Dr William Arias has become famous for helping patients combat obesity and diabetes. However, he has recently raised the alarm about another pressing problem: “brain rot”. According to Arias, “that finger movement with your mobile phone is killing your brain”, which is a shocking warning coming from someone so well versed in how our body's systems can fail. The evidence also supports his claims. In 2024, ‘brain rot’ was named Word of the Year by Oxford, as its use skyrocketed from the previous year, going from internet slang to a major health concern.
The intersection of metabolism and neuroscience
Arias offers important insights into how metabolic dysfunction and brain deterioration mirror each other. His research shows intriguing links between conditions such as obesity and diabetes and the deterioration of cognitive functions, including an elevated risk of dementia. However, mindless scrolling attacks our brains in a different way: through dopamine hijacking.
With each scroll on the screen, dopamine is released, creating unpredictable reward patterns similar to those found in gambling machines. A key region of the brain, known as the habenula, becomes locked into these scrolling loops, draining motivation and making it harder to stop. Over time, this leads the brain to physically restructure itself to long for these dopamine hits.
The effects of this scrolling habit are quantifiable. Even brief periods of regular internet use can decrease attention span capacity, and the impact lasts long after the phone is put away. Intensive use of social media can cause neural loss, reducing the areas of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and decision-making. Brain imaging studies indicate that frequent users have reduced dopamine production in regions crucial for habit formation.
The vicious cycle
When your brain constantly receives pleasurable rewards without the corresponding effort, it begins to produce less dopamine independently. This means that you need even more stimulation just to maintain a sense of normality. Although this resembles a metabolic dysfunction, it affects your attention span more than your blood sugar levels.
Researchers define ‘brain rot’ as cognitive decline and mental fatigue, especially evident in young people who consume excessive amounts of low-quality digital content. Today, a significant number of teenagers claim to be connected to the internet almost all the time, making their still-developing brains particularly vulnerable.
Finding a solution
The answer is not to disconnect completely from digital devices. Studies suggest that modest, sustained reductions, such as cutting back by one hour a day, are more effective than trying to quit altogether, which often leads to relapse.
Consider deleting distracting apps, turning off notifications, and removing features that encourage endless scrolling, such as autoplay functions.
Arias' message rings deeply because he understands the challenges of behavioural change. Whether helping someone reverse diabetes or break free from excessive scrolling, he recognises that people are fighting against systems specifically designed to keep them hooked. That innocent swiping of your finger across the screen is not as harmless as it seems; it is training your brain to need constant stimulation, which impairs your ability to concentrate and think deeply.
‘Brain rot’ is more than just a buzzword; it is a serious warning about cognitive health that requires the same urgency often given to metabolic diseases.
