Long-Term Impact of Using Mobile Phones and Playing Computer Games on the Brain Structure and the Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Large Population-Based Study (Preprint)
Authors: Xiao Yi , Zhang Sirui , Ma Yuanzheng , Wang Shichan , Li Chunyu , Liang Yan , Shang Huifang 
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing popularity of electronic devices, the longitudinal effects of daily prolonged electronic device usage on brain health and the aging process remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the daily use of mobile phones/computers on the brain structure and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

METHODS

We used data from the UK Biobank, a longitudinal population-based cohort study, to analyze the impact of mobile phone use duration, weekly usage time, and playing computer games on the future brain structure and the future risk of various neurodegenerative diseases, including all-cause dementia (ACD), Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), all-cause parkinsonism (ACP), and Parkinson disease (PD). All the characteristics of using mobile phones and playing computer games were collected through face-to-face interviews at baseline, and outcomes were extracted from the algorithmic combinations of self-reported medical conditions, hospital admissions, and death registries. In addition, a group of participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at follow-up. Cox regression and linear regression were performed.

RESULTS

The study included over 270,000 participants for risk analysis, with a mean baseline age of approximately 55.85 (SD 8.07) years. The average follow-up duration was approximately 13.9 (SD 1.99) years. Lengthy mobile phone use was associated with a reduced risk of ACD (2-4 years: hazard ratio [HR] 0.815, 95% CI 0.729-0.912, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; 5-8 years: HR 0.749, 95% CI 0.677-0.829, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; &gt;8 years: HR 0.830, 95% CI 0.751-0.918, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), AD (5-8 years: HR 0.787, 95% CI 0.672-0.922, <i>P</i>=.003), and VD (2-4 years: HR 0.616, 95% CI 0.477-0.794, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; 5-8 years: HR 0.729, 95% CI 0.589-0.902, <i>P</i>=.004; &gt;8 years: HR 0.750, 95% CI 0.605-0.930, <i>P</i>=.009) compared to rarely using mobile phones. Additionally, lengthy mobile phone use was linked to a decreased risk of ACP (5-8 years: HR 0.747, 95% CI 0.637-0.875, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; &gt;8 years: HR 0.774, 95% CI 0.663-0.904, <i>P</i>=.001) and PD (5-8 years: HR 0.760, 95% CI 0.644-0.897, <i>P</i>=.001; &gt;8 years: HR 0.777, 95% CI 0.660-0.913, <i>P</i>=.002) in participants older than 60 years. However, higher weekly usage time did not confer additional risk reduction compared to lower weekly usage of mobile phones. The neuroimaging analysis involved 35,643 participants, with an average duration of approximately 9.0 years between baseline and neuroimaging scans. Lengthy mobile phone use was related to a thicker cortex in different areas of the brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Lengthy mobile phone use is associated with a reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases and improved brain structure compared to minimal usage. Our research provides valuable background knowledge for future studies on the impact of modern electronic devices on brain health.