WATCHING porn regularly can damage the memory of young teenagers, a study found.
Both boy and girl “addicts” fared worse in simple tests to recall words, scientists discovered.
It may be because viewing X-rated material disrupts brain “connections”.
Regular cannabis users and sex offenders have shown similar effects.
As memory is linked to motivation, smut-hooked teens may have problems in achieving goals, the experts added.
In the study, 30 young teens — half heavy porn viewers, the rest normal or non-users — were given a list of 15 words and asked to repeat them.
The porn addicts scored 13.4 per cent lower than the rest, said scientists from the University of Indonesia in Java.
HEALTH WARNING
Dr Pukovisa Prawirohardjo warned that more teens faced risk as the internet was increasing exposure to porn.
He said watching sleaze could lead to online addiction and “significantly” affect their sexual behaviour.
Dr Prawirohardjo said “functional disconnections” in the brain may cause the memory problems.
He also said boys and girls should be “screened and treated” for porn addiction as both suffered the same degree of memory loss in the tests.
Dr Angela Gregory, a sex therapist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Watching too much porn is not without potential harm.
“We do not know the long-term impact it can have on the developing brain, so more research is needed.
“But it is also part of growing up and the world we live in. So parents need to be aware it is out there.”