MRI scans found evidence of premature brain ageing in both boys and girls, but girls' brains appeared on average 4.2 years older than expected after lockdowns, compared with 1.4 years older for boys.
It is unclear whether the changes have negative consequences, but the findings have raised concerns that they might affect adolescents' mental health and potential to learn.
"We were shocked by these data, that the difference is so dramatic," said Prof Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, in Seattle.
The researchers gathered MRI scans from 160 nine- to 17-yearolds in 2018 and used them to build a model of how the brain's cortex normally thins during school years.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
'Like a cat in a washing machine' Rower rescued as Australia braces for cyclone
Aurimas Mockus finally made it to Australia, but not in the manner he imagined.
T-shirts + thongs + perfect twerking = Anora's Oscar winning gen Z campaign
The extraordinary success of Sean Baker's sex worker romance at the Oscars last Sunday has left many gawping at the campaigning nous of the indie distributor Neon, which released the film in the US.
'Dumbest thing I've ever done' Blustering bravado, amateurish planning - and a love triangle
It began with a simple request, though it was written by one of the world's most wanted men.
How toxic is Tesla? Brand's reputation at risk with rise of anti-Musk protests
Globally renowned brands would not ordinarily want to be associated with Germany's far-right opposition.
Fruit loops How easy is to recreate that fruit platter?
Mothers have spent the week cursing the Duchess of Sussex for her beautifully arranged fruit plate, showpiece of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which was yesterday renewed for a second series.
Money hacks How to save money on your backpacking holiday
Don't overlook hostels Hostels can sometimes get a bad rap, with some people believing they are full of 21-year-olds looking to party from dusk until dawn.
Pollution fight Critical minerals turn Greenland into a legal battleground
From the iceberg-filled bay, the mountains above the town of Narsaq, in south-west Greenland, appear unremarkable.
Mass grave and evidence of torture discovered at Sudan detention centre
More than 500 people may have been tortured or starved to death and buried in a mass grave north of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, according to evidence seen by the Guardian.
Crypto scams How to guard against investment fraud
Millions of pounds are lost each week to fraudsters offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities. Zoe Wood reveals how they reel you in
Putin 'wants to end the war', says Trump
The US president, Donald Trump, said yesterday he found it \"easier\" to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Vladimir Putin \"wants to end the war\", just days after his administration cut off military assistance and intelligence to Kyiv.
