Under the new guidance, students in early education and kindergarten through first grade will have no weekly classroom screen time. Students in grades 2 and 3 will be limited to 1 hour and 40 minutes per week, with those in grades 4 and 5 limited to 2 1/2 hours, students in grades 6 through 8 limited to 6 hours per week, and high school students limited to 10 hours per week.

The limits include time spent on screen-based homework.

“Screen time is literally changing the trajectory of brain development. It’s growing the visual cortex at the expense of the areas responsible for language, reading and social skills,” said Jane Tavyev Asher, MD, pediatric neurologist and director of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s. “Parents should actually be very delighted that their kids are going to have less screen time in the school setting, and they should view the school as working as their partner in helping with their child’s brain development.”

As the new policy takes effect this school year, the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom spoke with Tavyev Asher about why reducing screen time can benefit children’s brain development—and how parents can reinforce healthy screen habits at home.

Why were these new screen time policies needed?

Research continues to show that excessive screen time can affect how children’s brains grow and develop. During childhood, the brain is building important skills for language, reading, attention and social interaction. We want the brain to develop for reading, language and social skills. And screen time is really growing the visual cortex at the expense of all of the other parts of the brain.

Sharply reducing screen time at school can help create more opportunities for students to have active learning, conversation and deeper cognitive development in the long run.

Now that schools are seeing the neuroscience behind what screen time does to the developing brain, many are beginning to embrace this research and implement limits. They want what’s best for students’ brain development, just as parents do. At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same goal: helping our children learn, grow and thrive.

Why is limiting screen time especially important during early childhood?

Early childhood is a critical period for learning to speak, read, write and develop social skills. During these years, the brain’s auditory and language centers are rapidly developing through conversation and human interaction.

For example, speech development begins around age 1, when children start learning how to speak. This process depends on the development of nerve signals and the continued growth of the auditory cortex, which develops significantly during the first few years of life. The auditory cortex is also the part that builds not just language but also social interaction.

Excessive screen use may interfere with these processes by overstimulating visual pathways while reducing opportunities for face-to-face communication, language development and recognizing social cues such as facial expressions and body language.

How can screen use affect brain development in middle schoolers?

Higher-level cognitive functions really begin to take off around age 12. This is when intellectual curiosity starts to develop. It’s a stage where children naturally begin making connections between ideas, such as reading one thing, connecting it to something else they’ve learned, asking questions, and wanting to find the answers. That’s exactly how we want their brains to develop.

But if everything is fed to them passively through AI or excessive screen-based learning, that part of the brain isn’t being exercised in the same way. They’re consuming information rather than actively thinking, questioning and making connections. It’s wonderful that our schools are finally coming to this realization and changing the way the curriculum is given to our children.

What screen time advice do you have for parents of high schoolers?

For a high schooler, I would try to keep the same guidelines in the home that you’ve done for the younger children. The reason for that is they still have that developing brain, and screen time is still very addictive.

I think at this age, they really do have the understanding as to why screens are not ideal for them. By the time they’re in high school, teenagers can understand the logic behind reducing screen time. This is the time when their intellect is developing. They can read the studies about it. As parents, this is also an ideal time to expose them to the studies that are showing what screen time addiction is doing to the brain in the long run.

How should parents approach smartphones for middle and high school students?

The smartphone is really the worst form of screen time because it is so easily accessible in the pocket. It’s easier to become addicted to that. So, it’s important to monitor how children access and use their smartphones.

There is so much social growth that happens in middle school. If you can just get the kids over that hump without a phone, then you can keep them from getting addicted to that phone.

There’s a program called “Wait Until 8th.” It’s a movement where parents sign a pledge to delay giving their child a smartphone until at least the end of eighth grade or until they’re 13 years old. When families make this commitment together, it creates a community where fewer kids have smartphones early on, which helps reduce the peer pressure to get one before they’re ready. It gives parents support in setting healthy boundaries and makes it easier for children to wait alongside their friends.

If you need to be in touch with your teenager, give them a simple flip phone that has no internet access. This way, they can call who they need to call. In some phones, you can also program who they call or receive calls from.

How can parents set and enforce screen time limits at home?

Parents have a huge influence on how children develop their relationship with screens. It’s much easier to not introduce screens than to set limits or take it away later in life. Instead of focusing only on taking screens away, parents can help children discover other activities, like reading, creative play, spending time outdoors and connecting as a family.

It’s important to point out that parents should model habits they hope to see by practicing healthy screen use themselves, since children are more likely to follow behaviors they observe at home.

Firstly, implement a no-screen-time rule at least two hours before bedtime. This will help kids avoid bright lights right before bed, promoting deeper sleep. Secondly, avoid screens during mealtime. Mealtime is a great time for the family to sit together and have conversations. There are so many positive studies about what family mealtime does for children’s social development and for their cognitive development.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: A Family Guide to Teens, Screens and Social Media

Neuro NICU is a specialized program that brings together multidisciplinary pediatric specialists to deliver advanced, coordinated care for newborns with complex neurological conditions. Housed within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cedars-Sinai, the program is designed to provide timely intervention during the crucial period of early brain development.

The Neuro NICU’s comprehensive, multidisciplinary model of care includes leading experts in neonatology, neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and genomics. The staff also includes specially trained NICU nurses and social workers adept at deploying around-the-clock care tailored to the unique needs of newborns and their families.

“The newborn brain is fundamentally different from that of a child or an adult, which is why neurological care at this stage requires highly specialized expertise,” said David Rowitch, MD, PhD, deputy director for Research at Guerin Children’s. “Understanding how the developing brain responds to injury and how to interpret imaging in this context is critical. The Neuro NICU allows us to bring that expertise together in a coordinated way for each patient.”

The Neuro NICU team, led by co-directors Yolanda Brown-Madan, MD, and Xin Ye, MD, is equipped to treat patients with a wide range of neurological conditions, including neonatal seizures, stroke, severe congenital neurological disorders, brain malformations, as well as birth complications and traumatic injuries to the brain or the nervous system.

A defining feature of the Neuro NICU is the early integration of genomics, which allows the team to deliver precision gene therapies and genetic diagnoses to infants sooner. Guerin Children’s is among the first programs to offer rapid whole‑genome sequencing for babies in a NICU setting, with genetic results delivered in a matter of days.

Research at Guerin Children’s has shown that more than 40% of children seen by pediatric neurologists have an underlying genetic condition. Having genetic information readily available can directly influence clinical decisions and improve the ability to personalize care for vulnerable newborns.

“Our comprehensive approach in the Neuro NICU enables Guerin Children’s to deliver a seamless continuum of care as patients improve and grow beyond their stay,” said Shervin Rabizadeh, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and deputy director of Guerin Children’s.

The Neuro NICU also employs state-of-the-art, infant‑specific technologies, including continuous video electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, which provides real‑time data to help clinicians intervene quickly during critical moments.

That same level of technological capability extends beyond the unit. Designed to function as a regional center for neonatal neurological care, the Neuro NICU extends its reach to affiliated partners and hospitals in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond. Specialized neonatal transport services allow teams to initiate critical therapies before a baby arrives at Guerin Children’s.

“Our goal is to ensure that newborns receive the right care at the right time, regardless of where they begin their medical journey,” said Rangasamy Ramanathan, MD, director of the Division of Neonatology at Guerin Children’s. “Through advanced transport capabilities and virtual collaboration, the Neuro NICU allows us to support community hospitals and families across the region.”

Additionally, the program offers virtual consultations, enabling neurologists to guide care remotely and support physicians at referring hospitals.

“The launch of the Neuro NICU reflects Guerin Children’s’ commitment to advancing research‑driven, specialized, world-class pediatric care for the most vulnerable patients in greater Los Angeles and beyond,” said Ophir Klein, MD, PhD, executive vice dean of Children’s Health and executive director of Guerin Children’s.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Making Strides in Treating the Smallest Heart Patients

“The AAN Annual Meeting is an important opportunity for neurologists to share scientific and clinical advances shaping the care of patients with neurological disorders,” said Nancy Sicotte, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai. “Our physician-scientists are sharing information about the most important challenges in neurology—from improving treatments for chronic neurological diseases to strengthening communication and support for patients and families.”

Cedars-Sinai Experts Presenting Research at the Meeting

Alexis Simpkins, MD, PhD, director of Stroke Research and the Stroke RNA, Imaging, and Protein Predictors for Patient Tailored Treatment Program at Cedars-Sinai, will receive the DEI Changemaker Award, and she will chair the research hub at the meeting. She will also share information on women’s leadership in neurology and the history of neurology.

Andrew Blumenfeld, MD, a Cedars-Sinai neurologist specializing in headache disorders, will present research on the use of botulinum toxin, popularly known as Botox, for chronic migraine management, and he can discuss advances in migraine treatment.

Richard Lewis, MD, professor of Neurology, will present research on new therapies for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), a rare disorder in which the immune system damages the nerves, leading to weakness and numbness. He will also share results from late-stage clinical trials evaluating potential new CIDP treatments.

Paula Barreras, MD, assistant professor of Neurology and director of the Center of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders at Cedars-Sinai, will discuss vascular causes of myelopathy, a frequent source of misdiagnosis in spinal cord disorders.

Jessica Besbris, MD, director of Neuropalliative Care and the Neurology Supportive Care Medicine Program, will discuss neuropalliative care, including ways neurologists can effectively and compassionately communicate about serious illnesses to their patients.

Yvette Bordelon, MD, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Huntington’s Disease Society of America Partner Center of Excellence, will discuss gene therapy for Huntington’s disease, including new therapeutic developments, clinical applications of research and innovative technical advances.

Maranatha O. Ayodele, MD, assistant professor of Neurology, will moderate a session on cerebrovascular diseases and can discuss intracerebral hemorrhage and traumatic brain injuries.

Additional Cedars-Sinai Experts

Lisa Bateman, MD, director of the Surgical Epilepsy Program and professor of Neurology, can discuss epilepsy research and treatment advances.

Ilana E. Lasner, DO, assistant professor of Neurology, can discuss Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and migraines.

Marwa Kaisey, MD, associate professor of Neurology, will discuss disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis.

Konrad Schlick, MD, Neurology Residency Program director, can discuss ischemic stroke management and neurology resident training.

Jodi Nelson, DO, assistant professor of Neurology, can discuss treating dementia and multiple sclerosis.

Contact

To arrange interviews with Cedars-Sinai experts, contact Kelsie Sandoval at Kelsie.sandoval@cshs.org or 562-631-1169.

This condition not only can accelerate cognitive decline but is often mistaken for an underlying neurological condition—delaying proper diagnosis and treatment.

In a recent review published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Cedars-Sinai researchers explored how UTI-induced delirium affects brain function, why individuals with dementia are especially vulnerable, and the critical need for early recognition and intervention.

“It’s a vicious cycle where dementia increases the risk of infection, and infection-related delirium accelerates cognitive decline,” said Shouri Lahiri, MD, principal investigator of the Critical Care Neurodegenerative Medicine Lab, director of the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit and Neurocritical Care Research at Cedars-Sinai, and senior author of the review.

Previous laboratory studies by Lahiri and his colleagues revealed that the immune system’s response to UTI-induced delirium—specifically the inflammatory protein interleukin-6—can cause changes in the brain. Blocking this pathway reversed delirium-like symptoms in mice.

Lahiri sat down with the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom to discuss UTIs as a potentially preventable and treatable contributor to cognitive decline and the importance of early recognition and swift treatment.

What is delirium, and how is it different from memory loss?

Delirium is a sudden change in thinking and awareness. It affects attention, judgment and short-term memory, and develops over hours or days.

Memory loss from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease progresses slowly over time. Delirium, by contrast, is acute and usually triggered by a medical illness, such as a urinary tract infection, dehydration or infection elsewhere in the body.

Why can urinary tract infections cause confusion, especially in older adults?

Our research shows UTIs can cause acute brain dysfunction through inflammation. An infection in the bladder releases inflammatory signals into the bloodstream, which can affect the brain and disrupt normal function, leading to delirium.

Older adults are more vulnerable because their brains are often less resilient to physiological stress.

UTIs aren’t the only infections that can trigger this response. Any systemic infection, including pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections or skin infections, can provoke widespread inflammation that affects the brain and causes acute confusion.

Why are people with Alzheimer’s disease at higher risk for UTIs?

People with Alzheimer’s may have challenges upkeeping with hygiene and age-related hormonal changes that increase UTI risk. Alzheimer’s can also impair sensation and communication, making it harder for patients to recognize or report well-known UTI symptoms such as burning or urgency to urinate. As a result, infections may go untreated until they trigger delirium.

For people without dementia, delirium increases the risk of developing dementia by about threefold. Repeated episodes further raise that risk.

Why can a UTI make Alzheimer’s symptoms suddenly worse?

A UTI can cause a rapid cognitive decline that looks like a sudden worsening of Alzheimer’s disease. The key difference is timing. Alzheimer’s progresses gradually, while delirium causes an abrupt change from a person’s baseline.

We believe inflammation related to infection places added stress on an already vulnerable brain, which can worsen dementia symptoms and, in some cases, cause lasting damage.

Is delirium from a UTI reversible?

Early treatment offers the best chance for recovery. When UTIs are identified and quickly treated, delirium symptoms can improve or resolve. However, in some cases, cognitive effects can persist or become permanent. That’s why early recognition is critical.

Because UTIs don’t always cause obvious urinary symptoms, especially in older adults, we need to change the way we diagnose UTIs, using a mix of clinical observations and urinary and blood tests that show infection, to recognize when a UTI is behind sudden confusion.

How can caregivers tell the difference between Alzheimer’s progression and a UTI?

Sudden change is the biggest warning sign. Dementia generally does not cause abrupt declines. If someone with Alzheimer’s suddenly becomes much more confused, less alert or behaves very differently, that may signal delirium.

Other changes to look out for include changes in urination patterns, incontinence, pain, or changes in urine color or odor.

What can caregivers do to help prevent UTIs and delirium?

Caregivers should make sure the person they’re taking care of maintains good hygiene and adequate hydration. Caregivers should also notify a physician if UTIs are recurrent, because treatments are available to reduce repeated episodes.

Also, being aware of sudden changes in mental status and seeking prompt medical care can make a significant difference.

Are UTIs linked to delirium in other neurological conditions?

Yes. Parkinson’s disease is a key example. Many people with Parkinson’s have difficulty fully emptying their bladder, which increases infection risk. UTIs can worsen Parkinson’s movement symptoms, just as they worsen cognition in Alzheimer’s disease.

What is your lab studying next?

We are studying new drugs that target inflammatory pathways involved in UTI-related brain dysfunction, with the goal of advancing them to clinical trials. We are also developing diagnostic approaches to better identify UTIs in patients who  don’t have the well-known urinary symptoms.

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University is advancing groundbreaking research and educating future leaders in medicine, biomedical sciences and allied health sciences. Learn more about the university.

Now, thanks to a $5 million gift from the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation, Graham enters updates into an app on his phone every few days and his care team can view them in real time.

“I use it every other day, at different times of the day, and I hope that helps the care team have a better idea of how my medication is working,” Graham said. “I enjoy it. It keeps me thinking about what I might be able to do better to help myself.”

Cedars-Sinai is helping Graham and other patients by expanding its use of the app, called Kneu Health.

Doctors all over the world who care for patients with Parkinson’s disease face the same dilemma, said Michele Tagliati, MD, vice chair of Neurology and director of the Movement Disorders Division at Cedars-Sinai.

“At each checkup you ask a patient who has a neurological disorder and may be in their 70s or 80s how they’ve been doing for the past three to six months,” Tagliati said. “And you base your whole treatment plan on what they tell you.”

The Kneu Health app, which Tagliati is testing with Graham and other patients, gives doctors more frequent updates. Every few days patients use the app to perform exercises—such as holding the phone in front of their face to check for tremor, walking so the phone’s accelerometer can check their balance, or performing exercises that test their memory or reaction time.

Patients also can enter information about their sleep quality and other symptoms of the movement disorder, in which brain cells progressively deteriorate.

The information feeds directly into the Cedars-Sinai electronic medical record (EMR) and the app produces a summary for doctors to review. It also sends an alert if the data suggests a patient is at risk for falling or other serious issues.

“This allows us to intervene instead of waiting for the patient’s next visit,” Tagliati said. “Rather than unknowingly having a patient spend months on a medication that isn’t working or having them end up in the emergency department because of a fall, we can change their medication or have them use a walker.”

Graham was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. He takes daily medications, uses an online speech pathology program, practices yoga and Pilates, and sees Tagliati every three months for botulinum toxin injections to help control his involuntary spasms.

Graham said he finds the app intuitive and easy to use and likes the fact that he can check in whenever he wants—and choose what he would like to work on.

The Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation’s gift will fund the hiring of three physician assistants or nurse practitioners to help monitor the large population of patients with Parkinson’s disease followed at Cedars-Sinai, which currently number more than 800.

“We're supporting Cedars-Sinai's Parkinson's disease program because it addresses a critical gap in care by ensuring that patients maintain their quality of care even in outpatient settings,” said Elaine Saverin, chairwoman of the foundation. “Technological innovations like the Kneu Health app can have profound ripple effects for thousands living with Parkinson's.”

The additional staff funded by the gift will also help patients with Parkinson’s disease who are hospitalized for reasons unrelated to their condition, such as an infection or the need for emergency surgery.

“When a patient with Parkinson’s disease is admitted to Cedars-Sinai, we want to make sure the neurology care team knows about it,” Tagliati said. “These patients are at risk of prolonged hospital stays or other complications if their prescribed medications aren’t given on time, or if they are prescribed medications that can be harmful when taken with Parkinson’s medications.”

Cedars-Sinai has created an electronic dashboard to track and improve the care of these patients. The additional dedicated staffing will mean a nurse practitioner or physician assistant is available to monitor the dashboard and ensure hospitalized patients with Parkinson’s disease are receiving the best possible care.

Kneu Health participated in Cedars-Sinai’s Accelerator Program in 2024, and the Cedars-Sinai Intellectual Property Company recently invested in the company.

“This innovative approach to treating people with Parkinson’s disease is something that is done at only a few hospitals around the country,” said Nirdesh Gupta, PhD, managing partner in the Cedars-Sinai Intellectual Property Company. “Thanks to the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation, the participation of our patients and advances in technology, we now have the opportunity to improve the standard of care for Parkinson’s patients here at Cedars-Sinai and, ultimately, on a global scale.”

Read More on Stories and Insights: Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

The 39-year-old father, who plays softball and ice hockey and spends weekends off-roading, was no stranger to minor injuries. But the anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by his primary care physician only gave Starsiak temporary relief. Over the next few months, his hips stiffened, and he began to lose sensation and muscle mass in his leg.

Then, during a business trip, the pain caused Starsiak to reach a breaking point.

“I could not walk from one gate to the next at the airport and ended up having a breakdown, crying because I was in so much pain,” Starsiak said.

After multiple doctor visits, including a trip to the emergency room, an MRI revealed the cause: a 2-centimeter cyst lodged on the front side of a nerve, tucked beneath a joint in his spine. Its location made it particularly difficult to treat.

A physician near his home in Orange County referred Starsiak to Corey Walker, MD, an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics at Cedars-Sinai, who specializes in minimally invasive and complex spine cases.

Starsiak, a medical device salesman with a focus on orthopedic products, was familiar with surgical options and trusted his instincts in choosing Walker to oversee his care.

“When I met Dr. Walker, I immediately knew he was the right surgeon—someone of integrity who listened carefully and was deeply passionate about his craft,” Starsiak said.

Cyst Removal Without Spinal Fusion

Walker performs endoscopic spine surgery, a minimally invasive technique that uses a small endoscope—about the width of a pen—to navigate hard-to-reach places inside the body. Compared with traditional surgery, the minimally invasive approach typically results in smaller incisions, less tissue damage and faster recovery.

In Starsiak’s case, the cyst was compressing nerves against his spinal canal, interfering with their ability to send signals between his brain and leg. That pressure can lead to loss of strength, sensation and coordination.

Removing the cyst would be challenging. In order to access the nerve and underlying cyst, a surgeon typically would need to remove a spinal joint and fuse the vertebrae with rods and screws to stabilize them.

“That would have been a life-altering operation for someone his age,” Walker said. “Fusion puts added stress on surrounding joints and can lead to future surgeries.”

Instead, Walker took a different approach.

Using an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, Walker accessed the cyst through an endoscope with a small camera attached. After locating the affected nerve, he and his team were able to use the endoscope to guide them in removing the cyst—without cutting muscle, removing the joint or injuring the nerve.

“We had what felt like an impossible task,” Walker said. “I’m proud that Cedars-Sinai is able to treat patients who have complex cases.”

For Starsiak, avoiding fusion was critical.

“I was worried a fusion would significantly hamper—if not end—my ability to play sports and lift weights,” he said.

Life-Changing Relief

When Starsiak woke up from the procedure, he immediately felt relieved of the pain and pressure, as if a rock had been removed from his back.

His recovery took about eight weeks, and he focused on restoring mobility and strength in his hips, legs and back. Today, Starsiak is back to his normal routine—playing sports, off-roading and lifting weights at the squat rack.

The experience also changed his mindset.

Before the injury, Starsiak said, he measured success largely by career advancement. As a father of two, losing his mobility forced him to reconsider his priorities.

“The second you lose your health, you realize none of the other things really matter,” he said. “You can’t enjoy success if you’re not healthy.”

For Walker, that impact is what makes the work meaningful.

“As a neurosurgeon, it’s incredible to hone your craft—to work with your hands and see a problem fixed by the end of surgery,” he said. “But what’s even more rewarding is hearing later how it’s changed someone’s life—that’s the best part.”

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: Defying the Odds – Father's Love Leads to Life-Changing Surgery

The study shows for the first time that Chlamydia pneumoniae can reach the retina—the tissue lining the back of the eye—where it triggers immune responses linked to inflammation, nerve cell death and cognitive decline.

“Seeing Chlamydia pneumoniae consistently across human tissues, cell cultures and animal models allowed us to identify a previously unrecognized link between bacterial infection, inflammation and neurodegeneration,” said Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui, PhD, professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University and the leading, senior author of the study. “The eye is a surrogate for the brain, and this study shows that retinal bacterial infection and chronic inflammation can reflect brain pathology and predict disease status, supporting retinal imaging as a noninvasive way to identify people at risk for Alzheimer’s.”

To conduct the study, researchers used advanced imaging, genetic testing and protein analysis to examine retinal tissue from 104 individuals, some with normal cognition, some with mild cognitive impairment and some with Alzheimer’s disease.

They found significantly higher levels of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the retinas and brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease than they found in people with normal cognition. The higher the bacterial levels detected, the more severe the brain changes and cognitive decline investigators found.

Higher levels of the bacterium were more common in people who carried the APOE4 gene variant, a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Investigators also studied human neurons in the lab and in laboratory mice with Alzheimer’s disease. In both, infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae increased inflammation, nerve cell death and cognitive decline, showing the bacterium can accelerate disease processes. The infection also triggered production of amyloid-beta, the protein that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.

The findings were driven by co-first authors Bhakta Gaire, PhD, and Yosef Koronyo, MSc.

“This discovery raises the possibility of targeting the infection-inflammation axis to treat Alzheimer’s,” said Timothy Crother, PhD, co-corresponding author of the study and research professor at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's and the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cedars‑Sinai.

The findings suggest that targeting chronic bacterial infection—and the inflammation it triggers—could represent a new treatment strategy. The research also supports potential use of the retina as a noninvasive way to help diagnose and monitor the disease.

Additional Cedars-Sinai authors include Bhakta Gaire, Yosef Koronyo, Jean-Philippe Vit, Alexandre Hutton, Lalita Subedi, Dieu-Trang Fuchs, Natalie Swerdlow, Altan Rentsendorj, Saba Shahin, Daisy Martinon, Edward Robinson, Alexander V. Ljubimov, Keith L. Black, Jesse Meyer, and Moshe Arditi.

Other authors include Julie A. Schneider, Lon S. Schneider, Debra Hawes, Stuart L. Graham, Vivek K. Gupta, and Mehdi Mirzaei.

Funding: This work has been supported by the NIH/NIA grants R01AG056478, R01AG055865, and AG056478-04S1 (M.K.H.), R01AG075998 (M.K.H. and T.R.C.), and Alzheimer’s Association grant AARG-NTF-21-846586 (T.R.C.). MKH is also supported by The Goldrich and Snyder Foundations. ER has been supported by The Ray Charles Foundation.

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University is advancing groundbreaking research and educating future leaders in medicine, biomedical sciences and allied health sciences. Learn more about the university.

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The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom recently spoke with Jane Tavyev Asher, MD, director of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, about how screens affect children and teens differently depending on their age, and what parents can do to set healthy boundaries for screen time.

What is the recommended amount of screen time for children in different age groups?

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics had fairly strict guidelines: no screen time at all for children under age 2, and minimal exposure for ages 2 to 5. Ideally, screen time should be under an hour a day. For ages 5 to 11 and older, less than two hours per day.

Since the pandemic shifted much of our education and social lives online, we've had to adapt those guidelines a bit. Still, research continues to support limiting screen time to less than two hours a day for older children as well. Exceeding that amount has been associated with increased risks of anxiety, depression and other emotional challenges.

How can excessive screen time affect young children’s developing brains?

The general consensus among developmental pediatricians is that children under age 3 should have little to no screen exposure. That’s because their brains are in a critical stage of development, with key processes like myelination, the biological process that speeds up the nerve transmission to the brain, and neural pathway formation actively taking place.

When a young brain is exposed to too much screen time, it can overstimulate the visual cortex—the part of the brain that processes images—at the expense of the auditory cortex, which is vital for developing social skills and language. Ideally, we want their early learning to be grounded in real-world, interactive face-to-face experiences—not passive viewing.

How does screen time via social media impact brain development in teenagers?

Adolescence is a time when the brain is deeply focused on social development and seeking acceptance from peers. Before social media, that feedback loop was limited to in-person interactions with a small group of peers. But now, through apps and platforms, teens are exposed to a constant, amplified stream of approval or disapproval on a much larger scale.

That amplification can be harmful. It places undue stress on the adolescent brain, increasing the risk of social anxiety, low self-esteem and even depression.

Does the type of screen make a difference?

Yes, the type of screen can make a difference. A lot of what’s called “educational content” is often just labeled that way for marketing purposes, without clear evidence that it's truly educational. Watching content on a TV screen is generally safer—it’s farther from the eyes and doesn’t strain the neck or vision as much as phones or tablets.

Also, the platform matters. Streaming services like YouTube often auto-play endless content using algorithms to keep kids hooked. There’s no clear stopping point. In contrast, traditional TV typically airs for a set duration, which naturally limits screen time and reduces the risk of overconsumption.

How does screen-based learning in school affect brain development?

We’ve found that when students read something from a book, they tend to retain the information better than when they read the same content on a screen. We don’t fully understand why that is, but it does suggest that traditional learning methods still hold an important place.

That said, screens can be very helpful when used purposefully. For example, watching a video demonstration of a complex science experiment can be far more effective than trying to imagine it from a textbook. In classroom settings, it’s best when screens are used collectively, as part of a group lesson with discussion led by the teacher, rather than having each student isolate on their own individual device.

Are some children more vulnerable than others to the negative effects of too much screen time?

Yes, certain children are especially sensitive. Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, symptoms can become overstimulated by video games and may struggle even more with attention. Similarly, children experiencing anxiety or depression, or children who face social challenges may be more prone to negative effects from screen exposure, especially if they’re using it as an escape or replacement for in-person interaction.

In these cases, screen time should be monitored closely, and alternative, healthy outlets should be prioritized.

What are some practical tips for parents to set healthy screen time limits?

One of the most beneficial things parents can do is to ensure their children get at least two hours of physical activity each day, ideally outside. This supports not only their physical health but also their energy levels, focus and even vision.

Another important tip is to delay giving your child a smartphone for as long as possible. There’s a movement called “Wait Until 8th” that encourages parents to hold off until at least after eighth grade. The longer you can wait, the more time your child has to build a strong foundation of social and emotional development without the added pressures of smartphone use.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Does My Child Need Growth Hormone Therapy?