Do all old people 30-40 loose their memory?

Question

My college teacher said that I am at my mental peak aged around 21. After that its down-hill all the way because the human brain cells start to die. Im as sharp as a knife right now but just wondered what might happen after i go past my interllectual peak.

Is this why old people can't remember stuff? As an older person how has your memory loss affected your life?

Answer 1

That's funny. "Peak capacity" is relative. When were you at the peak of taking new info in? From birth to around 5. Brain cell death is thought to begin under 10. Neuroscience has just proven that brain cell birth continues throughout life. Wisedom you won't really have much of until you have lived enough life to gain it (i.e over 30 - 40).

The brain is highly plastic - when you loose established pathways, it reroutes or grows new ones. That's why those with brain injuries can recover much if not all lost due to damage, occasionally by using other parts of the brain that traditionally have nothing to do with that particular function.

People 30-40 do not loose their memory unless they have a brain disease. What they do have is a little more challenge learning new things and accessing old things. The memories are still there. This age group also tends to be very preoccupied multitasking family, work, and etc. However, they still continue to learn (if they choose)! Plus they have the added perspective of past experience as an added comparison bonus. For some, peak capacity is in this age range.

Basically, the more you exercise your brain throughout life, the stronger and more nimble it will be (intellectually), which isn't much different than the rest of your body.

Answer 2

Alright, don't listen to your teacher...he/she is making undue generalizations.
Here are the facts:
At age 6, the human IQ stops developing--it has reached its highest peak.
Every day after age 6, your brain loses brain cells on a daily basis. This is why eventually, the mind will not have enough brain cells to run on full efficiency.
The more you hit your head, hold your breath, or do other dangerous things that hurt your head....the more likely you are to lose your memory sooner.

Memory loss may set in as early as age 25 or as late as 70....or never!!
It affects life only slightly, because it sets in gradually. It's not as if one day you wake up and can't remember a thing. Don't worry too much about memory loss...I would focus more on the pain rikety joints will cause. ^_~

Answer 3

First of all how old is that teacher and what kind of teacher would tell a student something like that? Honey 30-40 that's not old I'm over 50 and I'm defintley not old and my partner he is 72 , and act, and look around 50 and he has a keen memory so when you hit 29 in 8 years will you consider yourself OLD???? Tell that nit wit of a teacher never say things they have no knowledge of.

Answer 4

Oh dear God! I didn't know I was elderly.....I'm fifty. Good thing they didn't know this when I was accepted to grad school at age 45...and there were two people older than me in my class! Honey, you're teacher was pulling your leg. I think the only thing about me that memory loss has affected is the fact that I don't think I'm old.

Answer 5

I'm a teacher in my mid 50's. I try to keep my mind alert by studying languages, travelling, meeting new people, keeping up with current events, etc. I have some memory loss, I suppose, but I try to do things to keep it from affecting my life. It doesn't hurt that I spend my work days with gifted teenagers!

Answer 6

I'm over 30 and have not noticed a loss of memory but I have noticed spelling errors in your question. If I've lost memory, at least I have not lost the ability to spell check or reread my questions for grammar. (You asked if we old folks loose (untighten) our memories.)

Brain cells may die but the ones you have continue to grow.

Answer 7

I bet u change yr mind about 40 being old when u reach 39

Answer 8

Yes it is true but it never happens just like that and over time you would not even notice it. Most the time its because you don't use your mind that you loss it. Ever heard that saying use it or loss it? take care good luck

Answer 9

I'd answer, but obviously at the ancient age of 36, I can't remember what I've forgotten

Answer 10

It is not that we have forgotten, it is that we have chosen not to remember.
I just turned 50 in June, you have nothing to worry about anytime soon.