Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge have mapped how the brain changes across life, finding it moves through five distinct 'eras' rather than developing in a steady line. The shifts are tied to key turning points at around ages 9, 32, 66, and 83. Childhood and adolescence last far longer than previously thought, with the brain only reaching its most stable 'adult' wiring in the early 30s. It then holds that pattern for decades before shifting again later in life. Researchers say the findings, based on brain scans from nearly 4,000 people, could help explain how thinking, learning, and memory change as we age. #brain #science #adulthood #study