Because I need to spread this around:
The BBC is reporting that a new study suggests that our mental abilities start to dwindle at 27 after peaking at 22, and 27 could be seen as the ‘start of old age.’ The seven-year study, by Professor Timothy Salthouse of the University of Virginia, looked at 2,000 healthy people aged 18-60, and used a number of mental agility tests already used to spot signs of dementia. ‘The first age at which there was any marked decline was at 27 in tests of brain speed, reasoning and visual puzzle-solving ability. Things like memory stayed intact until the age of 37, on average, while abilities based on accumulated knowledge, such as performance on tests of vocabulary or general information, increased until the age of 60.’
Some of you may appreciate the tags on the linked Slashdot story.
Peej
Oh, the Slashdot tags/comments were definitely worth reading:
“[sarcasm]
Yeah, like I’m going to pay any attention to a study by a guy who got his Ph.D. in 1974 [psychologicalscience.org] whose brain has therefore been declining for at least 35 years…
[/sarcasm]”
Genevieve
Indeed (quoth the 21 year old). Heh.
Brett
On the other hand, “racing thoughts” are considered diagnostic of clinical mania. Maybe as we age some processes need to slow down a tad? Learned skills and broad brush memory tasks, so it seems from the report, do not diminish after 30, only skills that seem to be associated with parlor tricks. I know I would probably be catatonic by now if I remembered in detail everything I’ve learned over the course of nearly 50 years.
Then again, if there is a link between such skills and Alzheimer’s, that should be explored. I hate science journalism, or at least the tendency of a piece like this to shift focus to things that often irrelevant to the actual study, or conclusions drawn that were not supported by the investigators themselves.
MB
And yet, Genevieve, where are you spending your most brilliant years?
Uh huh.
Genevieve
In school. I hear it’s better than trying to hold onto the job I had before law school, which was in advertising. The hours and pay aren’t as good, but the entertainment value of some of the schmucks I have to put up with is infinitely awesome. Like the guy who, after getting a question wrong in a tax class, interrupts the person who actually got the answer right* to say, “Excuse me, professor. I just wanted to let you know that I had that answer written down correctly, but I was looking at the wrong page of my notes, so I know how to do this, I just mis-read my notes.”
Needless to say, he’s well over 27.
*Wonder who that person was. Hmmm.
Nicole
Well, this news, coupled with the revelation that [“female fertility begins its meaningful slide at age 27”](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/30/health/main507580.shtml) has me feeling nearly geriatric at 32! Good thing I got my learning and baby making out of the way early so I can settle back and let my brain cells and eggs begin their decline into decrepitude:P
Amit
eh, this study was done by UVa. have they produced anything worthwhile? ;-)
but I do find it interesting that 22 is the peak age that is most able to learn and it is when most people who attend college graduate. personally, once I started working “real” jobs and having to apply my knowledge instead of gaining it, I think our brains started tuning itself differently. and then often folks in their late 20’s and early 30’s seem to get promoted to management positions so they use their brains to learn even less. so I bet this study is baised because it doesn’t take into account what the person does in their job.
Mike@Blueweeds
You know, this post reminds me of,er, something … that … where did I put those notes … they were right here, but, anyway, my point is … hey, the weather sure is getting nicer, don’t you think? I sure do love puppies.
MB
Gunner. I knew it.
Genevieve
Nah, I’m pretty quiet, actually. It’s just, I’m working as this particular prof’s RA this year, so she calls on me a lot. (And if I don’t know the answer, I get a “you weren’t prepared for class, yet you worked X hours this week” lecture after class.).