Digital dementia: The memory problem plaguing teens and young adults
[1] Dementia is a disease that typically affects the elderly. But recently, a new cognitive condition has
[2] been discovered that is afflicting people ∈ their teens and 20s. It’s called “digital dementia.”
[3] A recent study from South Korea found that individuals who rely heavily on technology may suffer a
[4] deterioration ∈ cognitive abilities such as short term memory dysfunction.
[5] Dr. Carolyn Brockington from St. Luke’s Roosevelt Medical Center ∈New York City sat down with Dr.
[6] Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor for FoxNews.com, to talk about this new phenomenon.
[7] She said one of the reasons younger adults are suffering from poor memory is because they don’t feel the
[8] need to memorize information anymore. “The problem is that we’re using technology, which is good, but
[9] we’re overusing ∈ many ways,” Brockington said. “We’re not relying on our brains to sort of retrieve the
[10] information when we need it.”
[11] _________ elderly dementia is typically a permanent condition, Brockington said that’s not necessarily
[12] the case with digital dementia. __________ , she said these kind of memory issues could affect future
[13] generations.“I think they use dementia ∈ this case just to mean a memory problem,” she said. “But you
[14] know, if you think over an evolutionary time period, if we use the brain ∈ this way and we don’t use our
[15] short-term memory, maybe years and years (later) we’re going to have difficulty with short-term memory.”
[16] In order to counteract the effects of digital dementia, Brockington suggests engaging ∈ more conventional
[17] forms of communication. “Have a conversation,” she recommended. “…Don’t always text. You know, you
[18] go to the restaurant, and you see people sitting over a meal, and everybody’s on their cell phone. Nobody’s
[19] having a communication or talking sessions, so that’s important.”
[20] Brockington said exercise is also important for brain function, because it increases blood flow and the
[21] transportation of nutrients. __________ , the best way for people to learn is to read an actual book rather
[22] than a computer screen – and then try to recall information without the aid of technology. “Don’t always go
[23] to the Internet or go to your cell phone ∈ order to find answers,” Brockington said. “You have many of the
[24] answers ∈ your brain and actually using your retrieval mechanism of your memory allows your memory to
[25] get better and better over time.”
Disponível em: <http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/08/15/digital-dementia-memory-problem-plaguing-teens-and-young-adults/>.
Acesso em: 18 set. 2013.
Assinale com V (verdadeiro) ou F (falso) as seguintes afirmações, conforme elas estejam ou não de acordo com o texto.
( ) Overusing technology may cause memory problems.
( ) Elderly dementia often afflicts young people.
( ) Exercising memory might lead to digital dementia.
( ) A way to prevent digital dementia is to have face-to-face conversations.
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