Sarah Abobaker

Cause and Effect

2/3/17

Ms. Morgan
Technology Taking Over Memory

Technology may come with benefits such as easy communication, access to resources,

and many more. However, can people truly say that all of that is worth taking a toll on peoples

memory? With the prominent use of technology, many people become more prone to forgetting

things or having a short term memory. Many researchers have proved that there is a rise in

Alzheimer, a disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. This is due to

the amount of people that use technology to remind them of peoples phone numbers, the tasks

they need to complete, and the things they need to buy. Access to such advantages has allowed

the human brain to get lazy and not train themselves to recall things. Not only is technology

capable of making the brain lazy, but also making people physically lazy which can increase the

rate of symptoms in Alzheimer disease.

Devices like cellphones are said to make humans inactive because most of their

entertainment factor comes from constantly tapping on a screen. This makes people become less

active which can also increase the rate at which the symptoms of Alzheimers increase. Exercise

can directly benefit brain cells by increasing blood and oxygen flow in the brain. In a study done

at the University of British Columbia, researchers found that ...regular aerobic exercise

increases the size of the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain responsible for memory

(Godman, 3). Another way physical activity is helpful toward memory would be through

stimulating the release of growth factorschemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain

cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new
Sarah Abobaker

Cause and Effect

2/3/17

Ms. Morgan
brain cells. However, people would rather watch Netflix resulting in new cases of dementia

that is detected every four seconds globally, and an estimate that states that by the year 2050,

more than 115 million people will have dementia worldwide(Godman, 1)

Although technology has made life easier for many people, it made it too easy for the

human brain to progress and grow. With the prominent use of technology, many people become

more prone to forgetting things or having a short term memory. In the past, people were forced to

memorize phone numbers or at least write them down, but now humans are incapable of

retaining the simplest information. It is has come to the point where people are less likely to

remember the character in a movie that they are watching, their own license plate number, or the

last place they put something.

Alzheimer's disease has increased by 71 percent. In 2013, over 84,000 Americans died

from Alzheimer's according to official death certificates; however, in 2016, an estimated 700,000

people with Alzheimer's will die(Sauer, 4) The fact that this disease is expected to increase

demonstrates a direct correlation that Alzheimer's can be a relative condition to humans

obsession with technology.

Due to the fact that cellphones, laptops, and television make things easier for people to

handle and are used as a means for entertainment and education on a daily basis, researchers are

able to see the correlation in patients who have Alzheimers. The simplest things like

remembering the names of roads or where stores are located instead of depending on the GPS,

may make a difference in the rates of memory depletion.

Sarah Abobaker

Cause and Effect

2/3/17

Ms. Morgan
Work Cited Page:

"Speaking More Than One Language Could Prevent Alzheimer's." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web.

03 Feb. 2016.

Sauer, Alissa. "Speaking Two Languages Delays Dementia." Alzheimersnet. N.p., 2013.

Web. 03 Feb. 2016.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Prevention and Risk | Research Center | Alzheimer's

Association." Alzheimer's Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.

Godman, Heidi . "Regular Exercise Changes the Brain to Improve Memory, Thinking

Skills."Harvard Health Blog. N.p., 29 Nov. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.