How Older People Are Reaping Brain Benefits From New Technology
By Paula Span, The New York Times, August 9, 2025
In an era where digital technology often draws scrutiny for its potential adverse effects—especially among youth—a growing body of research suggests a more positive story for older adults. While concerns about digital overuse harming teenagers have been documented, emerging evidence shows that technology may actually bolster brain health among older Americans, helping them stay mentally sharp as they age.
From Early Experiences to Lifelong Engagement
For Wanda Woods, now 67, the journey into the digital world began in high school with a typing class, encouraged by her father who saw keyboard skills as a ticket to steady employment. That early exposure led to an after-school job with the Environmental Protection Agency, where she first encountered a bulky word processor. “I kinda liked this,” she recalled.
Decades later, Ms. Woods remains deeply involved with technology. In 2012, when internet usage among Americans over 65 surpassed 50 percent for the first time, she launched a computer training business. Today, she teaches at Senior Planet in Denver, an AARP-supported initiative empowering older adults to learn new tech skills. For her, engaging with digital tools is not just practical but invigorating. “Staying involved with tech keeps me in the know, too,” she said.
Digital Pioneers Show Cognitive Gains
Neuroscientists studying older adults living amid the digital revolution are uncovering surprising benefits. The generation that had to adjust to computers and the internet over the last several decades now finds that their regular use of technology correlates with better cognitive performance and lower rates of impairment.
Michael Scullin, a cognitive neuroscientist at Baylor University, described the findings as almost counterintuitive: “Among the digital pioneer generation, use of everyday digital technology has been associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.”
An extensive analysis co-authored by Dr. Scullin and Jared Benge, a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, looked at 57 studies involving more than 411,000 seniors with an average age of 69. Published recently in Nature Human Behavior, the analysis revealed that nearly 90 percent of the studies found technology use linked to protective cognitive effects.
Adults vs. Adolescents: Different Brain Effects
Much of the anxiety about digital technology and brain health stems from research on children and adolescents, whose developing brains appear vulnerable to the negative impacts of excessive screen time, including attention difficulties and behavioral issues.
Older adults, however, have more established cognitive foundations. Learning to navigate digital tools in midlife or later means tackling complex challenges that can stimulate mental faculties. “If you push through the frustration, you’re engaging in the same challenges that studies have shown to be cognitively beneficial,” Dr. Scullin explained.
Walter Boot, a psychologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, noted that while short-term “brain-training” programs often yield limited results, the ongoing, real-world adaptation to rapidly changing technology over years or decades presents a different scenario—one that plausibly supports cognitive health.
Causality Still Unclear But Promising
Scientists remain cautious about drawing firm conclusions about cause and effect. It’s possible that people with better cognition are more likely to adopt technology. Socioeconomic factors, including access to devices, also play roles. Yet even after accounting for variables such as education, income, and health, Dr. Scullin’s team found a significant association between technology use and higher cognitive ability.
The potential mechanisms behind this link include the mental stimulation required to learn new systems, handle software updates, troubleshoot issues, and relearn functions—activities that keep the brain actively engaged. Additionally, digital tools may promote social connections, a known protective factor against cognitive decline. Apps that provide memory aids or facilitate everyday tasks like shopping and banking may help preserve functional independence.
Wider Trends and Challenges
While the absolute number of dementia cases is rising as populations age, the proportion of older adults affected in the U.S. and parts of Europe has actually declined over recent decades. Researchers credit a range of improvements including better education, health care, and lifestyle changes—and technology engagement may be a contributing factor.
However, risks persist. Older adults face heightened vulnerability to online scams and disinformation. Excessive passive technology use, such as binge-watching television for hours, can lead to social isolation—undermining rather than supporting brain health. Experts emphasize that technology should complement other healthy habits like physical exercise and balanced nutrition.
The Future of Tech and Cognitive Health
An open question remains whether the cognitive benefits seen in today’s older generation will continue with future cohorts who grew up with digital devices from childhood. As technology itself evolves—now including artificial intelligence—ongoing adaptation will likely remain a mental challenge.
Reflecting wider societal patterns, initial public panic over new technologies follows by gradual acceptance and recognition of benefits. Walter Boot said, “A lot of it is an overblown initial reaction. Then, over time, we see it’s not so bad and may actually have benefits.”
For individuals like Wanda Woods, the digital journey continues with enthusiasm. From early word processors to smartwatches, online banking, and AI chatbots that helped plan family trips, she embraces new tools unapologetically. Her story highlights how technology, far from being a brain hazard, can serve as a valuable ally in maintaining mental vitality into older age.
The New Old Age series is produced in partnership with KFF Health News.
