Latest news with #AdolescentBrainCognitiveDevelopment
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Is too much exercise bad for adolescents? Study explores physical activity and brain's link
Physical activity has always been associated with boosting better mental health. It helps in boosting our mood and making us feel better. But according to a recent study, exercising can have positive benefits for our mental health only when it is done to a limit. Too much of exercise can backfire. Also read | How much exercise you really need each week: Are you following it? In adolescents, physical activity is promoted as a daily routine to boost physical as well as mental health. But the study observed that moderate exercise can have lesser thought problems in them, while too much of physical workout can flare them up. The researchers used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study which included samples from 7,188 participants who were around 11 to 12 years old. Each participant wore a Fitbit wrist device every day for three weeks to track their daily steps and other physical activities. Their parent's analysis of their exercise habits and sports participation was also analysed. Internalising problems (such as anxiety or sadness), externalising problems (such as aggression), and thought problems (such as unusual thinking or poor attention) were also tracked in these participants. Also read | 5 incredible health benefits of exercising in the morning: Weight management to mental clarity The study authors observed that with physical activity, both moderate and vigorous levels, the participants demonstrated lesser 9internalising and thought problems. However, there was no strong link observed between physical activity and externalising problems. The relationship between exercise and mental health was observed to be non-linear. The best outcomes were observed in participants who followed a moderate physical routine. The study observed that physical activity can boost mental health in adolescents by shaping the way the brain processes information and coordinates with the regions responsible for attention, motor skills, and emotional regulation. 'We found that the effects of physical activity on mental health act more through brain function than through brain morphology in adolescence,' the study authors added. Also read | Longevity to weight loss; 6 wonderful health benefits of regular exercise Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Gulf News
23-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf News
Think sleep doesn't matter? New study shows early-bed teens outperform their peers
Dubai: For many of us, bedtime as children was non-negotiable - parents enforced strict lights-out rules with one core message: if you want to do well in school, you need a good night's sleep. As it turns out, they may have been right all along. A new study, published on April 16 in the scientific journal Cell Reports, has reinforced the idea that sleep is crucial for cognitive performance in teenagers. Conducted by researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai and the University of Cambridge, the study monitored the sleep habits of over 3,000 adolescents and found that those who went to bed earlier, slept longer, and had lower heart rates during sleep consistently outperformed their peers in cognitive tasks such as reading, vocabulary, and problem solving. 'Regularly getting a good night's sleep is important in helping us function properly,' said Professor Barbara Sahakian from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, one of the study's authors. 'While we know a lot about sleep in adulthood and later life, we know surprisingly little about sleep during adolescence, even though this is a crucial time in our development.' The research drew on data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term investigation into brain development and child health in the United States. Previous studies in this area often relied on self-reported sleep patterns, which can be unreliable. To overcome this, researchers used wearable fitness trackers (FitBits) to collect objective sleep data from more than 3,200 participants aged between 11-12 years old. These adolescents also underwent brain scans and cognitive assessments. To validate their findings, the researchers cross-checked the results with two additional groups of 13- to 14-year-olds, totalling around 1,190 participants. The team identified three distinct sleep pattern groups: Group One (39 per cent of participants) slept an average of 7 hours and 10 minutes. They tended to go to bed the latest and woke up the earliest. Group Two (24 per cent) had a slightly longer average sleep duration of 7 hours and 21 minutes, with average sleep timing. Group Three (37 per cent) clocked the longest average sleep - 7 hours and 25 minutes and went to bed the earliest. They also recorded the lowest sleeping heart rates. While academic performance at school did not significantly differ across the three groups, the cognitive test results told another story. Group Three, the earliest sleepers with the most rest and lowest heart rates outperformed both Group Two and Group One on tasks related to memory, vocabulary, reading, and focus. Professor Sahakian described the findings as 'surprising', telling The Guardian that even relatively minor differences in sleep accumulated over time to make a substantial difference in outcomes. Dr Qing Ma from Fudan University, another lead author, added: 'Although our study can't conclusively prove that better sleep causes improved brain function, there is a growing body of research suggesting this link. For instance, sleep has well-documented benefits for memory consolidation, which plays a vital role in learning.' The study also examined the participants' heart rates during sleep, another strong indicator of sleep quality. Lower heart rates, as seen in Group Three, are often associated with better sleep and overall health. Conversely, higher heart rates can signal restless sleep, frequent awakenings, or poor sleep quality.
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Going to bed early ‘is key to how well children do in their exams'
Even 15 minutes' more sleep leads to differences in how well tasks are performed, according to researchers. The study, published in Cell Reports, used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a long-term study looking at brain development and child health in the US. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Fudan University in Shanghai looked at 3,222 children aged between 11 and 12 who had been given FitBit devices to track their sleeping patterns. Their results were checked against two groups of 13 to 14-year-olds, comprising 1,190 youngsters. The children were divided into three categories based on average sleep times. The first slept on average seven hours and 10 minutes, while the second group slept for seven hours and 21 minutes, and the third slept for seven hours and 25 minutes. The study found the group that slept the longest had the largest brain volume and best brain function, while the first group, which slept for the shortest time, had the smallest volume and poorest brain function. Researchers found no difference in school achievements between the three groups, but when given cognitive tests looking at reading, vocabulary and problem-solving, the group that slept the longest performed the best. Professor Barbara Sahakian, of the University of Cambridge's department of psychiatry, said: 'While we know a lot about sleep in adulthood and later life, we know surprisingly little about sleep in adolescence, even though this is a crucial time in our development. 'Even though the differences in the amount of sleep that each group got was relatively small, we could still see differences in brain structure and activity and in how well they did at tasks. 'This drives home to us just how important it is to have a good night's sleep at this important time in life.' Researchers also analysed heart rates across the groups. They found the youngsters who slept the longest had the lowest heart rates, which is usually a sign of better health. Dr Qing Ma, of Fudan University, added: 'Although our study can't answer conclusively whether young people have better brain function and perform better at tests because they sleep better, there are a number of studies that would support this idea.'
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Teenagers who sleep longer and earlier are likely to do better at tests, study finds
Young people who go to bed earlier and sleep for longer than their peers tend to have better brain function and perform better at cognitive tests, according to researchers from the UK and China. A study of more than 3,000 adolescents found that those who got an early night, slept longer and had the lowest sleeping heart rates would outperform others on reading, vocabulary, problem solving and other mental tests. Professor Barbara Sahakian, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said: 'Regularly getting a good night's sleep is important in helping us function properly, but while we know a lot about sleep in adulthood and later life, we know surprisingly little about sleep in adolescence, even though this is a crucial time in our development. 'How long do young people sleep for, for example, and what impact does this have on their brain function and cognitive performance?' While it has long been understood that sleep plays an important role in helping bodies function, researchers were surprised by the impact of even the smallest differences in sleep. Professor Sahakian added: 'Even though the differences in the amount of sleep that each group got was relatively small, at just over a quarter-of-an-hour between the best and worst sleepers, we could still see differences in brain structure and activity and in how well they did at tasks. This drives home to us just how important it is to have a good night's sleep at this important time in life.' Typically, studies looking at how young people sleep have relied on self-reporting, which can be inaccurate. Researchers at Fudan University, Shanghai, and the University of Cambridge turned to data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. As part of this study, researchers gave young people Fitbits to gather objective data on their sleep patterns and compare it against brain scans and results from cognitive tests. They found the adolescents could be divided into one of three groups. Group one, accounting for 39 per cent of participants, slept an average of seven hours and 10 minutes. They tended to sleep the latest and wake the earliest. Group two, accounting for 24 per cent, slept an average of seven hours and 21 minutes, with average levels across all sleep characteristics. Meanwhile, group three, accounting for 37 per cent, slept an average of seven hours and 25 minutes. They went to bed and fell asleep the earliest, and had lower heart rates during sleep. Researchers found no significant differences in the school achievements between these groups, but group three outperformed the other two when it came to cognitive tests looking at vocabulary, reading, problem solving and focus. They also had the largest brain volume and best brain functions, while group one had the smallest volume and poorest brain functions. First author Dr Qing Ma from Fudan University said: 'Although our study can't answer conclusively whether young people have better brain function and perform better at tests because they sleep better, there are a number of studies that would support this idea. 'For example, research has shown the benefits of sleep on memory, especially on memory consolidation, which is important for learning.' The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that the ideal amount of sleep during adolescence is between eight and 10 hours.
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Youngsters who sleep longer may perform better in tests, study suggests
Youngsters who go to bed earlier and sleep for longer periods have greater brain function and may perform better in tests, a study suggests. Even 15 minutes' more sleep leads to differences in how well tasks are performed, according to researchers. The study, published in Cell Reports, used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a long-term study looking at brain development and child health in the US. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Fudan University in Shanghai looked at 3,222 children aged between 11 and 12 who had been given FitBit devices to track their sleeping patterns. Their results were checked against two groups of 13 to 14-year-olds, comprising 1,190 youngsters. The children were divided into three categories based on average sleep times. The first slept on average seven hours and 10 minutes, while the second group slept for seven hours and 21 minutes, and the third slept for seven hours and 25 minutes. The study found the group that slept the longest had the largest brain volume and best brain function, while the first group, which slept for the shortest time, had the smallest volume and poorest brain function. Researchers found no difference in school achievements between the three groups, but when given cognitive tests looking at reading, vocabulary and problem-solving, the group that slept the longest performed the best. Professor Barbara Sahakian, of the University of Cambridge's department of psychiatry, said: 'Regularly getting a good night's sleep is important in helping us function properly, but while we know a lot about sleep in adulthood and later life, we know surprisingly little about sleep in adolescence, even though this is a crucial time in our development. 'Even though the differences in the amount of sleep that each group got was relatively small, at just over a quarter-of-an-hour between the best and worst sleepers, we could still see differences in brain structure and activity and in how well they did at tasks. 'This drives home to us just how important it is to have a good night's sleep at this important time in life.' Researchers also analysed heart rates across the groups. They found the youngsters who slept the longest had the lowest heart rates, which is usually a sign of better health. Dr Qing Ma, of Fudan University, added: 'Although our study can't answer conclusively whether young people have better brain function and perform better at tests because they sleep better, there are a number of studies that would support this idea. 'For example, research has shown the benefits of sleep on memory, especially on memory consolidation, which is important for learning.'
