Study finds memory decline surge in young people
14 days ago
- #cognitive decline
- #public health
- #social media impact
- A large US study finds a significant surge in memory decline among young people under 40.
- The prevalence of cognitive disability in adults aged 18-39 nearly doubled from 5.1% to 9.7% between 2013 and 2023.
- Social media and technology are suggested as key factors in this cognitive decline, creating a 'machinery of disattention'.
- The study excluded participants with depression to focus on non-psychiatric cognitive impairment, revealing a clear biological impact.
- Younger adults, racial minorities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are disproportionately affected.
- The rise in cognitive issues began in 2016, predating the pandemic, indicating a deeper, systemic problem.
- The study highlights the political implications of a population unable to concentrate or remember, threatening democracy.
- Older adults (70+) show a decline in cognitive disability, possibly due to less exposure to digital distractions.
- The findings call for urgent, compassionate discussion on cognitive deskilling and the need for mindfulness.