Overview
- Using ABCD data, researchers tracked 11,878 U.S. children aged 9–10 over two years with MRI and parent reports of behavior and daily screen use.
- Longer baseline screen exposure predicted a small but consistent increase in ADHD-like symptoms two years later after adjusting for initial severity and key demographics.
- Higher use correlated with smaller total cortical volume and reduced right putamen volume at baseline, structures tied to language, reward, and higher cognition.
- Follow-up scans showed slower cortical-thickness development in regions including the right temporal pole, the left superior frontal gyrus, and the left rostral middle frontal gyrus.
- Total cortical volume partially mediated the baseline link between screen habits and ADHD symptoms, with authors urging prudent limits on children’s screen time and better-designed digital environments.