Screen Time and the Shrinking Cortex in Kids: New Links to ADHD

In today's episode we're exploring the findings of a first-of-its-kind, large-scale study linking higher screen use in children to more severe symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Researchers found measurable, though subtle, brain abnormalities among heavy screen users, including a smaller cortex—the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking and attention.

Longer screen time for 9 and 10-year-olds predicted higher ADHD symptoms two years later. We discuss how excessive digital device use has been tied to impacts on brain development, noting that regions involved in language learning and reward processing were also affected.

While the findings suggest an association, the authors caution that the study does not prove direct causation.

Resource: doi:10.1038/s41398-025-03672-1 on Association of screen time with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and their development: the mediating role of brain structure.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.