After decades working at the intersection of cognitive science, invention, and performance, I’ve come to see one metric as foundational to how we think, work, and age. Brain speed.

 

We routinely track heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Yet brain speed — how quickly the brain takes in information, makes sense of it, and responds — is rarely measured, despite its central role in cognitive health.

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Brain speed sits beneath memory, attention, and decision-making. It shapes how efficiently intelligence shows up in the real world.

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Here’s why I consider it a vital sign:

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It drives performance. Faster processing supports clearer thinking, adaptability, and less cognitive fatigue.
 

It changes early. Processing speed is often the first cognitive function to slow with age… long before obvious memory issues appear.
 

It reflects mental health. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can slow brain speed, and slowed thinking can amplify stress in return.
 

It’s measurable and trainable. Brain speed isn’t fixed. With the right tools, it can be assessed, monitored, and improved.

 

In a cognitively demanding world, brain speed isn’t optional. It’s essential.