ISSN 1662-4009 (online)

ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology (2023) 20 12.12 | DOI: 10.1530/ey.20.12.12

JAMA Pediatrics 2023 Mar 1;177(3):311–318. DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5674


Brief summary: In the prospective population-based Growing Up in Singapore Toward Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study (n=437 children, 51.9% boys), the effect of parent-reported screen time in infancy was tested on EEG characteristics and correlated to cognitive outcome. Mean daily screen time at 12 months of age was 2 hours. Infant screen time was associated with altered cortical EEG activity at 18 months and was suggested to explain observed alterations in attention and executive functions at 9 years, including impaired higher order cognitive skills essential for self-regulation, learning, and academic achievement, as well as mental health.

How much screen time is healthy for our kids? The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends limiting screen time for infants aged 18–24 months to watching only educational programs occasionally (1). For children aged 2–5 years, non-educational screen time should be limited to ~1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on weekend days (1). Infants exposed to screens are regarded particularly vulnerable to executive function deficits as these functions develop in the first years of life and are highly susceptible to environmental influences. This study is interesting as it shows a dose-dependent association between infant screen time, cortical activity, and cognitive function.

It is well known that excessive screen time is also associated with other adverse health-related outcomes, e.g. a more sedentary lifestyle and thus increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health disorders, especially also in adolescents and adults.

Reference: 1. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-Watching-TV-054.aspx#:~:text=Between%2018%20and%2024%20months,limit%20activities%20that%20include%20screens.

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