Use it or lose it: how to sharpen your brain as you age
Mar 13, 2025
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Ludger Wößmann, a professor of economics at the University of Munich, challenges the stereotype of inevitable cognitive decline with age. He discusses groundbreaking research revealing that maintaining mental sharpness is possible through continuous skill engagement. Key insights highlight the significance of mental exercises, social interactions, and physical fitness. Wößmann also emphasizes how literacy and numeracy skills can be preserved with active practice, especially for different occupational groups, debunking myths surrounding aging and cognition.
Recent research indicates that cognitive skills can improve into the 40s, challenging the belief that they decline with age.
Regular engagement in reading and numeracy tasks is essential for maintaining cognitive abilities, especially for older adults.
Deep dives
Redefining Cognitive Decline
Research challenges the previously held belief that cognitive skills decline after age 30, instead showing that skills can actually increase into the 40s. This notion stems from past studies comparing different age groups, which led to the assumption that older individuals perform worse on tests of numeracy and literacy. New findings based on longitudinal data suggest this pattern may not apply universally, particularly as individual experiences and skill usage come into play. This is particularly significant given the rise in aging populations and the importance of maintaining cognitive skills for both personal and economic prosperity.
The Impact of Skill Usage
Findings reveal that cognitive skills do not necessarily decline with age and are highly influenced by the frequency with which individuals use their skills. Those who regularly engage in tasks involving reading and numeracy tend to maintain or even improve their abilities well into their 60s. In contrast, individuals who infrequently use these skills experience earlier and more pronounced declines. This underscores the principle that ongoing engagement in cognitive activities is crucial for preserving brain function as one ages.
Gender Differences in Skill Decline
Research indicates notable differences in cognitive skill usage and decline rates between genders, particularly in numeracy. Men are found to use their numeracy skills more often than women, an observation that correlates with differing patterns of skill decline. Whereas men's numeracy skills tend to remain stable, women experience a more significant drop. This disparity can be traced back to historical factors, including educational and occupational inequalities, suggesting that societal changes could benefit cognitive outcomes for both genders.
Many of us believe that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of ageing, but a new study looking at how our skills change with age challenges that idea. Ian Sample talks to Ludger Wößmann, a professor of economics at the University of Munich and one of the study’s authors, to find out how the team delved into the data to come to their conclusions, and what they discovered about how we can all maintain our faculties for as long as possible. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
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