The study “Age and cognitive skills: Use it or lose it” by Hanushek et al., published in Science Advances on March 5, 2025, investigates the relationship between age and cognitive abilities, challenging the common belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable consequence of aging. The researchers utilized data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), encompassing 31 countries and over 160,000 individuals aged 16 to 65. ​AAAS+1AAAS+1

Key Findings:

• Cognitive Decline with Age: The study observed that cognitive skills begin to decline as early as age 30. ​AAAS
• Impact of Occupational Cognitive Demands: Individuals engaged in occupations with high cognitive demands experienced less cognitive decline compared to those in less cognitively demanding jobs. ​AAAS+5AAAS+5AAAS+5
• Role of Education: Higher levels of education were associated with better cognitive performance across all age groups, suggesting that education may provide a protective effect against cognitive decline. ​AAAS

Implications:

The findings suggest that maintaining cognitive engagement through work and continuous learning may mitigate age-related cognitive decline. This emphasizes the importance of policies and practices that promote lifelong learning and cognitively stimulating activities in both professional and personal contexts.​AAAS+4AAAS+4AAAS+4

In summary, the study highlights that while cognitive decline can begin relatively early in adulthood, active engagement in cognitively demanding tasks and higher educational attainment can play significant roles in preserving cognitive functions over time.​