India, July 31 -- S crolling through our phones is effortless and fits perfectly into our need for relaxation, offering a quick break without demanding the cognitive effort required for activities like solving puzzles or reading a book. However, indulging this easy escape before bedtime may come at a cost. As you lose track of time, five minutes of scrolling can quickly turn into hours. Dr Anurup Saha, consultant neurosurgeon at Manipal Hospitals, Siliguri, cautions that simply sleeping longer cannot undo the effects of late-night scrolling. Highlighting the importance of sleep, he says, "Sleep is important for the human brain and oversees processing new information, organising memories, repairing cells, regulating moods, and eliminating toxic substances that have accumulated throughout the day." The neurosurgeon explains, "When we continue scrolling through social media, watching videos, or responding to messages late at night, the brain remains mentally stimulated instead of winding down. At the same time, the blue light emitted by digital screens suppresses melatonin, which is the hormone that signals the body it is time to sleep. Due to this, people take longer to fall asleep and often experience poorer-quality sleep." Explaining the cognitive impact, the expert emphasises, "Lack of sleep can impede memory consolidation, making it difficult to remember previously taught activities or retain new knowledge. It can also reduce attention spans, impair response times and interfere with decision-making." Emotionally, insufficient sleep can make it harder to deal with everyday stress: "Those who don't get enough sleep might feel more agitated, nervous or stressed. Brain fog, a state of mental sluggishness that makes everyday tasks feel more difficult, is also a common complaint. Dr Anurup shares that young people, college students, working professionals, gamers and late-shift workers as particularly vulnerable to developing unhealthy bedtime screen habits. "Teenagers' biological sleep clocks regularly shift during adolescence. Long-term late-night screen time can impact daytime focus, mental health, and academic achievement," he says, adding, "Professionals who stay up late reading their emails or participating in online meetings might find it difficult to mentally unplug, which can result in ongoing exhaustion and decreased output."...