How many of you read on your iPhone or iPad before going to bed?

• Check some news?
• Check your facebook?
• Check your email?
• Play some Angry Birds? Flappy Birds? Big Birds?
• Poke around your apps for no good reason and waste a good 30 minutes?
• Then feel tired the next day regretting it all?

Well guess what. It isn’t just the 30 minutes (or 2 hours) sleep you had lost. Additional New research suggest the problem is much more serious.

I say “suggest” because like any study there are always holes you can knit pick about or poke holes at, such as how many participants there were or whether some variable was considered. But take it for what it is, either way it is an interesting topic of discussion. Also keep in mind this is one of numerous studies that confirm the same findings. I for one feel more tired if I was reading something on the screen the previous day.

The Read Screen before Sleep Study

A study published in the journal “Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences” seems to further support numerous studies on this subject that find reading on a screen before bed could be harmful.

“We found the body’s natural circadian rhythms were interrupted by the short-wavelength enriched light, otherwise known as blue light, from these electronic devices,” said Anne-Marie Chang, PhD

Previous studies have shown that looking at a screen (more specifically having blue light shining into your eyes) suppressed melatonin levels and messes up your alertness levels.

This study compared people who read on normal books versus people who read on a screen right before sleep. Study was for two weeks with 12 participants who read on an iPad or printed books for a couple hours before bed for several days straight.

Those who read iPads took longer to fall asleep and when they did had shorted REM sleep compared to those who read printed books. They also were more tired the next day even if they had a full eight hours of sleep.

So what is the moral of the story?

Since you probably can’t stop reading the last article or email before sleeping (I’m being realistic here), just resist if you have to wake up early or have an important engagement the next day. Big test? Don’t do it. Big date? Don’t do it. Eye exam? Don’t do it. Going hunting with your love ones? Don’t do it!

Or suffer the consequences… or not. Don’t do it!

Computer technology has come a long way over the life of many seniors. To put this single lifetime of technological growth into perspective, Daily Crate reports that the computer that landed men on the moon had only about 5 one-millionths of a percent of the memory that the iPhone 5s possesses. Seniors living today have seen the creation of the Internet, the explosion of social media and the advent of smartphones. Although it can be daunting for some, there are many ways that modern technology can help improve the lives of senior citizens.

Social Interaction

Social interaction is an important part of anyone’s health. According to a United Healthcare survey of centenarians, remaining socially engaged was just as important as fitness for aging healthily. The survey also shows that 89 percent of centenarians (people over 100!) talk with a friend or family member almost every day. Software such as Skype and Facetime allows users to have face-to-face interactions regardless of the distance between the two chatting parties.

A study by The Phoenix Center even says that late-life depression affects approximately 6 million Americans over the age of 65, and costs the country about $100 billion annually. It also claims that regular online interactions can reduce senior depression by approximately 20 percent. One hypothesis is that Internet use reduces loneliness and depression by providing communication tools for the aging population as mobility limitations increase, and the Internet provides a means of communication. The study uses many different methods for testing the hypothesis including logit models, linear probability models, instrumental variables and propensity score methods. In each case, they found that the results favor that Internet use by the elderly reduces the chance of depression.

Another study conducted in 2003 in Technology and Disability found that as seniors learned to use the Internet, they had a greater amount of social contact and more satisfaction with that contact.

Social media also can be a great tool for seniors. Wishpond reports that seniors over the age of 74 are the fastest growing demographic across social networking sites. Additionally, there are 39 million people over the age of 65 that use Facebook, Twitter and Skype. Social media allows seniors to stay in touch with friends and family, meet new people with similar interests and play games that can help to maintain mental reflexes and acuity. Wishpond also notes that seniors don’t just have email accounts but also search on Google, browse Facebook and watch YouTube. While nothing can replace the value of face-to-face conversations, social media allows seniors to stay engaged with the world at large as well as view and share images with their loved ones easily.

Fitness

There are many ways that technology aids in maintaining physical health and wellness in seniors. Many assisted living centers for seniors have found that motion controlled video games such as Wii Sports allow seniors to enjoy light physical activity every day. An article in The Atlantic even claims that “Wii Bowling has spawned entire leagues and tournaments, taking over nursery homes, retirement communities and community centers as one of the fastest-growing and most popular social activities.” The Michigan Governor’s Council of Physical Fitness, Health and Sports reports that regular aerobic exercise decreases body fat, improves bone density and contributes to a greater percentage of lean body tissues in seniors. Motion controlled video games provide a fun, social form of exercise that is safe and can lead to a better quality of life.

Devices and Apps

Smartphones, such as the popular Samsung Galaxy S 5 and the iPhone 5s, are also great for seniors. They allow seniors the opportunity to access health and wellness programs online such as AARP programs, health tracking and medication management as well as their social media accounts and favorite games. These phones also come with great apps, such as RxmindMe, which helps track medications and supplements as well as offering reminders and schedules for those who find it challenging to track their medications.