According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2021, 57 million people had dementia worldwide, over 60% of whom live in low-and middle-income countries. Every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases.Dementia – a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities – is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the significant causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.Scullin said that for some, these findings are surprising, as technology use is often associated with being sedentary, both physically and mentally. However, he said, for the current generation of older adults who were introduced to the first technological advancements – computers, the Internet, and smartphones – past their childhood, using technology is cognitively challenging because it is ever-changing.“One of the first things that middle-aged 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 at the moment,” he said.Technology requires constant adaptation, he said, such as understanding new software updates, troubleshooting Internet loss or filtering out website ads.“If you’re doing that for years and engaging with it, even though you might experience frustration, that may be a sign of you exercising your brain,” he said.The researchers also said that technology enables communication and engagement like never before, expanding opportunities for connectivity. “Video calls, emails and messaging apps help maintain social networks, especially for people who would not otherwise regularly see their family members,” the study said.“Now you can connect with families across generations,” Scullin said. “You not only can talk to them, you can see them. You can share pictures. You can exchange emails, and it’s all within a second or less. So that means there’s a greater opportunity for decreasing loneliness.”“Better social connectedness is a well-documented correlate of cognitive functioning in older adults, providing a link between decreased isolation from digital technologies and reduced risks of dementia,” it said.
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