Your brain is at its best in your late fifties
Think your brain peaks in your twenties? Not so fast.
A recent study led by researchers at the University of Western Australia found that overall psychological functioning actually tops out between ages 55 and 60.
Turns out, mental and emotional skills keep growing long after youth.
When does emotional stability peak?
Researchers looked at everything from memory and reasoning to emotional intelligence and personality traits.
Conscientiousness peaks near age 65, emotional stability around 75, and even moral reasoning keeps improving into your seventies and eighties.
Sure, processing speed slows down earlier, but knowledge and judgment keep building until your late fifties or early sixties.
Why people in their fifties and sixties often land leadership roles
This helps explain why people in their fifties and sixties often land leadership roles—they've built up judgment and ethical smarts that balance out any slower thinking.
Still, many over 40 face age bias at work.
The takeaway? Judge people by what they can do, not their age—and habits like good sleep, exercise, learning, and healthy eating help your brain stay sharp as you get older.