Adolescence into your thirties? Cambridge study challenges ideas of maturity

• Cambridge study maps five major stages of brain development across the human lifespan.
• Findings challenge assumptions about adulthood, showing the brain may remain in adolescence into the early thirties.

A new study by the University of Cambridge finds that the human brain develops through five major stages across the lifespan, with critical transition points at ages nine, 32, 66, and 83.

The research suggests the brain may remain in a prolonged adolescent phase until the early thirties, reshaping long-held views about when mental maturity is reached.

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Childhood to prolonged adolescence

Reviewed by the Al-Hakim program on Al Jazeera Mubasher, childhood extends until age nine and is marked by rapid brain growth and structural development, according to the study.

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This phase is followed by a long period of adolescence from age nine to 32. During these years, neural networks become more efficient and better connected, improving cognitive performance. However, researchers note that this stage is also associated with a higher likelihood of mental health disorders.

The study places peak cognitive efficiency in the early thirties, rather than the late teens or early twenties as traditionally assumed.

Stability and gradual decline

From the early thirties until about age 66, the brain enters a phase of relative stability. While overall performance remains high, certain cognitive abilities begin to decline gradually over time.

Researchers describe this period as one of balance between experience-driven efficiency and the slow onset of age-related changes.

Aging brain and increased risks

The final stages include early and late old age, extending from 66 to 83 and beyond. During this period, the brain becomes more compartmentalized, with regions operating more independently.

This stage also sees a higher impact from age-related conditions such as dementia and high blood pressure, which can significantly affect cognitive function.

Brain adapts throughout life

The study emphasizes that the brain continuously reorganizes itself throughout life. These neurological shifts often align with major life milestones, including puberty, parenthood, and aging.

Researchers say the findings open new avenues for understanding mental health and developing preventive strategies against cognitive and neurological diseases, underscoring that brain health remains dynamic well into old age.