This is the 86th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
I was startled by a comment from a friend recently: she told me that she almost never uses the internet.
I work, cook, shop and walk listening to podcasts. I read the news online each morning. I use the internet to research, find supper recipes, search for new books to read and download the latest episodes of favourite radio shows.
The trace of smugness in my friend’s tone made me worry: what effect was this constant connectivity having on my well-being?
My concern deepened after watching part of a report on 60 Minutes Australia titled “Brain Drain”, about kids’ screen time and their brain health.
The findings were sobering. Research has found that young people who do not exercise much and spend hours on their screens – playing games, watching YouTube, scrolling through Instagram – show brain changes similar to those that doctors see on the scans of elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Research suggests that excessive time online may be making children less smart. Photo: Shutterstock
