Here’s When We Hit Our Physical and Mental Peaks

livemint.com:

When are we our fastest, strongest and most creative? Elite swimmers peak in their early 20s, powerlifters peak at 35 and equestrians later still, on average. Creativity peaks either very early in our careers or later, depending on how we think. Our ability to quickly absorb facts reaches its zenith in our late teens, while our vocabulary skills crest in our sixth decade.

Economists, sports scientists and psychologists have analyzed Olympic performances and chess matches, as well as thousands of online quizzes to determine the average age when people peak mentally and physically. They are trying to understandhow our brain and bodies work and if there are lessons on strengthening each. The good news is that while we may have peaked in one endeavor, we are likely getting better in another.

“At every age, you are getting better at some things and worse at others," says Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College, who researches how various cognitive functions change with age. People reach their various physical peaks at different times for different reasons, according to the studies. Fast-twitch muscle fibers help with speed and power—think sprinting—and are more prevalent in our muscles when we are young.

Slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are those related to endurance, are more prevalent in muscles when we are older. Physical attributes can play a role, too. Women have less muscle to lose, and peak at younger ages than men in muscle-intense sports like swimming.