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Study: Old Age Begins at 27

telegraph.co.uk

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Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#11

Post by jwilliams »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #5

Lately we're finding good arguments for the idea that people start declining in abilities earlier than we thought. At the same time, there's a lot of work being done on life extension. What happens if we extend life to, say, 150 and what we get is this long, 100-year decline into complete cognitive paralysis? I'm 43 and I don't feel like I'm losing it. In fact, in some ways I feel more cognitively adept than I was at…

Lately we're finding good arguments for the idea that people start declining in abilities earlier than we thought.

I got the impression that the research was going the other way. A lot of current research reporting seems to indicate brain plasticity is broader and longer-lasting than we thought.

Course. I'm 27+ so a bit of bias might be creeping in.

Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#13

Post by sown »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #5

Lately we're finding good arguments for the idea that people start declining in abilities earlier than we thought. At the same time, there's a lot of work being done on life extension. What happens if we extend life to, say, 150 and what we get is this long, 100-year decline into complete cognitive paralysis? I'm 43 and I don't feel like I'm losing it. In fact, in some ways I feel more cognitively adept than I was at…

What happens if we extend life to, say, 150 and what we get is this long, 100-year decline into complete cognitive paralysis?

I think if they can make you live forever, they can also probably preserve your brain, too.

Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#15

Post by shiranaihito »

jwilliams wrote: post #11
DanielBMarkham wrote: post #5

Lately we're finding good arguments for the idea that people start declining in abilities earlier than we thought. At the same time, there's a lot of work being done on life extension. What happens if we extend life to, say, 150 and what we get is this long, 100-year decline into complete cognitive paralysis? I'm 43 and I don't feel like I'm losing it. In fact, in some ways I feel more cognitively adept than I was at…

Lately we're finding good arguments for the idea that people start declining in abilities earlier than we thought. I got the impression that the research was going the other way . A lot of current research reporting seems to indicate brain plasticity is broader and longer-lasting than we thought. Course. I'm 27+ so a bit of bias might be creeping in.

That's what I've heard too - our brains are supposed to stay in good shape much longer than our bodies.

Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#16

Post by juliend2 »

I only hope that my age will not keep me from learning new things. The most important thing when learning is to keep a good attitude. I believe that the brain can be trained to get smarter at all ages.

Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#17

Post by Rexxar »

It's may be a problem of training. A lot of people stop learning new things when then leave university so their brain could become less efficient.

Correlation don't imply causality. There is not enough facts to convince me.

Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#18

Post by Xichekolas »

juanpablo wrote: post #14

I don't buy it. I suspect that it is more related to dull/stressful work environments than age (at 22 you're either still in college or fresh out from it).

Did they test the same people at all these ages? No.

So yeah, environment/upbringing/schooling could have a huge impact it seems. At least if you believe that skills like this can be kept 'in shape' with frequent use (which I do believe).

Re: Study: Old Age Begins at 27

#19

Post by ErrantX »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #5

Lately we're finding good arguments for the idea that people start declining in abilities earlier than we thought. At the same time, there's a lot of work being done on life extension. What happens if we extend life to, say, 150 and what we get is this long, 100-year decline into complete cognitive paralysis? I'm 43 and I don't feel like I'm losing it. In fact, in some ways I feel more cognitively adept than I was at…

Some people are talking about the first person to live to 1000 being alive today... so, a 900 year decline? :)

I think whilst you have a point you also neglect to factor in that with medical developments extending life we will also end up with developments in mental care/extension.

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