What are the main phases of the brain?
The results were published in the journal Nature Communications. They state that the brain goes through five main phases. The first occurs from the birth of the child to the age of nine. It is characterized by a rapid enlargement of the brain and a multitude of brain connections.
The second phase takes place between the ages of nine and 32. This, however, marks a first cognitive shift. And contrary to appearances, the brain does not reach maturity at 18 years old. If during this period the brain’s neural network is particularly efficient, it also corresponds to the time when the risk of the appearance of mental disorders is highest.
Thus, the third period is that of brain maturity. At the start of your thirties, around age 32, the brain is at its peak. It represents the longest period: that of adulthood, where the brain stabilizes for three decades. According to researchers, premature aging begins around age 66.
When does the decline occur?
This age embodies the beginning of the fourth phase of the brain. A time when the cerebral organ, instead of functioning as a single element, gradually divides into regions. This complicates the processing of information. The decline is far from sudden but it gains ground gradually, until the last phase of the process: late aging.
This occurs at age 83, a time when brain connectivity declines and becomes dependent on certain regions in particular. Thus, at the end of its life, the brain loses less than 5% of its neurons.
