From doomscrolling to poor sleep: Areas that could lead to cognitive decline identified

From digitaljournal.com

A February 2026 report on risk-increasing behaviour among young adults identified doomscrolling and AI’s cognitive offloading as the habits that can severely increase brain aging. 

These findings come from the industry group Ben’s Natural Health, who have documented behavioural trends among young adults and assessed their potential health and psychological risks.

The key findings from the review are:

• Doomscrolling increases the chances of insomnia by 59%, while sleep deprivation is linked to a higher risk of dementia.
• The faster cognitive decline is connected to the diet based on ultra-processed foods and high reliance on fast food and sugary drinks.
• Chronic urban exposure to air and noise pollution can lead to a 14% increase in dementia risks. 

What exactly are these common habits and how do they accelerate brain aging, possibly increasing the risk of dementia and other related illnesses?

Using phones a lot, especially before bedtime, can hurt sleep quality, and poor sleep on its own can make attention, memory, and decision-making worse. — © AFP Nelson ALMEIDA

‘Revenge’ Bedtime Scrolling or Doomscrolling

‘Revenge’ social media scrolling in bed is very common now, as people try to catch up on the missed relaxation time, but the long-term effects of this habit carry significant risk. Each hour spent staring at screens in bed increases the likelihood of insomnia by 59% and leads to less sleep overall. These hours catch up fast, upping the chances of dementia in the future.

Chronic insomnia and cognitive decline share a bidirectional relationship, where poor sleep accelerates cognitive impairment, and cognitive decline can worsen sleep.

The full impact is:

• Insomnia risk increase: 59%
• Less sleep: 24 minutes on average
• Long-term effects: increased dementia risk

AI Cognitive Offloading

While making AI write first drafts, schedules, and even big decisions saves time, experts warn that the constant habit of it reduces critical thinking skills. Evidence suggests that over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) can lead to a form of cognitive decline, often referred to as “cognitive atrophy,” particularly affecting critical thinking, memory retention, and problem-solving skills.

Without the routine problem-solving that AI presence removes, the human brain doesn’t get enough activity that can lead to a faster cognitive decline.

Sitting All Day

Even when paired with gym and regular exercise, sedentary behaviour increases dementia risks by 17% on average. Long sitting coupled with TV-viewing almost doubles the chances, increasing them to 31%.

Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) as the Default Diet 

A large study of almost 11,000 adults found the link between UPF consumption and executive function decline. Impaired executive function means difficulty with cognitive skills that control planning, organizing, decision-making, and emotional regulation, leading to struggles with daily tasks like starting projects, managing time, staying focused, controlling impulses, and adapting to changes.

Fast food, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks are rich in UPF ingredients, and eating them daily affects not only people’s stomachs but also the blood vessels in their brains.

Chronic Urban Exposure

The urban environment is an unavoidable reality for millions of people, but it also affects dementia risks every day. Systematic reviews of medical studies found that both noise and light pollution are connected to raised dementia risks, and constant noise exposure to traffic increases it by around 14%.

Undertreated Hearing Loss

With modern technology able to raise the sound volume to almost any level, many adults miss the first signs of hearing loss. Without assessment, risks increase fast, and hearing intervention slows the cognitive decline (by up to 48% in just 3 years).

https://www.digitaljournal.com/life/from-doomscrolling-to-poor-sleep-areas-that-could-lead-to-cognitive-decline-identified/article 

Study reveals that employees who frequently engage with AI systems are more likely to experience loneliness

From eastcoastdaily.in 

As the integration of AI into various aspects of society continues to evolve, it is crucial to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages it brings. Proactive measures are necessary to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating potential drawbacks. According to a research study conducted by the American Psychological Association and reported by scitechdaily, employees who frequently engage with AI systems are more likely to experience loneliness, which can lead to insomnia and increased after-work drinking. The study was conducted across different countries, including the United States, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, with consistent findings across different cultures.

Lead researcher Dr. Pok Man Tang, who has experience in an investment bank and is now an assistant professor of management at the University of Georgia, emphasizes that while AI systems offer many benefits, they also pose uncharted dangers, including potential negative impacts on employees’ mental and physical well-being. Humans are social animals, and isolating work with AI systems may have detrimental effects on employees’ personal lives.

Interestingly, the study found that employees who frequently interacted with AI systems were more likely to provide assistance to their colleagues. However, this response might be driven by their own loneliness and desire for social interaction. The research also revealed that individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety, characterized by insecurity and worry about social connections, showed stronger reactions to working with AI systems, both positive (helping behaviours) and negative (loneliness and insomnia).

In one experiment, engineers from a Taiwanese biomedical company who frequently worked with AI systems were surveyed over three weeks. The results showed a correlation between increased interaction with AI systems and higher levels of loneliness, insomnia, and after-work alcohol consumption. However, these employees also exhibited helping behaviours towards their co-workers.

A similar experiment involving real estate consultants in an Indonesian property management company yielded the same findings. Additionally, online experiments with full-time working adults in the US and employees at a Malaysian tech company produced similar results.

It is important to note that the research findings demonstrate a correlation between work with AI systems and loneliness, insomnia, and other responses, but they do not establish a causal relationship. Dr. Tang suggests that developers of AI technology should consider incorporating social features, such as a human-like voice, to simulate human interactions. Employers could also limit the frequency of AI system usage and provide opportunities for employees to socialize. Tasks requiring social connections could be assigned to humans while AI systems focus on repetitive and monotonous tasks.

Dr. Tang further proposes that mindfulness programs and other positive interventions may help alleviate loneliness among employees. Taking action now to mitigate the potential negative effects of working with AI systems is crucial as AI continues to expand.

https://www.eastcoastdaily.in/2023/06/19/study-reveals-that-employees-who-frequently-engage-with-ai-systems-are-more-likely-to-experience-loneliness.html