Scary Ways the Pandemic Is Changing Teen Brains

We already know that contracting COVID-19 can damage the brain, but researchers are finding that even living through the overall experience of the pandemic has had detrimental effects on our young people. A study published in December 2022 in Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, which compared MRI scans from 163 teens both before and during the pandemic, offered up some interesting findings in terms of how these years of COVID-19 have impacted adolescents’ brains. One researcher noted in the post-study press release that subjects assessed after pandemic-related shutdowns “not only had more severe internalizing mental health problems, but also had reduced cortical thickness, larger hippocampal and amygdala volume.”

In other words, these pandemic-era teen brains look several years older than would be expected—showing the kinds of changes that previously had been associated with children facing chronic adversity, such as domestic violence, neglect, or dysfunction in their households. Time will tell if these changes lead to worse mental health outcomes in the short- or long-term, if the changes will prove to be permanent, or if these brains will normalize over time.

Either way, this study highlights the importance of the physical changes that are still occurring in brains during the teen years—which take place all the way into the mid-20s (and as late as age 28 in men). Let’s look at what’s happening behind the scenes to better understand the crucial brain developments that are taking place in teens.

TEEN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE YEARS

We’ve all heard that it’s easier to learn a new skill—a sport, musical instrument, or second language—when starting at a younger age. That’s because as early as age 11, the brain starts to shed connections that are not being utilized. Other typical developments in the preteen and early teen years include thinking for themselves, seeking to define their identity, and pushing back against their parents (which often includes testing boundaries and limits).

By 14 years old, teens can further separate themselves from their parents and even become withdrawn or critical of them in further efforts to individuate. They may start to consider or gravitate toward a certain career or life path, and they’re likely to be increasingly concerned about their looks. Friendships may come and go, but at the same time, these connections are increasingly important in their lives. Thus, peer pressure and influence are also strengthening from the early teen years, which can be positive if the surrounding environment is a healthy one—or dangerous when getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, like one that is modeling underage drinking or cannabis use. Because these habits exert serious negative impacts on the brain, they can be especially insidious for young people, since they disrupt or delay healthy development.

Though parents may become frustrated about teenagers who assert their independence yet still make the wrong decisions or take unnecessary risks, keep in mind that this reflects a normal stage of the brain’s development. That’s because the prefrontal cortex (PFC)—involved with judgment, impulse control, and learning from mistakes—is the last part of the brain to develop, and it’s still maturing through adolescence and even into the 20s.

During this time, emotions can overrule logic, and simultaneously the limbic system is particularly active (influencing feelings, bonding, and peer acceptance), leading to a strong desire to fit in. Therefore, it’s important for parents to model the right behaviors and step in when needed to guide teens on their decisions, then help them process through negative consequences to encourage them to learn from their mistakes.

Luckily, this rocky mid-teen stage doesn’t last forever. Though their brains are still developing, by the late teens (17 to 19 years old), they have established a firmer sense of their own identities, have learned to delay gratification, and are able to better understand potential consequences before they act. Meanwhile, the PFC continues to develop, leading to better judgment, and late teens’ relationships generally enjoy more stability.

CREATING HEALTHY VS. UNHEALTHY TEENAGE BRAINS

Too many teens are not receiving the benefit of education on mental health topics—even though most of them (more than 86%) believe it is an important subject—but remember that mental health is brain health. Like adults, teenagers benefit from brain optimization—after all, in these key years of development, we are setting the scene by creating healthy habits that will ideally carry through the rest of life. And, when we can optimize the physical function of the brain, we create better moods.

Moreover, young people today are facing many different challenges than in previous generations. In addition to the effects of the pandemic, technology has certainly helped contribute to shrinking attention spans—one recent study by Microsoft found that humans now have an 8-second attention span (1 second less than a goldfish), while modern-day practices like excessive texting and multitasking can shed 10 IQ points off a human brain!

That’s not all. Those who obsess over social media have been shown to have a smaller area of the brain that executes key functions like processing emotions and showing restraint, meaning that these people can exhibit more impulsive behavior, with less emotional regulation. This is especially concerning in teen brains, which are still developing in the PFC region.

How can we help teen brains become more healthy as they develop? There are a host of behaviors that should be avoided, while teens should seek out those activities and habits that boost brain health. Here are some examples of what to avoid:

• Excessive screen time, including computer use, cell phones/texting, TV, and video games
• Environmental toxins
• Use of drugs, including alcohol, smoking, and excess caffeine
• Negative thinking, high stress, and/or irrational fears
• Poor diet or dehydration
• Poor sleep

On the other hand, healthy practices can include mental and physical exercise, meditation, gratitude and appreciation practices, relaxation techniques to lower stress levels, avoiding sports that expose teens to brain injury, maintaining a healthy weight, positive thinking, and listening to classical music (shown to increase energy and focus). And, while healthy routines are a great idea, be mindful of not getting too stuck in a rut—teens benefit from establishing those positive habits, but not leaving room for creativity and challenging oneself will actually be detrimental.

For many of us, the teen years were a tumultuous but unforgettable time—full of ups and downs, high drama and humbling life lessons, close school chums, and beloved school memories. But nowadays we have a lot more information about the brain’s workings to explain all of those once-mysterious feelings that accompany our coming of age, and we know how to set up our young people for a lifetime of success ahead by instituting those healthy habits early!

Brain and mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.