More time moving and sleeping, and less time spent on screens, are all needed during childhood to improve lifelong brain health, according to a study led by the University of Strathclyde.
The Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card 2026 found that fewer than a fifth of Scottish teenagers meet the international recommendation of under two hours’ screen time per day.
Sleep time
It also revealed that around half do not get the recommended sleep amount each day – nine to 11 hours for younger teenagers and eight to 10 hours for older teenagers.
A range of behaviours, environments and inequalities relevant to the foundations of lifelong brain health is covered in the report card.
Dr Farid Bardid, a Senior Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health at Strathclyde and lead author of the study, said:
Physical activity, screen time and sleep influence brain health from early life. For instance, physical activity has short-term and long-term benefits for core cognitive functions underpinning reasoning, planning and problem solving, which support children’s participation in school, family and community life.
Professor John Reilly, of Strathclyde’s Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, a co-author of the study, said: “Spending so long in front of screens is displacing brain health-enhancing physical activity and sleep. This displacement typically starts around the age of four or five, with year-on-year increases in daily screen time as children get older.
“On a positive note, Scotland has favourable policies to promote physical activity and healthy diets in children and adolescents.”
Dr Simone Tomaz, Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the University of Stirling, said: “We continue to see concerted efforts from the Scottish Government to develop policies and fund programmes that promote children's physical activity and play.
"It is particularly encouraging to see children’s views and voices playing a greater role in shaping future policy and active travel initiatives, alongside a dedicated commitment to inclusivity and partnership working to achieve the shared goal of happier, healthier children across Scotland."
The picture of physical activity and health in Scottish children and adolescents is complex and incomplete. The researchers highlight that monitoring and supporting behaviours and environments during childhood is important to strengthen policy and support lifelong brain health.
Risk factors
Joanna Crispell, Head of Brain Health Scotland, said: “Many of the indicators highlighted in this Report Card relate directly to modifiable risk factors for brain health and dementia and we know these are not evenly distributed across society. Brain health is shaped across the whole life course and the foundations are laid early in childhood.
Supporting children to move more, eat well and develop healthy habits is not only important for their wellbeing today but for protecting their brain health in the decades to come. It is never too early to start thinking about brain health.
The Active Healthy Kids report card method is used in more than 70 countries, with over 250 peer reviewed papers to date which have been cited more than 10,000 times.
The 2026 Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card was a collaboration between Brain Health Scotland, which funded the study, the Universities of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Stirling, Aberdeen and the West of Scotland, and the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.