Sleep: disruption of sleep patterns alters brain structure in teenagers.
A mismatch in sleep patterns on weekdays and weekends has been linked to changes in the structure and function of teenagers' brains. This conclusion was reached by researchers who published their findings in the journal Sleep.
The analysis included data from 3,507 children around the age of 12. For more than a third of the participants, the difference in sleep time between school days and weekends exceeded two hours. Such a regular "shift" in schedule was associated not only with a higher body mass index but also with changes in key brain networks.
In teenagers with the most pronounced sleep misalignment, weaker connectivity of the thalamus was observed—a structure involved in information processing and regulation of wakefulness. The efficiency of networks responsible for attention, emotional regulation, and motivation was also reduced. Additionally, researchers found a decrease in the thickness and volume of certain areas of the cortex associated with social behavior and emotion processing.
The authors emphasize that regular fluctuations in sleep patterns during the active development of the brain may influence the formation of neural connections. In their opinion, a stable sleep schedule may be an important factor in maintaining cognitive and emotional health during adolescence.
