According to a study published in Science Advances, regularly practicing two key stills can help prevent age-related cognitive decline. This finding is exciting, because it challenges the popular belief that mental clarity always worsens with age.
Previous research suggested that cognitive function could start to decline as early as age 30, for example. The problem with that theory, however, is that they used data showing the cognitive differences between adults—not the changes in a person's skill over time.
Related: Worrying About Aging Can Accelerate Cognitive Decline
To understand how it worked, the study authors tested the language and math skills in a German population ranging from 16 to 65 years old (average age was 41.3 years), with 37.8% having a white-collar job. After 3.5 years, a good sample of the original study participants was re-tested. People were asked how often they did activities, such as reading emails or calculating costs at work or home.
There was an exception to the aforementioned drop in cognitive skills, however: The study found that age-related cognitive decline only happened to people whose reading and math skills were already below average, while participants with above-average skill levels did not show skill decline as they got older. Further, their skill levels continued to increase after their 40s before flattening out.
Related: This One Food Habit Has a Huge Impact on Cognitive Decline
Why Does This Matter?
“Avoidance of skill losses is not automatic and appears related to stimulation from skill usage,” the study authors wrote. “These results thus suggest that age-skill relationships of adults deserve policy attention, consistent with concerns about the necessity of lifelong learning.”
Related: The #1 Sign of Mild Cognitive Impairment You Should Never, Ever Ignore
Sources
"Age and cognitive skills: Use it or lose it." Science Advances."When does age-related cognitive decline begin?" Neurobiology of Aging."Data and Statistics on Aging Workers." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Details
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