Old age begins at 27 as mental powers start to decline

Old age begins at 27 as mental powers start to decline, scientists find: "Researchers have found that peoples' mental abilities peak at 22 before beginning to deteriorate just five years later.

Professor Timothy Salthouse said the results suggested that therapies designed to prevent or reverse age-related conditions may need to start earlier, long before people become pensioners."

"Results converge on a conclusion that some aspects of age-related cognitive decline begin in healthy, educated adults when they are in their 20s and 30s," he said.

The study of 2,000 men and women lasted over seven years. The respondents, aged between 18-60, were asked to solve visual puzzles, recall words and story details and spot patterns in letters and symbols