Children who lack sleep may experience detrimental impact on brain and cognitive development that persists over time Digest
Children who don’t get enough sleep have altered brain structure and impaired brain function.
Sleep is essential for normal brain development in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children between the ages of six and 12 years sleep nine to 12 hours every night for optimal health, but many children do not meet these recommendations. Findings from a recent study suggest that children who don’t get enough sleep have altered brain structure and impaired brain function.
The investigators analyzed structural magnetic resonance imaging data and medical records for more than 8,300 children between the ages of nine and ten years who were enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. They also assessed the children’s cognitive performance and mental health status. The parents of the children in the study provided information about their child’s nightly sleep duration. Assessments were repeated when the children reached the ages of 11 to 12 years.
You just missed this in your inbox
Every other week our Premium Members received this exact study plus Rhonda's practical commentary and 8+ other hand-picked papers.
The study revealed that brain volumes in areas responsible for attention, memory, and inhibition were lower in sleep-deprived children than in those who received adequate sleep. In addition, children who had shorter sleep duration were more likely to experience depression and anxiety and exhibit impulsive behavior and poor cognitive performance. The association between poor sleep and depression persisted at the two-year follow-up.
These findings underscore the importance of adequate sleep for proper brain function, especially in the developing brain. Learn more about the importance of sleep in this episode featuring Dr. Matthew Walker.