I can’t remember my daughter’s address without checking my phone. I can’t remember my shopping list without my phone. The number of the Doctor? The Dentist? I can’t remember the name of a song unless I know the first line of it…and have to ask Siri or Bixby or whoever is the ‘know-it-all’ on my phone. Is it a sign of old age, or a sign of the times? How many youngsters are going to grow up having lost – or worse, never developed - a vital bit of memory recall in their brains?


Is overuse of the internet to blame?

The term ‘Digital Dementia’ was first introduced in 2012 by a German neuroscientist called Manfred Spitzer (there will be a test at the end to test your memory!). His theory proposes that short-term memory pathways will start to deteriorate from underuse if we overuse technology. Short-term memory loss is when you forget things that have happened recently, such as an event or something you did, saw or heard. He could be right.

What impact is this having on children and young adults when their brains are still developing? Oh, I can understand my memory all right – I am getting old and it’s expected I will be a bit vague sometimes about the ages of grandchildren or times of appointments. My brain is already full of useless information, there’s no room left for new stuff.

Apparently, young brains need sensory stimulation, and it’s evidently true that it’s important for adult brains as well. Excessive and passive stimulation such as watching TV hour after hour, or scrolling through social media constantly can have a negative effect, including inattention, mood swings, fatigue and poor mental and physical health. It’s said by those in the know that the brain changes over our lifetime, and will lead to more distraction and even hasten the reduction of myelin, a protective coating over nerves that aids the speed of nerve stimulation. They say excessive screen time during brain development will increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in adulthood.


But it's not all doom and gloom

Another study reveals different findings altogether for the use of these devices - it is a well-known fact that humans use tools of all sorts to enhance our abilities – where would we be without the development of the wheel, for example? Or the light bulb? The most impressive early tool is said to be the knife, used primarily for hunting and survival. Even back then, our ancestors exploited stuff around them, for example, tree branches, which were sharpened and used as spears - so for centuries we have used tools, so isn’t your phone or computer a tool too?

It’s natural for humans to use props for our memories, after all, you can’t be expected to remember every recipe in a cookery book. Storing information on digital devices, for example, improves our memory because storing important information this way frees up our own memory to recall other, more important, things.

These digital devices are also just another way of connecting with others. In the past, it would be letters that took a week to arrive and another week to reply to, so what’s wrong with instant messages? It’s no worse than using the phone every day.


Word and Number Games

We can also use our phones, computers or whatever to play word and number games to stretch our mental muscles so to speak, but it’s important to remember that they are devised to make you use them more – not to mention the hidden charms of advertising that pop up, and although you delete them in frustration, the product has already been noticed by your brain and at some point you might remember them for a good reason. At least that’s what they hope.

And after all, who hasn’t played a sneaky game of Solitaire at work to relieve the boredom of a slack day?
So while you don’t have to give up your favourite online game, be aware of where that leads once you’re on your device.

OK, memory question – Who was the Neurologist who first introduced the term ‘Digital Dementia?

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan