Researchers looking at more than 400,000 people over 50 discovered that those routinely using digital devices had better brain health than their less tech-inclined peers. The study, drawn from 57 separate research papers, throws cold water on the idea that screen time leads to age-related cognitive collapse.

UT Health Austin clinical neuropsychologist Dr Jared Benge said: “For the first generation that was exposed to digital tools, their use is associated with better cognitive functioning.This is a more hopeful message than one might expect given concerns about brain rot, brain drain, and digital dementia.”

The analysis, co-authored by Baylor University cognitive neuroscientist Dr Michael Scullin, dug through global data on 411,430 adults, with an average age of 69. Each participant had either taken cognitive tests or had some form of diagnosis, and the conclusion was clear — tech use didn’t lead to mental deterioration.

The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, found that using smartphones, PCs, or internet access was linked to a lower risk of developing cognitive impairment. There was no support at all for the digital dementia hypothesis.

Scullin said using digital devices in the way that we use televisions – passive and sedentary, both physically and mentally – is not likely to be beneficial.

“But, our computers and smartphones also can be mentally stimulating, afford social connections, and provide compensation for cognitive abilities that are declining with ageing.”

These uses, Scullin added, have long been known to support healthy brain ageing.The results don't prove that tech use prevents dementia — sharper minds might simply gravitate toward digital tools — but the findings clearly undermine years of tabloid hysteria.