Scientists Claim That "Old Age" Begins At 27

Are you over 27 years old? Well guess what! Your cognitive functioning is now officially in decline. Awesome! Let’s see if my 28-year-old brain can complete this post unicorns rainbows marshmallows ice cream!

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia tested the cognitive skills of over 2,000 participants ranging in age from 18-60. “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,” the Daily Mail notes. 22 year olds had the best scores; after the age of 27, scores began to drop off, particularly in the areas of reasoning, spatialization, and speed of thought.

“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,” wrote Professor Timothy Salthouse, who believes that therapies designed to prevent the aging of the brain need to start much earlier in order to prevent cognitive deterioration.

So in the spirit of being more proactive, here’s something to get you started on better understanding your brain:




Old Age Begins At 27: Scientists Reveal New Research Into Aging [Daily Mail]