Technology use
Technology use has been studied in 9 papers since 2021: 9 observational studies in people; 3 in the past year. The newest paper, Apr 15, 2026: “Digital skills as a pathway to successful aging: the mediating role of loneliness in Turkish context”.
9 papers study it7 findingsUpdated
“it was more likely to have cognitive impairment in the group that did not have access, did not use nor knew how to use technology”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 4 independent labs in 4 countries
- Funders: National Institute on Aging and 2 more
- Humans9
What did studies of Technology use find?
3Studies of Technology use measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are executive function (1 study), memory functionality (1) and loneliness (1).
Executive function
upin humans1
1 study
Executive function
upin humans1
Technology use improves executive function in humans (B = .27, SE = .015, P < .001).
“The lagged effect of technology use on executive function was significant across waves, B = .27, SE =.015, P < .001”
Humans2 yearsn = 470
Technology engagement in enhancing memory functionality in elderly care centers
Journal of education and health promotion
Memory functionality
upin humans1
1 study
Memory functionality
upin humans1
Technology use improves memory functionality in humans (B = 0.20, SE = 0.02, P < .001).
“greater use of technology was significantly associated with better memory performance in the following years, B (SE) =0.20, SE =0.02, P < .001”
Humans2 yearsn = 470
Technology engagement in enhancing memory functionality in elderly care centers
Journal of education and health promotion
Loneliness
downin humans1RR 0.81
1 study
Loneliness
downin humans1RR 0.81
Technology use decreases loneliness in humans (RR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.73-0.90).
“technology use (RR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.73-0.90);”
HumansCOVID-19 shutdownn = 238
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
What is Technology use linked with?
3Studies link Technology use with 3 measures, most often activities of daily living (1 study), working memory (1) and cognitive impairment (1).
Activities of daily living
upin humans1
1 study
Activities of daily living
upin humans1
Technology use is associated with activities of daily living in humans (r = 0.192, p < 0.001).
“technology use habits were weakly but positively correlated with BADL (r = 0.192, p < 0.001).”
Humansn = 384
BMC geriatrics
Working memory
upin humans1
1 study
Working memory
upin humans1
Technology use is associated with working memory in humans.
“Significant positive correlations were found between WM and digital competencies ( p < .001), frequency of technology use ( p < .01)”
Humansfemalesn = 66
AAIC 2025 abstract
Cognitive impairment
downin humans1OR 26.38
1 study
Cognitive impairment
downin humans1OR 26.38
Technology use is associated with cognitive impairment in humans (OR 26.38, 95% CI 16.07–43.28, p < 0.001).
“it was more likely to have cognitive impairment in the group that did not have access, did not use nor knew how to use technology”
Humansn = 23,694
Preprint
What acts on Technology use?
1Studies name 1 thing that act on Technology use, most often executive function (1 study).
Executive function
no changein humans1
1 study
Executive function
no changein humans1
Executive function has no effect on technology use in humans (B = .00, SE = .01, P = .14).
“However, the lagged effect of executive function on the use of technology was not significant, B = .00, SE =.01, P = .14”
Humans2 yearsn = 470
Technology engagement in enhancing memory functionality in elderly care centers
Journal of education and health promotion
Funding
1 grant since 2017Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health ResearchCA$199k