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Older people who use smartphones ‘have lower rates of cognitive decline’ (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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More work is needed to explain the findings, but the researchers suspect a two-way relationship underpins the results. In this scenario, people with better thinking skills are more likely to use digital devices, but there are also cognitive benefits to be had from embracing the technology.

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

“It is unclear whether the technology staves off mental decline, or whether people with better cognitive skills simply use them more.”

It’s very early stages of the research then. In my experience elderly people use smartphones very differently to kids. Also, their personal development has past the formative stages so I imagine the devices cause less disruption.

There’s no doubt that they ruin the brains and lives of our kids though, as the research video posted on Lemmy.world recently makes clear.

Edit: Here it is. Brain scans show that screen addiction is the same as drug addiction as far as development of brain pathway changes and brain chemistry are concerned. Only difference is we haven’t had addicts this young and at this scale before. Memory, empathy, cognition and impulsivity are all impacted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ViT6LyLm6E

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 days ago

I think definitely causation correlation.

Working geek squad the people who were more with it tech wise were people just willing to learn. If you maintain the ability to learn then you'll be fine, and it makes sense that those elderly people who learn their smartphones are doing better. I don't think it's because of smartphones. I think them able to use their smartphones is because they are okay with adaptation and change

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Could you link that video?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Okay. I updated my original comment.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I wonder if seniors can't be addicted to screens as well? It's true that excessive screen time promotes addiction, but I doubt that normal screen use invariably leads to addiction, especially if there are other activities and the evidence-based AAP guidelines are obeyed: no screen time other than video chatting until 2 years old, and co-viewing, discussion, and regulate which content to watch after that until 5. The outsize impact of Cocomelon vs much saner toddler shows has also been documented.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Yes, us old people can become just as addicted to phones as easily as a 14 year old. And with the same stupid shit. On the other hand, it can help keep cognitive abilities working better and helping to keep more interested in the world around you. But it can impair judgement and let people slid into poor mental hygiene. And us old people have a very hard time with those two things anyway.

But, despite my great fear of losing my mental acuity and abilities, I can feel the small cracks beginning to form around the edges of my mind. I work hard to keep learning new things and mastering new skills. From learning how to make my own bacon this past summer to learning how to bake bread this winter. While working out a new model steam engine design that I might build next winter. Plus adding some 3D printing designs to upload for others to possibly enjoy and use. And today I'm driving 300 miles to pick up a new puppy to train to hunt grouse with me in the fall. (I lost my beautiful little baby girl Tara to kidney failure this early spring). This puppy might well out live me when it's all said and done.

The fear of decline is real and I know it's inevitable.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It’s possible, the first example in the linked video is of a young kid who has become addicted to YouTube. The content seems benign: animated nursery rhymes. But that case is presented with less detail on the exact usage. I’m curious what you’ll make of it. I’m halfway through.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/05/17/why-kids-shows-like-cocomelon-hamper-critical-brain-development/

Forbes Contributor Sites are basically disguised blogs, but this one is from a psychologist.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's because parents are too overworked to spend time with their kids. That's the whole story

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

There's overworked and having your kid watch Bluey, and then there's overworked and having your kid watch Cocomelon. One is far worse.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Really interesting and specific, thank you. Interestingly I saw a parent online talking about how she plays the cartoons her kids watch at .75 speed. They were stressing her out and she probably suspected it wasn’t good for her kids either.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”- Socrates

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Misattributed to Socrates. Mis/disinformation spreads quickly over the Internet, so it's up to all of us not to be vectors for it.
We have increasingly extensive bodies of scientific evidence indicating the harms of giving young kids the sort of near-unrestricted access to smart devices and social media that are common in society today.
That one person said "something similar bad" but it wasn't actually that bad in the past (or even that this is a pattern) doesn't invalidate scientific evidence. If kids started smoking cigarettes en masse, you could pull up this exact same quote, and it would be just as strong an argument as it is here.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Addiction is fascist rhetoric. Even councillors who help people with drug use problems are rethinking the addiction model

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Are you sure that they are doubting the very idea that one could become addicted?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Yes. Shit life circumstances explain addiction better than biochemistry

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Circumstances, adverse childhood experiences, can be huge factors. Experiments have shown mice choose to give up heroin for better living conditions, for example. It doesn’t mean that addiction doesn’t exist within us too. And that biological something needs a name.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Sooty circumstances propel one to turn to starting an addiction. Doesn't mean addiction isn't a thing.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

Fixed title :

Older people with ‘lower rates of cognitive decline’ more likely to have smartphones.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 days ago

I'd like a cross study with those that read books, plz

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 days ago

I wrote about this when I was getting my masters. I remember that it was due to being able to communicate and not feel so isolated. Social interactions have a huge impact on cognition in elderly subjects.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

But higher rates of doomscrolling and despair.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Everything is better for your cognivity than watching TV all day, even staring at a blank wall.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I was told phone bad.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

They say that because kids can read banned books about gay people and talk about gaza

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The article says "digital technology" and mentions phones, tablets, computers, etc. But headline writers are lazy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

anecdotally the seniors I know all just use phones

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Why much word when few do trick

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Learning something new trains your brain, yes.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

My mother must be an outlier then. She went from Fox News 100% of the time, to Fox News on in the background while she watches reels on FB or plays candy crush.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

I guess falling into a far-right Q-anon hole is more intellectually stimulating that watching TV..

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

There's a causality issue here.

It's using speakerphone and FaceTime in public that causes lower rates of cognitive loss

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Those aren't the typical senior smartphone habits at all. (What even does using speakerphone matter?)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

bald trump crying streams and a single drop

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Who did this Boomer kill to earn that tat?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

I'm 57 and my smartphone has absolutely frazzled my brain.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

I knew there was a reason I was here!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Too bad I'm not an older person

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

consume, grow wise

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

So is it brainrot or brain nourishment??

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Depends on what you do with it

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

I use it for brainrot ☹️

[–] hellfire103 2 points 3 days ago

Depends what you use it for.

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