098 - Digital Dementia: Can Excessive Screen Time Affect Memory, Focus, and Brain Health? with Dr. Paul Filomeno

Is too much screen time affecting our brains? In this episode of the Discerning Parenting Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Paul Filomeno, an addiction and recovery medicine specialist, pediatrician, and founder of Healthy Screens PH, to discuss the concept of digital dementia. 

While not a formal medical diagnosis, digital dementia describes the cognitive effects of excessive screen use—such as poor memory, shorter attention spans, and difficulty with problem-solving.

Dr. Paul shares his expertise on how screen time impacts brain development in children, including executive function, impulse control, and empathy. We also explore  problematic internet use, digital distraction, and parental technoference—and most importantly, what we can do as parents to protect ourselves and our kids.

In this episode, you'll discover...
✅ What digital dementia is and how it affects memory and attention span
✅ How excessive screen time impacts children's brain development
✅ How to set digital boundaries for a healthier family life

Resources & Links Mentioned:
📌 Previous Episodes with Dr. Paul:

• How to Reduce Screen Time Without Tantrums
• Signs Your Child’s Screen Time is Too Much

📌 More Resources on Digital Parenting:

• Visit DiscerningParenting.com/digitalparenting and let us know you're interested in this!
• Learn more about Healthy Screens PH and Dr. Paul’s advocacy.

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The Discerning Parenting Podcast is a free informational resource for parents. As a valued listener, you acknowledge that any information you get from this podcast is for your general guidance only, and ​​must never be considered a substitute for the advice provided by a doctor, therapist, or other qualified medical professionals who know your child specifically. Read our full disclaimer policy here.

Transcript

Victoria Ang Nolasco: Digital dementia is something that experts have been talking about. Is it real? How does it affect us?

Welcome to Discerning Parenting, the podcast for parents of kids age 12 and under who have learned the hard way that a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting won’t shift the needle for you, your child, or your family. Together, we’ll explore intentional strategies that help both you and your kids thrive—strategies based on well-conducted research in child development, brain science, and neurodiversity, made practical for you.

What if you let go of perfect and embraced discerning parenting instead? If you feel like you’ve been stumbling your way through parenthood and you’re ready to leave behind fight-or-flight mode parenting, then this is the podcast for you.

I’m Dr. Victoria Ang Nolasco, a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician and Positive Parenting Coach, on a mission to help you release your parenting guilt so you can become laser-focused on what will truly work for you.

We have with us again Dr. Paul Filomena, an addiction and recovery medicine specialist, a pediatrician, founder of Healthy Screens PH, and a dad. If you haven’t already, listen to our previous episodes where we talk about what to do if you’re worried about your child’s screen time or struggling to get your toddler or young child away from a screen.

Thank you for joining us again, Dr. Paul. So, what is digital dementia?

Dr. Paul Filomeno: Digital dementia is a lay term that refers to cognitive impairments caused by excessive use of digital devices, leading to symptoms such as poor memory, shorter attention spans, and difficulty with basic problem-solving, like math or even decision-making.

In 2012, Dr. Manfred Spitzer popularized the term in his book, drawing attention to how over-reliance on technology could mimic some symptoms of traditional dementia. However, as a disclaimer, while the term isn’t formally recognized as a medical diagnosis, it serves as a powerful lens through which we can examine the impact of screen overuse.

I believe many of our listeners may already be experiencing some of these cognitive problems due to excessive screen use—things like memory impairment, shortened attention spans, and difficulties focusing.

Victoria Ang Nolasco: By the way, Dr. Paul also has training in neurology, so brain health and protecting our kids’ brains is something I’m very passionate about.

Dr. Paul: There are a lot of studies now showing that excessive screen time can actually reduce a person’s brain matter. We know that in children, there is rapid brain development in the first thousand days and even until adolescence. Areas of the brain responsible for executive function, empathy, and impulse control are particularly vulnerable.

Excessive screen time has been documented to shrink these areas, leading to attention difficulties in children, reduced memory retention, and even poor academic performance. I agree with you—we must sound the alarm early. The digital world is growing fast, and we must learn how to navigate it with caution. Having these issues documented now should make us pause and recalibrate.

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves: Is this really how we should live?

Dr. Victoria: That’s true. When I look at social media, I see many so-called “experts” contesting the research that screen time can be harmful. They often say, “Oh, it’s not 100% proven that screen time is harmful.” But as a parent, ask yourself—are you going to wait for 100% proof before you protect your child? By the time we get that proof, it might be too late.

Many parents have told me, I wish I had known earlier. I’ve met so many parents who wish they had given their children less screen time because of the struggles they now face.

Given the growing body of evidence, what can we do about it? There are many related terms now—digital dementia, problematic internet media use disorder (which is already more documented), digitally distracted parenting, and technoference. Technoference refers to how parents’ screen use interferes with the parent-child relationship.

These terms all describe the potential impact of excessive screen use on our brains, our children’s brains, and our parent-child relationships. So how do we protect ourselves and our kids from this?

Dr. Paul: The first step is recognition. Many people complain about short attention spans and forgetfulness. Studies on digital dementia correlate these issues with constant notifications and cognitive fatigue.

Some tech influencers even say our phones should be our “second brain.” We’re becoming dependent on our devices to store information instead of using our own memory, which could be contributing to forgetfulness and difficulty processing information properly. We are constantly switching between tasks and failing to engage deeply with any one thing.

Another major casualty of excessive screen use is flow of experience—that state of deep focus, peak performance, creativity, and relaxation. Constant digital stimulation makes it harder to enter this state, which negatively impacts both productivity and well-being.

If you’re a parent or professional, ask yourself: Am I starting to develop a problematic relationship with my devices? It may not be dementia or a neurological disorder, but it could be a habit that negatively impacts your life.

So, is setting boundaries the most important step? Should we focus on restriction or regulation?

Regulation is the better approach. We cannot detach ourselves from technology—we need it to pay bills, work, and communicate. The key is how we use it and how much we depend on it. We need to regulate screen use in a way that balances our responsibilities with mindful digital consumption.

We’ve previously discussed recommendations for regulating screen use in children, but what about regulating our own habits? Here are a few practical steps:

1. Review your digital health. Use your phone’s app tracking features to see how much time you spend on screens daily, weekly, and monthly. Look for trends—is your screen time increasing?
2. Dedicate screen-free hours during the day. This is crucial for mental health, eye health, and overall well-being.
3. Set boundaries with work and social media. Research shows that constantly being “on” leads to chronic stress.

We must advocate for healthier digital habits in both our personal lives and workplaces. At Discerning Parenting, we already have enough evidence to be cautious about excessive screen time, and new studies continue to confirm its potential harm.

Dr. Victoria: We’ll link to relevant research in the show notes. Also, check out our previous episodes with Dr. Paul, where we discuss this topic in more detail.

Are you interested in more resources about digital parenting? Head over to DiscerningParenting.com/digitalparenting and let us know.

Dr. Paul, thank you for joining us again and for sharing not just your expertise but also your experience as a parent. I love how you and your spouse work together to manage screen time and promote the wise use of digital media in your family.

Dr. Paul: Technology is here to stay, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Start with small habit changes. Parenting in the digital age is tough—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Celebrate small wins. Every effort you make today can create a different trajectory for your child and for yourself.

I personally love reading your books, Victoria. I encourage everyone to explore the resources available at DiscerningParenting.com. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support. We’re all in this together.