According to research, the human brain reaches its peak performance in the early thirties, marking a significant turning point in life. At this age, the brain is characterized by stability, which lasts for about three decades. A British research team found that throughout a lifetime, the brain completely changes its neural connections five times, leading to expected changes at different stages of age. According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, key changes in the brain's neural network occur on average at ages 9, 32, 66, and 83, accompanied by differences in thinking patterns with age. Researcher from the University of Cambridge Alexa Mosley says: "These stages reveal important evidence about the best tasks the brain can perform at different life stages, when it is at its weakest, and also help us understand why intelligences develop differently at critical life stages, such as learning difficulties in children or dementia in the elderly." As part of the study, the team evaluated databases of about 3,800 people up to 90 years old without neurological diseases and used magnetic resonance imaging to map neural connections in the brain, tracking the movement of water molecules within brain tissue. Researchers hope that future studies will include larger samples and test differences between genders. Head of the research team from the University of Cambridge Duncan Astell says: "If we understand that the structural development of the brain is not a continuous process, but several key turning points, this will help us understand when and how the brain's neural connectivity is prone to disruption." The researchers noted: "Using this technique, we identified four topological turning points in life, occurring at approximately ages 9, 32, 66, and 83." Each of the four age periods is characterized by the beginning of a new era of development associated with age-related changes in brain structure. According to the study, the longest of these stages is adolescence, which lasts for more than three decades. From infancy to childhood: a continuous construction process In the first period, which starts from birth to the age of 9, the rate of formation of neural connections in the infant's brain decreases, while retaining the most active connections between neurons. The first turning point occurs at age 9 and is accompanied by a sharp change in cognitive functions, as well as an increased risk of mental disorders, according to scientists. Adolescence and early adulthood: peak efficiency In the second age period from 9 to 32 years, the human brain enters a phase where its potential is fully realized. According to the research team, the neural network in the brain is constantly being refined. This period is characterized by high-speed communication within the brain with improved cognitive performance. Our ideas, tastes, and abilities to innovate and create are formed at different stages of life. Scientists have identified specific stages of brain development from childhood to old age. Since no study participants were over 90 years old, the study was limited to this age range. Researchers note that this period is characterized by stability in the growth of intelligence and personality traits. Mid-60s: the beginning of early old age At around age 66, the least noticeable change occurs in the brain, not accompanied by radical transformations, when the process of gradual reorganization of brain networks reaches its peak. The exact timing of this period varies from person to person and depends partly on cultural, historical, and social factors. Mosley says: "At this age, people are more susceptible to health problems that affect the brain, such as high blood pressure." Late old age: the final stages of development The last turning point occurs around age 83, when the human brain enters the phase of late old age. Neural networks begin to decline.
