Digital divide
2 papers7 findings
- 2 independent labs in 2 countries
- Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Humans2
Outcomes
3Cognitive function
downin humans1
1 study
Cognitive function
downin humans1
Digital divide impairs cognitive function in humans.
“digital access divide was linked to increased functional limitations, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, social isolation, and lower overall healthy aging index.”
Humansolder adults in China
NPJ digital medicine21 Nov 2025
Depressive symptoms
upin humans1
1 study
Depressive symptoms
upin humans1
Digital divide increases depressive symptoms in humans.
“digital access divide was linked to increased functional limitations, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, social isolation”
Humansolder adults in China
NPJ digital medicine21 Nov 2025
Healthy aging
downin humans1
1 study
Healthy aging
downin humans1
Digital divide impairs healthy aging in humans.
“both divides were significantly associated with poorer healthy aging outcomes across physical, cognitive, emotional, and social domains.”
Humansolder adults in China
NPJ digital medicine21 Nov 2025
Associations
4Rate of gray matter volume loss
upin humans1
1 study
Rate of gray matter volume loss
upin humans1
Digital divide is associated with rate of gray matter volume loss in humans.
“The DD group exhibited faster gray matter volume decline in the middle frontal gyrus (t=3.95 for the peak voxel in this cluster, false discovery rate-corrected P<.05)”
HumansDD group compared with overcoming DD groupMiddle frontal gyrusMean follow-up 3.2 yearsn = 689
Journal of medical Internet research22 Jul 2025
Gray matter volume
downin humans1
1 study
Gray matter volume
downin humans1
Digital divide is associated with gray matter volume in humans.
“Reduced gray matter volume in the DD group spanned the fusiform gyrus, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and superior temporal sulcus (false discovery rate-corrected P<.05).”
HumansDD group compared with overcoming DD groupFusiform gyrus, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and superior temporal sulcusBaselinen = 1,280
Journal of medical Internet research22 Jul 2025
Processing speed
downin humans1
1 study
Processing speed
downin humans1
Digital divide is associated with processing speed in humans (Cohen d=0.37).
“and processing speed (t=4.62; P<.001; Cohen d=0.37) compared to the overcoming DD group.”
HumansDD group compared with overcoming DD groupn = 1,280
Journal of medical Internet research22 Jul 2025
Executive function
downin humans1
1 study
Executive function
downin humans1
Digital divide is associated with executive function in humans (Cohen d=0.38).
“The DD group showed significant deficits in executive function (t=4.75; P<.001; Cohen d=0.38)”
HumansDD group compared with overcoming DD groupn = 1,280
Journal of medical Internet research22 Jul 2025