Baby Boomers using the ’senior moments’ excuse to explain away forgetfulness can stop being embarrassed about it.  New research from the University of Virginia says the brain actually begins declining at age 27.  We just might expect it more often in our middle years than in young adulthood.

Professor Timothy Salthouse and his university research team followed 2,000 healthy individuals, aged 18 to 60, for a seven-year study of mental agility.  The team used twelve of the same tests during the study that physicians use to diagnose dementia - puzzles, recalled words and story details, and patterns in symbols and letters.

Some of his findings, published in the current issue of the medical journal, ‘Neurobiology of Aging,’ include:

• In 75% of the tests, peak performance occurred at age 22
• In tests of brain speed, visual puzzle-solving ability, and reasoning, the first signs of mental decline appeared at age 27
• At age 37, memory begins to decline
• Abilities that rely on accumulated knowledge, such as general information and vocabulary, continue to develop until age 60

Of these findings, Rebecca Wood, of the British Alzheimer’s Research Trust, says mental decline begins much earlier than imagined and knowing this could help gain a better understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.