Bad News: Brain Decline Begins at 27
Bad news today as BBC reports our brains begin their functional decline as early as age 27:
‘Brain decline’ begins at age 27
Professor Timothy Salthouse of the University of Virginia found reasoning, spatial visualisation and speed of thought all decline in our late 20s.
Therapies designed to stall or reverse the ageing process may need to start much earlier, he said.
His seven-year study of 2,000 healthy people aged 18-60 is published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
To test mental agility, the study participants had to solve puzzles, recall words and story details and spot patterns in letters and symbols.
The natural decline of some of our mental abilities as we age starts much earlier than some of us might expect
The same tests are already used by doctors to spot signs of dementia.
In nine out of 12 tests the average age at which the top performance was achieved was 22.
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.
You can read the rest of the article at BBC Health News
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I had my first daughter at 27…it’s ALL starting to make sense.
LLOOOLL, ck! I think the challenges of parenthood – if we are paying attention, and YOU are – keep us on our toes. The brain is like other organs, it needs to be used to stay in top form. I don’t think you need to worry!
I remember I was going back to graduate school and I was afraid my brain had turned to jello from child rearing and I wouldn’t be able to keep up. My anxiety, mixed with a little OCD had me graduate leading the class, LOL. We may be losing it, but we can slow it down. 🙂
Oh noes!!
I calculated things to get married by 27!! CURSE YOU EVIL COMPANY!!!
(I had to kick the Evil Company link… I told you I’ll reveal their Identity :P)
Not to worry, Loolykinns, if you marry at 27 you will have a much smarter backup to help you out, heh heh heh
Nooooooooooo!! I’m just getting started in life, and this is what I have to look forward to??
Good morning, Lady! First, you started out with an extra measure of smarts, so IF you start losing a little at 27, you’re going to be OK. The brain needs exercise – physical and mental. Keep challenging yourself, your whole life, and you improve your chances of finishing with most of your marbles. 🙂
I heard that coffee and using more than one language helps.
I hope you mean more than one PROGRAMMING language because I already know around four or five programming languages 😛
Oh no ! I’m turning 30 next month, so its already begun !
(must have lost a few marbles already 😛 )
harmony – Thank God for small favors! 🙂
Loolykinns – Geeks stay young longer because they exercise their brains. It helps to be married to a smart woman. (yes, I am making that part up)
Mathai – you know, I was wondering this morning where that phrase came from. We talk about losing our marbles, but it is a weird slang, isn’t it? We also say “he isn’t playing with a full deck!”
yeah, most of the phrases describing loss of mental capacity are like that. 🙂