Dr. Alexa Mousely, scientist, warns about brain aging: “This is an age when people face a higher risk”

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have been studying the life cycle of the human brain and have uncovered some fascinating results.

A team led by Alexa Mousley, (along with Richard A. I. Bethlehem, Fang-Cheng Yeh and Duncan E. Astle) published their findings in Nature Communications.

The different ages of the human brain

Four topological turning points have been identified in the lifespan of the human brain - and in terms of brain functionality, adulthood starts at the age of 32.

One of the key questions was whether there are key points in our lifespans where the brain transitions into a different phase of developmental change.

The findings show that the human brain has five major phases throughout a person’s life - these can be divided by age: nine years old, 32, 66 and 83, on average. The paper refers to these ages as “turning points” when the brain rewires and goes through age-related changes.

In adulthood, many researchers describe an inflection point of development with a peak occurring around 30 years old where the brain is maximally efficient and integrated.

The adult era is the longest phase, lasting until roughly from 32 to 66, when there is a “plateau in intelligence and personality”. The “early aging phase” does not produce dramatic changes - at least not right away, but the brain does show “further reduced connectivity as white matter starts to degenerate”. This, Mousley points out, is related to the decline in physical health, for example high blood pressure, which many people start to notice in their 60s.

So what about those who reach the late aging stage from 83 onwards? That’s when brain connectivity reduces, and we start seeing conditions such as dementia - forgetfulness is common as we get older.

Look after your brain in old age

To keep your brain healthy, it’s recommended to make sure you get enough sleep but not too much (seven hours per night is the ideal amount), keep your blood sugar in check and make sure you eat a diet rich in fibre (fruit and vegetables).

Another tip is to keep active mentally and physically. That might include completing puzzles, (crosswords, sudoku etc), reading and so on to engage the brain.

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