The association between screen time and genetic risks for neurodevelopmental disorders in children

Whether longer screen time in infancy increases risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD has long been debated, but no causal relationship between the two remains has been established. Using ongoing longitudinal cohort data, we found that in children 24 to 40 months of age, the genetic risk of ASD was associated with longer screen time and that of ADHD with an increase in screen time over time. These data suggest that prolonged screen time may not be a cause of the genetic risk for NDD, but an early sign of NDDs.