Does using digital technology help people avoid dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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An analysis of 57 studies published recently shows that use of digital technologies, including computers and smart phones, helps reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in older adults. Dementia expert Constantine Lyketsos at Johns Hopkins says while there appear to be benefits there can also be pitfalls.

Lyketsos: Using problem solving in an active way with electronic devices can be very good certainly can be very good for people who need specific skills that require focus and calmness. It's reasonably intuitive that there might be an effect on cognitive decline and attenuation. The more you do there are a lot of tricky parts because all of these things affect your sleep. Doing too much might create sleep disruption which is not a good thing if you want to not get dementia.                :30

Lyketsos says that as with all things, balance is important, so if your embrace of digital technologies results in reduced exercise or truncated social relationships such outcomes will not help when it comes to reducing dementia risk. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.