For decades, the idea that the brain matures around 20 years old was repeated as an established truth. However, a new international study debunked that myth with compelling data: Neurological adolescence extends much longer than previously thought and the decline in abilities does not begin in middle age, but rather much later..
The work, which analyzed large-scale brain images, found that some functions associated with maturity – such as planning, self-control and working memory – continue to develop until after 30. At the same time, the first signs of cognitive decline only appear, on average, from 66 years old.
The results not only revise our understanding of the agingbut also open a social and health debate: what does it mean that the brain takes three decades to reach maturity? How does this impact education, work, mental health and public policy?
The study proposes a new roadmap on the stages of human development and forces us to rethink limits that we thought were clear.
A study reveals that brain adolescence lasts until age 32 and that decline begins at age 66
The study, published in Nature Human Behaviourexamined more than 123,000 MRI scans of men and women between the ages of 4 and 89. According to the researchers, this is one of the most complete and precise analyzes of brain evolution in the history of neuroscience.
The brain learns even in moments of leisure. (Photo: IA/Gemini)The results show that neurological adolescence—understood as the stage in which the brain continues to adjust connections, strengthen circuits and fine-tune executive functions— extends up to 32 years. This means that critical areas such as the prefrontal cortex, responsible for complex reasoning and decision making, continue to mature until that age.
Scientists explain that the brain does not develop uniformly. Some functions, such as perception or basic processing, reach their optimal point around age 18. However, higher skills—self-control, organization, cognitive empathy, long-term projection—require more time and depend on social, environmental and genetic factors.
Far from what was believed, the research also revealed that cognitive decline does not begin in middle age, but around 66 years oldwhen more consistent structural changes begin to be observed. Before that age, small variations may appear, but they do not represent a significant functional deterioration.
One of the most striking findings is that plasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize—remains active for longer than expected. This explains why many adults acquire complex skills after age 30 and why cognitive resilience can extend to advanced stages.
The researchers maintain that this pattern has evolutionary advantages. A brain that matures slowly allows it to better adapt to changes in the environment, incorporate prolonged social learning, and sustain longer stages of intellectual productivity.
The study also analyzed differences between people and found that the speed of maturation depends partly on the environment: Education, nutrition, socioeconomic level and emotional experiences significantly influence brain development. This reinforces the idea that social and educational support should not be limited to traditional adolescence.
On the other hand, research indicates that the decline after 66 is not the same for everyone. Factors such as physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social life and sleep quality can delay or accelerate these changes.
Specialists assure that these findings must be translated into new public policies. Image: GeminiSpecialists assure that these findings must be translated into new public policies. If the brain matures until the age of 30 and begins to deteriorate only after the age of 60, strategies in education, mental health, neurological prevention and the labor market should adapt to this more realistic chronology.
The study suggests that it is never too late to learn, stimulate the brain or adopt healthy habits that prolong its optimal functioning.
The authors conclude that human development is much more plastic, extensive and nuanced than previously believed. And far from being an anomaly, this prolongation of brain maturity could be one of the most important features of our evolution as a species.
