A new study from Stanford University suggests that pandemic-related stressors have physically altered adolescents' brains, making their brain structures appear several years older than the brains of comparable peers before the pandemic. The study was published on Dec. 1, 2022, in Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science.
"We already know from global research that the pandemic has adversely affected mental health in youth, but we didn't know what, if anything, it was doing physically to their brains," said Ian Gotlib, the David Starr Jordan Professor of Psychology in the School of Humanities & Sciences, who is the first author on the paper.teenage years
By comparing MRI scans from a cohort of 163 children taken before and during the pandemic, Gotlib's study showed that this developmental process sped up in adolescents as they experienced the COVID-19 lockdowns. Until now, he says, these sorts of accelerated changes in"brain age" have appeared only in children who have experienced chronic adversity, whether from violence, neglect, family dysfunction, or a combination of multiple factors.
"It's also not clear if the changes are permanent," said Gotlib, who is also the director of the Stanford Neurodevelopment, Affect, and Psychopathology Laboratory at Stanford University."Will their chronological age eventually catch up to their 'brain age'? If their brain remains permanently older than their chronological age, it's unclear what the outcomes will be in the future.
These findings could have major implications for other longitudinal studies that have spanned the pandemic. If kids who experienced the pandemic show accelerated development in their brains, scientists will have to account for that abnormal rate of growth in any future research involving this generation.
Danmark Seneste Nyt, Danmark Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også læse nyheder, der ligner denne, som vi har indsamlet fra andre nyhedskilder.
Popular Glasgow bar which closed during pandemic opens new venueA popular Glasgow bar which was forced to close during the pandemic has opened a new venue in the city.
Læs mere »
Blackburn's pandemic experience to play huge role in Covid public inquiry'We appear to be on top of coronavirus at the moment and that is where we need to stay. I would welcome a visit to the borough from the Covid-19 Public Inquiry.'
Læs mere »
Camilla condemns 'pandemic' of violence against womenThe Queen Consort warns of the scale of 'heinous crimes' of domestic violence.
Læs mere »
More than 100 companies in UK implement four-day working week since COVID pandemicEmployees in the organisations work fewer hours, between 32 and 35 hours a week, but are certified by the 4 Day Week campaign group not to be paid any less despite working reduced hours
Læs mere »
COVID-19 pandemic fatigue in Hong KongCOVID-19 pandemic fatigue in Hong Kong hongKong Coronavirus Disease COVID Pandemic Fatigue Pandemic PNASNews HKUniversity Cambridge_Uni WHO Columbia GeorgiaSouthern UTAustin
Læs mere »