Brain function decline From Age 27 Years Old

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Deterioration of mental function is often viewed as a problem of old age, but certain aspects of brain function decline actually began at a very young age.

A new study, conducted by searching more than 2,000 healthy adults aged between 18 and 60 years old, found, certain mental functions - including the size of abstract thinking, mental speed and resolution of problems - from dull moment 27-year-old man.

Meanwhile, gaps in memory usually start real time someone reaches the age of 37 years. In contrast, clues to the collected knowledge of a person - like appearance while testing vocabulary and general knowledge - continues to increase along with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of the Great ", as quoted by the official China news agency, Xinhua. 


These results do not mean that young people today need to start worrying about their memories. Most human memory function at high levels even in the rest of their lives, say researchers who named Timothy A. Salthouse, professor of psychology at the "University of Vierginia in Charlottesville".

"This pattern shows some kind of mental flexibility decreases relatively early in adulthood, but how much knowledge a person has, and effectiveness to integrate with one's ability, may increase throughout adulthood, if no mental illness that attacks," Salthouse said in a press release from the university. 


The study included healthy adults and educated who followed the standard memory tests, understanding and perception of early, and at some stage during the next seven years.

The test was designed to detect subtle changes in mental function, and involves solving puzzles, remembering words and details of the story, and pattern recognition on the pile of letters and symbols.

In general, Salthouse and his colleagues discovered that certain aspects of the cognitive decline usually begins when someone enters the late 20s to 30s.

These findings provide an understanding of the normal changes associated with age in mental function, which can help in understanding the process of memory loss, the researchers said. 


"By keeping track of people from time to time," Salthouse said, "we can explore cognitive changes, and perhaps find ways to alleviate or slow the rate of decline."

"And with a better understanding of the process of cognitive imbalance," he said, "we may be able to better predict attacks such as Alzheimer's dementia," he said.

The researchers analyzed the current lifestyle and health study participants to see the factors that may affect the cognitive changes associated with age.