Cognitive issues are more common as you age, but a shocking new study finds that these mental complications are jumping up in younger adults. The study, which was published in the journal Neurology in October 2025, calls rising cases of cognitive disability in the U.S. a “public health concern," noting that there’s been a massive increase in these issues in adults between the ages of 18 to 39. The findings paint a bleak picture for cognitive health in the U.S., but neurologists say there’s likely more to these findings than they suggest at face value. Here’s what the study found, plus what doctors who treat these conditions want you to keep in mind. ?SIGN UP for Parade’s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self?
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For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 4.5 million Americans who answered surveys about their health between 2013 and 2023. While the researchers discovered that people who said they had cognitive issues increased from 5.3% to 7.4%, there was a huge uptick in people under the age of 40. Rates of cognitive issues in adults under 40 nearly doubled during the study period, from 5.1% of respondents to 9.7%. This huge growth in cognitive issues in younger adults seems to be driving the overall national trend, according to the researchers. “These findings warrant further investigation, given their potential long-term implications for population health, workforce productivity and health care systems,” they wrote in the conclusion.
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What Cognitive Issues Are People Having?
“Cognitive issues” is a broad term, making it hard to know exactly what this refers to. The researchers defined this as “serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions.”During the surveys, the researchers specifically asked this question: “Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions?” People who answered “yes” were considered to have a cognitive disability. However, the researchers excluded people with depression to help better focus on people with cognitive issues that weren’t linked to depression.
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The study didn’t dive into that, but there are some theories. This is likely due to a mix of younger people being more aware of cognitive issues and the actual stressors they’re facing, says Dr. Ciaran Michael Considine, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and associate professor in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“Young adults today face unique stressors, including economic uncertainty, social media saturation affecting attention spans, and lifestyle factors that [the researchers] identify as particularly problematic in this age group, including poor sleep patterns, increased screen time, rising rates of obesity and physical inactivity, and high exposure to both noise pollution and substance use,” Dr. Considine says.
There’s also less stigma around young adults saying that they’re grappling with forgetfulness, says Dr. Clifford Segil, D.O., a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center. “In my clinical experience at our Brain Health Clinic, younger adults typically present with difficulties sustaining attention during work tasks, forgetting appointments or conversations, struggling to juggle multiple responsibilities, and feeling mentally ‘foggy’ or overwhelmed by decisions that previously felt manageable,” Dr. Considine says.
Many of these are likely a reflection of things like how much young adults are juggling, sleep deprivation, unmanaged stress, or untreated mental health conditions, he says. “What's concerning is when these symptoms interfere with work performance, relationships, or daily functioning consistently over several months."
But he explains that there’s likely more at play than just an awareness of cognitive issues. “The magnitude of change and its concentration in younger cohorts suggests real shifts in cognitive burden,” he says. “Young adults today navigate more complex information environments, face different occupational demands than previous generations, and are exposed to multiple risk factors during critical neurodevelopmental periods.”
Doctors are also finding more subtle symptoms of conditions like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder that may have been missed in the past, Dr. Considine points out.
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What To Do if You Have Cognitive Concerns
It’s best to start with your primary care physician if you’re having cognitive issues, Dr. Segil says. They’ll likely do bloodwork to try to find a reversible cause for your cognitive issues, including checking your thyroid. “You should keep a log of the specific complaints and any mistakes your memory loss is making,” Dr. Segil says. “You can also consider seeing a therapist if your cognitive complaints are associated with increased life stressors.”But Dr. Considine also recommends focusing on health factors you can control. “Even small changes like regular exercise, consistent sleep schedules, and reducing alcohol consumption can improve cognitive function within weeks to months,” he says. Of course, if those don’t help and you’re still struggling, it’s time to talk to a healthcare professional about next steps.
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Dr. Clifford Segil, D.O., a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health CenterDr. Ciaran Michael Considine, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and associate professor in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical CenterHence then, the article about cognitive issues are showing up more and more in young people here s why and what to do about it was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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