It is often said that individuals under 25 have brains that are not fully developed yet. This notion implies that younger people are less responsible than older adults because they are not capable of making rational decisions. This idea is the foundation of various government advice and sentencing guidelines aimed at young adults. However, the validity of this claim is questionable.
There is a lack of concrete evidence supporting the concept that brain development ceases at the age of 25. This belief may have originated from a brain scanning study, but it does not accurately represent the complexity of brain development. Even though there may be a developmental endpoint, the brain continues to evolve and mature beyond that age.
Human brain development varies across different regions and functions, making it challenging to pinpoint an exact age at which maturity is achieved. Comparing brain development to building a house is misleading, as the brain is functional and evolving even before its full maturity.
Laws and policies based on the assumption that individuals under 25 lack full cognitive capabilities could have significant implications. Many people make life-altering decisions well before their mid-20s, suggesting that age alone should not be the sole determinant of decision-making abilities.
Furthermore, cognitive decline begins in early adulthood, indicating that there may be a limited window of optimal decision-making capacity. The idea that individuals under 25 are incapable of making sound decisions is oversimplified and fails to acknowledge the diverse capabilities of individuals regardless of age.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
