Pre-Teens Match Adult Brain Development

A U.S. study suggests brain development reaches adult levels by the age of 11 or 12.

The National Institutes of Health is tracking brain and behavioral development in about 500 healthy American children, from birth to age 18. The first report, published online Friday by the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, found that children appear to approach adult levels of performance on many basic cognitive and motor skills by age 11 or 12, the NIH said in a news release.

The report found rapid improvement between ages 6 and 10, with much less dramatic cognitive growth in adolescence.

Researchers said the finding fits with previous research suggesting there is a shift in adolescence toward integrating what one knows rather than learning new basic skills.