A scientific study demystifies what everyone thinks about cognitive performance and age.
Science challenges the popular belief that maximum cognitive performance It is achieved in youth. A study by the University of Western Australia and the University of Warsaw reveals that the human brain reaches its peak potential between the ages of 55 and 60. This research, led by psychologist Gilles Gignac, questions the idea that mental agility and creativity decrease with age.
For decades, it was assumed that cognitive abilities, such as short-term memory and the ability to process information, were at their peak between the ages of 18 and 35. However, this new study shows that professional and personal success is often consolidated later in life. The key is in the transition fluid intelligence (ability to solve new problems) to the crystallized intelligenceknowledge and skills acquired through experience.
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What is the age of maximum brain potential?
The study analyzed nine psychological constructs associated with personal and professional achievement, such as financial literacy, moral reasoning, and emotional intelligence. The results show that certain abilities are not only maintained, but also improve with age:
- Financial literacy: he 81% of adults over 65 years of age answers correctly to questions about inflation and purchasing power, compared to 37% of young people between 18 and 24 years old. This indicates that financial understanding increases by 40% between the ages of 20 and 65.
- Moral reasoning: With experience, people develop more complex approaches to coping. ethical dilemmaswhich allows them to make better decisions in ambiguous contexts.
- emotional intelligence: This capacity grows constantly until it stabilizes around the 45 years. The ability to recognize, understand and manage emotions (your own and those of others) is essential for effective leadership and is correlated with higher income, even above IQ.
The psychologist Gilles Gignac explains that, although the fluid skills (such as reasoning and memory) reach their maximum around the 20 yearsother cognitive dimensions, such as crystallized intelligence and the conscientiousness, they continue to improve with age. This would explain why many professional and personal achievements are consolidated in middle age.
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Why the brain reaches its potential
Research suggests that life success does not depend solely on mental speed or adaptability, but on a set of skills that develop over time. The crystallized intelligencefor example, is nourished by accumulated experienceallowing people to make better decisions and solve complex problems more effectively.
Furthermore, the emotional intelligence It plays a crucial role in leadership and team management, as it facilitates the understanding of other people’s emotions and the resolution of conflicts. According to the study, these capabilities reach their maximum development between 55 and 60 yearswhich coincides with the stage in which many people achieve their greatest professional successes.
Gignac warns that, after the 65 yearsone observes a steeper decline in some capacities. However, it highlights that people in middle age (between 40 and 65 years old) are usually the most suitable for highly responsible roles, thanks to their combination of experience, knowledge and emotional maturity. This finding reinforces the idea that human potential is not limited to youth, but rather evolves and is optimized over the years.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
