As we move further and further into the digital age, it’s important to be aware of how the technology we use impacts our mental health and cognitive function.
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a decline in the ability to think and affects memory, language, and reasoning, due to changes in the brain.
Symptoms of dementia range from mild to severe and can have a significant impact on someone’s functioning and quality of life.
Some experts use the term “digital dementia” to describe cognitive changes associated with technology overuse. While digital dementia isn’t an actual condition, research does suggest that excess technology use can lead to dementia-like changes and possibly even increase dementia risk.
Below, we’ll explore more about what digital dementia is, including steps you can take to reduce the potentially harmful effects of excess screen time.
Digital dementia, a term coined by German neuroscientist and psychiatrist Manfred Spitzer in 2012, describes changes in cognition as a result of overusing technology.
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According to the results, more time spent on cognitively passive behaviors — like watching TV — led to an increased risk of dementia, regardless of physical activity levels. However, cognitively active passive activities — like using the computer — were associated with a lower dementia risk.
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