The findings from brain and psychology experts take a common narrative about technology use and cognitive decline and flips it on its head.
It’s common enough to assume that with computer or related technology use comes mental deterioration as a result of scrolling through seemingly endless content. But a new study suggests that the opposite could be true for those over the age of 50: In older adults, using technology was linked to markedly lower dementia risk over an 18-year span.
That study, an April 2025 meta-analysis published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, contradicts the popular “digital dementia” hypothesis, and suggests an alternative view: Technology may actually cultivate a form of “technological reserve,” supporting behaviors that help preserve cognitive health.
“You can flip on the news on just about any day and you’ll see people talking about how technologies are harming us,” says Michael K. Scullin, PhD, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University and a co-author of the study in a news release. “People often use the terms ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain rot,’ and now digital dementia is an emerging phrase. As researchers, we wanted to know if this was true.”
Dr. Scullin and his research partner, neuropsychologist Jared F. Benge, PhD, reviewed a total of 136 studies including more than 400,000 adult subjects. Together they found that digital technology use was actually associated with a 58% reduced risk of cognitive impairment even after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and cognitive-reserve factors. They also observed slower cognitive decline over time, suggesting that technology fosters behaviors that preserve cognition.
That tech mastery doesn’t always come naturally to seniors could in fact be its biggest benefit: “One of the first things that middle-age and older adults were saying is that ‘I’m so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn.’ That’s actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain even if it doesn’t feel great in the moment,” says Dr. Scullin. He further explains that with every software change, internet problem, and unwanted ad comes the opportunity to troubleshoot and filter distractions, ultimately building mental resilience.
There are other ways that technology could benefit the brain, too. It expands social connection by enabling video calls, messaging, and shared media that “create greater opportunity for decreasing loneliness,” a known protective factor against cognitive decline. Digital tools additionally offer “digital scaffolding,” such as reminders, GPS, and online banking, which “facilitates better functional outcomes in older adults while general cognitive functioning declines.”
So, while some technology types may be more beneficial than others, promoting healthy, purposeful technology use could help older adults keep their minds sharper for longer. Adds Dr. Scullin: “We could spend a long time talking about all the specific ways in which technology use can be bad. However, the net effect since the 1990s has been positive for overall cognition in older adults.”
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