Medical Bulletin 22/July/2025 - Video

Owning a smartphone before the age of 13 may have lasting negative effects on mental health, according to a new global study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. The study, based on data from over 100,000 young people aged 18 to 24, found that early smartphone ownership is associated with poorer mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood including increased risks of suicidal thoughts, emotional dysregulation, aggression, and low self-worth.

The research, conducted by scientists at Sapien Labs using data from their Global Mind Project, is the first to reveal large-scale evidence linking the age of first smartphone use to long-term mental wellbeing. The team drew data from their Global Mind Project, and then used the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) a self-assessment tool that measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical wellbeing to generate an overall ‘mind health’ score. The findings were stark: the younger the age of first smartphone ownership, the lower the Mind Health Quotient scores. For instance, individuals who received their first smartphone at age 13 had an average score of 30, while those who received one at age five averaged just 1.

Among the notable trends, early smartphone users reported higher rates of hallucinations, detachment from reality, and suicidal thoughts symptoms not typically captured by standard mental health screeners. These effects were consistent across different cultures, languages, and global regions.

Although the study cannot establish direct causation, researchers argue the strength and scale of these associations merit immediate policy attention. Recommendations include mandating digital literacy education, enforcing age restrictions on social media use, holding tech companies accountable, and introducing graduated access to smartphones.

“Our data indicate that early smartphone ownership and the social media access it often brings is linked with a profound shift in mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood,” said Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, lead author and Chief Scientist at Sapien Labs. The study points to early access to social media, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and weakened family relationships as key mediators of this decline.

“Our evidence suggests childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mind health and wellbeing in adulthood,” Thiagarajan concluded. “Waiting for irrefutable proof risks missing the window for timely, preventative action.”

Reference: Thiagarajan, T. C., Newson, J. J., & Swaminathan, S. (2025). Protecting the Developing Mind in a Digital Age: A Global Policy Imperative. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2025.2518313

“Sugar-Free” but Not Risk-Free: Popular Sugar Substitute May Be Linked to Stroke

A widely used sugar substitute found in countless “sugar-free” products may come with hidden health risks, according to a new study from the University of Colorado Boulder. Published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the study reveals that erythritol commonly used in keto snacks, diet sodas, and low-carb desserts can adversely impact brain blood vessel cells, potentially raising the risk of stroke.

Erythritol is favored for its low calorie count, minimal effect on blood sugar, and 80% sweetness compared to table sugar. However, emerging research has linked higher blood levels of erythritol to a greater likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. Seeking to understand the underlying biological mechanism, researchers in the university’s Integrative Vascular Biology Lab examined the effects of erythritol on brain endothelial cells the cells lining blood vessels in the brain.

The team exposed human brain vascular cells to erythritol levels equivalent to those found in a single serving of a sugar-free beverage. Within just three hours, researchers observed a series of harmful cellular changes. “They expressed significantly less nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels, and more endothelin-1, a protein that constricts blood vessels,” explained lead author Auburn Berry, a graduate student in the lab. In addition, the cells’ ability to produce the clot-dissolving compound t-PA in response to thrombin was “markedly blunted,” and levels of reactive oxygen species damaging free radicals increased.

“Big picture, if your vessels are more constricted and your ability to break down blood clots is lowered, your risk of stroke goes up,” Berry said. Senior author Christopher DeSouza, professor of integrative physiology, emphasized that these effects were seen after a single serving, suggesting that repeated consumption could heighten risks further.

While the study was conducted in a laboratory setting and not in humans, the findings align with earlier large-scale epidemiological research. DeSouza advises consumers to read product labels closely. “Given the epidemiological study that inspired our work, and now our cellular findings, we believe it would be prudent for people to monitor their consumption of non-nutrient sweeteners such as this one,” he said.

Reference: Auburn R. Berry, Samuel T. Ruzzene, Emily I. Ostrander, Kendra N. Wegerson, Nathalie C. Orozco-Fersiva, Madeleine F. Stone, Whitney B. Valenti, Joao E. Izaias, Joshua P. Holzer, Jared J. Greiner, Vinicius P. Garcia, Christopher A. DeSouza. The non-nutritive sweetener erythritol adversely affects brain microvascular endothelial cell function. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2025; 138 (6): 1571 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00276.2025

This Combination May Speed Up Memory Decline in Older Adults: Study Finds

A new study by researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), published in Communications Psychology, highlights a concerning link between hearing impairment, loneliness, and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults. Analyzing data from over 33,000 individuals across 12 European countries, the research shows that those who experience hearing loss and also report feeling lonely even if they aren’t socially isolate are at a significantly higher risk of memory deterioration.

According to the World Health Organization, over 25% of people above age 60 live with disabling hearing loss, and this number is expected to rise dramatically by 2050. Hearing difficulties can lead to isolation, communication barriers, and reduced alertness, which not only disrupt daily life but may also increase the risk of cognitive disorders like dementia. To explore this link further, the UNIGE research team examined how hearing loss and various forms of loneliness jointly affect memory.

The researchers used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a large-scale longitudinal study tracking adults over 50 since 2002. Participants regularly underwent cognitive assessments, including memory tests, while providing information on their social connections and personal feelings of loneliness.

The team identified three distinct profiles: people who are both socially isolated and feel lonely; those who are not socially isolated but still feel lonely; and those who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely. They found that cognitive decline was particularly pronounced in individuals who were not socially isolated but still reported loneliness and had hearing loss.

The study emphasizes the importance of early and preventive hearing care, particularly for emotionally vulnerable groups. “These individuals are already socially integrated, so it's a matter of removing a sensory barrier in order to reinforce their engagement and protect their cognitive health,” said lead author Charikleia Lampraki.

Reference: Charikleia Lampraki, Sascha Zuber, Nora Turoman, Emilie Joly-Burra, Melanie Mack, Gianvito Laera, Chiara Scarampi, Adriana Rostekova, Matthias Kliegel, Andreas Ihle. Profiles of social isolation and loneliness as moderators of the longitudinal association between uncorrected hearing impairment and cognitive aging. Communications Psychology, 2025; 3 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00277-8