A recent study published in Nature posed this question and it’s got scientists, journalists and brain health experts like us talking.
What is the study about?
Researchers from the University of Cambridge analysed over 1,000 teenagers’ brain scans, and followed them for up to a decade. What they found is a kind of neural fingerprint: a measurable pattern of brain development that can help identify who might be more vulnerable to conditions like depression later in life.
Specifically, they looked at the maturity of the brain’s functional connectome. That menas how different areas of the brain communicate and sync up over time. You could think of it as our brain’s internal ‘WIFI network’. A more “mature” network in adolescence appears to be protective, whereas slower development could signal risk - especially for future health, too.
The lead researcher, Prof Barbara Sahakian, recently told the Financial Times that the work could help move us towards a “more personalised approach to psychiatry”, potentially using brain data alongside symptoms and history to get people support earlier.
It’s exciting, but it’s early days
Don’t worry - we aren’t about to scan every teenager’s brain (yet!). The findings are still very much in the research phase and need major funding and ethical consideration to become part of routine care for our mental wellbeing. But what is interesting is that it shows how our brain development and mental wellbeing are potentially intrinsically linked and it gives hope for those of us who are susceptible to depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.
This research suggests that there may be deeper biological markers that we could eventually use for early intervention and effective treatment.
So what can we take from it now?
While we can’t yet hop on an MRI and get a print-out of our brain’s future risk profile, we do know that the brain is always changing. Neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to adapt, grow and rewire - isn’t just something that happens in childhood. It continues well into midlife and beyond, and is powerfully shaped by lifestyle.
This is a core principle of our work to support your brain health at Noggin. We believe brain health should be something we care for before there’s a problem. That includes getting enough sleep, feeding your brain the right nutrients, managing stress, and staying mentally active and connected.
So how does this support our midlife mental wellbeing?
Interestingly, the Nature study focused on teens, but it holds clues for midlife too. Many of us feel like our cognitive “WiFi” isn’t quite firing the way it used to. Forgetting words, struggling with focus, or feeling flat mentally can all be signs our brain is craving support.
And just as brain maturity in adolescence seems protective, it’s likely that keeping our brains resilient in midlife offers the same long-term benefit. Supporting brain connectivity, reducing inflammation, and feeding your brain the right ingredients are all part of that picture.
Our supplement PAUSE was designed for exactly this messy middle. With ingredients like ashwagandha for stress support, magnesium for cognitive calm, and B vitamins for energy and focus, it’s an easy daily step you can take to look after your brilliant brain.
References
Kirkham, A. J., et al. (2024). Brain connectome maturation and its relationship to adolescent-onset mood disorder. Nature
Financial Times. (2024). Brain scans may predict future mental illness, study finds. ft.com
