A new study led by researchers from the University of Maryland School recently showed that school-age children from the elementary level who are getting less than nine hours of sleep each night are found to have substantial differences in certain brain areas responsible for intelligence, well-being, and memory compared to children of the same age range who are getting the recommended a nine- to 12-hour sleep every night.
Children Who Lack Sleep May Experience Detrimental Impact on Brain and Cognitive Development That Persists Over Time - https://t.co/WbiRQpvHdO via @neurosciencenew
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Such differences, a EurekALert! report said it correlated with mental health issues such as depression, impulsive behavior, and anxiety in those with inadequate sleep.
Lack of sleep was also associated with cognitive difficulties with memory, decision-making, and problem-solving.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children aged six to 12 years old sleep nine to 12 hours each night on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
Until now, no research has examined the long-term effect of insufficient sleep on the neurocognitive development of preteens.
Inadequate Sleep in Children
To perform the research, now published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, the study authors investigated data gathered from over 8,300 children aged nine to 10 years old who were enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development or ABCD study.
The study investigators examined MRI images, surveys, and medical records completed by the participants and their parents at the time of enrollment and at a two-year follow-up visit at age 11 or 12 years old.
According to Ze Wang, Ph.D., the study's corresponding author and Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at UMSOM, found that children with inadequate sleep, less than nine hours each night, at the onset of the study had "less grey matter or smaller volume" in specific areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and inhibition control compared to those who have healthy sleep habits.
Such differences, the professor added, persisted after two years, an alarming finding suggesting long-term harm for those who do not get adequate sleep.
Potential Long-Term Effect of Sleep Inefficiency
This is one of the first findings to present the potential long-term effect of lack of sleep on neurocognitive development in children.
It provides substantial support for the current sleep recommendations in children, as well, Dr. Wang and his colleagues explained.
In follow-up analyses, the team discovered that participants in the sufficient sleep group were inclined to gradually sleep less over two years, which is expected as children grow up and move into their teenage years, while the participants' sleep patterns in the adequate sleep group did not change much.
According to a related Neuroscience report, the researchers controlled for socioeconomic status, puberty status, gender, and other factors that could affect how much a child sleeps and brain and cognition.
Lastly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has encouraged parents to promote good sleep habits in their children.
Their tips include making adequate sleep a family priority, maintaining a regular sleep routine, promoting physical activity during the day, limiting screen time, and eliminating screens one hour before bed.
Related information about sleep deprivation in children is shown on Medical Dialogue's YouTube video below:
Check out more news and information on Sleep Study in Science Times.
