Although cognitive decline is inevitable in aging, emerging research suggests that the senior years may not be all doom and gloom for our brain power.
From vocabulary that peaks in our 60s and 70s to improved abilities to ignore distractions, the latest findings reveal how the passing decades can sharpen—not dull—our mental prowess.
Which Mental Skills Peak and Which Wane
Our mental abilities don’t uniformly decline as we age. Although fluid intelligence—the ability to think quickly and recall information—peaks around 20 and gradually decreases, one recent study suggests a more nuanced picture.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
