Mental Health Conditions

The Latest on Teen Brain Development and Mental Health

May 09, 2021 | NWI

Many mental health conditions first appear in adolescence. Scientists believe that a driving factor of this change is the growth rate of myelin. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates the connections between cells and leads to better transmission of information. New research suggests that myelin in the prefrontal cortex grows more slowly in adolescents who are struggling more with their mental health.

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