How Older People Are Reaping Brain Benefits From New Tech

[GailL1]

Pushing away adolescents and younger from tech because their brains aren’t fully developed but for older Americans, it is just the ticket to keep our brains keen.

KFF Health News THENEW OLD AGE - 08/21/2025 - How Older People Are Reaping Brain Benefits From New T... 

from the link ~

The first cohort of seniors to have contended — not always enthusiastically — with a digital society has reached the age when cognitive impairment becomes more common.

Given decades of alarms about technology’s threats to our brains and well-being — sometimes called “digital dementia” — one might expect to start seeing negative effects.

The opposite appears true. “Among the digital pioneer generation, use of everyday digital technology has been associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia,” said Michael Scullin, a cognitive neuroscientist at Baylor University.

. . . . Scullin and Jared Benge, a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, were co-authors of a recent analysis investigating the effects of technology use on people over 50 (average age: 69).

They found that those who used computers, smartphones, the internet, or a mix did better on cognitive tests, with lower rates of cognitive impairment or dementia diagnoses, than those who avoided technology or used it less often.

more in the linked article ~

As for me, I practice remembering many of my password and they are all different - sometimes I do have to stop and ask myself now what am I trying to sign into - once I have that down, then I remember my password.  I also never stay signed in - so once this ability goes, either I am locked out or I will have to revert to some ap.

We do have to keep up or else . . . . . we are left in the dusk.  Right ?

[CarryAnne]

The one thing that is good for both young and old is to avoid consuming fluoride. Start with:

• No fluoridated water
• No food or drink prepared with fluoridated water
• No black tea (check your green teas)
• No sardines with bones
• No grape products (wine, juice, jellies)
• No fluoridated medicines. 

Fluoride from water is the main source, but fluoridated pesticides, fertilizers, and fumigants also contribute to our fluoride load. A surprising number of medications (like asthma) are also fluoridated, and we know that senior citizens who have fluoridated anesthesias for surgery suffer a noticeable decline in mental acuity-- even suffering hallucinations. We also know that the offspring of pregnant women and bottle-fed babies who consume "optimally" fluoridated water have more learning disabilities and lower IQs at the population level. 

For science, see: https://www.fluoridelawsuit.com/science

For 2024 verdict against the EPA, see: https://www.fluoridelawsuit.com/

[JohnShanghai361]

Wow, I learned something here.  Although I don't understand the connection with sardine bones and fluoride, I'm going to cut out the raisins for sure.

[SereneSeagull]

The skills and enjoyment gained, be it eye-hand coordination, deductive reasoning, socialization, furthering research and education, etc…That to me, is a plus for the seniors of today.  Interesting article.