Researchers from Stanford University reported that the brains of adolescents who lived through the COVID-19 lockdown showed early signs of aging. The findings appeared in Biological Psychiatry and are based on long-term brain imaging data gathered by the team.
The study compared magnetic resonance imaging scans from 81 teenagers taken before the pandemic with scans from 82 teens collected after the early curfews. The researchers observed a pattern where the brains of these youths appeared to age by roughly three years during that period, a notable shift that prompted further examination by the science team.
In addition to the imaging work, the researchers assessed the mental health status of the participants through surveys conducted after the lockdown. Many teens reported increased anxiety and depressive symptoms. Experts note that stress can influence brain development, and the data suggest a link between heightened psychological strain during lockdown and measurable brain changes in adolescence. The work underscores the importance of supporting young people’s mental health during large-scale public health crises and invites continued study into how environmental stressors shape developing brains.