Study Finds COVID Lockdowns Accelerated Brain Aging in Teen Girls
Research indicates that COVID-19 lockdowns led to accelerated brain aging in adolescents, with girls experiencing a more pronounced effect than boys. The study highlights the potential mental health implications of social isolation during the pandemic.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 6 |
Novelty | 7 |
Positivity | 2 |
Reliability | 9 |
Actionability | 3 |
Society | 8 |
Journalism | 4 |
Highlights
- A study from the University of Washington found that adolescent girls' brains aged 4.2 years faster than expected during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, while boys' brains aged 1.4 years faster.
- The study measured cortical thinning in 160 adolescents before and after the pandemic, revealing significant differences in brain aging between genders.
- Cortical thinning is a natural part of brain maturation, but accelerated thinning is associated with increased risk of mental health issues.
- The research indicated that the accelerated brain aging in girls was widespread across 30 brain regions, while boys showed changes in only two regions.
- The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Perspectives
- Experts express concern that the accelerated brain aging observed in adolescents may lead to increased risks of mental health disorders, particularly in girls who rely more on social interactions for emotional support. [13][15][16]
- Some researchers caution that while the study shows significant findings, it does not definitively prove that lockdowns caused the brain changes, suggesting that other factors may also play a role. [6][9][16]