Adolescence lasts into 30s – the brain fundamentally changes at four ages, study shows

Credit: Jolygon

By Claudia Tanner

Neuroscientists have identified four critical ages in the average human life when the brain's structural organisation fundamentally shifts.

This occurs around ages nine, 32, 66, and 83, according to the groundbreaking study by the University of Cambridge which suggests adolescence lasts into our 30s.

The research, published in Nature Communications, analysed diffusion imaging data from over 4,200 individuals aged from birth to 90 years old. Researchers were able to map how the complex patterns of neural connections – known as topology – change throughout life.

The brain is constantly changing as we acquire new knowledge and experiences – but this research reveals the process is far from a steady, linear progression across our lifetime.

Instead, these are the five brain phases or epochs:

• Childhood – from birth to age nine
• Adolescence – from nine to 32
• Adulthood – from 32 to 66
• Early ageing – from 66 to 83