Ages 18 to 29 now seen as a distinct life stage!

Once the brain was thought to be fully grown after puberty. Now, research shows it is still evolving into its adult shape well into a person's third decade. It discards unused connections and strengthens others.

It's one reason many 20-somethings haven't chosen a career path, married or become financially independent.

While the brain hasn't fully matured, young people are expected to make important decisions about education, who to marry or whether to go into the military, says neuroscientist Jay Giedd at the National Institute of Mental Health. Postponing those decisions makes sense biologically. Giedd says the 20s are known as a time for self-discovery.

The findings are part of a new wave of research into emerging adulthood from ages 18 to 29, which neuroscientists, psychologists and sociologists are now seeing as a distinct life stage.

For young adults, this decade is a stressful time with a high rate of anxiety, depression, motor-vehicle accidents and alcohol use, trends that tend to peak from 18 to 25 and level out by age 28, according to studies by Clark University.

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