Contrary to popular opinion, life peaks after 40 – here’s why
Contrary to popular belief, growing older is not all gloom and doom, far from it. “People worry about growing old because our image of old age is dominated by decline. But the expectation that everything will get worse as we get older is simply false,” says Norbert Schwarz, Provost Professor of Psychology and Marketing. “Particularly in North America, Europe and more affluent societies of Asia, life gets better as we age.”
In fact, growing older means we can look forward to hitting several peaks in cognitive ability, not to mention becoming happier and quite possibly nicer. There is also an increased chance of winning an ultramarathon — and even that coveted Nobel Prize.
So, could your prime still be ahead of you? Here are some peaks to look forward to in later life.
Running Ultramarathons
Ultrarunners peak far later than other athletes: between 40 and 44 for women and 45 to 49 for men, according to a 2020 study of runners who completed 100km ultramarathons. And the longer the race in either distance or duration, the older the runners with the peak performance. There are even ultramarathon winners in their 70s.
Cognitive Ability
The belief that we’re at our sharpest mentally in our 20s and 30s and that it’s all downhill from there is challenged by studies showing that several areas of mental acuity are highest in the second half of our lives. Chess players make the greatest number of “optimum” moves at around age 40. You may have mastered your multiplication tables in elementary school, but research studies show that ability to solve arithmetic problems peaks at about 50. Vocabulary reaches its zenith even later, in our late 60s or early 70s. And if you’re aiming to win a Nobel Prize, you can take comfort from the fact that most winners who receive the ultimate accolade do so in their early 60s.
Happiness
Study after study confirms it: Happiness declines from youth to middle age and increases again into old age. “The expectation that happiness continues to decline after your 30s is wrong — it goes up again as you get older, continuing into old age,” says Schwarz. The reason? “Once we retire, a lot of the stresses of daily life, such as parenting, pursuing a career and striving to advance, are gone. You are free to spend your time with people you like and engage in leisure activities you enjoy.”
Agreeability
Research suggests adults become more agreeable with age. “Older people are nicer in social interactions, perhaps partly because they can be more selective in whom they interact with,” says Schwarz. He notes that older people tend to avoid situations — and people — that cause them distress.
The Longevity Guide
Our experts share their research insights on how to live a longer, happier and healthier life.
