ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — The human brain has been described as one of the most complex structures in the known universe, containing 86 billion neurons, 85 billion other cells, and over 100 trillion connections. Being that complex, it’s no wonder that we have not fully mapped it yet. But there’s new research that is making the picture clearer than it has been. Ivanhoe has the details on what these discoveries are and how they can affect you.
If you think about when your brain is fully mature, you probably have heard 25 is the magic number, but your brain continues to change far beyond that.
Kirk Erickson PhD, Director of Translational Neuroscience Research – Marian J. Blair Endowed Chair of Neuroscience at AdventHealth Research Institute says, “As we go through stages of development, as we get older, our brains naturally evolve, mature, grow.”
A recent study in Nature Communications found that the brain continues to change up until your 80s, with transition points at nine, 32, 66, and 83. Erickson, who was not involved in the study, explains why these shifts are different.
“Some things are happening early in the lifespan that are involved really more with enhanced local communication,” explains Erickson.
Once you reach midlife the brain slows down on making new connections and focuses more on the connections you already have.
Erickson says, “As these networks start to change, then that might be some of the points where you’re gonna be at an increased or elevated risk for cognitive impairments or neurodegenerative conditions more generally.”
But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn anything new once you hit 60.
Erickson explains, “There is growing evidence that the adult brain can produce new neurons, does produce new neurons, and that gives a lot of hope to neurodegenerative conditions that tend to show a reduction in neuron density.”
One way to help your brain today? Exercise!
“Engaging in greater amounts of physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia,” says Erickson.
Erickson recommends 30 minutes a day, five days a week at moderate intensity to make a real difference.
You might be wondering, do brain puzzles like crossword or sudoku help your brain? Erickson says considering every study on this, right now most say doing sudoku just makes you better at sudoku.
Contributors to this news report include: Marcy Wilder, Producer; Shay Goldschmidt, Videographer; & Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-student-contributors/25-really-magic-number
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65974-8
* For More Information, Contact: AdventHealth Research Institute
www.adventhealth.com/institutes/research
407-200-2901
Free weekly e-mail on Prescription: Health from Ivanhoe. To sign up: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
