Two scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have found that an area of the brain that's more active in adolescents might explain why teenagers are more susceptible than adults to mental illness and addiction, Medscape Medical News reports.
Adolescence is a "critical time period" when symptoms of addiction and most mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, are apt to manifest, Dr. (Bita) Moghaddam explained. Therefore, this is a "critical period to try to prevent disease."
"Traditionally, the focus of treatment and research has been to try to treat the disease after it develops. By better understanding what's happening in the adolescent brain, we can potentially understand what mechanisms go awry and perhaps intervene in high-risk individuals," Dr. Moghaddam said.
Original source: Medscape Medical News
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