Do you feel dumber with age?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Do you feel dumber with age?

Posted: 4/18/2017 7:35:26 AM EDT

U.S. history, world history, math, etc. I used to be a whiz at this stuff and someone people sought out for answers. Now? Holy Christ, I feel borderline functionally retarded. Yesterday, I needed to figure out the remaining perimeter of a circle with a "pie" piece taken out. 10 years ago that would have been easy, but instead my brain went "I love lamp". Meanwhile, the guy standing right next to me who is almost double my age rambled off the equation without hesitation. I think a decent chunk of it is humility stepping into play and realizing I really don't know shit and that I shouldn't talk out of my ass, but a huge chunk really is me forgetting things I knew.

Is this what happens when we get old? Is this the result of being able to google everything? Or is this the brain prioritizing what matters?

Posted: 4/18/2017 7:40:01 AM EDT

[#1]

It's largely relative to the old saying "if you don't use it, you lose it".

Posted: 4/18/2017 7:41:09 AM EDT

[#2]

I don't even understand the questions anymore so you're one up on me.

The older I get the less I care about almost any/everything.

Posted: 4/18/2017 7:42:40 AM EDT

[#3]

I feel more forgetful

Posted: 4/18/2017 7:49:13 AM EDT

[#4]

I've felt retarded since birth.

Posted: 4/18/2017 7:52:11 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
U.S. history, world history, math, etc. I used to be a whiz at this stuff and someone people sought out for answers. Now? Holy Christ, I feel borderline functionally retarded. Yesterday, I needed to figure out the remaining perimeter of a circle with a "pie" piece taken out. 10 years ago that would have been easy, but instead my brain went "I love lamp". Meanwhile, the guy standing right next to me who is almost double my age rambled off the equation without hesitation. I think a decent chunk of it is humility stepping into play and realizing I really don't know shit and that I shouldn't talk out of my ass, but a huge chunk really is me forgetting things I knew.

Is this what happens when we get old? Is this the result of being able to google everything? Or is this the brain prioritizing what matters?

View Quote

Early onset Alzheimer's/dementia.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:01:53 AM EDT

[#6]

Actually, just the opposite. I think High School curriculum is different now then when I did it. My son was amazed when I was able to help him with a fourier series and knew how to do a 4x4 matrix inversion. I havnt used that crap since Calculus in college. I use trigonometry every day (plot plans, pile layouts, building inspections, etc. but its real basic stuff (SOH CAH TOA, Area and volume calculation kind of stuff).

I am WAY more forgetful however and ambition/drive is very low on the give a fuk-O-meter......

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:07:39 AM EDT

[#7]

No, but I have become less tolerant of bullshit, Liberals and kids on my lawn...

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:11:49 AM EDT

[#8]

I can remember how to plot a five hole bolt circle that I last did in high school in the 60's but I can't remember where I put my tape measure that I used last week. Being 70 years old is a pain.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:16:42 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Actually, just the opposite. I think High School curriculum is different now then when I did it. My son was amazed when I was able to help him with a fourier series and knew how to do a 4x4 matrix inversion. I havnt used that crap since Calculus in college. I use trigonometry every day (plot plans, pile layouts, building inspections, etc. but its real basic stuff (SOH CAH TOA, Area and volume calculation kind of stuff).

I am WAY more forgetful however and ambition/drive is very low on the give a fuk-O-meter......

View Quote

Ha, I at least remember sine, cosine, tangent pretty well. That one generally blows minds when I use them.

Radians, arcs, etc? Fuuuuuck.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:17:37 AM EDT

[#10]

I feel dumber every day.

1380 on the SAT. Now I count on my fingers and like how markers smell.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:19:36 AM EDT

[#11]

No, I've noticed people around me have gotten dumber.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:20:20 AM EDT

[#12]

No! I generally feel the world is getting dumber around me.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:26:30 AM EDT

[#13]

Yes. I've forgotten more than I remember, and learning new material takes a lot more effort than it used to.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:27:55 AM EDT

[#14]

i feel smarter and wier, i help me grandkids with math homevwork.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:47:42 AM EDT

[#15]

NO. Wiser and more knowledgeable. Just weaker and more frail and easier to get physically hurt now at 54. Aches and pains constantly, weakness, etc.

Posted: 4/18/2017 9:32:22 AM EDT

[#16]

More on the hard drive but the processor is slower.

Posted: 4/18/2017 9:38:33 AM EDT

[#17]

I feel smarter. Yes I've lost a bunch of calculus and shit that I don't use but all and all I have more knowledge and I'm better at applying that knowledge then I was when I was younger.

Posted: 4/18/2017 9:40:48 AM EDT

[#18]

I will add that there was a time I was getting stupid. I was having trouble learning new things etc. Then I realized I had undiagnosed sleep apnea. Once I got that treated I noticed a dramatic improvement in my cognitive abilities.

Posted: 4/18/2017 9:46:40 AM EDT

[#19]

Not me, the exact opposite, in fact. I feel sharper and more aware of things than I did when I was a younger man.

Posted: 4/18/2017 9:47:21 AM EDT

[#20]

42 and at the top of my game, so far.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Do you feel dumber with age?

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