Study Links Internet Addiction to Brain Changes in Teens

New research highlights potential disruptions in brain function and development among adolescents with heavy internet use.

Teens with internet addiction show disrupted brain signaling in areas controlling attention and decision-making.
The study reviewed 12 neuroimaging studies involving 237 adolescents aged 10 to 19 from 2013 to 2022.
Experts caution that cause-and-effect conclusions cannot be definitively drawn from the current data.
Behavioral changes linked to internet addiction include social withdrawal, sleep disruption, and irregular eating patterns.
Researchers call for more extensive studies to better understand the long-term effects and potential treatments.