New study finds pandemic lockdowns prematurely aged teenage brains
Everyone is a current, former, or future teenager.
You probably know this period of life is an especially difficult time for kids. Throw in a deadly pandemic and the subsequent disruption of school and social life? It got a lot more complicated. And new research suggests COVID-19 lockdowns may have had lasting consequences for adolescent minds.
In a new study from the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS for short), researchers found that pandemic isolation actually accelerated the aging of teen brains.
Soundside spoke with the study's lead author about what that means for the mental health of teens post-pandemic, and we can learn about teenage brain development going forward.
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Guests:
- Neva Corrigan, the lead author of the study and a research scientist at the University of Washington’s I-LABS.
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Alec Cowan
Producer, Soundside
Alec Cowan is a producer for Soundside. His interests have brought many eclectic stories to the program, and his segments gravitate toward history, technology, arts and culture, and the environment. He's proud to be KUOW's unofficial "boat guy."
More stories from Alec Cowan »
