Is retirement good for the brain?

  • Survey reveals human reaction time peaks at 44 and speeds up post retirement
  • Analysis of a sample of 50,000 adults shows that reaction time and performance at trivia games peaks at the age of 44 years, and has a 'second coming' post retirement
18th February 2010 - UK online trivia game site BrainDash.com has used a sample of 50,000 players over the last 18 months to determine the optimum age to answer trivia questions correctly and as fast as possible. In all, half a million questions were asked and BrainDash.com tracked a steady improvement in the time it takes to answer a question correctly as players increase in age, until they reach 44.

An 18 year old, on average, takes about 6.0 seconds whilst at the age of 44, this speeds up to 4.9 seconds. However, from 45 years onwards, the response time starts to slow down again and at the common retirement age of 65, it takes a lengthy 7.8 seconds to find the correct answer.

After retirement age, however, things improve again up until the age of 73 where the average answer takes a speedy 5.5 seconds.

Hannah Gunter, Editor of BrainDash.com, said: “Up until age 44, older does seem to mean wiser and faster as far as quiz questions are concerned. What we didn’t expect to see was this speed up post retirement age. I can only speculate that giving up work must be good for your brain in some way.”

Adults can determine their own reaction time at BrainDash.com

About BrainDash.com:
BrainDash.com is the UK’s leading trivia and puzzle site focused on brain stimulating fun. Players can play for free, enter tournaments with other players, collect ‘BrainCells’ (site progress points) and collect virtual awards. If they wish, players can also join jackpot tournaments to win regular cash prizes. Over 50 cash jackpot tournaments are held every week and the site currently offers newly registered players £5 free bonus money. The BrainDash platform carries over 200,000 quiz questions and 20 different game formats including quizzes, puzzles, card games, memory games, Sudoku and crosswords.

For more information please visit: www.braindash.com

Contact:
Hannah Gunter
BrainDash.com Site Editor
Brain Media Limited
Tel: 01189 581414


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