Sleep and The Teenage Brain

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January 17, 2024

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Teenagers need ample amounts of sleep in order to foster their growth and development. In particular, their brains continue to develop until they’re in their early 20s. During this time, it’s important to get enough sleep because this allows the brain to function at its best.

The teenage brain is still developing

The brain is not fully developed until about age 25, which means that teenagers can be inadequately prepared to manage stress or other challenging emotions. The prefrontal cortex of the brain helps a person to regulate emotions during stressful situations by releasing hormones like serotonin and dopamine into the bloodstream. However, this part of their brain isn’t fully formed until about age 25. So when a teen experiences stressors at school or home, it may be difficult for him/her to handle, and they may benefit from guidance, support, and understanding.

Self-care is important, including sleep

It’s easy to forget that the brain is a muscle, and like any other muscle, it needs rest. Sleep helps the brain process information and learn new things. It also allows the body to repair itself after a long day of activity. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor school performance, unhealthy habits (such as eating junk food), mood swings and more serious health problems such as obesity or diabetes. The teenage years are already challenging enough without adding sleepless nights into the mix. Prioritizing sleep is extremely important for the developing teenage brain.

It’s important to get enough sleep

Sleep is vital for brain development, and it’s important to get enough sleep. Sleep helps with memory and learning, concentration, physical health and weight management. It also allows you to regulate your emotions better so that you can have good mental health.

Sleep also helps the brain grow and develop, as well as learn new information. Sleep has been shown to help regulate hormones that control appetite, weight gain or loss, mood swings and energy levels throughout the day.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following guidelines for sleep, “For teenagers, 8 to 10 hours was considered appropriate, 7 to 9 hours for young adults and adults.”