How Older People Are Reaping Brain Benefits From New Technology
By Paula Span, The New York Times, August 9, 2025
In an era often dominated by concerns about the negative impact of digital technology—especially on the younger generation—emerging research presents a more hopeful story for older adults. Contrary to the popular notion of "digital dementia," a growing body of evidence suggests that engagement with everyday technology may actually help seniors maintain cognitive health and delay decline.
A Journey from Analog to Digital
Wanda Woods, now 67 and a Denver resident, embodies this transition. Her journey with technology began modestly, in a high school typing course prompted by her father’s advice that typing skills would enhance job prospects. Indeed, it landed her an after-school job at the Environmental Protection Agency, where she first encountered a bulky word processor. She enjoyed the experience so much that decades later, she founded a computer training business for older adults. Today, she works as an instructor for Senior Planet, an initiative by AARP aimed at helping older Americans stay technologically savvy.
“I have no plans to retire,” Woods says. “Staying involved with tech keeps me in the know, too.”
New Research Flips the Narrative on Tech and Cognition
Scientists studying the cognitive effects of technology use among the elderly find evidence that challenges longstanding fears about digital devices harming the brain. Michael Scullin, a cognitive neuroscientist at Baylor University, part of a team analyzing 57 studies involving over 411,000 seniors, reports that nearly 90 percent found technology use linked with lower rates of cognitive impairment and dementia.
“Among the digital pioneer generation, use of everyday digital technology has been associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia,” Scullin said.
This finding contrasts sharply with earlier concerns largely based on research involving children and adolescents. For younger people, excessive screen time has been linked to attention difficulties and mental health issues, as their brains are still developing. Older adults, however, have more established cognitive foundations and tend to acquire new digital skills later in life, which may stimulate brain functions differently.
Technology as a Cognitive Workout
Experts suggest the cognitive benefits may stem from the mental challenges inherent in learning and adapting to new technologies—navigating updates, troubleshooting errors, and mastering evolving applications all demand problem-solving and memory skills.
“Having to relearn something is another positive mental challenge,” Dr. Scullin explained.
Moreover, technology may promote social connections, a factor known to help protect against cognitive decline. It can also compensate for memory difficulties by providing reminders and assistive apps for everyday tasks like shopping or managing finances.
Addressing Skepticism and Limitations
While some researchers remain cautious about claims of technology’s cognitive benefits—particularly those based on short-term brain training programs—many find the long-term, real-world use of digital tools by older adults a promising area for ongoing study.
Walter Boot, a psychologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, highlights that this natural adaptation over years, rather than brief interventions, might be more impactful, describing the findings as "plausible."
Still, questions about causality remain. Are cognitively healthier seniors more inclined to use technology, or does technology actively boost cognitive function? Scullin and his colleagues accounted for variables like education, health, and socioeconomic status and still observed a significant association between technology use and better cognitive performance.
Balancing Benefits with Risks
Despite these benefits, the digital world poses risks for older adults, including exposure to online scams and misinformation. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults experience greater financial losses from fraud than younger individuals, although they report these incidents less frequently.
Experts also caution that excessive screen time—such as binge-watching television for hours—can lead to social isolation and cannot replace other brain-healthy activities like physical exercise and proper nutrition.
Looking Ahead: The Next Generations and Technological Change
A question remains whether the cognitive benefits seen in today’s seniors, often the first to adapt to digital life later in adulthood, will extend to future generations who grow up immersed in technology from the start.
“The technology is not static—it still changes,” Boot said. “So maybe it’s not a one-time effect.”
Historically, new technologies provoke initial panic but later reveal benefits. From television to video games to the recent rise of artificial intelligence, fears have often been disproven or mitigated over time.
Embracing Technology Into the Golden Years
Ms. Woods’ experience reflects a broader trend. Having adapted from an analog upbringing to IBM desktops and then modern digital tools, she embraces technology’s role in her life, from online shopping and digital calendars to AI chatbots helping plan family trips.
Last year, she used AI assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT to organize an RV trip and now employs them to arrange a family cruise celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, many older adults like Ms. Woods demonstrate that technology can be a powerful tool for maintaining not only connectivity but also cognitive health and engagement well into later life.
The New Old Age series is produced through a collaboration with KFF Health News.
