COVID Pandemic Hastened Brain Aging in Teens
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated brain maturation in adolescents, particularly girls, with their brains aging by an average of 4.2 years.
Brain scans showed accelerated thinning of the cerebral cortex, a natural aging process, but at a faster rate. This early maturation could increase the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, with females showing more pronounced changes than males.