The stages of human brain development from infancy to old age

The brain is the engine that drives all functions and activities of the human body. When you want to move or do something, the brain commands and regulates it. Intelligence, creativity, emotions, and memory are also among the many things that are regulated by the brain. Well, do you know what the stages of human brain development are from infancy to the elderly? Come on, find out the answer in the following review.

The brain begins to form in the womb

The human brain begins to develop from the fourth week after conception, when the neural tube finally closes. The neural tube is the network of nerves most first formed from conception, looking like an earthworm that runs along the back of the embryo.

By the time you are three weeks pregnant, the developing embryo has formed neural pathways, which are the foundation for brain structures. The human brain then continues to develop with gestational age, marked by the appearance of nerve cells (neurons) that form new structures and functions in the brain. Each neuron will be connected with other neurons to form the nervous system with the help of fibers called dendrites and axons.

The following details the development of the human brain from birth to old age.

The development of the human brain from infants to the elderly

When the baby is born

Reporting from Reader's Digest, a neurologist named David Perlmutter, MD., Said that the average growth rate of brain cells while still in the womb is around 250,000 new brain cells per minute.

When a baby is born, there are about 100 billion neurons that are formed so that the baby's brain size has reached 60% of the size of the adult brain. At birth, myelin or fatty substances that protect the axons in the brain and help impulses move faster are produced by the brain which is near the spinal cord. This part of the brain is responsible for regulating basic functions, such as breathing, eating, and controlling heart rate.

Childhood

Entering the age of three years, the human brain size enlarges to 80% of the size of the whole brain as an adult. At this age, the brain actually has more than 200 percent of synapses. Synapse is the connection between axons and sarag cells that allows information to flow between them.

As the child grows and develops, the brain begins to break down synapses that are deemed unimportant so that the brain becomes more focused on only the connections that are important.

When you are five years old, brain development becomes sharper. Every experience that the child feels will form a synapse. That's why children's brain development will be adapted to the child's environment. When children experience negative experiences, the brain will form trauma and negative memories thanks to the synapses that are formed. But on the other hand, recovery efforts are also more effective than at an older age.

Entering adolescence

Adolescent brains do not differ much in size and weight from those of adults, but they are not yet fully developed. At this age, the myelin that is produced when the baby is born has a more complex sequence. The final series of myelin is located in the frontal lobe, precisely behind the forehead. Myelin functions to make decisions, control impulses, and empathy.

However, this function is not as steady as adults. Therefore, many adolescents often experience confusion or unstable emotions. The role of parents is needed in guiding their teenagers in making decisions so they can avoid bad choices.

Grown up

When entering the age of 20 years, brain development in the frontal lobe is finally completed, especially in the ability to assess. That is why the age of 25 is predicted to be the best age to make decisions.

However, brain development will begin to slowly decline in this age range. The body will automatically form and eliminate nerve cells and brain cells. Moreover, even though brain cells and synapses are still being formed, the process takes a slower time. As you enter the age of 30, synapse splitting becomes more difficult so that many adults have difficulty focusing on learning something new.

Some mental illnesses that weaken the development of the brain's frontal lobe, such as schizofernia, depression, and anxiety disorders are most prone to occur in young adulthood. About 60 to 80% of people aged 18 to 25 have one or more of these conditions.

Starting a habit of exercise and a healthy diet to maintain brain health until old age should ideally start now.

Old age

By age 50, your memories start to get shorter or it becomes easier for you to forget things. This is because natural aging changes the size and function of the brain. The reduction in brain capacity is entirely due to the death of brain cells and synapses. The brain shrinks and the risk of various brain-related diseases will continue to increase.

About 5% of adults experience the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms in their 50s. Therefore, you need to know the changes that have happened to you; whether it is due to natural aging or Alzheimer's symptoms. One in ten seniors aged 65 years and over are known to have Alzheimer's. This risk also increases every 5 years. When you reach 85 years of age, the risk of Alzheimer's becomes 50% greater.

Therefore, the elderly are required to continue to exercise regularly to improve their brainpower, for example by doing aerobic exercise, and eating foods that are healthy for the brain and avoid stress as the best defense against brain aging.