Latest news with #ManfredSpitzer
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Digital dementia? Study says phones, gadgets do not affect cognitive health
'Tis the era of technological advancements and digital evolution. In the 21st century, digital technology has occupied a major chunk of our lives. As the evolution of the advancement continues, generative artificial intelligence (AI), including chatbots, has become a daily companion across all generations, but more especially for young adults. Oftentimes, the younger generation is 'accused' of being too focused on their gadgets and not paying nearly enough attention to other things. However, a recent study has found, that common habit in young people may have the potential to actually keep the brain sharp in older people. What does the study say? How exactly does exposure to technology affect the aging brain? We often fiddle with this question. A recent study from the University of Texas and Baylor University offers valuable insights. Published in Nature Human Behaviour , the study found no evidence supporting the idea of 'digital dementia.' In fact, using computers, smartphones, and the internet may help people over 50 experience less cognitive decline. What is ' digital dementia '? Many have written about the possible negative effects of technology on the brain. The 'digital dementia' idea, introduced by German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer in 2012, suggests that using digital devices too much weakens our thinking abilities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Residential Contractors In The Philippines – What To Expect In 2025 For Repairs And Upgrades Visionary Echo Learn More Undo Three main concerns have been raised: 1. More passive screen time, which includes activities like watching TV or scrolling through social media that don't require much thought. 2. Relying on technology for tasks we used to remember, like phone numbers. 3. Becoming more easily distracted. Why is this new study important? We know that technology can impact brain development, but its effect on aging brains is less clear. The study by neuropsychologists Jared Benge and Michael Scullin looks at how technology influences older people who have seen big changes in technology throughout their lives. The researchers performed a meta-analysis, combining the results of many previous studies. They looked for studies about technology use among people over 50 and its link to cognitive decline or dementia, finding 57 studies with data from over 411,000 adults. These studies measured cognitive decline through tests or dementia diagnoses. Reduced risk of cognitive decline The study found that greater technology use was linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline. They measured odds, and an odds ratio below 1 shows a reduced risk. In this study, the overall odds ratio was 0.42, meaning higher technology use was associated with a 58% reduced risk of cognitive decline. This benefit remained even after considering other factors known to contribute to cognitive decline, such as socioeconomic status and health issues. Interestingly, the impact of technology on brain function was similar or stronger than other protective factors, such as physical activity (about a 35% risk reduction) or keeping healthy blood pressure (about a 13% risk reduction). However, more studies exist on blood pressure and physical activity. We understand better how they protect our brains. It is also simpler to measure blood pressure than to evaluate technology use. This study focused on specific technology use aspects but did not include things like brain training games. These findings are encouraging. However, we cannot yet claim that using technology directly causes better cognitive function. More research is needed to see if these findings hold true for different groups of people, especially those from low and middle-income countries, who were less represented in this study. We also need to understand why this relationship exists. But how to effectively use technology? Today, it's almost impossible to live without some form of technology. We do everything online, from paying bills to booking holidays. Instead of asking if technology is good or bad, we should consider how we use it. Activities that stimulate our brains, like reading, learning a new language, and playing music, particularly in early adulthood, can help protect our brains as we age. Engaging with technology throughout our lives might also stimulate our memory and thinking. As we learn new software or use a new smartphone, we may build what some call a 'technological reserve' that benefits our brains. Technology can keep us socially connected and help us maintain our independence longer. Rapid changes in the digital world Research shows that not all digital technology is harmful. However, our interaction with technology is changing quickly. The effects of AI on aging brains will become clearer in the future. Our past adaptations to technology suggest that it can support cognitive function, so the future may not be entirely negative. For instance, new brain-computer interfaces may help people with neurological diseases or disabilities. However, there are real downsides to technology, especially for younger users, such as poorer mental health. Future research can help us understand how to enjoy the benefits of technology while reducing its risks. Half of older adults now die with dementia: Study One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Digital Dementia is a real thing, and can literally 'fry' your brain: here's why you should be worried
There is no escaping technology in today's digital age. You name it and we have it - tabs, smart phones, laptops etc. These devices, though convenient, have made it difficult for us to ever be disconnected - both from people and the world around us. While there is no denying that there is a certain level of dependability on these devices, an excessive use of them can literally 'fry' your brain, known as Digital Dementia . Let's learn more about it, and figure out a way to escape from its trap... What is Digital Dementia? Digital dementia is a term first coined by German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer in 2012. It refers to a decline in brain function caused by over dependence on digital devices. When we depend too much on technology to remember things or solve problems, our brain's natural ability to do these tasks weakens over time. This leads to difficulties with memory, attention, and decision-making. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Warehouse Temperature and Humidity Monitoring: Key to Efficient Operations Temperature Monitoring Undo What are the symptoms of Digital Dementia? The signs of digital dementia could be varied, but can include: Trouble remembering events (even recent ones) and other information Difficulty focusing or maintaining attention Struggling to find the right words when speaking Poor problem-solving skills Displaying no empathy/social skills Emotional difficulties Why does it occur? There are several reasons digital dementia develops: No brain exercise: We rely on phones and computers to store information like phone numbers or appointments. This means our brain practices remembering less, causing memory skills to weaken over time. Constant distractions: Notifications and multitasking on devices shorten our attention span and make it hard to focus on one task for long. Less physical activity: Spending too much time sitting and using screens lowers blood flow to the brain, which is important for brain health . Less in person interaction: Digital communication can reduce real social contact, affecting emotional understanding and social skills. The impact it has Digital dementia doesn't just affect our memory; it in fact changes how we think, feel, and interact with others. Poor concentration and forgetfulness can even hamper our performance at work, while reduced empathy and social skills may lead to loneliness or misunderstandings. Over time, these changes can lower quality of life and mental well-being. How to protect yourself from this condition Limit screen time: Try to reduce recreational screen use, especially for children, to less than two hours a day. Stay physically active: Exercise improves blood flow to the brain and supports memory and thinking skills, all while you stay away from your phone for the hour/s you are exercising! Reduce technology use (as much as you can): Focus on one task at a time and avoid constant multitasking or checking notifications. Engage your brain: Read books, solve puzzles, learn new skills, or play musical instruments to keep your brain active. Get quality sleep: Avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime to improve sleep, which is vital for brain health.
Daily Maverick
22-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Our brains are being fried — here's why (and what to do about it)
You sit down to read a book. Two pages in and your eyes are moving but your brain is somewhere else. You're having dinner with someone you love, but your mind keeps flitting back to emails, calendar invites and that buzz in your pocket that wasn't actually a buzz. Congrats: you've entered the great brain fog of the 21st century. In 2012, German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer coined the term digital dementia. It sounds a bit like something out of a Black Mirror plotline, but this phenomenon is real and rising. Today, the term digital dementia is used by researchers all over the world to describe the forgetfulness, mental fatigue and chronic inability to focus that results from tech overuse. In plain speak: our brains weren't built for this much screen time. We're living in a state of partial attention, constantly switching between tabs, chats and apps. Never going deep, always skimming the surface. Our phones aren't just stealing our attention, they're actually making changes to our brains and rewiring how we think, feel and connect. This is your brain on phones Scientists have found mounting evidence that frequent smartphone use takes a toll on our brain's ability to think clearly and flexibly. A review in Frontiers in Psychology shows that media multitasking (common when we're switching between apps, messages and tabs) disrupts working memory, shortens attention spans and reduces cognitive flexibility. This happens because our brains are fundamentally bad at multitasking, yet our devices constantly demand it. Each ping or vibration yanks our attention in a new direction, interrupting focus and pushing us into what researchers call a state of 'continuous partial attention', a fragmented mental mode that has been directly linked to decreased cognitive performance. These constant interruptions don't just break concentration, they activate our stress response repeatedly, creating microstressors with no physical outlet. It's like preparing to run from a tiger over and over again… but never actually running. Over time, this invisible mental load builds up, leaving us foggy, irritable and on the brink of burnout. The cognitive consequences don't stop when we put our phones down either. A study in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research found that even the sound of a notification (without checking the phone) reduced people's ability to stay focused on demanding tasks. And in a separate experiment from the University of Texas, participants with their phones placed in another room significantly outperformed those who had their phones nearby, even if the devices were turned off. Follow-up research confirms that merely having an electronic device in sight can drain working memory and diminish attention. One Athabasca University (Canada) study found that in-class multitasking with a laptop is negatively correlated with academic performance, not just for the user, but for all others within sightline of the screen. How to reclaim your brain Okay, deep breath. We're not here to fearmonger, we're here to problem-solve. If digital dementia is the enemy, here are a few small but mighty ways to push back. 1 Out of sight, out of mind Leaving your phone on silent clearly isn't enough. Studies show that even seeing someone else's phone on a table is enough to tank your focus. We've trained our brains to see that glowing rectangle as the epicentre of everything: work, social life, entertainment, responsibility. Even when it's doing nothing, it's screaming everything. Try this: when you want to focus, put your phone in another room. Out of sight, out of temptation's reach. 2 Stop charging it in the bedroom The bedroom is ground zero for bad phone habits. Most people charge their phones on their bedside tables. That means easy access to late-night reading, doomscrolling and waking up to a blaring notification instead of a calm morning. Want to sleep better, stress less and maybe even wake up in a good mood? Plug your phone in somewhere else and get yourself an old-school alarm clock. It may feel like an inconvenience, but your brain will thank you. 3 Take a digital sabbath Pick a day and go completely device-free. Yes, it'll feel weird at first, like reaching for a phantom limb. But eventually it becomes a reset button. Studies show that even short breaks from tech – especially when spent outdoors – can restore focus and boost cognitive function in very little time. Call it a digital detox, or just call it Saturday. Either way, give your mind a break. 4 Train for depth If reading a book feels impossible right now, don't despair. Attention is a muscle. All it needs is reps. Start with 10 minutes of deep reading a day – ideally a real book, not an article with 17 pop-ups and a cookie warning. At first, your brain will squirm, but stick with it, and you'll notice that it gets easier. Deeper focus leads to deeper thinking, and that's a skill worth rebuilding. 5 Spend time in your head Remember when being bored was just… normal? Waiting in line, sitting in traffic, staring out the window? Not anymore. Now every micro-moment gets filled with a scroll, a tap, a podcast, a refresh. We've replaced daydreaming and quiet with constant input. But if we never let ourselves just be, then our inner world starts to feel unfamiliar, even uncomfortable. The more uncomfortable we feel in these quiet moments, the more tempted we will be to reach for our devices to fill the void. Try reclaiming those small windows instead. A walk without a podcast. A drive without Spotify. A wait without the feed. Let your mind wander – after all, that's where ideas live. Don't aim for the moon, just put in some boundaries Look, we're not aiming for digital purity here. Nobody's throwing their phone in the ocean. For better or worse, we are part of a connected world and we need to be reachable. We just need better boundaries. Right now, our phones are winning, dictating how we spend our time, how we focus, even how we feel. But we can fight back, one habit, one choice and one new boundary at a time. You don't need a complete lifestyle overhaul. You just need a little more intention. And maybe an alarm clock that isn't also a pocket-sized casino. DM
