#Techforgood

In a finding that challenges long-held fears about the dangers of digital devices, a major new analysis reveals that older adults who regularly use smartphones and other digital technologies tend to experience slower rates of cognitive decline. The research, published in the highly regarded journal Nature Human Behaviour, analyzed data from more than 400,000 people over age 50 and concluded that routine digital device usage is associated with better cognitive functioning—offering hopeful news for Thailand’s rapidly greying population and its increasingly connected elderly.

A major new analysis suggests that older adults who regularly use smartphones and other digital tools experience slower cognitive decline. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, examined data from more than 400,000 people aged 50 and older and found that routine digital engagement is linked to better cognitive functioning. This offers hopeful implications for Thailand’s rapidly aging population and its increasingly connected seniors.

In Thailand, the aging society—referred to as the “สังคมผู้สูงอายุ” (sangkhom phu suung ayu)—is a central policy focus. Public health concerns about dementia remain high. Until now, many worried that screen-heavy lifestyles might cause “digital dementia.” However, the recent meta-analysis led by a senior researcher at UT Health Austin and a neuroscience expert at Baylor University presents a more optimistic view for today’s digital generation.