Loss of memory and other brain function can start as early as age 45, posing a big challenge to scientists looking for new ways to stave off dementia, researchers said, Reuters reported.

A research team followed more than 7,000 British government workers over a period of 10 years. Participants were assessed three times during the study, using tests for memory, vocabulary, and aural and visual comprehension skills.

Over the 10-year period, there was a 3.6 percent decline in mental reasoning in both men and women aged 45-49 at the start of the study, while the decline for men aged 65-70 was 9.6 percent and 7.4 percent for women.

Since the youngest individuals at the start of the study were 45, it is possible that the decline in cognition might have commenced even earlier.

The finding contradicts previous notions that cognitive decline does not begin before 60 years of age, and it could have far-reaching implications for dementia research.

Pinpointing the age at which memory, reasoning and comprehension skills start to deteriorate is important because drugs are most likely to work if given when people first start to experience mental impairment.

(China.org.cn January 26, 2012)

路透社报道，研究人员表示，记忆力及其它大脑功能最早从45岁便开始衰退了，这给寻找痴呆治疗法的科学家提出了新的难题。

在过去10年中，一组科研人员跟踪观察了七千多名英国政府工作人员。期间，研究人员用记忆力、词汇、视听领悟力测试对参与人员进行了3次评估。

10年中，研究刚开始时，45至49岁男女的智力推理能力下降了3.6%，而65至70岁男子的能力下降9.6%，该年龄段女子的能力下降了7.4%。

由于研究开始时最年轻的个人为45岁，思维能力开始衰退的时间可能更早。

该发现有悖于以前的观念，之前人们认为，认知能力下降不会在60岁前开始。该发现对痴呆研究会有长远的影响。

明确记忆力、推理能力和理解力在哪个岁数开始衰退很重要，因为人们在开始感到智力衰退时便服药，药效最好。