THIS IS NOT AN IMPROVEMENT: Adolescence now starts at 10 and lasts until 24.

Young people continuing their education for longer, as well as delayed marriage and parenthood, has redefined common perceptions of when adulthood starts, scientists wrote in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal.

Societal and biological changes have prolonged the adolescent years from the ages of 10-19 to now ending at 24 years old, scientists said, leading to a debate about whether new policies would benefit or “infantilize” the older adolescents.

Puberty used to occur around age 14, but now has lowered to the age of 10 because of improved health and nutrition in much of the developed world, the BBC reported.

As a result, in the past 150 years, the average age for a girl’s first menstruation has become younger by four years in industrialized countries like the UK.

Young people are also getting married and having children later, the report said.

Like I said, I don’t think this is better for anyone.