The baby boomers are the first generation that has navigated adulthood using digital technology. The oldest baby boomers were around 25 when the first e-mail was sent; they were the first generation to have home computers and personal smartphones.

Now researchers are working to understand how exposure to technology is affecting this generation’s cognitive skills as they age. One theory hypothesizes that a lifetime of technology use leads to poorer cognitive abilities, while another asserts that using technology promotes behaviors that preserve cognition.

“You can flip on the news on just about any day and you’ll see people talking about how technologies are harming us,” said Michael Scullin, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University. “People often use the terms ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain rot,’ and now ‘digital dementia’ is an emerging phrase. As researchers, we wanted to know if this was true.”

It turns out the opposite is true: A large body of evidence – as reported this week in a meta-analysis in the journal Nature – finds that using technology promotes cognitive health later in life. The analysis, of which Scullin was an author, pulled together data from 57 studies of more than 400,000 adults with an average age of 69. It found that engaging with digital technology reduced the risk of cognitive impairment by 58%. This was true no matter the participant’s socioeconomic status, education, age, gender, baseline cognitive ability, social support, overall health, or engagement with mentally-stimulating activities.

There are several reasons researchers believe using technology may preserve cognition. First, technology is always changing, which means that its users must constantly adapt.

“One of the first things that middle-age and older adults were saying is that ‘I’m so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn,’” Scullin said. “That’s actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain even if it doesn’t feel great in the moment. If you’re doing that for years and you’re really engaging with it, even though you might experience frustration, that may be a sign of you exercising your brain.”

Second, technology can promote social connectedness, which experts know is beneficial for cognition.

“Now you can connect with families across generations,” Scullin said. “You not only can talk to them, you can see them. You can share pictures. You can exchange emails and it’s all within a second or less. So that means there’s a greater opportunity for decreasing loneliness.”

Third, tools such as GPS and digital reminders can help support independence for people who experience mild cognitive decline later in life. More research is needed to better understand when and how these tools are most helpful, the researchers wrote.

In the meantime, it’s worthwhile to encourage older adults to engage with technology. “If you have a parent or grandparent who’s just staying away from technology, maybe revisit that,” Scullin said. “Could they learn to use photo, messaging, or calendar apps on a smartphone or tablet? Start simple and be very patient while they learn.”

The take-home message: Evidence clearly demonstrates that using technology reduces the risk of cognitive impairment later in life.