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Your Brain Isn’t ‘Finished’ at 25-Its Still Under Construction
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Scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, you’ll inevitably encounter the claim: “Your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed yet.” It’s become the go-to description for everything from ordering that extra drink to texting an ex you swore to forget. But is ther truth to this popular excuse?
Brain Development Doesn’t Stop at 25
New research indicates the brain continues to develop well into our 30s, challenging the long-held belief that adulthood begins at age 25.
The frontal lobe, a key area for planning, decision-making, and judgment, certainly plays a central role in these behaviors. It’s comforting to think there’s a biological reason for feeling impulsive or like a work in progress, especially during the unpredictable years in your 20s and early 30s. Though, the idea that the brain, particularly the frontal lobe, simply stops developing at 25 is a widespread misconception.
Where Did the ‘Age 25’ Myth Come From?
The “magic number” originated from brain imaging studies conducted in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A 1999 study tracked brain changes in children and teens by repeatedly scanning their brains. Researchers focused on gray matter – ofen described as the “thinking” component of the brain – and observed a process called pruning during the teenage years.
