Science explores why time perception accelerates with age

Researchers are investigating the scientific reasons why time appears to accelerate as individuals age. A 2019 study published by Cambridge University Press suggests a misalignment between ‘clock time’—the literal 24-hour day—and ‘mind time,’ which is shaped by accumulated mental images and experiences.

Several psychological factors contribute to this phenomenon. Proportional theory posits that each new year represents a decreasing fraction of a person’s total life experience; for example, one year is 10 percent of a 10-year-old's life but only 2 percent of a 50-year-old's life.

Other contributing factors include novelty deficit, where a lack of new, distinct memories causes time to feel compressed, and attention absorption, which occurs when the brain operates on autopilot during habitual tasks, reducing awareness of time passing.