Converging evidence from biopsychosocial research in humans and animals
demonstrates that chronic sensory stimulation (via excessive screen exposure)
affects brain development increasing the risk of cognitive, emotional, and
behavioural disorders in adolescents and young adults. Emerging evidence suggests
that some of these effects are similar to those seen in adults with symptoms of
mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the early stages of dementia, including
impaired concentration, orientation, acquisition of recent memories (anterograde
amnesia), recall of past memories (retrograde amnesia), social functioning, and
self-care. Excessive screen time is known to alter gray matter and white volumes
in the brain, increase the risk of mental disorders, and impair acquisition of
memories and learning which are known risk factors for dementia. Chronic sensory
overstimulation (i.e., excessive screen time) during brain development increases
the risk of accelerated neurodegeneration in adulthood (i.e., amnesia, early
onset dementia). This relationship is affected by several mediating/moderating
factors (e.g., IQ decline, learning impairments and mental illness). We
hypothesize that excessive screen exposure during critical periods of development
in Generation Z will lead to mild cognitive impairments in early to middle
adulthood resulting in substantially increased rates of early onset dementia in
later adulthood. We predict that from 2060 to 2100, the rates of Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementias (ADRD) will increase significantly, far above the
Centres for Disease Control (CDC) projected estimates of a two-fold increase, to
upwards of a four-to-six-fold increase. The CDC estimates are based entirely on
factors related to the age, sex, race and ethnicity of individuals born before
1950 who did not have access to mobile digital technology during critical periods
of brain development. Compared to previous generations, the average
17–19-year-old spends approximately 6 hours a day on mobile digital devices
(MDD) (smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers) whereas individuals born
before 1950 at the same age spent zero. Our estimates include the documented
effects of excessive screen time on individuals born after 1980, Millennials and
Generation Z, who will be the majority of individuals
