A new study from the University of Cambridge has revealed that the human brain undergoes five distinct phases throughout life, with adolescence extending surprisingly into the early 30s.

• The study involved scans of approximately 4,000 people up to the age of 90, identifying key turning points at ages nine, 32, 66, and 83.
• Researchers, led by Dr. Alexa Mousley, discovered that the brain's network of neurons becomes most efficient during the adolescent phase, which spans from age nine to 32, a period much longer than previously thought.
• The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, could provide insights into how the risk of mental health disorders and dementia changes across the lifespan.