摘要：Researchers at the University of Western Australia analyzed decades of psychological data to develop what they call a “cognitive-p

今天我们将复习到下列词汇和表达，大家看看已经掌握了多少：

推荐

《外刊精读点津》一本双语精读不能错过的书！

★精选50篇国内外主流报刊文章，表达地道，专业度高

★涵盖七大热门领域文章，紧贴时代流行话题

★外刊背景介绍+精选外刊原文+精准译文+词汇整理+生词解析+例句赏析

★考研英语、四六级、专四专八、MTI、CATTI考生必备学习材料

★全国翻译专业资格（水平）考试英语专家委员会委员推荐用书

★外刊阅读笔记、外刊精读方法、英语学习干货一次性Get！

本文节译自The Week USA - October 24 2025，仅供学习参考！

Why we peak in our 50s

为何我们在五十多岁达到心智巅峰

Middle age may bring creaky knees and thickening waistlines, but it could also mark the peak of mental sharpness.

中年或许会带来膝盖作响和腰围渐宽，但这也可能标志着心智敏锐度的顶峰。

Researchers at the University of Western Australia analyzed decades of psychological data to develop what they call a “cognitive-personality functioning index,” charting how intellect, judgment, and personality evolve across life.

西澳大利亚大学的研究人员分析了数十年心理学数据，制定出所谓的"认知人格功能指数"，描绘了智力、判断力和人格特质在整个生命历程中的演变轨迹。

They concluded that overall cognitive functioning reaches its high point between ages 55 and 60. Fluid intelligence—that’s the kind you need to succeed on Jeopardy!, involving recall, reasoning, and processing speed—peaks in the early 20s and gradually declines thereafter. But “crystallized intelligence,” or accumulated knowledge and experience, continues to grow.

研究结论表明，整体认知功能在55至60岁之间达到高峰。流体智力——即《危险边缘》智力竞赛所需的那种涉及记忆、推理与处理速度的思维能力——在20岁出头达到顶峰后便逐渐衰退。但"晶体智力"，即积累的知识与经验，则会持续增长。

Traits such as conscientiousness and emotional stability also mature through most of adulthood, with moral reasoning and financial literacy peaking later still. That means that middle- aged minds tend to be wiser, steadier, and more capable overall.

尽责性与情绪稳定性等特质在成年期大部分时间也持续成熟，而道德推理和财务素养的峰值出现得更晚。这意味着中年人的心智往往更睿智、更沉稳，整体能力更强。

“While some people might find this obvious,” says lead author Gilles Gignac, “it had never been quantified and established scientifically.”

"虽然有些人可能觉得这显而易见，"首席研究员吉尔·吉尼亚克表示，"但此前从未有人对此进行量化并给出科学论证。"

来源：初夏教育