In fact, it would probably be better than that. I'd be as quick as I was in my 20s but have the experience and knowledge of someone much older.
Back then, i'd dive right in, start coding, prove what works, figure it out as I go, then have to adapt the existing code to the figured out design. I was much more attached to that code and didn't want to lose it. Today, if I write code, I plan it out, have a good idea of how the pieces will work and then go implement it. And honestly, if the code gets thrown away, it's not the end of the world.
Code is really a small portion of what engineers do...
I find my short-term memory is in decline, magnitude depending on specific circumstances. This annoys me, and to a lesser degree, my wife as well. Really, where did I put that damned can opener?
But I also find my ability to find connections among phenomena in my technical field has markedly increased. In addition to my subjective perception, there's an outside measure, the annual rate of patent applications my employer files on my disclosures, and consequent cash bonuses. About a factor of 4x compared to when I was 60. As well (per my wife's telling), I'm better at remembering anniversaries and other significant dates in our lives and those of our family & friends. Anecdata, of course.
I'd say my age-related 'decline' has been uneven regarding details of cognition/memory, and at the moment provides me and my loved ones a better quality of life - certainly not what I expected decades earlier. It's complicated, and I'll be interested to see what more the posted research leads to.
Also if I was a writer I'd call it "Congress" and have it start with senators. ;)
I wouldn't put manual labor into this category, though. I've got a minor obsession with reading memoirs by people who've survived extreme situations like polar expeditions, trench warfare, captivity, torture, etc. (Probably all started when I read Robinson Crusoe). All their stories seem to congregate around the idea that having to something to do with your mind is crucial to survival, even if it is somewhat rote.
Is it though? "it is estimated that the number of Chess players is about 800 million globally." according to https://www.chessjournal.com/how-many-chess-players-are-ther... I've read ~600M for Mahjong, CS/PUBG/etc right now tally up to few millions on Steam via https://steamcharts.com etc.
So I think just with famous games we can see that billions of people love to "deal with problems". Games by definition are problems we love to solve. They can be solo, duel, last one standing, 2 teams, N teams, synchronous, asynchronous, turn by turn, etc.
This makes me think on the contrary we are addicted to solving problems. The question then IMHO is more... what are the right problems for you? How do you keep on being challenged just the right way?
What I'm trying to say is that if I were no longer paid to write code I might just end up with hobbies that occasionally stimulated my mind as opposed to having to constantly engage that muscle. Motivation makes a big difference, because even for those of us who compulsively solve puzzles there is plenty of time for ennui.
I'm not so sure. I think cause and effect might be otherwise - either you quit working when you go gaga, or both are a function of age. Certainly my relatives stayed sharp after retiring but often went a bit demented around 85-90.
There's evidence at least some dementia is related to infections which may be easier to fix than other things. (as in https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/01/the-bra...)
Maybe if it ever became a series of reflexes, I would have to move on to an even more complicated instrument?
On a side note, learning a new language is an amazing way to keep your brain active too. And learning a new instrument is a lot like learning a new language.
I'll take quality of life over longevity. Sure. But I am really hoping for both.
If reincarnation is real, that involves a total memory loss at the terminal age limit, so that is somehow adaptive, allowing a new growth of life. Maybe slight memory loss in the aged allows a refresh or new growth of life. A sort of lightening of the burden, perhaps? To let the aged evolve into a new phase of life? Letting go of the past?
There could be something to that. The wisdom of the elderly may be related to an ability of such pruning to permit sight of the forest for the trees, the gaining of perspective.
I feel much of your criticism rests with HN - the length of titles is quite restrictive and the initial post (which in this case specified "restoring memory in older rats") usually gets buried with more popular dominating comments. Don't get me wrong, I think the weighting of comments in HN is one of its best features. Other comment systems providing for the "pinning" of the initial comment by the OP - not sure if this is possible on HN?
stevenjgarner•3mo ago