Hugh: What Do People Get Better at as They Age?

When do your mental and physical capabilities peak? Apparently, this depends on the sport and mental task.

According to the most current research, a sprinter will peak in their 20s, but marathon runners will reach their peak by 40. When it comes to mental tasks, you’ll be at your peak performance in chess by your mid-30s, and a fact-accumulation wizard in your mid-40s.

Adults in middle-age tend to excel at endurance sports, and creativity and innovation can reach their heights in a person’s later years. Experimental thinking can peak in the mid-50s.