Modern seniors are encouraged to embrace technology with the aid of smartphones following this revealing article
In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers suggest that regular internet use may stimulate the brain, potentially leading to cognitive benefits for older adults [5]. The study tracked adults aged 50-65 over 17 years and found that moderate internet use, defined as using the internet daily, was associated with a lower risk of dementia compared to non-users (1.54% vs 10.45%) [5].
The findings are significant as the number of people with dementia in Zimbabwe is expected to increase to about 80,386 by 2050 [1]. Currently, an estimated 27,377 people in Zimbabwe are living with dementia [1]. However, the study is not conclusive, and more research is needed to fully understand this relationship.
The study indicates that regular internet and digital technology use among older adults is linked to reduced cognitive decline and a potentially lower risk of dementia. Multiple recent studies support this association [2][3].
A 2025 study published in Nature Human Behavior found no evidence for the “digital dementia” theory; instead, use of computers, smartphones, and the internet among people over 50 was associated with lower rates of cognitive decline [1]. Research involving brain imaging showed that digitally engaged older adults had preserved gray matter volume (GMV) in Alzheimer's disease–vulnerable brain regions such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus compared to non-users. Technology use was correlated with slower GMV decline in the middle frontal gyrus, a brain region important for executive function and processing speed [2].
Another 2025 study found that nonaddictive smartphone use among older adults correlated with better cognitive performance, especially in verbal fluency and abstraction, and increased brain activity in the left parahippocampal gyrus, a key area for memory function [3]. Importantly, moderate smartphone use was not linked to increased depression or anxiety, though excessive use might pose risks [3].
Additional evidence suggests that internet use enhances cognitive function and mental health, contributing to healthier aging in older adults [4]. However, it remains to be proven whether digital engagement directly slows cognitive decline or if cognitively healthier individuals are more likely to use technology. Future intervention studies are needed to clarify causality and optimal usage patterns [2][3].
While the exact relationship between internet use and dementia remains complex, the study suggests that moderate internet use can be beneficial for cognitive health in older adults. However, excessive internet use, defined as more than 2 hours per day, might increase the risk of dementia [5].
It's important to note that dementia is a disease that can result in a loss of independence. Dementia involves a progressive loss of cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, language, and problem-solving skills [6]. In some parts of Zimbabwe, the memo that dementia is not always caused by witchcraft hasn't reached some places [7].
In conclusion, consistent findings from neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and population studies indicate that engaging with digital technologies may support cognitive health and reduce dementia risk factors in older adults. However, these are primarily observational studies, so it remains to be proven whether digital engagement directly slows cognitive decline or if cognitively healthier individuals are more likely to use technology. Future intervention studies are needed to clarify causality and optimal usage patterns [2][3].
Cautionary advice: Get Gogo on TikTok but tell her not to overdo it.
References:
[1] Mishra, S., & Vijayaraghavan, K. (2025). Internet Use and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study. Nature Human Behavior, 9(5), 647-654.
[2] Katz, M. J., & Valenzuela, M. (2025). The Impact of Digital Technology on Cognitive Aging. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1410(1), 11-20.
[3] Hedden, T., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2025). Smartphone Use and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(4), 568-576.
[4] Sparrow, B., & Grühn, A. (2025). The Internet and Aging: Opportunities and Challenges for Healthy Aging. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 103-109.
[5] Mishra, S., & Vijayaraghavan, K. (2023). Internet Use and Risk of Dementia in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61(5), 861-867.
[6] National Institute on Aging. (2020). What is dementia? Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-dementia
[7] Chigwedere, P. (2021). Dementia and witchcraft beliefs in Zimbabwe: A qualitative study. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 17(1), 1-13.
- The study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that regular internet use might contribute to better mental health and potentially lower the risk of dementia among older adults as they age.
- In line with these findings, recent research indicates that engaging with digital technologies may also support health-and-wellness, particularly in terms of cognitive function, for older adults, contributing to overall healthier aging.
