Vocabulary Knowledge Peaked in the Late 60s to Early 70s in a Large Study of Cognitive Abilities
The Fact
A study of cognitive abilities across ages found that different skills peak at different times. Vocabulary — a measure of accumulated knowledge — peaked in the late 60s to early 70s.
What This Means
Some abilities, like raw processing speed, peak young. Knowledge and word skill keep growing for decades.
Why It Matters
Getting older is not only loss; some mental strengths are still on their way up.
Sources
Hartshorne, Joshua K., and Laura T. Germine. “When Does Cognitive Functioning Peak?” Psychological Science 26, no. 4 (2015): 433–443. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614567339