A recent meta-analysis of 136 studies involving over 411,430 participants aged 50 and older found that greater use of everyday digital technologies is associated with reduced odds of cognitive decline.

The study revealed that older adults who actively engage with technology, such as smartphones and social networking sites, have a significantly lower risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

Participants who utilized technology were found to be 26-34% less likely to experience cognitive decline over time.

The concept of 'digital scaffolding' suggests that technology can assist older adults in maintaining independence by providing reminders and support for daily tasks, even as cognitive abilities may decline.

Researchers advocate for encouraging older adults to embrace technology, emphasizing that it can enhance cognitive health if the engagement is stimulating and supportive.

Engagement with technology may also help maintain cognitive function by fostering social connections through video calls, emails, and messaging apps, which can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.

The relationship between technology use and cognitive outcomes may be bidirectional, indicating that improved cognition could lead to increased technology use, or vice versa.

The technological reserve hypothesis suggests that engaging in complex mental activities via digital devices can enhance cognitive reserve, allowing the brain to perform better despite aging or injury.

Conversely, the digital dementia hypothesis warns that passive screen time and cognitive offloading may increase dementia rates among older adults, particularly with prolonged exposure to technology.

The positive effects of technology use persisted even when controlling for demographic and health factors, highlighting a direct impact on cognition.

While the study shows positive associations between technology use and cognitive health, the authors caution that excessive technology use can be detrimental, necessitating further research to understand this complex relationship.

Key investigator Michael Scullin noted societal concerns about technology leading to cognitive decline, yet the findings of the study suggest otherwise.