Overview
- Researchers report turning points near ages 9, 32, 66 and 83 that divide life into childhood, extended adolescence, adulthood, early ageing and late ageing.
- Around 32 marks the strongest single reconfiguration of neural wiring, after which brain architecture stabilizes for decades.
- Childhood shows network consolidation, adolescence features rising global efficiency and white‑matter growth, adulthood trends toward greater segregation, and ageing brings reduced connectivity with a shift from global to more local processing.
- The extended adolescent epoch aligns with the window when many mental health conditions first appear, suggesting a period of heightened vulnerability.
- Findings come from a Nature Communications analysis of diffusion MRI across the lifespan, with authors noting limited data for 83+ and calling for targeted follow‑up studies.