Here’s What Neurologists Want You to Stop Doing Next Year…
By Movieguide® Contributor
Neurologists’ number one concern for the masses in 2025 is — you guessed it — too much screen time.
“Get off the screen,” said Dr. Jasmin Dao, MD, Ph.D., a pediatric and adult neurologist at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “Reduce screen time on smartphones, computers, tablets and playing video games.”
While too much screen time for kids and teens can potentially cause more damage, adults suffer also.
Dao says it’s not just “the kids these days” who are “always on their phones and playing video games.”
“Developing good brain health habits is a key way to keep your brain healthy and improve individual health and well-being throughout your life,” she says.
However, Pew Research discovered that Americans over 60 spend a minimum of half of their day on screens, over four hours, which is about the same for kids 8 to 12. And teens spend around nine hours per day on screens, according to the American Medical Association.
“It’s addicting,” Dao added. “Neurologically, screen time triggers surges of dopamine inside your brain, stimulating a pleasure-reward cycle that reinforces screen addiction.”
Dr. Micahel Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital, compared the advancement of technology to when people mastered the art of creating fire.
“We have to be flexible enough to evolve with the technology but choose how to use it right. Fire was a great discovery to cook our food, but we had to learn it could hurt and kill as well,” he said.
“Studies have shown that excessive screen time among young adults can increase the risk of dementia, stroke or Parkinson’s disease,” Dao added.
READ MORE: SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THESE SCREEN TIME FACTS
A study in China found that high screen time increased the risk of stroke in people over the age of 40, and people who had only moderate computer use had a lower risk of dementia.
“It can also lead to early neurodegeneration, causing thinning of the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain responsible for memory and cognitive processes, such as motor control, language and problem-solving,” Dao explained. “Lights from screen displays can also impact sleep, disrupting melatonin release and the body’s circadian rhythm.”
Less screen time means more free time for healthier habits like socializing, spending time outside, sleeping and exercising.
Dr. Dao offered some tips to avoid bad screen habits.
“Spend the first 30 minutes after waking up without touching or grabbing your phone,” she said. “Instead, engage in activities that promote brain health, such as exercise, reading a book, meditation or eating a mindful breakfast. See if you can increase the time interval without screens to one or two hours. Set a positive tone to the start of the day that optimizes our brain health.”
“Keep phone devices and TVs outside of your bedrooms and avoid using them for one hour before bedtime,” she adds. “Backlit screens can disrupt your quality and duration of sleep.”
For those who use screens as part of their occupation, Dao suggests setting reminders to take breaks away from them.
“Turn off notifications from messages or social media platforms to reduce disruption from work or school and allow you to finish other activities,” she added.
READ MORE: HOW TO SET SCREEN TIME LIMITS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN
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