This is not good news. If this data are valid, it means that our belief that we are “safe” until age 60 (mostly from the Washington State studies) is incorrect- and that mental decline begins at age 45. So, those brain exercises you were going to start in a few years- better start them now.
Dr. Archana Singh-Manoux directed the study (published in the British Medical Journal) while at the University College in London (but she is from INSERM, France’s Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health). The study group reported that men and women in each age cohort lost mental capacity- except for vocabulary. Even those aged 45 to 49 lost 3.6% of their mental capacity over a 10 year period.
The Whitehall cohort studied included 7390 folks (5198 of which were men) ranging in age between 45 and 70, all UK civil servants (1997 through 2007) of the 9250 people that were part of this entire study group. The tested group was sub-divided into five age segments, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, and 65 to 70. (This is the same study group that I discussed in the analysis of the amount of sleep needed each night.)
It should be noted that risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, and cholesterol issues, were not included as factors or datapoints in this analysis. This could taint the results overall, since we now believe what is good for our hearts is also good for our heads. (Another reason to reduce our weight and blood pressure, I might add.)
The five tests for brain capability covered mental reasoning, memory, phonemic fluency, semantic fluency, and vocabulary. In case you don’t know, the difference between phonemic and semantic fluency is the ability to recall words that start with a certain letter or sound (phonemic) or via categories like animal or fruits (semantic).
The tests indicated that all these mental capacities declined- except for vocabulary; the rate of decline increased the older one got. For example, men aged 65 to 70 demonstrated a 9.6% decline in mental reasoning (7.5% for the women of the same category). Mental reasoning, as you can see from the above diagram, demonstrated the largest decay with age.
Thanks for the warning Roy! Will have to find some sudoko… not ready for the crosswords in Croatian yet 😉
To be honest, I have never seen one in Croatian, Ruth. Now, I’ll have to seek one out!
Roy
can we stop it while training?
they say you can grow muscles while training no matter how old you are … so can we increase our brain capacity too?
helen recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – The Eagle has landed
We can attenuate the decline, Helen. And, for those who managed to travel through life without ever challenging their brain, they may see improvement :-)…
But, seriously, our brains- like every other cellular component in our body- decline in capabilities with age. The best for which we can hope is to slow it down…
Thanks for the thoughts…
Roy
Has to be said. Yes, you are!
What might be sad is that we need studies like this to encourage us to do what we should be doing already anyway!
Nicole Bandes recently posted..Top 5 Things You Should NEVER Say to Your Kids
Thanks for that vote of encouragement, Nicole.
Given the choice of folks running for office (who appeal to the baser instincts and require one to suspend belief in facts and consequences), this may explain their appeal (pun intended, also)….
Roy
I knew it. I knew it. I have been in the throws of Old Timers disease for years. Thank you, Roy, for making my day . . .worse. The only bright spot is that you are stuck in this morass along with me.
Ann recently posted..Be Social: Four Insider Facts for Promoting Your Business Blog
Oh, Ann.
We can always plan to play strip solitaire to keep our minds fresh (pun intended)…
Seriously, it means that ‘use it or lose it’ requires that we endeavor- and fulfil our objectives- to exercise our minds in full daily. Scrabble, soduku, puzzles, creative efforts- along with some physical exercise- and we will keep our minds and bodies in the best shape possible.
Roy
Good thing I’ve been playing “Words with Friends” on Facebook, Roy! I feel like I started losing my memory back in college, so maybe they should start testing at younger ages. Great, yet disturbing information. ~ Suerae
Suerae Stein recently posted..Fab Foto Friday – Tree Trunks?
I guess some of us might have had those special moments!!!
And, you’re right- Words with Friends sounds like Scrabble…
I play scrabble about an hour a day (it keeps my mind from telling my psyche that I am stuck in line or waiting for Godot….)
Roy
I don’t think this applies to me since I’ve always had a terrible time remembering how to spell – I know the words, but heaven help me when I come to typing it out… 🙂 Depressing for sure.. As for the original question, you’re a brave man for asking.
Brenda recently posted..Field of Dreams
Brave or stupid??
Thanks for your comments, Brenda!!!