A Qualitative Research on the Concept of Digital Dementia from the Perspective of Academics

Aim: The incidence of dementia is increasing worldwide, posing a significant health challenge. While dementia has many causes, the frequency of exposure to digital technologies is believed to accelerate the process of digital dementia. The aim of this study is to conduct a qualitative investigation into the concept of digital dementia from the perspective of academics, aiming to understand the effects of digital technology use on cognitive functions and to explore the definition, symptoms, and prevention of digital dementia in depth. Method: Qualitative research method was used in the study. The research was designed with a phenomenological approach and the criterion sampling method, one of the purposeful sampling methods, was used as the sampling method. In the research, a semi-structured interview form was prepared and data was collected using the in-depth interview technique. In the research, the data collected from 12 academics were analyzed thematically. Results: In the research; It is seen that the participants use digital technology mostly for shopping, obtaining information and education, that digital technologies have a negative impact on the physical, psychological, cognitive and social health of the participants, and the concept of digital dementia is expressed as a new concept by the participants. Conclusion: In order to better understand the effect of digital technologies on cognitive health, it is deemed important to conduct studies on different sample groups in order to better understand the subject. Originality: When the literature was scanned, no study was found that both conceptually expressed the concept of digital dementia and was designed qualitatively. In this respect, the study is original and adds new findings to the literature.