Screen time may harm teens—but for people over 50, it has a surprising bonus

With all the bad news about how technology affects the brains of kids and teens—as it’s associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, cognitive delays, insomnia, and executive functioning issues—you’d be forgiven for thinking screen time is bad news for older adults, too. 

But according to the surprising findings of a large new study, you’d be wrong.

Instead, use of digital technologies was associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment and rates of cognitive decline. 

“We could spend a long time talking about all the specific ways in which technology use can be bad. However, the net effect since the 1990s has been positive for overall cognition in older adults,” said co-author Michael K. Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University, in a press release.

“We could spend a long time talking about all the specific ways in which technology use can be bad. However, the net effect since the 1990s has been positive for overall cognition in older adults,” said co-author Michael K. Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University, in a press release.

“One of the first things that middle-age and older adults were saying is that ‘I’m so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn.’ That’s actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain even if it doesn’t feel great in the moment,” Scullin said. “If you’re doing that for years and you’re really engaging with it, even though you might experience frustration, that may be a sign of you exercising your brain.” 

Dementia cases in the U.S. are rising, and could possibly double by 2060. Expert tips to ward it off don’t necessarily include technology use, but range from connecting locally to making an effort to keep learning and to manage chronic conditions.

While the study authors acknowledge unhealthy uses of technology, such as endless scrolling or using it in place of in-person interaction, healthy usage should be encouraged. 

“If you have a parent or grandparent who’s just staying away from technology, maybe revisit that,” Sculling suggested. “Could they learn to use photo, messaging, or calendar apps on a smartphone or tablet? Start simple and be very patient while they learn.”

Finally, said Benge, speaking with CNN, “Our findings are not a blanket endorsement of mindless scrolling. They are instead a hint that the generation that gave us the internet has found ways to get some net positive benefits from these tools to the brain.”