People of all ages now grow up — and grow old — immersed in digital screens, generating concerns about the potential effects on the brain.
On the one hand, researchers warn of “digital dementia” in which excessive use of digital devices, especially among youth and young adults, may lead to cognitive decline over time. On the other, studies have suggested that “digital isolation” may accelerate cognitive decline, while embracing the digital world may protect cognitive function.
“Technology is neither inherently friend nor foe to the brain. It’s a potent force that can either nourish or erode cognitive health depending on how it’s used,” Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, neurologist and researcher in Miami, told Medscape Medical News.
The “sweet spot” lies in mindful, age-appropriate use, Lakhan said.
Digital Dementia: Too Much of a Good Thing?
“Digital dementia” is a term coined by neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer to describe an overuse of digital technology, which could trigger memory problems and negatively affect brain structure and function.
This could be especially problematic in adolescence and early adulthood — critical periods for neurodevelopment, marked by significant changes in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for complex cognitive tasks such as decision-making and impulse control.
There are a number of studies that seem to justify this concern. A recent report showed that teens who were heavy users of digital devices were twice as likely as infrequent users to show symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Increased use of mobile devices to calm preschool aged children has also been linked to decreased executive functioning and increased emotional reactivity.
In a recent evidence review, excessive smartphone use was associated with difficulties in cognitive-emotion regulation, impulsivity, impaired cognitive function, addiction to social networking, shyness and low self-esteem. Medical problems linked to excessive smartphone use included sleep problems, reduced physical fitness, unhealthy eating habits, pain and migraines, and changes in the brain’s gray matter volume.
Lakhan has written about what he calls “digital anhedonia” — the growing phenomenon where individuals, especially youth, lose the ability to find joy in real-world experiences after chronic exposure to highly stimulating digital content.
“It’s not clinical depression per se, but a blunting of natural reward circuits driven by algorithmically neuroengineered overstimulation. This is especially concerning during pediatric brain development, when neural circuits involved in motivation, emotional regulation, and executive function are still maturing,” Lakhan said.
“With the right level and type of stimulation, digital tools can support and even optimize brain circuitry. But with overexposure to high-dopamine, low-effort content, we risk disrupting that delicate developmental trajectory,” he added.
Digital Isolation: Not Enough of a Good Thing?
In contrast, for older adults, the concern isn’t overstimulation but underexposure.
Many older adults face barriers to digital access — limited internet connectivity, unfamiliarity with smartphones or computers, financial constraints, or lack of confidence in using d