3 Bad Habits Damaging Young People’s Brains

Light House Denver – Bad habits in young people can have serious consequences for brain health, even though they are often unnoticed. Maintaining brain function from a young age is crucial to prevent various cognitive issues in the future. According to Dr. Baibing Cheng, a neurologist at the University of Michigan, there are three common habits among young people that should be avoided early on.

Dr. Cheng shared three bad habits he regrets having when he was younger. He hopes that the current generation can learn from his experience and avoid making the same mistakes.

1. Drinking Soda Every Day

As a teenager, Dr. Cheng had the habit of drinking one to two cans of soda every day after school, usually accompanied by sweet snacks. At that time, he was unaware of the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.

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Now, he understands that high sugar intake can increase the risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and chronic inflammation. Moreover, this habit also contributes to cognitive decline and raises the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

While some of the long-term effects may be irreversible, reducing sugar consumption can help slow further brain damage and maintain optimal mental function.

2. Listening to Music Too Loudly

Another habit Dr. Cheng regrets is listening to music at very high volumes through earphones. Loud volumes can damage the hair cells in the cochlea, the inner part of the ear, which cannot regenerate. This can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression.

Research also shows a strong link between hearing impairments and cognitive decline because the brain has to work harder to process sounds, reducing its capacity to process other information.

Dr. Cheng now follows the “60/60” rule: he keeps the volume at no more than 60% and limits listening time to 60 minutes per day. He also advocates for using hearing aids if needed, as they have been shown to reduce the risk of dementia.

3. Ignoring the Importance of Sleep

When he was young, Dr. Cheng often stayed up late to watch TV or play video games, not realizing how important sleep is for the brain. Sleep plays a key role in memory consolidation, emotional processing, and removing toxins from the brain.

Dr. Cheng now works in a demanding medical field that requires long hours. Despite this, he is advocating for systemic changes to ensure healthcare workers receive adequate sleep.

He emphasizes that structural brain damage caused by sleep deprivation can be permanent. However, the behavioral and cognitive effects can still be reversed by improving sleep patterns consistently.

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