Adulthood Actually Starts at Age 32, According to New Study

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Adulting can officially start later in life.

A new study from University of Cambridge neuroscientists reveals the human brain goes through four major shifts in development. Published in Nature Communications on November 25th, the research suggests adolescence now appears to begin around age 9 and continues until approximately age 32.

Researchers studied the brains of over 3,800 people of all ages, from newborns to 90-year-olds, and identified five distinct stages of brain development. These stages are: childhood (birth to age 9), adolescence (ages 9 to 32), adulthood (32 to 66), early aging (66 to 83), and late aging (83 and beyond).

The study points out that around age 30, the brain’s structure changes, marking the beginning of adulthood – a period that can last for up to thirty years.

According to lead researcher Dr. Alexa Mousley, the brain undergoes its most significant changes in development around age 32, more so than at any other point in life. While the start of puberty is easily identifiable, the end of adolescence is harder to define. Their research, focused on the brain’s structure, suggests that changes typical of adolescence conclude in the early thirties.

Researchers found it surprisingly clear that certain ages—9, 32, 66, and 83—were particularly common times for people to experience key life events, even though everyone reaches these milestones at their own pace.

She explained that understanding these developmental periods can shed light on what our brains excel at – or struggle with – at different ages. This knowledge could also help us figure out why some people experience learning challenges when they’re young, or develop dementia later in life.

Scientists have found that the early 30s are generally when the brain reaches its peak in terms of how well different parts connect and communicate with each other – a crucial point in lifelong brain health.

Around age 32, people generally reach a point where their personalities and core traits become fairly stable. This stability tends to last for about three decades, with little major change, and often coincides with a leveling off in intellectual growth.

Being able to map out brain activity over time is helping scientists understand how shifts in brain chemistry affect people’s daily experiences.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always noticed how people tend to move through different stages in life – distinct eras with their own focuses and priorities. Interestingly, new research suggests our brains actually do the same thing! It seems our brains aren’t static, but rather evolve through periods of change and development, much like we do.

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2025-11-27 00:50