A recent study conducted by the University of Washington has found that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused accelerated brain maturation in teenagers, particularly young girls. The study, originally intended to track normal brain changes in teenagers, had to be shifted in focus due to the pandemic. Researchers found that the cerebral cortex in adolescents thinned faster than expected, with girls’ brains maturing by an average of 4.2 years and boys’ brains by 1.4 years.
Lead author Neva Corrigan stated that this accelerated thinning is similar to what is seen in severe trauma, stress, and neglect in childhood. She pointed out that this accelerated aging process may have long-term consequences for the mental health of affected teenagers. Patricia Kuhl, the senior author of the study, mentioned that once thinned, the cerebral cortex is unlikely to thicken again, though the process might slow down as teenagers return to a normal social life.
The researchers emphasized the importance of mental health support for young adults as a result of the pandemic’s impact. Corrigan noted that the consequences of lockdowns were not anticipated by policymakers and stressed the need for continued support for teenagers facing neuropsychiatric disorders, anxiety, and depression.
While the study has limitations such as a small sample size and lack of certain data, these findings highlight the need for further research into the impact of accelerated brain maturation on teenagers’ mental health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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