#Youthwellness

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Montreal has revealed that caffeine, the world’s most widely consumed stimulant, tangibly disrupts the brain’s recovery during sleep—especially in younger adults. The researchers found that consuming caffeine in the hours before bedtime leads to more complex, “wake-like” brain activity at night and could hamper both mental and physical restoration, raising crucial questions for Thailand’s coffee- and tea-loving society regarding nighttime caffeine consumption and its impact on well-being (Neuroscience News).

A wave of online discussion and emerging expert commentary has thrown the spotlight on a little-known but deeply felt emotional response that many people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are now recognizing as a shared experience: rejection sensitive dysphoria (R.S.D.). Although not officially classified in psychiatric manuals, R.S.D. is described as an intense or overwhelming reaction to actual or perceived criticism, rejection, or failure—a feeling likened to a “balloon popping” by TikTok creators and capturing the imagination of millions on social media platforms source.

The pervasive presence of digital screens in the lives of adolescents is increasingly seen as a contributing factor to sleep disruptions and rising depression rates, particularly among teenage girls. A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden delves into these associations, emphasizing that reducing screen time could alleviate mental health issues in young people.

The research tracked over 4,810 Swedish teenagers, aged between 12 and 16, over a one-year period. The study meticulously documented their screen usage, sleep patterns, and depressive symptoms. The findings were clear: increased screen time was linked to poorer sleep quality and timing, which in turn predicted depressive symptoms.