Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

Go Home

Research shows excessive phone use alters the brain, making users less attentive and more prone to mental health struggles. Experts say the key to breaking "brain rot" may be going analog with hobbies away from a digital screen.

CBSEveningNews's profile picture

CBS Evening News

435,835 subscribers

18,203 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

Health & WellnessEducationScience & Technology
LIVE

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

5 Comments

Rapidsloth's profile picture
Rapidsloth1 year ago

Hard to trust them when they still try and hide the fact that the clot shot kills and maims people daily.

Bruce W. Holsted's profile picture
Bruce W. Holsted1 year ago

@CBSNews What research?

SINNED H's profile picture
SINNED H1 year ago

LMFAO are you now trying to blame phones on the ignorant democrats that have been programed to be that way...brain rot is the demcults calling card

Balmora Portals's profile picture
Balmora Portals1 year ago

Perfect for groomers and teachers. They can capitalize on the mental health struggles. Get them to vote democrat. I don't know why you would be against this.

WickedAfterlife's profile picture
WickedAfterlife1 year ago

You shouldn't have to put down the device by going to some help center...just sit it down and GO OUTSIDE!! These kids are being pushed on the phones, devices by LAZY PARENTS!! Get out and hang out! Go for drives...go talk to friends!

Related Videos

A group of UC Berkeley students did a 9-week digital detox… and the results were striking. Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Sahar Yousef (UC Berkeley Haas) found that participants experienced less anxiety, less depression, and more mindfulness. Some students said they suddenly started noticing all the positive things in their real life once the constant scrolling stopped. Dr. Yousef also raised a concern, noting that heavy daily tech habits may be linked to brain changes: “We’re actually seeing brain atrophy… degradation of certain brain areas related to self-awareness [and] cognitive control.” (Note: This is an emerging area of research — more long-term studies are needed.) This feels very relatable. The longer I step away from endless scrolling, the clearer and calmer my mind seems to get. Our digital habits have become so automatic that we rarely stop to consider their impact on mental health and focus. Have you ever tried even a short digital detox? What difference (if any) did you notice?
0:35

A group of UC Berkeley students did a 9-week digital detox… and the results were striking. Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Sahar Yousef (UC Berkeley Haas) found that participants experienced less anxiety, less depression, and more mindfulness. Some students said they suddenly started noticing all the positive things in their real life once the constant scrolling stopped. Dr. Yousef also raised a concern, noting that heavy daily tech habits may be linked to brain changes: “We’re actually seeing brain atrophy… degradation of certain brain areas related to self-awareness [and] cognitive control.” (Note: This is an emerging area of research — more long-term studies are needed.) This feels very relatable. The longer I step away from endless scrolling, the clearer and calmer my mind seems to get. Our digital habits have become so automatic that we rarely stop to consider their impact on mental health and focus. Have you ever tried even a short digital detox? What difference (if any) did you notice?

Camus

197,429 views • 1 month ago

A reported 400% rise in early-onset dementia diagnoses among 35–45 year olds in Australia. Neuroscientist Dr. Mark Williams linked it on 9 News Australia to sharply increased daily screen time. He also noted the first generational decline in intelligence levels in history, partly blamed on modern device habits. The brain is highly plastic. Research shows that reducing constant screen stimulation and increasing deep focus activities (reading, real conversations, etc.) can strengthen attention, memory, and cognitive reserve. Williams says simple changes — more time with people, reading books, and less scrolling — can help support brain health. Our everyday tech habits may be shaping long-term brain health more than we realize. Many people report noticeably better focus and mental clarity when they cut back on screens. What do you think — have you noticed any difference in your thinking or memory with heavier screen use, or do you think this connection needs more research?
2:14

A reported 400% rise in early-onset dementia diagnoses among 35–45 year olds in Australia. Neuroscientist Dr. Mark Williams linked it on 9 News Australia to sharply increased daily screen time. He also noted the first generational decline in intelligence levels in history, partly blamed on modern device habits. The brain is highly plastic. Research shows that reducing constant screen stimulation and increasing deep focus activities (reading, real conversations, etc.) can strengthen attention, memory, and cognitive reserve. Williams says simple changes — more time with people, reading books, and less scrolling — can help support brain health. Our everyday tech habits may be shaping long-term brain health more than we realize. Many people report noticeably better focus and mental clarity when they cut back on screens. What do you think — have you noticed any difference in your thinking or memory with heavier screen use, or do you think this connection needs more research?

Camus

58,785 views • 1 month ago

Now accepting your most unhinged ideas for fighting brain rot. Check out for our most hinged idea, getting paid to use your phone less.
1:03

Now accepting your most unhinged ideas for fighting brain rot. Check out for our most hinged idea, getting paid to use your phone less.

Noble Mobile

24,349 views • 2 months ago

Hold the phone… Big Ev mocked a coworker for mental health struggles but is now advocating to help anyone struggling with mental health One man’s opinion but that might be disingenuous…
6:12

Hold the phone… Big Ev mocked a coworker for mental health struggles but is now advocating to help anyone struggling with mental health One man’s opinion but that might be disingenuous…

RGF

271,451 views • 19 days ago

Silky tries to go brain rot for brain rot with Max and Ron.. 😭😭
1:01

Silky tries to go brain rot for brain rot with Max and Ron.. 😭😭

FaZeClanMoments

292,029 views • 1 year ago

🔜 Next week is "Brain Awareness Week". Let's illuminate the path to mental well-being together by exploring the brain and its connection to mental health. 🧠💡#BrainAwarenessWeek #mentalhealthjourney.
0:32

🔜 Next week is "Brain Awareness Week". Let's illuminate the path to mental well-being together by exploring the brain and its connection to mental health. 🧠💡#BrainAwarenessWeek #mentalhealthjourney.

Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Network

66,902 views • 2 years ago

Parents are fighting a constant battle to keep their kids safe in a rapidly evolving digital world. Chairman Senator Ted Cruz leads a hearing to examine how excessive early screen use affects kids' development and mental health.
0:38

Parents are fighting a constant battle to keep their kids safe in a rapidly evolving digital world. Chairman Senator Ted Cruz leads a hearing to examine how excessive early screen use affects kids' development and mental health.

Senate Commerce Republicans

33,502 views • 5 months ago

New research shows deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamus may help spinal cord injury recovery, with promising results from mice, rats, and humans. Could this be a game changer for rehabilitation? ➡️
1:07

New research shows deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamus may help spinal cord injury recovery, with promising results from mice, rats, and humans. Could this be a game changer for rehabilitation? ➡️

Sky News

27,289 views • 1 year ago

Stop Mindless Scrolling Before Brain Rot Ruins Your Life. The REAL Story with Dr. Phil. We're drowning. Fried. Numb, or as Gen Z calls it, "Brain Rot" from mindless hours of scrolling on social media. It started as a joke, a self-mocking meme. However, the Real Story is that Brain Rot may be the most dangerous cultural shift of the decade.
10:44

Stop Mindless Scrolling Before Brain Rot Ruins Your Life. The REAL Story with Dr. Phil. We're drowning. Fried. Numb, or as Gen Z calls it, "Brain Rot" from mindless hours of scrolling on social media. It started as a joke, a self-mocking meme. However, the Real Story is that Brain Rot may be the most dangerous cultural shift of the decade.

Dr. Phil

15,727 views • 10 months ago

Want to boost focus, memory, and mental clarity? The secret might be in your diet. Polyphenols are more than just powerful antioxidants—they actively improve brain function and cognitive health. 🔹 Boosts BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)—promotes new neuron growth & better brain connections 🔹 Enhances blood flow to the brain—increasing focus, clarity & reaction time 🔹 Reduces mental fatigue—keeps your mind sharp & energized Where can you get them? Berries, dark chocolate, green tea, olives, and colorful fruits & veggies. Your brain health starts with what’s on your plate. What’s your go-to brain food? LEARN MORE:
0:40

Want to boost focus, memory, and mental clarity? The secret might be in your diet. Polyphenols are more than just powerful antioxidants—they actively improve brain function and cognitive health. 🔹 Boosts BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)—promotes new neuron growth & better brain connections 🔹 Enhances blood flow to the brain—increasing focus, clarity & reaction time 🔹 Reduces mental fatigue—keeps your mind sharp & energized Where can you get them? Berries, dark chocolate, green tea, olives, and colorful fruits & veggies. Your brain health starts with what’s on your plate. What’s your go-to brain food? LEARN MORE:

Gary Brecka

13,862 views • 1 year ago

Call of Duty has gone FULL brain rot due to the new Green Screen map.
0:34

Call of Duty has gone FULL brain rot due to the new Green Screen map.

DramaAlert

530,611 views • 7 months ago

Mitochondria do more than power our cells: they shape how we think, feel, and experience the world. In this interview, Martin Picard breaks down his new research that illuminates how mitochondria affect brain energy, brain networks, mental health, and ultimately, our quality of life. Dr. Picard walks us through his team's revolutionary brain mapping study, which examined over 700 sections of the human brain to uncover how mitochondria are distributed and specialized by brain region and cell type. The results have profound implications for how we understand, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disorders like depression bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why mitochondrial health is essential for brain function - How different brain regions rely on different types of mitochondria - Why people respond so differently to the same metabolic dysfunction - How future scans and biomarkers could help us measure brain energy non-invasively - What it means to think of ourselves as “energetic beings” rather than just biological machines When it comes to metabolic psychiatry, mitochondria are a key player. This research is a huge step towards better understanding these tiny organelles and the role they play in mental health and cognitive function. Expert Featured: Dr. Martin Picard Martin Picard Resources Mentioned: Three Ways to Keep Your Mitochondria Healthy - A human brain map of mitochondrial respiratory capacity and diversity - CMEs Mentioned: Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope - Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness - Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at
36:47

Mitochondria do more than power our cells: they shape how we think, feel, and experience the world. In this interview, Martin Picard breaks down his new research that illuminates how mitochondria affect brain energy, brain networks, mental health, and ultimately, our quality of life. Dr. Picard walks us through his team's revolutionary brain mapping study, which examined over 700 sections of the human brain to uncover how mitochondria are distributed and specialized by brain region and cell type. The results have profound implications for how we understand, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disorders like depression bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why mitochondrial health is essential for brain function - How different brain regions rely on different types of mitochondria - Why people respond so differently to the same metabolic dysfunction - How future scans and biomarkers could help us measure brain energy non-invasively - What it means to think of ourselves as “energetic beings” rather than just biological machines When it comes to metabolic psychiatry, mitochondria are a key player. This research is a huge step towards better understanding these tiny organelles and the role they play in mental health and cognitive function. Expert Featured: Dr. Martin Picard Martin Picard Resources Mentioned: Three Ways to Keep Your Mitochondria Healthy - A human brain map of mitochondrial respiratory capacity and diversity - CMEs Mentioned: Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope - Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness - Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at

Metabolic Mind

14,566 views • 1 year ago

The newest course on Peterson Academy, Chris Palmer, MD's nine-hour course: Brain Metabolism and Mental Health is available now. In this course, Dr. Palmer explores the brain energy theory, which suggests that mental disorders are fundamentally metabolic disorders of the brain. The lectures examine the critical role of mitochondria in mental health, highlighting their influence on neurotransmitters, inflammation, and overall brain function. The lectures also explore the complex relationship between mental illness and metabolic conditions, addressing the impact of lifestyle factors, trauma, and substance use. Key interventions discussed include the ketogenic diet and the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. The course concludes with practical strategies for improving both metabolic and mental health through a sustainable, whole-person approach focused on long-term recovery.
1:14

The newest course on Peterson Academy, Chris Palmer, MD's nine-hour course: Brain Metabolism and Mental Health is available now. In this course, Dr. Palmer explores the brain energy theory, which suggests that mental disorders are fundamentally metabolic disorders of the brain. The lectures examine the critical role of mitochondria in mental health, highlighting their influence on neurotransmitters, inflammation, and overall brain function. The lectures also explore the complex relationship between mental illness and metabolic conditions, addressing the impact of lifestyle factors, trauma, and substance use. Key interventions discussed include the ketogenic diet and the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. The course concludes with practical strategies for improving both metabolic and mental health through a sustainable, whole-person approach focused on long-term recovery.

Peterson Academy

74,262 views • 1 year ago

The brain rot is real! Are you good with your money going to this crap?! 🫠😂
1:03

The brain rot is real! Are you good with your money going to this crap?! 🫠😂

ConservativeAnt

30,648 views • 1 year ago

Marijuana contributes to Brain Damage: “It’s a Weapon of Mass Destruction,” Says Dr. Daniel Amen Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain-imaging specialist, warns that marijuana use causes visible damage on brain scans, which he describes as producing a “toxic-looking brain.” He specifically highlights the cerebellum — the area at the back-bottom of the brain that contains about 50% of the brain’s total neurons despite taking up only 10% of its volume. - Just as heavy alcohol use is notoriously toxic to the cerebellum, Dr. Amen states that marijuana is similarly damaging to this region. - The cerebellum was once thought to be mainly responsible for physical coordination and balance. - Modern research shows it also plays a critical role in thought coordination — how quickly and efficiently you process, integrate, and retrieve information. Because marijuana impairs cerebellar function, it literally slows down your thinking — making mental processing less sharp, less fluid, and slower overall. In Dr. Amen’s words, marijuana acts like a “weapon of mass destruction” to the brain. Clip Full Interview
3:31

Marijuana contributes to Brain Damage: “It’s a Weapon of Mass Destruction,” Says Dr. Daniel Amen Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain-imaging specialist, warns that marijuana use causes visible damage on brain scans, which he describes as producing a “toxic-looking brain.” He specifically highlights the cerebellum — the area at the back-bottom of the brain that contains about 50% of the brain’s total neurons despite taking up only 10% of its volume. - Just as heavy alcohol use is notoriously toxic to the cerebellum, Dr. Amen states that marijuana is similarly damaging to this region. - The cerebellum was once thought to be mainly responsible for physical coordination and balance. - Modern research shows it also plays a critical role in thought coordination — how quickly and efficiently you process, integrate, and retrieve information. Because marijuana impairs cerebellar function, it literally slows down your thinking — making mental processing less sharp, less fluid, and slower overall. In Dr. Amen’s words, marijuana acts like a “weapon of mass destruction” to the brain. Clip Full Interview

MJTruthUltra

830,804 views • 7 months ago

Massages For Brain Health Increased oxygen levels in the brain can enhance mental clarity, focus, and concentration.
0:22

Massages For Brain Health Increased oxygen levels in the brain can enhance mental clarity, focus, and concentration.

Metabolic Factor

17,075 views • 3 months ago

Reporter’s Notebook: A survey finds Americans are reading less, with smartphone use contributing to a decades-long decline. Experts suggest morning reading as a way to strengthen empathy, focus and mental health before the day begins. Here’s John Dickerson.
1:52

Reporter’s Notebook: A survey finds Americans are reading less, with smartphone use contributing to a decades-long decline. Experts suggest morning reading as a way to strengthen empathy, focus and mental health before the day begins. Here’s John Dickerson.

CBS Evening News

23,605 views • 10 months ago