Old age begins at 27

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Old age is often blamed for causing us to misplace car keys, forget a word or lose our train of thought.

But new research shows that many well-known effects of ageing may start decades before our twilight years.

According to scientists, our mental abilities begin to decline from the age of 27 after reaching a peak at 22.

The researchers studied 2,000 men and women aged 18 to 60 over seven years. The people involved – who were mostly in good health and well-educated – had to solve visual puzzles, recall words and story details and spot patterns in letters and symbols.

Similar tests are often used to diagnose mental disabilities and declines, including dementia.

The research at the University of Virginia, reported in the academic journal Neurobiology Of Aging, found that in nine out of 12 tests the average age at which the top performance was achieved was 22.

The first age at which performance was significantly lower than the peak scores was 27 – for three tests of reasoning, speed of thought and spatial visualisation. Memory was shown to decline from the average age of 37. In the other tests, poorer results were shown by the age of 42.

Professor Timothy Salthouse said the results suggested that therapies designed to prevent or reverse age-related conditions may need to start earlier, long before people become pensioners.

He wrote: 'Results converge on a conclusion that some aspects of age-related cognitive decline begin in healthy, educated adults when they are in their 20s and 30s.'

There is some good news, though. The report states that abilities based on accumulated knowledge, such as performance on tests of vocabulary or generalinformation, increase until at least the age of 60.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/art...w-research.html

[Nagishkaw 510]

That makes me feel like a fossil.

[Scott & Lai 12]

That makes me feel like a fossil.

No kidding...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That makes me feel like a fossil.

Edited March 15, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Ladylethal 12]

Damn.

[M.O 6]

Thats amazing.. so i have a few years more till i start getting old huh?! thats funny and sad lol

[Niels Bohr 72]

I don't believe it. Many Ph. D. candidates are in their mid-20s to mid-30s. This study likes to categorize everybody.

[kape_at_pandesal 0]

are you saying i should start shopping for a nursing home??? LOL

[HAL 9000 96]

I don't believe it. Many Ph. D. candidates are in their mid-20s to mid-30s. This study likes to categorize everybody.

Its a use-it-or-lose-it observation, Dr. Bohr. The human brain actually stops its development about 12 years before this study sort of classifies it as 'beyond youth.'

[AlHayatZween 2]

oh great

[mawilson 2,133]

oh great

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That makes me feel like a fossil.

No kidding...

It's so gradual, we hardly notice it until actually dawns on us. I had 20/20 vision most of my life, but now I have to put on glasses to read small print...and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I don't believe it. Many Ph. D. candidates are in their mid-20s to mid-30s. This study likes to categorize everybody.

Its a use-it-or-lose-it observation, Dr. Bohr. The human brain actually stops its development about 12 years before this study sort of classifies it as 'beyond youth.'

I like to play tricks on my mind...keep it on its toes.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Niels Bohr 72]

I read in Science or Scientific Americans this month that the adult brain creates new neurons. However, if they're unused they become known a junk neurons and will not be able to respond to stimuli anymore. It talked about the longer you delay a mental challenge, the longer it is to learn. The human mind will learn if a stimuli is invoked in a short period of time such as challenging the mind or learning a difficult topic in a short period of time. The nuerons will hold that information longer.

It happens with the adult brain.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I read in Science or Scientific Americans this month that the adult brain creates new neurons. However, if they're unused they become known a junk neurons and will not be able to respond to stimuli anymore. It talked about the longer you delay a mental challenge, the longer it is to learn. The human mind will learn if a stimuli is invoked in a short period of time such as challenging the mind or learning a difficult topic in a short period of time. The nuerons will hold that information longer.

It happens with the adult brain.

I was watching an interesting program the other night on the History Channel and according to the program, Einstein was born with missing segment of his brain where language develops and is probably why he didn't speak until he was about 3. Another part of his brain grew in size to take on the role of language - which is also the area of the brain that deals with mathematics. That part of his brain was larger than average. Fascinating stuff.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Over the Hill at 28 years old, wow! Beauty and life sure is fleeting. Enjoy it while it lasts!