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D ementia affects the ability of a person to think and reason properly. Excess use of technology has increased the chance of developing digital dementia.
“It is recommended that screen time is not introduced before the age of 2 and from 2-4 years of age that it’s limited to 1hr a day.” – Dr Telford
Is digital dementia affecting you or your family?
The overuse of electronics at a young age is a rising concern for many doctors around the world. The demand for anything digital is at an all-time high and it’s leading to a surge in what some people are calling “digital dementia“.
In this article, we’ll help you understand the facts about digital dementia (or electronic dementia) as others call it.
Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a decline in the ability to think. It also affects memory, reasoning and language due to chemical changes happening in the brain. Dementia can severely impact the quality of life of a person by affecting the functioning of the brain. In the digital age, the term ‘digital dementia’ has emerged. German neuroscientist and psychiatrist Manfred Spitzer coined the term in 2012 to describe changes in cognitive abilities as a side effect of technology overuse. While digital dementia isn’t a medical condition, what it implies is that excessive use of technology can lead to dementia-like symptoms.
Is digital dementia real?
Digital dementia is characterised as the disintegration of brain functioning as a result of the abuse of technological innovations, such as computers, smartphones and the internet, says psychiatrist, therapist and counsellor.
A study published in BMC Public Health Journal in 2023 analysed the relationship between screen-based sedentary activities and the risk of dementia in 462,524 participants. Researchers found that more than 4 hours of screen time per day was linked with a higher risk of vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and all-cause dementia in participants. Increased daily screen time was also associated with physical changes in certain areas of the brain.
What are the symptoms of digital dementia?
This condition cannot exactly be diagnosed. However, as the name implies, digital dementia may share some symptoms similar to those of dementia.
Having issues with short-term memory.
Easily forgetting or losing things.
Finding it difficult to recall words.
Having a hard time multi-tasking.
Excess screen time can also result in sleep or frequent mood changes.
Which can further significantly affect brain function.
How to prevent digital dementia?
Technology has been a boon in today’s times. However, one can’t rule out the downsides of excess technology usage. Digital dementia is one of them. There are precautions you can take to limit your chances of developing electronic dementia. Below are seven useful tips.
Limit Screen Time
The suggested screen time for children of all ages should be limited to two hours a day and no TV or digital entertainment should be permitted for children under the age of two. Homes should have “screen-free zones”, especially in bedrooms.
Use your Head Instead of Relying on Digital Devices
When possible, try to think for yourself instead of relying on your computer to do the thinking for you.
Learn a New Language
Using the brain to learn something new, like a new language, provides brain stimulation that can fend off all types of dementia.
Perform Brain-Based Postural Exercises
Brain-based learning refers to teaching methods, lesson designs, and school programs that are based on the latest scientific research about how the brain learns, including cognitive development—how students learn differently as they age, grow, and mature socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Read a Real Book, Not a Kindle
Yes, reading is great stimulation for the brain, but reading from electronic devices such as a Kindle, exposes your body to electromagnetic fields which can promote electronic dementia.
Interact with Real Life
Children need to spend the majority of their time interacting with real people and real life instead of the equivalent from computer games. Make sure they regularly perform the following:
Exercise
Play outdoors
Reading
Enjoy hobbies
Use their imaginations creatively
Learn with non-electronic formats like newspapers, board games and books
TVs should be turned off during meals to foster family time interaction
In Summary
In this article, we learned the definition of digital dementia, the symptoms children could face and seven tips to avoid it. We hope you find this information useful and take electronic dementia as seriously as we do.
