"The human brain is home to some 86 billion neurons. These are the mysterious butterflies of the soul, as Nobel laureate Santiago Ramon y Cajal called them, the principal cells of the nervous system, responsible for carrying all the information that allows us to think, laugh, remember, or breathe. These butterflies communicate, Cajal said, through kisses, the synapses, weaving sophisticated connections to transmit the nerve impulses that build life."
"By understanding these key turning points, we can better understand what the brain is most vulnerable to at different ages. The more we learn about the expected changes in brain connections throughout life, the better we can distinguish what is considered a healthy and typical change from signs of something related to an illness or disorder, explains Alexa Mousley, the study's lead author."
Brain neural pathways reconfigure across five distinct life stages, with key reorganizations near ages nine, 32, 66, and 83. MRI-based mapping of neural connections across more than 3,800 people aged 0–90 identified four turning points that mark the beginning and end of these brain ages. These reorganizations affect how the brain is wired, influencing vulnerability to neurological, mental, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding typical lifespan changes in connectivity helps distinguish healthy developmental and aging patterns from early signs of illness.
Read at english.elpais.com
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