Smartphone Use Could Cause Alzheimer's Disease Among Young People But Improve Memory of Old Adults With Dementia, Studies Claim

Today, having a smartphone, tablet, or computer is essential to become highly productive at work or school. However, these devices could also interfere with many aspects of a person's life, including mental and overall health.

Two new studies recently published show the negative and positive impacts of smartphone use, contributing to cognitive impairment or improved cognition. Read on to find out how they could have two opposing results.

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Smartphone Use Linked to Cognitive Impairment and Improved Cognition, Study Reveals

Smartphone Use Causes Alzheimer's Disease and Triggers Its Early Onset

A study from researchers at the Washington State University showed that the electronically generated electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted from smartphones can cause Alzheimer's disease and trigger its very early onset.

Martin L. Pall, Ph.D. argued that EMF exposure from wireless devices rapidly increases intracellular calcium that causes Alzheimer's disease after seeing it happen in animal models. He said in a statement that EMFs "act via peak electric and time-varying magnetic forces at a nanosecond time scale," which can cause early onset of the neurodegenerative disorder.

He pointed out previous studies in which people whose jobs expose them to EMF have higher rates of Alzheimer's disease, shortening the normal 25-year latency period of the disease. The news release stated that very young people exposed to cellphones or Wi-Fi radiation for many hours of the day might suffer from digital dementia.

Pall and his colleagues recommend conducting studies on brain markers of Alzheimer's disease and MRI scans on young people who might show signs of Alzheimer's disease due to EMF exposure. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that Alzheimer's disease cases will grow up to 12.7 million Americans by 2050 from today's 6.5 million.

The full findings are reported in the study titled "Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Fields Act via Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC) Activation to Cause Very Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease: 18 Distinct Types of Evidence," published in the journal Current Alzheimer's Research.

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Smartphone Use Improves Cognition of People With Dementia

Although the first study has discussed the negative impact of using a smartphone, the second study from researchers at the University of Missouri and Baylor University examines its benefit.

The research titled "Using Smartphone Technology to Improve Prospective Memory Functioning: A Randomized Controlled Trial" published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, revealed that adults with dementia or mild cognitive disorders can learn smartphone-based memory strategies to improve their memory function and independence.

McKnights Senior Living reported that researchers attribute the surprise reaction of most people to older adults using smartphones to stereotyping and ageism. However, they pointed out that times have changed and smartphone technology, especially because smartphones are essential to day-to-day use.

Researchers noted that smart technology not only reduces social isolation but improves memory. It also detects falls, monitors heart rhythms, and promotes independence among older people.

They encourage the public to discard stereotypes and train older adults, notably those with dementia or mild cognitive dysfunction, to optimally use smartphones to support functioning and improve quality of life.