Aging in the Digital Age: Smartphones, Dopamine, and Geriatric Tech

The episode delves into how aging intersects with digital life, exploring why older adults increasingly use smartphones, the social factors that shape their tech habits, and the neuroscience behind screen time. Ipsit Bahia of McLean Hospital discusses patterns of use among people 60 and older, the social advantages of staying connected, and concerns about misinformation and scams. The conversation weaves in a China study suggesting that isolation can drive smartphone overuse, and it highlights tech-augmented care such as rideshare services and virtual reality in psychotherapy. The show ultimately reframes aging as a diverse experience rather than a monolithic challenge, and it considers how to balance benefits with risks.

Overview and framing

The episode from NPR's Shortwave features Ipsit Bahia, a geriatric psychiatrist, reflecting on aging, the rise of screen time among older adults, and how technology can both help and hinder well-being in later life. Bahia’s personal and professional background—growing up in a family of psychiatrists and working as the chief of geriatric psychiatry at McLean Hospital—frames a nuanced discussion about what elder care means in a digital age. The conversation situates aging within a spectrum of individual experiences, rather than treating it as a single problem to be solved.

“The art of geriatric psychiatry is actually on an individual by individual basis.” - Ipsit Bahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital

Smartphone use in older adults

Bahia notes that smartphone ownership among older adults is rising rapidly and that patterns of use differ by age. Unlike younger cohorts who heavily engage with social media and visual platforms, many older adults rely on smartphones for information, news, and staying in touch with family. A specific example Bahia highlights is the popularity of WhatsApp as a staying-in-touch device, enabling texts, calls, and video chats that help users keep up with birthdays and anniversaries and reduce isolation. This section of the interview underscores how practical technology can support independence, mobility, and social connection for seniors, even as it raises questions about the value of constant engagement.

“WhatsApp is the ultimate staying in touch device.” - Ipsit Bahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital

Empirical insights: the China study on smartphone addiction

The discussion turns to empirical research that investigates smartphone use among older adults. Bahia describes a Chinese study titled Understanding Older Adults Smartphone Addiction in the Digital Age, which surveyed 371 subjects. The study found that smartphone addiction often emerges as a consequence of other factors, notably cognitive decline and social alienation within family dynamics. This suggests that isolation and strained social relationships can drive overuse of digital devices rather than the device causing loneliness on its own. The implication is that interventions should address underlying social and cognitive factors to mitigate problematic technology use, especially in late life.

“Smartphone addiction was the consequence of other factors... isolation and alienation... led to smartphone addiction.” - Ipsit Bahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital

The brain's motivation: dopamine and screen time

A key part of the conversation focuses on the brain’s reward system. Bahia explains that dopamine is the reward neurochemical that underpins pleasure, gratification, and anticipation, and that much of social media and digital content is engineered to deliver quick dopamine hits. This mechanism helps explain why screen time can become compulsive, particularly when older adults experience cognitive changes or social isolation. The discussion balances this risk against the potential benefits of engaging digital content for news, information, and connection.

“Dopamine is the reward neurochemical.” - Ipsit Bahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital

Technology at its best: mobility and therapy

Bahia offers concrete examples of how technology can expand autonomy and improve mental health for older adults. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft allow seniors who can’t drive due to vision changes or slower reaction times to maintain independence and continue social engagement. Bahia also discusses virtual reality as an underutilized tool in psychotherapy; he shares a patient story in which standing outside childhood home through VR helped the patient confront childhood memories, an experience described as transformative. These examples illustrate how digital tools can support aging in place when used thoughtfully and tailored to the individual’s needs.

“Something about this was transformative.” - Ipsit Bahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital

Care that respects aging as diverse

The interview closes with a philosophical stance on aging and care. Bahia argues against treating the elderly as a monolithic group; rather, he emphasizes that people in their 60s can be very different from those in their 80s, and that geriatric care should be individualized. The takeaway is a call for compassionate, patient-centered care that acknowledges both the opportunities and the risks of technology in late life, while also acknowledging that medicine itself has historically aimed to extend life expectancy, not merely to “solve” aging as a problem.

“The truth is someone in their early 60s is nothing like someone in their late 80s, and we tend to think of everyone above 65 as like this one block.” - Ipsit Bahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital

Takeaways

The episode presents a nuanced view of how smartphones and digital technologies intersect with aging. They offer meaningful benefits for connection, information access, mobility, and therapy, but they also raise concerns about misinformation, scams, and overuse driven by reward circuitry in the brain. The conversation advocates for respecting aging as a diverse, individualized experience and for leveraging technology in ways that enhance well-being without replacing essential human connection.