The dietary practice of intermittent fasting has become immensely popular in the mainstream. I am working at trimming my waistline using the principles of intermittent fasting. The idea is reduce the eating window to a 6-8 hour period. The research shows that the body’s cells and digestive system are able to renew and regenerate through a process known as autophagy.

The brain is another organ in the body that can benefit from fasting. Digital fasting! Based on the National Institutes of Health’s recent initial findings, too much screen time can be detrimental to brain development. Part of the report shared MRI evidence of cortex thinning. That’s a form of aging according to one of the researchers, Dr. Gaya Dowling.

I don’t know whether that translates to an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s for individuals getting too much screen time. I suppose time will tell. But I can’t help but wonder whether a digital fast could have the same regenerative effects on the brain that caloric fasting has on the body.

Just like fasting from food, digital fasting is thought to be more beneficial the longer it is. The effects of the digital detox can also lead to something more beneficial like exercising or reading a book.

Some experts even see too much screen time as an addiction.With device addiction, these experts point to the behavioral similarities of other addiction diseases like alcoholism.

The difference I see is that drug addiction requires complete cessation to be in recovery. This is unrealistic with technology. Digital fasting is like fasting with food. It is a form of moderation. No one quits eating altogether.

Time will tell whether too much screen time comes to be seen as an addiction. In my experience, I have seen students become depressed, anxious, or angry — even raging — when forced to abstain from their smart phones. But a University of Pennsylvania study showed that adolescents who spend less time on social media suffer less depression.

In the meantime, limiting screen time is probably a good idea. If not for regenerative reasons, consider it for the soft skills improvements. Encourage adolescents to engage in actual conversation — eyeball to eyeball, knee cap to knee cap. This helps make sure they will be able to conduct themselves in job interviews, selling situations, or just sounding intelligent in a group.

For sure, devices should be in “Do Not Disturb” mode overnight. My iPhone (and my children’s) are set to be off from 9pm to 5am. Early to bed and early to rise is still good advice.