Excessive Texting Causes Brain Damage, Research Finds/They have come again ohh.

By National Report: a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows conclusive evidence that excessive amounts of texting causes irreversible damage to several “clusters” of brain cells, resulting in slight to moderate mental retardation after prolonged use.  The study also shows that texting classifies as “addictive,” and that some people can suffer acute withdrawals that have the same effects on the human brain as a drug addict being refused their substance of choice.
The data is the result of a ten-year study of the long-term effects of cell phone use, carried out by Johns Hopkins University, in collaboration with MIT and laboratories at the University of Arizona.  Researchers studied fifty individuals for ten full years, from April 20th 2004 through April 20th 2014, monitoring their cell phone usage, behaviors when using their phones, and various patterns and signals of the brain when using or not using the phones.  Researchers found conclusive evidence that people they identify as “extreme texters” suffer from mental illness after prolonged exposure.

“We aren’t talking about people who text casually here,” explained Dr. Bill Wallace, a key researcher in the study.  “Statistically speaking, the average person sends approximately 100 to 200 texts per month.  But some `extreme texters’ are sending as many as 500 to 600 per month, or even more.  These are the sorts of people who are at risk for very serious brain damage.  They classify medically as addicts, and very much need help.”

What causes the brain damage?  The study states that a combination of eye strain and the small dexterous movements of the fingers and/ or thumbs to send out the messages are key contributors, but not the biggest issue: that honor belongs to what researchers call “rapid disengagement.”

“Rapid disengagement occurs when a phone user quickly and unexpectedly breaks from something they’re focusing on to focus on something else for a very brief period of time,” Dr. Wallace explains.  “Imagine sitting at a restaurant with friends, having a conversation.  You get a text, and break from that conversation, in part or completely, to focus on that text for a short period of time.  Then you reengage that conversation once the text is sent.  This doesn’t cause physical pain to your brain, but it’s hurting you all the same, and over time, those effects can be ruinous.”

The research shows that the extreme texters all suffered an IQ point loss of 8 to 15 points in the ten-year span of the study.  Extrapolated figures show that these individuals will begin losing basic motor skills after fifteen years of extreme texting, and that twenty to twenty five years could cause some texters to unexpectedly slip into comas.

“This is a very serious, very dire situation.  It’s a war,” Dr. Wallace stated.  “The cell phone companies are fighting tooth and nail to keep this study out of the mainstream media, threatening to pull their advertisements from those outlets that report on this.  But the numbers don’t lie.  Texting is a very dangerous behavior our society is faced with today, and if we don’t do something now, we’re going to be in a lot of trouble.”

Dr. Wallace’s advice to those extreme texters?  Text less.  “Spend more time talking to people on the telephone.  If that seems strange to you, then you’re facing addiction and withdrawal symptoms, and should force yourself into talking.  Also, find out how many texts you’re sending per month.  If that number exceeds four-hundred texts per month, you need to see a doctor immediately and tell them that your texting behavior puts you at risk for mental retardation.  They’ll be able to help you, and administer tests to make sure you haven’t already suffered brain damage from texting.  The most important thing here is that you act immediately.”