Digital dementia, the term coined by German neuroscientist and psychiatrist Manfred Spitzer in 2012 in his book “Digital Demenz”, describes cognitive changes resulting from an excessive use of screens.
Dementia, which is an umbrella term, describes a decline in cognitive abilities related to reasoning, memory and language – and is generally linked to aging and certain pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Manfred Spitzer, who denigrates digital technologies – according to him they make people short-sighted, depressed, insomniac, apathetic and diabetic – has since become a controversial media figure in Germany and has seen his analyzes contested, but recent studies are proving him right.
A study conducted in 2022 “Leisure-time sedentary behaviors are differentially associated with all-cause dementia regardless of engagement in physical activity” by professors Raichlen, Klimentidis, Sayre, Bharadwaj, Lai, Wilcox and Alexander (from the Universities of Southern California and of Arizona) explores the impact of a sedentary lifestyle and computer and television use on the risk of dementia. According to the results of this study, the increase in passive cognitive behaviors (watching television) leads to an increased risk of dementia. Passive but cognitively active activities (computer use) are associated with a lower risk of dementia.
A study conducted in 2023 by the Kuppam Institute of Medical Sciences and Research “Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management” demonstrates that excessive screen use has a negative impact on functioning executive and working memory in children and teenagers.
Finally, another study conducted by the hospital affiliated to Jinan University “Associations of screen-based sedentary activities with all cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia: a longitudinal study based on 462,524 participants from the UK Biobank” analyzes the relationship between sedentary screen activities and dementia risk on more than 462,000 participants. The study results reveal that more than four hours of screen time per day is associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s among participants.
To date, digital dementia is not a diagnosable disease as such. However, some symptoms can be similar to those of dementia when digital tools are overused, such as short-term memory problems, concentrating and reasoning difficulties, sleep disturbances or even mood changes.
I am stating the obvious here but it is crucial to be in control of our use of digital tools. When we come to social media and streaming platforms, it is often boredom that leads us there.
- Turn off your notifications and fight against the phenomenon of FOMO,
- Limit the time spent on passive media,
- Exercise when you are on passive media,
- Plan activities and anticipate these activities, whether reading, board games, museums,
- Get out of the house, even without a predefined goal.
Editor’s note. Here I am at the Parisian Madeleine church, at 4 p.m. Fifteen minutes before, I was in the office and my brain was exploding after a very complex day – I just thought it was enough for the day, I left. While visiting the Madeleine church, I was able to chat with one of the sacristans. Formerly homeless, he is keen to protect his church and he is a colorful character who hunts down influencers who do not respect the dignity induced by the place. He explained to me the renovation plan for the church (whose facade, renovated and white, contrasts badly with the very polluted and very black sides). He also confirmed to me the veracity of the legend according to which two apartments were camouflaged under the roofs of the church. This chat saved the day.
Revillon leather jacket – Banana Republic top – Max Mara skirt – Repetto flat shoes – Yves Saint Laurent vintage belt – Chanel sunglasses – Valentino purse
June 7, 2024
