Screen Time and Brain Health

As the digital world continues to grow and expand, excess screen time is becoming more of a concern for individuals of all ages. With technology becoming more accessible and more complex it’s no wonder finding time away from a screen can be difficult. As screens are becoming more integrated into our lifestyles, it is important to understand how excess screen time can affect brain health and an individual’s overall wellbeing.

Screens are all around us helping to facilitate daily activities including work, school, social interactions, etc. Technology has many benefits and can be an important tool for communication and learning. It allows access to communities and information that may not otherwise be available. Screen time is defined as any time in front of a screen including smartphones, tablets and computers, while being either active or inactive during exposure (CDC, 2024). This allows the inclusion of screen time associated with physical activity. While smartphones and computers allow communication and connectedness it is important to recognize that there are risks associated with excessive screen use (CDC, 2024). According to the CDC, prolonged exposure to screen time can have negative impacts on mental and physical health. Finding a balance among screen use and being present in the physical world will encourage healthier relationships with screens and technology.

Screen time has various effects on the brain and its ability to carry out cognitive functioning. Laurie et al. (2022) suggest that the effects of excess screen time during brain development can be compared to symptoms presented in adults with mild cognitive impairment. This comparison highlights issues with concentration, social interactions as well as taking proper care of one’s health including sleep regulation and physical activity. According to Laurie et al., “chronic sensory stimulation can alter gray matter and white volumes in the brain” (2022). These changes within the brain, specifically in the adolescent brain, affect the behavior of the individual and can increase the risks of cognitive impairments later in life. This is important as adolescents and children are at a greater risk of cognitive impairments if exposed to excessive screen use during brain development. Other negative symptoms include impairments in attention and concentration, learning and memory, emotional regulation, social functioning, and physical health. It is important that everyone has the tools to foster healthy engagements with their smartphones and other technological devices.

Forming healthier screen time habits can be difficult, especially at the beginning. Establishing guidelines for families to engage in healthy screen time use can help support connectedness among individual family members. In addition, limiting screen time use before bed and during meals may help to decenter screens from daily activities. Finally, exploring healthier alternatives for free time including physical activity, engaging in social relations, being in nature and learning new hobbies can assist in drawing attention away from the digital world. This can help promote technology as a tool of assistance rather than an addiction.

By: Shaylen Hardy

For more information:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/screen-time-nobody s-perfect.html https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/call_for_papers/screen_time_effects.htm https://www.sedentarybehaviour.org/2017/08/09/activity-types-healthy-alternatives-replace-leisur e-screen-time-reduce-mortality-risk/

References: Laurie A. Manwell, Merelle Tadros, Tiana M. Ciccarelli, Roelof Eikelboom. Digital dementia in the internet generation: excessive screen time during brain development will increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in adulthood. J. Integr. Neurosci. 2022, 21(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin210102