📺 Toddlers Watch Too Much TV
Fresh findings reveal that infants aged 1 year who engage in extended screen time may face an elevated risk of developmental delays in crucial areas like communication and problem-solving.
Health Squeeze
August 25, 2023
In This Newsletter
📱 What the latest research says about babies and screen time.
🤓 Blue light-blocking glasses are gaining popularity - but do they actually work?
🧬 A potential new treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Health Q and A
How many main organs are in the human body?
Answer at the bottom
📱Toddlers with Too Much Screen Time May Face Developmental Delays
In the pursuit of keeping our little ones entertained, it might seem innocent to hand them a phone or tablet. However, recent research underscores that this seemingly convenient solution could impede their development.
Fresh findings reveal that infants aged 1 year who engage in extended screen time may face an elevated risk of developmental delays in crucial areas like communication and problem-solving.
The study involved 7,097 children and their caregivers in Japan between 2013 and 2017. The parents provided insights into their one-year-olds' screen exposure on an average day, spanning television, DVDs, video games, mobile devices, and tablets.
When the children reached the ages of 2 and 4, parents completed a questionnaire gauging their development across various domains, encompassing communication, gross and fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal and social aptitude.
By the time the children were 2 years old, those clocking four or more hours of screen time daily were nearly twice as likely to exhibit developmental delays in communication and problem-solving skills.
Those who logged four or more hours of daily screen exposure were almost five times more prone to communication delays and nearly three times more predisposed to problem-solving delays by age 2.
Moreover, this heightened risk of delays extended to fine motor skills and personal-social skills at age 2 for those exposed to four or more hours of daily screen usage. However, by the time the children reached the age of 4, the amplified risk remained confined to communication and problem-solving abilities.
One caveat of the study lies in the lack of granularity regarding the specific types of screen content and whether parents were engaged in viewing alongside their children.
It’s also noted that numerous factors other than screen time contribute to a child's development trajectory, including genetics, adverse experiences such as abuse or neglect, and socioeconomic elements. Notably, parents with children who had elevated screen time were found to be younger, first-time parents with lower household incomes, lower educational attainment, and a propensity for postpartum depression
🤓 Do Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Actually Work?
Recent research suggests that despite manufacturers' assertions, blue light glasses may not actually alleviate eyestrain for individuals who spend extended periods gazing at computer screens or mobile phones.
Furthermore, these glasses might not bring about improvements in sleep patterns.
Published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the study synthesized data from 17 clinical trials spanning six countries and involving 619 participants.
Senior author Laura Downie, Ph.D., an associate professor of optometry and vision sciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia, explained, "We found there may be no short-term advantages with using blue-light filtering spectacle lenses to reduce visual fatigue associated with computer use, compared to non-blue-light filtering lenses."
Downie emphasized the need for more clarity surrounding these lenses' potential impact on vision quality, sleep-related outcomes, and long-term retinal health.
Researchers highlighted one key reason for the glasses' potential inefficacy: the amount of blue light emitted by screens and artificial sources is a mere fraction of what individuals receive from natural daylight. Additionally, typical blue light lenses only filter out about 10%-25% of blue light.
Downie concluded, "Our findings do not support the prescription of blue-light filtering lenses to the general population." However, she also noted that more research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of blue light-filtering glasses.
Experts in the field of eye health propose practical solutions to mitigate eyestrain. These include reducing screen time and taking regular breaks. Similarly, to improve sleep, avoiding screen exposure in the hours leading up to bedtime is advised.
🧬 Gene Therapy Could Offer Hope for Alcohol Use Disorder
A groundbreaking gene therapy shows potential for combating severe alcohol use disorder, offering hope for curbing excessive drinking habits.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University successfully tested this therapy on rhesus monkeys, using a harmless virus to deliver a specific gene to the brain's dopamine-regulating region.
Lead author Kathleen Grant, PhD, explained the aim was to normalize dopamine levels in motivational brain areas, potentially reducing the motivation for excessive drinking. This therapy comes at a crucial time, as alcohol-related deaths surged dramatically in recent years.
For individuals grappling with alcohol use disorder, recovery is often challenging due to the brain's reward systems. The therapy involves a gene called glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which may reset dopamine function, reducing the urge to drink.
In the study, monkeys receiving the growth factor gene cut their alcohol consumption by 90%, a striking result compared to those given a placebo.
While further research is needed, this therapy holds promise for severe cases, though it involves brain surgery and risks.
Grant emphasized its potential for individuals with limited treatment success and serious concerns for their well-being.
📝 Health Snippets
Malaria in Maryland. Maryland's Department of Health has confirmed a case of locally acquired malaria, disclosing that the affected individual, residing in the Washington, D.C. region, has been hospitalized briefly and is now recovering at home. The person had no recent travel history outside the U.S. or to states where locally acquired malaria has been reported, such as Florida and Texas. This summer, the U.S. has witnessed eight cases of locally acquired malaria, the first in two decades.
Listeria Milkshakes. A listeria outbreak at a family-owned burger restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, has tragically resulted in three deaths. The Washington State Department of Health revealed that listeria bacteria were detected in all milkshake flavors sold at the Frugals burger restaurant in Tacoma, leading to six hospitalizations and the fatalities of three individuals aged 40 to 79.
Teens Vaping CBD. The use of vaping devices to consume CBD (cannabidiol) is on the rise among middle and high school students, as indicated by a recent U.S. survey. The 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that over 20% of electronic cigarette users reported vaping CBD, a non-psychoactive component of marijuana. While considered non-psychoactive, experts underscore potential safety hazards associated with CBD vaping, including potential harm to the liver, lungs, and male reproductive system.
Breast Size and Exercise. A recent study from Flinders University has revealed a correlation between breast size and exercise habits among women. The research, which included responses from nearly 2000 participants in the Parkrun program across Australia, England, and South Africa, found that women with larger breasts tend to engage in less frequent and lower-intensity exercise. However, a noteworthy outcome of the study is the positive impact of breast reduction surgery on exercise participation.
Answer
The body was 78 main organs.
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