Two recent articles — one on WIBC (“People Hit Their Cognitive Peak at 60”) and another via The Conversation (“Worried About Turning 60? Science Says That’s When Many of Us Actually Peak”) — both point to an idea that warms my midlife soul. They suggest that our late 50s to early 60s may be the sweet spot of human functioning. Not decline. Not plateau. But peak.
The WIBC piece draws on a major study that combined nine psychological areas (16 distinct traits), showing that while “fluid intelligence” (speed, memory for new info) declines early, traits like judgment, emotional balance, life experience, and conscientiousness keep rising — reaching a collective apex around age 60. The researchers conclude that people between 40–65 often make the most effective decisions.
The Conversation article echoes this: our societal scripts tell us that we’re in decline as we age, but the data insists otherwise. The authors found that conscientiousness peaks around 65, emotional stability somewhere near 75, and faculties like moral reasoning may continue to improve well into older adulthood. When you combine those trajectories, the aggregated profile — the “overall psychological functioning” — appears to crest between 55 and 60.
To me, this reframes what midlife means. It’s not a warning sign; it’s a launchpad. It’s the stage where wisdom, adaptability, and depth converge with still-active brain capabilities. We may not be processing as fast as our 20-something selves — but we’re smarter about where to focus, when to listen, how to lead. In MEA terms: our messy middle might well include the highest clarity we’ve ever had.
And yes — that means we should stop apologizing for slowing down, or whispering about “not being as sharp.” We’re not losing edges — we’re refining them. The trick, now, is not to rest on that peak. Because after 60 comes another transition: how do we keep that cognitive, emotional brilliance alive into our 70s and 80s — and use it intentionally?
So if you’re approaching or already at 60, take that as an invitation, not a fear. It’s time to reimagine your edge, to lean into what experience, insight, and quiet confidence can build. I can attest at nearly 65 that I’m appreciating this decade as much as my flourishing 50s.
-Chip