AGESING can be an intimidating prospect.
A growing body of evidence suggests that life may actually get better as we age.
The good news is, while we may be at the peak of one endeavor, we’re likely to improve in another.
While teens might have the most energy, older adults have the best vocabulary.
You can either look forward to or bid farewell to the following.
The best time to learn a second foreign language is between the ages 7-8
This one is still a knucklehead for experts.
It’s generally accepted that learning a second or third language at a young age is the best way to go.
Most experts agree that starting before puberty, and specifically before age eight, is the best time to start.
The processing speed peaks around 18
According to a recent study by neuroscientists from MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital, the human’s ability is best when they are 18 years old.
Often, it starts to decline as soon as 19 years old.
Peak physical strength is 25 years old
A study by the University of Toronto indicates that your muscles reach their maximum strength at 25 years old.
It is especially important for sports such as sprinting, swimming and other activities that require maximum power, speed and oxygen consumption.
The average elite runner is 28
Studies suggest that physical strength doesn’t start to decline until after 25.
One 50-year study of marathons found that the average age for completing the race in less than two hours was 28.
Peak chess players are around 35 years old
Chess requires a certain cognitive ability. This includes processing speed, planning and fluid intelligence.
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich economists analysed 24,000 professional matches of chess to track the performances of top players.
The researchers found that performance peaked at around 35 years old and rose rapidly until the early 20s.
The ability to focus peaks around 43
Harvard and the Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory conducted a study that found people in their mid-40s, specifically 43 years old, tend to perform best on concentration tests.
Although your ability to focus may be waning, older adults are better at staying focused.
Vocabulary skills are at their peak around 65
According to a study by MIT, people’s scores in multiple-choice tests of vocabulary continue to climb into the mid-60s.
It happens as we age, and you don’t have to spend all day reading a dictionary.
The peak of psychological well-being is around 82
We finally appreciate life as we age.
Scientists asked participants to imagine a 10-step staircase with the best and worst life possible on each rung.
The average number of rungs was about seven for the oldest group (aged 82 to 85).