Scientists from Stanford University found that the brains of adolescents who survived the COVID-19 epidemic showed signs of premature aging. The results of the research group’s work, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
Researchers compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of 81 teenagers taken before the pandemic with those of 82 teenagers collected after the curfew. During this time, the volunteers’ brains aged for three years, which is quite a lot according to the scientists.
The scientists also conducted a survey of teenagers to determine their mental state. After lockdown, study participants complained of bouts of anxiety and depression. Experts noted that the deterioration of mental health is accompanied by stress, which in turn causes physical changes in the brain.