The National Youth Agency: Comment - A good mix

I attended a really interesting workshop that covered recent research on the development of the human brain. Basically, advancements in technology mean that we have a better understanding of the process of the maturation of the brain. I am not a scientist by inclination but it seemed to me that what we now know about the brain has some very positive messages for our work with young people and for the positive contribution they make to society. It also has some potential for older people to learn new things. The human brain reaches a level of maturity at around 14 and between the ages of 14 and 20 begins to select "preferred pathways"; areas of concern, ways of making decisions, preferred behaviours. The older brain can, if given sufficient stimulus, also learn new things. It just takes longer. It is possible to begin to hang glide at 60, though that may not be so good for the bones! I will skip the scientific explanation; this is well rehearsed in more learned tomes.