Is Our Brain Power Declining?
What Are We Noticing?
In recent years, both teens and adults are reporting more frequent problems with:
- Concentration
- Learning new information
- Problem-solving
- Mental clarity or “brain fog”
Large-scale international tests — like PISA and PIAAC — show that reasoning, math, and reading skills have declined globally since around 2012. This trend began before the COVID pandemic and continues across age groups.
Example: In the U.S., about 35% of adults now struggle with basic mathematical reasoning, according to OECD data (2023).
This isn’t due to a sudden change in brain biology — but rather, how we engage with information and use our brains daily.
What’s Causing This Shift?
- Digital Overload & Distraction
- Our brains are bombarded with notifications, feeds, and endless content.
- We switch between apps and tasks rapidly — which fragments attention.
- Research shows that frequent multitasking impairs working memory and self-regulation (Ophir et al., 2009).
- Decline in Deep Reading
- Fewer people are reading books or long-form articles.
- Deep reading strengthens verbal reasoning, memory, and empathy (Wolf, 2018).
- In 2022, fewer than half of Americans reported reading even one book in the past year.
- Passive vs. Active Thinking
- We consume more, but reflect less.
- Scrolling replaces active inquiry, discussion, and problem-solving.
- This weakens critical thinking and mental endurance.
- Mental Fatigue & Self-Reports
- Since the mid-2010s, surveys like Monitoring the Future show a sharp increase in teens reporting trouble thinking or concentrating.
- This parallels changes in media use and classroom performance.
Is Human Intelligence Actually Declining?
No — not biologically.
The structure and potential of the human brain remain intact. Our neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to learn and adapt — is still strong.
But our daily habits, environments, and technology use may be reducing how effectively we apply our intelligence.
Think of it this way: The piano still works, but we’re not playing it regularly — or we’re using it to bang out random notes.
What Can Help Restore Focus and Mental Clarity? (can we move over, why it helps)
Below are practical, research-backed strategies to support brain health and cognitive functioning.
- Read daily: Improves language, attention span, and imagination
- Set limits on screen time: Reduces overstimulation and restores mental clarity
- Do puzzles or strategic games: Enhances working memory and flexible thinking
- Practice mindfulness: Boosts attention, emotional regulation, and calm
- Take daily walks: Movement improves mood, memory, and sleep
- Schedule focused time: Working on one task at a time builds cognitive endurance
- Protect sleep: Poor sleep from screen exposure undermines concentration and learning
Key Clinical Insights
- The “functional” decline we see is real, but it’s changeable.
- Attention, reasoning, and memory can recover and even improve with simple, consistent practices.
- For many, these symptoms are reversible, especially with changes in lifestyle, tech use, and daily structure.
Symptoms like brain fog, distractibility, or forgetfulness are not necessarily signs of decline — they are often adaptations to overwhelming inputs.
A Word to Patients and Families
If you’re feeling more mentally tired or forgetful, you’re not alone. Our modern environment makes focused, thoughtful living harder — but also more necessary.
The brain is incredibly resilient. With some gentle changes in how we use our time, attention, and technology, it’s possible to reclaim clarity, focus, and a greater sense of ease in daily life.
Need more support?
Talk to your doctor, psychoanalyst, or mental health provider about:
- Persistent attention problems
- Memory loss concerns
- Sleep disruption
- Anxiety or digital dependency
There are supportive tools — both psychological and cognitive — to help.
Supporting Research
- Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory: Overstimulated environments reduce effective learning (Sweller, 1988)
- Mindfulness Meditation: Improves cognitive control and emotional well-being (Tang et al., Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2015)
- Digital Overuse & Attention: Screen time impairs attention, sleep, and academic performance (Christakis, 2019)
- Working Memory Training: Certain cognitive exercises can improve reasoning (Jaeggi et al., PNAS, 2008)
About the Author
Dr Gavril Hercz
Dr. Gavril Hercz is a nephrologist at Humber River Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto. He completed his psychoanalytic training at the Toronto Psychoanalytic Institute and is a member of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society. His major area of interest is the impact of physical illness on patients, families, and caregivers.
In recent years, both teens and adults are reporting more frequent problems with: Concentration, Learning new information, Problem-solving, Mental clarity or “brain fog”.
