By India McCarty
A groundbreaking new study finds that just two weeks of going internet-free on your smartphone can reverse a decade of cognitive aging.
“Smartphones have drastically changed our lives and behaviors over the past 15 years, but our basic human psychology remains the same,” the study’s lead researcher, associate professor of marketing Adrian Ward, said. “Our big question was, are we adapted to deal with constant connection to everything all the time? The data suggest that we are not.”
Conducted by the University of Texas, the study included 467 iPhone users who installed an app that blocked mobile internet access on their smartphones. They were still able to call and text from their phones.
The study revealed that this measure led to a steep reduction in screen time, with the study participants’ screen time going from an average of 314 minutes to 161 minutes.
Additionally, 91% of participants saw improvement in their mental health and attention span. The study concluded that the two-week digital detox reversed a decade of cognitive aging.
“These results provide causal evidence that blocking mobile internet can improve important psychological outcomes,” the researchers concluded. “And suggest that maintaining the status quo of constant connection to the internet may be detrimental to time use, cognitive functioning, and well-being.”
Other notable results? When the study’s participants were without mobile internet use, they filled their time with real-world activities, such as socializing with friends, enjoying hobbies and spending time in nature.
According to an article from the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, cognitive aging “refers to changes in the ability to think, learn and remember that occur as individuals age.”
Related: Excessive Screen Time Linked to Lower Cognitive Function, Study Finds
They emphasized that it is “a natural process,” and everyone’s brain ages “at different rates and in different ways.”
Others have referred to cognitive aging as “digital dementia,” whose symptoms include memory issues and cognitive deterioration.
“Long periods of screen time can affect the brain’s cognitive functions,” Dr. Vinayak Kshirsagar, a senior laparoscopic surgeon, explained to NDTV. “This is basically because of the decreased attention span and prolonged screen time.”
He added that excessive screen time on a smartphone can also lead to physical issues, including obesity, body aches, spine problems and backaches.
Dr. CS Narayanan, VSM Chairman at New Delhi’s Institute of Neurosciences, elaborated on the ways the physical inactivity related to excessive screen time can impact our cognitive function.
“Physical inactivity can lead to structural changes in the brain, inflammation and reduces blood flow to the brain,” he said. “This can also lead to changes in behavioral patterns because continuous digital processing means our memory isn’t being trained for short and fast-paced tasks.”
He continued, “We’re not using all of our neuronal channels in the brain as much, which can lead to excessive anxiety, stress levels, and possible changes in behavioral patterns.”
From negative physical effects to cognitive decline, it seems like there is no end to the benefits of putting your phone down and getting back into the real world.
Read Next: Are You Experiencing Digital Dementia? What You Need to Know
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