Scientists Behind World-First Study Say The Human Brain's Lifespan Is Divided Into 5 Eras

In As You Like It , Shakespeare famously wrote about human life being divided into seven ages, from the “mewling” infant to the “second childishness” of the very elderly (he really did have a way with words, did old Bill). That was less science, more symbolism – but now, neuroscientists have revealed how the human brain really does seem to go through five ages, or epochs, over the course of a lifetime. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

Studying brain scans from nearly 4,000 people across the whole spectrum of human life , from newborns to 90-year-olds, a team has identified four “turning points” at which the brain undergoes seismic shifts, which therefore divide its lifespan into five periods.

The turning points hap