Research: Old age begins at 27

March 17, 2009 New research reveals that our mental abilities begin to decline at the tender age of 27.

In fact, according to researchers, people's mental abilities actually peak at 22.

So, many well know effects of aging may start decades before the so-called twilight years.

The study in the journal Neurobiology of Aging is based on seven years of research involving some 2,000 men and women.

Researchers say the results suggest therapies designed to prevent or reverse age-related conditions may need to start earlier.