A collection of scientific studies has confirmed that not every change brought about by aging will have a negative impact on the human body. Many physical and mental attributes may only reach their full potential after reaching a certain age. For instance, we may achieve peak physical strength in our thirties, and we might experience the best marital health of our lives starting at the age of 40. But what happens to your body after you turn fifty?
Aging is often associated with a decline in cognitive function, particularly memory. This makes sense, as "aging" in general will lead to such deterioration. However, it is no longer scientifically accurate to assume that a decline in mental ability begins when you turn fifty. In fact, the real situation seems to be quite different. According to "WebMD," before the age of fifty, the human brain has not yet reached its peak performance levels. The site estimates that the decline in performance may start around the age of 55, and the brain's capacity for learning remains strong into the seventh decade of life.
A recent study published in 2021 in "Nature Human Behavior" indicates that some "key" brain functions tend to improve after the age of fifty, specifically the ability to engage with new information and sustain attention for longer periods. According to Georgetown University Medical Center, the thriving functions relate to critical aspects of cognition such as memory, decision-making, self-control, as well as navigation, mathematics, language, and reading.
Your sense of smell is linked not only to the condition of your nose and nasal passages but also to the state of the nervous system. According to ENT specialist Jayant M. Pinto, after turning fifty, your sense of smell may begin to decline, albeit slowly, as your nose starts producing less mucus, meaning odors can no longer "stick" for very long. Additionally, the nerves connecting the brain to the nose undergo a slow degeneration that will continue throughout your life. By the age of 70, you may find it notably challenging to detect the smell of smoke or gas.
It seems that the pain threshold increases with age. According to "MedlinePlus," our skin's ability to detect non-painful touch tends to decrease as we age. A research paper published by Oklahoma State University in 2016 noted that this decrease in ability aligns with age-related declines in optimal blood flow, ultimately leading to sensory deterioration. Approximately 30% of individuals aged fifty and older reported that their "sense of touch is not what it used to be," according to an "AARP" report, while another 30% indicated that their sense of touch had become "completely weak."
A study published in 2016 in the Journals of Gerontology included a wide array of measures of athletic performance, including "movement, strength, endurance, and balance," in 775 participants aged 30 to 90 during 2012 and 2014. Researchers discovered that overall performance declines with age, with balance being one of the first characteristics affected. By the time individuals approached fifty, their ability to balance on one leg had already notably declined.
While some women complain about menopause leading to weight gain, the more significant issue may be the gradual loss of muscle mass as we age, according to the "Mayo Clinic." After around the age of fifty, muscle mass declines at an annual rate of 1-2%, according to authors of a 2010 study published in the journal "Sarcopenia," alongside the "gradual loss of innervation to motor units."
When you turn fifty, despite all the annoying changes that may occur in your body, there is a very good chance that you are on the cusp of some of the best years of your life. According to an extensive article published by "The Washington Post," which referenced the book "The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50" by journalist Jonathan Rauch, the author's findings reveal that life satisfaction in typical individuals takes on a U-shape, peaking in the twenties, declining in midlife, and improving again after fifty.
