You've heard the cliche, "Don't blink or you'll miss it." Well, maybe just don't blink before you turn 25. A new study suggests the memories that stick with you the longest all happen before then.
According to HealthDay, researchers at the University of New Hampshire asked 34 people between the ages of 59 and 92 to tell them their life stories.
The researchers found the participants tended to tell stories that focused on big life transitions from their mid-twenties, like going to college, getting married and having children. (Via Flickr / Rodney Martin, Flickr / Katsu Nojiri, Flickr / Andrew Bardwell)
As one of the researchers explained in a press release: "When people look back over their lives and recount their most important memories, most divide their life stories into chapters defined by important moments that are universal for many." (Via University of New Hampshire)
In other words, as a writer at Newsweek puts it: "It is all downhill from here. Or, more specifically, it is all a wash of monotony while we wait to die."
Now, there are some clear limitations to the study. The researchers only interviewed 34 people, all of whom were white. And there's at least one more caveat, as a writer at Yahoo notes.
Previous studies have shown we retain memories better, the younger we are. "So it could be the recall system that stops at 25, rather than that we just didn't make many new memories after the grand old age of 25."
At least that's what we're going to tell ourselves.
