According to reports from Japanese media, the Kanamachi Station Neurology Clinic in Tokyo has recently opened Japan's first "Smartphone Dementia Outpatient Service." This service specifically targets patients who experience significant declines in memory and concentration due to prolonged smartphone usage.
Dr. Katsuyuki Uchino, the director of the clinic, noted that the outpatient service sees about 10 patients daily, primarily aged between 30 and 40. Most come in with concerns about memory loss, forgetting appointments or work tasks, and difficulties writing kanji characters. Uchino emphasized, "Young people may feel psychological pressure about visiting a dementia clinic for memory issues, so we established this service to encourage them to confront their problems more openly."
Experts explain that excessive smartphone use can lead to information overload in the brain, making it difficult to effectively organize and store memories. As a result, important memories can become "drowned" in a cluttered mental space.
Uchino stated, "Endlessly scrolling through a smartphone has the greatest impact on the brain. Even spending just one hour on your phone before bed can make some individuals feel anxious about their declining memory." He recommends actively limiting aimless smartphone use to no more than one hour per day and avoiding bringing phones into the bedroom, suggesting the use of an alarm clock instead.
Uchino also pointed out that over-reliance on smartphones not only affects memory but can also lead to autonomic nervous system disorders and depression, ultimately progressing to true dementia. He emphasized that caring for the brain is akin to organizing a room; if the smartphone is never put down, memories can never be properly "reset."
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