemic control in diabetics . One of the main reasons why participants in the treatment groups showed improved glycaemic control is because of the relatively less glycaemic index of mango compared with white bread. Food items with lower glycaemic index are less likely to significantly spike blood sugar levels when consumed in moderation. In addition, the fibre content in mangoes contributes to slower glucose absorption. Preeti Zachariah asks Jack Mosley, the author of Food Noise: How weight loss medications & smart nutrition can silence your craving these questions: Why is it becoming harder to lose weight? And should Ozempic step in where willpower fails ? Hit on the link to read more. Dr. Sameer Chaudhari looks at osteoporosis from a preventative aspect. Today, technology is so advanced that it is possible to rebuild bone strength even after osteoporosis has set in - something once thought impossible. Afshan Yasmeen threw light on a very key aspect of the mass IT layoffs of young professionals . She explains elaborately the impact that this is likely to have on their mental health, and those of their families. Sudheer Kumar Shukla's piece is an eye opener on how groundwater contamination is fuelling chronic illnesses in India. He recommends that a multi-sectoral approach be channeled to ensure that the water we drink is safe for consumption. The rare disease sector can also benefit from some creative multi-sectoral approaches. Geetha Srimathi S. outlines the plight of persons with rare diseases in India who struggle without sustainable access to drugs . The dimensions of the problem are so massive, that no single agency is likely to sort out the issue, and present sustainable, lasting solutions. August 18th is recognised as World Breast Cancer Research Day, and to mark the day, Serena Josephine M. writes on how Advances in breast cancer treatments bring in a range of benefits for patients . Over the past decade, there has been a significant advancement in the ability to detect and treat breast cancer in terms of both expertise and technology, but also in treatment methodologies - improving precision and conserving non-cancerous tissues better. Dr. Srinivas Chilukuri further elaborates on this, focussing on Beating lung cancer with precision: the evolving role of radiation therapy , as August 1 marked World Lung Cancer Day. This week, a piece by Dr. Christianez Ratna Kiruba elaborated on the hospital referral system in India , how it is broken, not functioning as it must, and does not necessarily always mean recovery or relief for the patient. Our tail piece of the week is Friday's Health Wrap. This time, it brings to you information about yet another rare blood group, mental health crises consequent to the mass lay offs, and water quality. We had an expert - senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Ajit Yadav who gave a few tips on preserving bone health early in life. Do tune in on The Hindu's YouTube channel . In our explainers series, this week, here's all you need to know about E ctopic pregnancies - Zubeda Hamid writes Psoriasis - What are the causes and how do you treat the condition - R. Sujatha explains. What is the Cervical Pessary - Athira Elsa Johnsson writes. She also explains How ovarian health impacts the body beyond fertility Dr. K. Ganapathy explains how to recognise dangerous headaches . Dr. Tulika Seth brings to light advances in treatment for haemophilia to Prevent bleeds before they happen . Dr. J. D. Mukherji talks about what needs to change in order for multiple sclerosis to be properly diagnosed in India. If you have a few extra moments, also stop by at the following articles: Zubeda Hamid Science Quiz: On immunity Japan firm seeks approval for stem cell treatment for Parkinson's Lithium deficiency could lead to Alzheimer's , study suggests Pavlov's Nobel Prize-winning research on digestion and its lasting impact on physiology and neurobiology—-
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Turmeric to green tea: Can herbal supplements put the liver in danger?
A recent study reveals a concerning trend. Millions in the US regularly consume herbal supplements. These supplements contain ingredients potentially harmful to the liver. Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed data. They found widespread use of supplements with hepatotoxic botanicals. Turmeric, green tea, and ashwagandha are among the commonly consumed ones. The supplement industry is booming, and many are leaning towards herbal ones, hoping they are safe, because they are 'natural'. But does natural mean they are safe for your health? Well, not really. People across the globe consume supplements, and a recent study found that many contain potentially harmful natural ingredients. A study by the researchers at the University of Michigan found that millions of people consume supplements that contain potentially hepatotoxic botanical ingredients. The findings are published in the journal JAMA . Herbal supplements and liver damage This study dug deeper into the breadth of consumption of herbal supplements, which were previously shown to be potentially toxic to the liver. They found that millions of Americans consume herbal supplements that are toxic to the liver. The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2017 and 2020. Over a 30-day period, 4.7% of surveyed U.S. adults reported taking supplements containing at least one of six botanicals of interest: turmeric green tea ashwagandha black cohosh garcinia cambogia red yeast rice Explaining the paper Estimated Exposure to 6 Potentially Hepatoxic Botanicals in US Adults , the lead author, Alisa Likhitsup, M.D., M.P.H., the clinical assistant professor of Medicine at U-M, said, 'Our interest started when we saw cases of liver toxicity from herbal and dietary supplement use in people enrolled in the ongoing NIH-funded DILIN study.' The number of people taking these supplements was shocking. 'But it was difficult to say how many people were using these supplements and why. The major finding here is the large number of Americans taking these products with an estimated 15 million adult Americans taking them on a regular basis,' Likhitsup added. Not all supplements are safe While supplementation is often used to compensate for the deficiency of nutrients in the body not all are safe. Previous studies have shown that certain botanicals can potentially cause liver damage. The lack of government regulation, insufficient attention to medical screenings, and frequent mislabeling are some other concerns related to supplements. 'In a previous study, we found that there was a great deal of mislabeling of some of these products,' Robert Fontana M.D., Michigan Medicine hepatologist, professor of medicine and the study's senior author, said. 'We performed analytical chemistry and found about a 50% mismatch between stated ingredients on the label and what they actually contained, which is quite alarming. If you buy a supplement and it says it has a certain ingredient, it's basically a coin flip if that's true or not,' Fontana added. The lack of regulation in the supplement industry leads to mislabeling. And since their effects are not well understood, clinicians often will not ask patients what supplements they are taking. 'We weren't aware that so many people were taking these supplements. So, when doctors see patients in the office, they don't necessarily ask about supplement use or take into consideration their effects,' Likhitsup, a transplant hepatologist stressed. What they found The researchers found that most of the people take supplements containing turmeric (3.46%), followed by green tea (1.01%), ashwagandha and black cohosh (0.38%), garcinia cambogia (0.27%), and red yeast rice products (0.19%), in the studied population. What's more concerning is that most of the participants of the study reported that they take these botanicals without the advice of a doctor. Most of the participants took the botanicals either to improve or maintain health. Of the turmeric users, 26.8% consumed the products specifically for supposed benefits for joint health or arthritis, while 27.2% of the green tea users were hoping to improve their energy levels. People who took garcinia cambogia hoped it would help them lose weight. Boom of herbal supplements The researchers also found that there is a boom in the supplement industry, particularly among herbal products. There are more than 80,000 unique supplement products available for purchase worldwide and that supplement sales surpassed $150 billion in the United States in 2023, a figure that rivals the combined sales of prescription drugs. Another study found a 70% increase in liver transplants due to injury caused by supplements from 2010 to 2020, compared to 1994-2009. This study was, however, not able to establish any kind of causal relationship between consumption of the six botanicals and liver injury since it was intended to assess supplement exposure in the general US population. 7 Ways to check for fatty liver at home Since these supplements are not well regulated, the researchers are hoping to make clinicians and patients aware of just how much is still unknown about these supplements. 'We're not trying to create an alarm. We're just trying to increase awareness that the over-the-counter supplements people are taking and buying have not been tested nor necessarily proven to be safe,' Fontana said.
