doing Ph.D research != old. a guy from Indonisia in my office is 22 years old and at the second year of his Ph.D project. But anyway, I am old enough to be uncle, haha
not genius, just he started Ph.D after he got BA degree. It's possible but hard to apply. Depends on professors. So far, 3 cases in our uni. now (the other two r Ma lai hua ren in CS field who started Ph.D after got BA degree in U.K)
but the young Indonisia boy is under fire now. he hasn't past the first year evolation yet, which means if he could not convince the committee next month, his project will be stopped and his rest 3 years work contract also will be concelled.