NPR's Morning Edition did a piece late last week about the myths of brain aging. I wish I could remember the name of the book they were discussing. Apparently, recent research studies have shown that middle-aged folks are better at seeing patterns, organizing information, and making connections than younger folks supposedly in their cognitive prime (i.e. late 20s). Significant drop-offs in cognitive performance were not seen until after age 60 or so in most otherwise healthy adults.
Also, studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex isn't fully developed until the mid-to-late twenties. That's why kids and college-aged young adults often make really poor choices. They're brains aren't wired to consider all of the possible future ramifications of their behavior.
I don't think skills requiring cognitive processes should be penalized in older PCs. Physical processes, probably. Perhaps older PCs wouldn't learn NEW cognitive skills quite as quickly as young folks, though.
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