Excessive screen time in early childhood may be linked to an increased risk of autism-like symptoms, including delays in language and social skills.
One analysis predicts that increased screen time will lead to increased cases of dementia.
Screen time has been linked with decreased grey and white matter in the brain.
Grey matter loss has been linked with dementia.
Screens may also contribute to cognitive decline, impairment, and illness.
White matter is made up of myelinated nerve fibers that help transmit signals efficiently. In children and adolescents, white matter is still developing. Several peer reviewed studies using MRI imaging have found correlations between excessive screen time and differences in white matter integrity in young children. Some research has shown that children with higher daily screen exposure scored lower on certain language and literacy tests, alongside measurable differences in white matter tracts.
