Men Don’t Mature Until After The Age Of 40, Science Reveals

The idea that men and women’s brains develop differently and that women tend to mature more quickly than men isn’t exactly revelatory, but many would insist that it’s anecdotal at best. Not so! In fact, a new study has determined that men don’t tend to mature until about 40.

  1. The University of Oxford is behind the study. Researchers looked at the brains of 121 participants between the ages of 4 and 40 via MRIs. They considered the age and gender of each participant while trying to determine which brain functions change during maturation and which remain the same regardless.
  2. Men’s long-term functions take awhile to develop. The study discovered that while men and women can potentially function just as well as one another on a daily basis, there are some areas in which men are lagging behind. In fact, the “long-term development of their functional networks” really suffers in this regard.
  3. It can take up to 40 years for this to be complete. Yep, you read that right. While women’s long-term functionality followers a quicker and more linear course, it’s likely that for men, they could be over 40 before this process is complete. If you’ve ever dealt with an absolute man-child of the highest degree, it might not be his fault.
  4. Unfortunately, it’s not all good for women. While we tend to mature way earlier than men, our long-term functionality typically begins deterioration earlier as well. Bummer!
  5. Still, we can feel slightly superior… Men may have larger brains than women, but women’s brains are sharper and more efficient in many regards. That’s not just me saying that, that’s down to actual science!
  6. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. The fact that men can take up to 40 years to truly mature doesn’t mean all men are babies. In fact, there are plenty of guys out there that are fully developed way before then, just as there are immature women well into their 30s and beyond. Everyone is different, but this is good to know…
Bolde has been a source of dating and relationship advice for single women around the world since 2014. We combine scientific data, experiential wisdom, and personal anecdotes to provide help and encouragement to those frustrated by the journey to find love. Follow us on Instagram @bolde_media or on Facebook @BoldeMedia
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