These two studies arrive at what seems to be a more sensible conclusion: <A HREF="http://www.jstor.org/stable/2778031">Age and Scientific Performance</A>, Stephen Cole (1976). > The long-standing belief that age is negatively associated with scientific productivity and creativity is shown to be based upon incorrect > analysis of data. Analysis of data from a cross-section of academic > scientists in six different fields indicates that age has a slight > curvilinear relationship with both quality and quantity of scientific > output. These results are supported by an analysis of a cohort of > mathematicians who received their Ph.D.'s between 1947 and 1950. > There was no decline in the quality of work produced by these > mathematicians as they progressed through their careers. <A HREF="http://www.jstor.org/stable/284859">Age and Achievement in Mathematics: A Case-Study in the Sociology of Science</A>, Nancy Stern (1978). > The claim that younger mathematicians (whether for physiological or > sociological reasons) are more apt to create important work is > unsubstantiated... I have found no clear relationship between age and > achievement in mathematics. For anecdotes and "advice to aging mathematicians", I might recommend <A HREF="http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF03026857.pdf">Mathematical menopause, or, a young man's game?,</A> by Reuben Hersh (The Mathematical Intelligencer, 2001). > Until we find a consensus about which advances are "major," we can't > refute Hardy's claim that no major advance has been made by a > mathematician over 50. But his slogan, "Mathematics is a young man's > game," is misleading, even harmful.