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Effects of Aging
Old Age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative.
Maurice Chevalier
Slowed reaction time
Reduced visual acuity
Reduced visual contrast
Memory errors increase
- 'Working memory' abates -
- The ability to store information short term for rapid retrieval, or to retain cues to aid recall of long-term information: required for peak performance. Reduced by fatigue, stress, and age.
The appearance of disease
- '...but time and chance happeneth to them all' - Ecclesiastes 9:11
Reduced risk-taking
- NATO attack pilots at 40 have detectably less ability than in their 20's but their accident rate is 12 times lower!
Improved judgment
- Good decisions come from sound judgment. Judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from lack of judgment.
Notes:
We all experience abatement of skills with age.
This requires that we assess ourselves regularly and adjust to our changing abilities.
But not everything about aging is bad: older pilots have fewer accidents despite declining abilities, and judgment improves while high-risk behavior declines.