Our bodies may hit their peak strength, skin firmness, and ability to have children when we are young adults, but new studies have found that our brains actually perform their best much later in life. As people get old, the perception that they are no longer capable of making decisions or that they stop remembering things becomes rampant. These assumptions can lead to age-based discrimination, such as favoring younger employees over older, experienced ones. However, how true is this assumption? Do we actually start experiencing cognitive decline as soon as we come close to midlife? A study published in the journal Intelligence looked at data measuring abilities like reasoning, memory, processing speed, general knowledge, and emotional intelligence across different ages. What Age Are We Best Mentally? The findings challenge the idea that we’re mentally sharpest in our 20s. Instead, the research found that our overall psychological functioning peaks much later, typically between ages 55 and 60. According to the lead study author, our mental ability doesn't really start to drop until around age 65, and the decline only gets noticeably faster after age 75. The research also looked closely at five main personality traits: being outgoing, handling stress well, being careful and organized, being open to new things, and being agreeable. How Does Our Personality Affect Our Brain Health? The researchers discovered that many of these traits also reach their best levels later in life. For example, conscientiousness (being thorough and disciplined) peaks around age 65, and emotional stability (staying calm and balanced) is highest around age 75. The study further found that our ability to make good moral judgments improves with age, and our skill at making rational decisions (resisting poor cognitive biases) may continue to improve even into our 70s and 80s. This helps explain why many top jobs in business and government are often held by people in their 50s and early 60s. What Role Does Age Play In Real World? This latest research focused on real, measurable psychological strengths that directly lead to better performance in the real world. Many of these strengths, like better judgment and decision-making, are vital for people in leadership positions. However, despite these clear signs that older people are at their psychological peak, they still often face major challenges when looking for a new job or trying to stay in their current one. Even though there is a law (the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967) that protects people aged 40 and over from unfair treatment in hiring and firing, discrimination still happens in reality. An Ageism in the Workplace Survey found that a huge 90% of workers over age 40 have experienced ageism at work. Many employers wrongly believe that someone in their mid-50s is a poor long-term investment. The hope is that these new findings will make it clear that companies need to adopt fair hiring and retention practices that include older workers. As the author noted, history is full of people who achieved their biggest successes well past the age society usually labels as the "peak."
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