Smartphones Might Help Keep Dementia at Bay for Older Adults, New Study Suggests

Turns out, all those dire warnings about smartphones rotting our brains might not hold up—at least not for older adults. A new Baylor University study published in Nature Human Behaviour has found that regular use of digital technology could actually lower the risk of dementia in people as they age.

Researchers reviewed more than 136 studies, tracking 400,000 adults over an average of six years. Their analysis revealed something pretty surprising: older adults who engaged with digital devices—think smartphones, tablets, and computers—were 58% less likely to develop cognitive impairment, even after accounting for age, gender, and education differences.

Michael Scullin, a study co-author, noted, "You can flip on the news on just about any day and you’ll see people talking about how technologies are harming us." But the data told a different story. Instead of causing "brain rot" or "digital dementia," it seems these devices might actually be challenging enough to help keep our minds sharp.

So next time your grandparents complain about struggling to figure out their new phone, it might be worth reminding them that all that frustration could be a good brain workout. As Scullin put it, the "cognitive challenge" of learning new technology, while sometimes aggravating, may be exactly what wards off mental decline.

Staying mentally active isn’t just about doing crossword puzzles anymore. Digital tools like web calendars, reminders, and navigation apps help older adults maintain independence by supporting daily tasks like managing medications or appointments. This "digital scaffolding" allows seniors to function better, even as some cognitive abilities naturally decline.

And it’s not just about keeping up with tasks—technology is also helping older adults stay connected with family and friends. Social media and video calls aren’t just for the young; the study found that maintaining social connections through digital means may lower the risk of dementia by reducing loneliness, which is a big risk factor for cognitive decline.

So maybe we should start calling those smartphones "smart-for-your-brain phones." At the very least, they’re not the villains we’ve made them out to be—especially for anyone worried about aging minds.