NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — Numerous studies have found reports of issues of mental health, social lives, and more in teenagers because of the pandemic.

However, new research suggests that it caused some teenagers’ brains to age faster than normal — about four years faster for girls and about one and a half years for boys.

A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences was the first to have details on aging differences by sex, but adds to the knowledge of previous studies on the pandemic and accelerated brain aging in teenagers.

Based on previous research, the findings may be because of a phenomenon called the “stress acceleration hypothesis” — which states that when in a high-stress environment, development may shift toward maturing earlier to protect emotional circuits and regions involved in learning and memory.

“The findings are an important wake-up call about the fragility of the teenage brain,” said the study’s Senior Author Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl. “Teens need our support now more than ever.”

The differences could also be because of the varying effects of stressors on boys versus girls based on what’s important, the authors said.

For girls, the acceleration was linked to social cognitive functions, processing social and emotional experiences, the ability to have empathy and compassion, and language comprehension.

For boys, the region involved dealt with processing objects in the visual field, as well as faces.

Even though the pandemic is over, the effects of it still remain. Making sure teenagers are supported in their mental health is critical, and parents should encourage in-person quality time, limit social media use, and watch for behavioral changes.

“A total return to ‘normal’ may never occur,” said Dr. Kuhl. “These are all potent reminders of human fragility and of the importance of investing in the science of prevention and preparation for the next (inevitable) pandemic.”

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