Crystallized Intelligence- Is yours slipping? Gone?

[mickeyd]

At age 70 I find myself quite interested in articles such as this that address how we lose many of our faculties as we age. So far I don't see myself in any of these situations and I still feel very capable of making the family's financial decisions, but when will my ultimate mental decline begin to appear?

There is a general tendency for our ability to solve new problems — known as fluid intelligence — to slowly decline over time, starting as early as age 20. But this is at least partly offset by our growing experiences and wisdom, known as crystallized intelligence.
David Laibson, an economics professor at Harvard and co-author of the research, said he believed that crystallized intelligence tended to plateau when people reached their 70s. That plateau, accompanied with declining fluid intelligence, might explain why older consumers made more financial mistakes than middle-age ones in his study.
“At that point, vulnerability increases,” Professor Laibson said. “Our nation’s wealth is disproportionately held by older adults, and they are exactly the group, particularly as they reach their 80s and 90s, that are most vulnerable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/25/y...al-skills-are-often-the-first-to-go.html?_r=2

 

[Mulligan]

Mickey, take comfort in knowing these are general statistics, not individually based. Who is to say you wont follow the likes of Warren Buffet and his 91 year old partner. I heard him speak this week. He still has all his marbles. Thats still two decades away for you.


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[REWahoo]

Mickey, take comfort in knowing these are general statistics, not individually based. Who is to say you wont follow the likes of Warren Buffet and his 91 year old partner. I heard him speak this week. He still has all his marbles. Thats still two decades away for you.

+1

I spent some time a couple of weeks ago with the 90 year old ex-CFO I worked with for many years. He's still sharp as a tack, advising his [-]harem[/-] lady friends at his assisted living facility on the intricacies of Medicare/Medigap insurance.

 

[redduck]

...but when will my ultimate mental decline begin to appear?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/25/y...al-skills-are-often-the-first-to-go.html?_r=2

"...For Ms. Clark’s father-in-law, Francis Taylor, the intervention came too late. At 80 years old, he married a woman 17 years his junior, who, over their three-year union, according to the family, cashed $40,000 in blank checks sent by his credit-card issuer and emptied the contents of his $123,000..." (from the NY Times)

From the article, I'd say your ultimate mental decline will begin to appear when you marry a woman 17 years your junior.

So, let's all keep an eye on mickeyd.

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

One key to maximizing your intellect as you age is to keep your mind engaged.

Sent from my SM-T237P using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

 

[frayne]

The whole catch 22 about losing your edge is recognizing that you are losing your edge. I do like the tribe aspect of having more than just one or two people making that call.

 

[mickeyd]

So, let's all keep an eye on mickeyd.

I knew that I could rely on you guys.

 

[imoldernu]

Am afraid I don't buy the "fluid"- "crystalized" concept. As a psych student during the acceptance period for Wechsler, in the 1950's, the separation of long term and cognitive memory was essentially non differentiating both in youth and in age and as far as I can see this hasn't changed.

As a member of the incoming dementia class of 2018, the article looks to be another of the "wow, look at me" articles. Decline in the ability to handle money, is no different than the decline in other faculties.

At this time, I have no intent to resign from the Triple Nine Society, and for sure won't submit to any more testing.

 

[aja8888]

"...

From the article, I'd say your ultimate mental decline will begin to appear when you marry a woman 17 years your junior.

So, let's all keep an eye on mickeyd.

I'd say this had something to do with those withdrawals....(and what about Met Life?)

"But his wife, who couldn’t be reached for comment, made 20 more withdrawals on her own by using her husband’s Social Security number and other identifying information, and signing papers to direct money into a joint account, according to documents provided by Ms. Clark. After an internal investigation, MetLife, the annuity provider, concluded that it had followed proper procedures."

 

[redduck]

...As a member of the incoming dementia class of 2018...

I imagine that when we graduate, you will be the class valedictorian.