Why Time Feels Faster as You Age: Scientists Explain the Illusion

The sensation that time accelerates with age is not related to the actual passage of time, but to the way memory and perception function. This conclusion was reached by researcher Marc Wittmann from the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health. His work was published in the journal Memory & Cognition. Why Childhood Feels Longer According to the scientist, time in childhood appears more "extended” due to the large number of new experiences. Many events occur for the first time, are perceived vividly, and are well remembered. This creates a sense of richness and length in the perception of time. In addition, the child's brain develops actively, reinforcing the effect of novelty. Routine and the Compression of Time With age, the number of new events decreases, life becomes more predictable, and everyday episodes are less effectively stored in memory. As a result, periods of time are perceived as less eventful and become "compressed” in recollection, creating the impression that years pass more quickly.