{"doi":"10.1111/jgs.16972","title":"<scp>Screen‐Based</scp> Physical Activity Tools: Are the Current Recommendations Causing More Harm Than Good?","abstract":"During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults have been found to be at a heightened risk both for susceptibility to the virus and for adverse consequences if infected. They have therefore been fervently encouraged to stay home, and the resulting feelings of social isolation and reported sedentary behavior that many have experienced is worrisome, not only for their mental and physical health, but also for their cognitive status as well. Lifestyle factors such as physical and social activities were recently highlighted by the Alzheimer's Association as promising strategies for preserving cognitive function in later life.1 Thus, during this unprecedented period of isolation, it is essential to safely promote exercise for older adults. This letter addresses the implications of current recommendations from organizations such as the American Heart Association, among others,2 for engaging in physical activity via screen-based workouts. Potential questions pertaining to access and cognitive health in older adults are discussed, and the development of alternative strategies is encouraged. Thus far, exercise recommendations during the pandemic have typically focused on leveraging technology-based platforms. For example, exergames, or active videogames that simulate exercises like swimming and running, have been suggested as an effective way to maintain activity levels indoors.3 Similarly, a recent narrative review concluded that apps, online videos, and telehealth were the main international recommendations for increasing physical activity.2 These proposed strategies are certainly compelling. However, they are inherently dependent on electronic screen use, which may have unintentional consequences, particularly for older adults. First, there may be an issue of accessibility: prior studies have indicated generational differences in technology use and literacy, such that adults 65 years and older are less likely to own smart phones and to have internet access.4 Moreover, COVID-19 has severely restricted the possibility of obtaining help from friends or family, and some individuals may be deterred from using these services on their own. Additionally, reliance on technological tools for exercise may exacerbate known health inequities, as access to programs like exergames likely require a certain level of resources. Second, for older adults who do have access and the capabilities to use these technologies, the increased incorporation of screen-based solutions may inadvertently have a negative impact on cognition. The long-term effects of screen time among older adults are not yet clear, but some preliminary investigations suggest an association between increased screen use and poorer cognitive function. In a longitudinal study investigating the interaction between physical activity and TV watching, Hoang et al demonstrated that higher levels of TV time in young adulthood were associated with cognitive impairment in midlife, with an increased effect when high TV levels were coupled with low physical activity levels.5 It may be the case that the content and context of the screen time matter. For instance, Ballestero et al showed that nonaction videogames could improve processing speed, attention, and visual memory in older adults.6 Yet there may be a negative impact of all types of screen exposure on cognition, due to the effects of artificial lighting on circadian physiology.7 Further investigation is certainly warranted to understand the complexities of these associations. Meanwhile, as rises in screen time are inevitable for social and entertainment purposes, developing physical activity recommendations that do not depend on screens may be worthwhile for older adults. To address the issue of access, one option may be to create infographics of effective home-based workout routines that can be delivered by mail or disseminated by primary care practices or local human service organizations.8 For some, technology may be utilized in an age-appropri","journal":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","year":2020,"id":131593,"datarank":0.0,"base_score":0.0,"endowment":0.0,"self_citation_contribution":0.0,"citation_network_contribution":0.0,"self_endowment_contribution":0.0,"citer_contribution":0.0,"corpus_percentile":null,"corpus_rank":null,"citation_count":0,"citer_count":0,"citers_with_citation_signal":0,"citers_with_endowment":0,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_dataset_confidence":0.9501,"is_data_producer":false,"deposit_databanks":null,"is_oa":true,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":"2020-01-01","fair_score":null,"fair_percentile":null,"algorithm_id":"datarank_citation_only_1hop_v6","ranking_scope":"data_only","authors":[{"id":110278,"name":"Michael S. Wolf","orcid":"0000-0002-4342-6517","position":1,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":478480,"name":"Sophia Weiner‐Light","orcid":"0000-0002-8522-8869","position":0,"is_corresponding":true}],"reference_count":9,"raw_metadata":null,"created_at":"2026-07-18T23:16:03.875886Z","pmid":"33219989","pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"fair_f":null,"fair_a":null,"fair_i":null,"fair_r":null,"fair_zscore":null,"fair_rationale":null,"fair_model":null,"fair_agent_version":null,"fair_fulltext_source":null,"fair_has_llm":null,"fair_computed_at":null,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}