Why Is It?

Vixen

Senior Member
That when you retire you have the time and money but not the brainpower. There is something wrong in all this. My brain will not function so well anymore as I approach 60 and yet I am learning how to sail, how to play guitar, how the make jewellery from scratch and I've just bought a drone, so have to learn how to fly it and the software it uses..... I could so use my 20yr old brain right now
 

nikonpup

Senior Member
530707_10151207631037870_330157321_n.jpgif you think you have troubles now wait till you hit your 70's :-(
 

Vixen

Senior Member
Case in point. I knew you could reply with multiple quotes... took 3 attempts before I got it right :D

My brain is full, i need to forget something to make room for new stuff. ( Homer Simpson)

This is how I feel too



if you think you have troubles now wait till you hit your 70's :-(

I'm not looking forward to getting much older TBH. I'm healthy and reasonably active but just the stuff happening now is putting me off :D
 

Ironwood

Senior Member
I think I know how you feel Vixen, I'm only 54 but I reckon all the drugs they hit me with when I was fighting my cancer have taken their toll, especially on my short term memory. I have trouble learning new stuff if its too complex.
I am a Diesel Fitter, my employer has just asked me if I want to take on an Auto-Electrical Apprenticeship and be Dual Trade. I didnt want to say no, but if I do go through with it I am a bit daunted by the extra load this will put on me.

This is the sort of stuff I work on,
Crop-2.jpg


Crop-2 (1).jpg
 

Roy1961

Senior Member
Contributor
I think I know how you feel Vixen, I'm only 54 but I reckon all the drugs they hit me with when I was fighting my cancer have taken their toll, especially on my short term memory. I have trouble learning new stuff if its too complex.
I am a Diesel Fitter, my employer has just asked me if I want to take on an Auto-Electrical Apprenticeship and be Dual Trade. I didnt want to say no, but if I do go through with it I am a bit daunted by the extra load this will put on me.

This is the sort of stuff I work on,
View attachment 283849

View attachment 283850

at least you wont have to pump those tyres up Brad. lol
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
One of the most discouraging aspects of growing older is reduced memory access, short-term memory in particular which can make learning a longer path. But with age also comes thinking balance, insight balanced against experience resulting in learning the concepts of a new subject just as effectively or more so than a young brain which lacks experience. For example learning a new language is much much harder as one ages, and in fact gets progressively harder after age 7 or so(western schools have foreign language classes AFTER the brain physiology has changed that reduce the language acquisition ability significantly. Languages, art and music are really best started during first language acquisition around 2 years to 7. After that and the brain is not well suited to learning symbolic languages of music, symbolic math and languages.
For older people in western societies, the important element missing that maintains brain effectiveness is thought stimulus. Most people get into a routine that does not require thought, such as work, home maintenance, engagement with others etc, and way too much time is spent doing routine actions and watching way too much TV while their brain function atrophies. Getting rid of TV and engaging in the community doing things never done before, engaging people doing things never experienced or learned before, being around active young people, or people from cultures they have never interacted with before, or going to live in a fully new environment, a new country etc keep the brain learning to make new connections. Routine and lack of stimuli makes learning new subjects really hard. TV is probably the biggest killer of thinking and brain function ever invented. Travel is a good stimulus but only if getting out of routines that are too comfortable. Backpacking through Asia or South America is much better or brain exercise than say, going on a cruise which is very set in a routine.
 

Ironwood

Senior Member
at least you wont have to pump those tyres up Brad. lol
Fortunately I dont touch the tires Roy, we have Tire Fitters who handle all aspects of the tires, they are still pneumatic though, and do require to be pumped up.
I learned just the other day that those loader tires weigh 9 tonnes each ( just the rubber )
 

Texas

Senior Member
Reminds me of the diesel fitter who worked at the underwear factory.

I asked what he did and he said he'd hold them up to the light and say "deesel fit-her"

Ok, that belongs in the had jokes forum.
 

Vixen

Senior Member
I think I know how you feel Vixen, I'm only 54 but I reckon all the drugs they hit me with when I was fighting my cancer have taken their toll, especially on my short term memory. I have trouble learning new stuff if its too complex.
I am a Diesel Fitter, my employer has just asked me if I want to take on an Auto-Electrical Apprenticeship and be Dual Trade. I didnt want to say no, but if I do go through with it I am a bit daunted by the extra load this will put on me.

A new apprentice at 54??!! I'm surprised they can even do that :D I can see why this worries you. Nothing is done how we did it when we left school ( by that I mean how apprenticeships are done). I don't think I'd cope. One reason I never went to Uni to get my nursing degree... I was already a registered nurse anyway, trained the old way in hospital...but all that "language" you have to learn to satisfy those that be, that you know how to address criteria etc left me for dead :D
 

Vixen

Senior Member
One of the most discouraging aspects of growing older is reduced memory access, short-term memory in particular which can make learning a longer path. But with age also comes thinking balance, insight balanced against experience resulting in learning the concepts of a new subject just as effectively or more so than a young brain which lacks experience. For example learning a new language is much much harder as one ages, and in fact gets progressively harder after age 7 or so(western schools have foreign language classes AFTER the brain physiology has changed that reduce the language acquisition ability significantly. Languages, art and music are really best started during first language acquisition around 2 years to 7. After that and the brain is not well suited to learning symbolic languages of music, symbolic math and languages.
For older people in western societies, the important element missing that maintains brain effectiveness is thought stimulus. Most people get into a routine that does not require thought, such as work, home maintenance, engagement with others etc, and way too much time is spent doing routine actions and watching way too much TV while their brain function atrophies. Getting rid of TV and engaging in the community doing things never done before, engaging people doing things never experienced or learned before, being around active young people, or people from cultures they have never interacted with before, or going to live in a fully new environment, a new country etc keep the brain learning to make new connections. Routine and lack of stimuli makes learning new subjects really hard. TV is probably the biggest killer of thinking and brain function ever invented. Travel is a good stimulus but only if getting out of routines that are too comfortable. Backpacking through Asia or South America is much better or brain exercise than say, going on a cruise which is very set in a routine.

Yes...I've always kept the old grey matter active. I can still learn but it's way harder these days and you are right about short term memory. It really worries me sometimes the things I forget. Luckily they do come back to me, but its just that I forget that worries me. It will just get worse of course
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Well, I'm glad others are confirming that it's not just me. :) I do forget things that confound me, especially names, for some reason. I coach a cross country team of over 80 kids and it bothers me when I can't recall an athletes name. It always comes to me in time, but still...

I have found that retirement has helped in certain ways. Stress is a great short-term memory killer.
 
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