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Brain's 5 Life Stages Revealed!
25 Nov
Summary
- Brain develops in five distinct life phases.
- Key developmental shifts occur at ages nine, 32, 66, and 83.
- Study offers insight into mental health and dementia risk variations.

New research has detailed five distinct phases of brain development throughout human life, identifying critical turning points at ages nine, 32, 66, and 83. This comprehensive study involved brain scans of nearly 4,000 participants aged up to 90, revealing crucial insights into neural connections across different life stages.
The University of Cambridge researchers found that the brain continues to mature through adolescence until the early thirties, a period identified as the brain's peak. This understanding challenges previous assumptions about brain development timelines and highlights a prolonged period of adolescent-like brain states.
These findings hold significant implications for understanding the varying risks associated with mental health disorders and dementia throughout a person's life. By mapping these developmental stages, scientists aim to provide better context for age-related neurological conditions.




