Hooked on screens? Experts warn of growing threat to brain health

In a world where screens dominate work, education, socialising and leisure, many people now spend several hours daily on smartphones, computers, and televisions. Yet, health experts warn that this surge in screen time is quietly affecting brain health, contributing to shorter attention spans, reduced concentration and a phenomenon increasingly called “brain rot”, a gradual decline in mental sharpness, focus, and drive. Dr Karen Blackmon, a consultant neuropsychologist at Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute in Nairobi, notes that today’s digital environment is designed to captivate users by hijacking the brain’s reward system. “Screens are part of our daily lives because many of us rely on them for work. The challenge arises when the same devices used for work also become our main source of entertainment and pleasure, especially through social media,” Blackmon says.