[kylescheele]

I'll agree with the idea that it's harder for the older you to master something than it is for the younger you, but I don't think it has to do with physiological reasons. I think it has to do with things like time, commitments, obligations, and fears.

When you're young, you have more time, less commitments and obligations (family, job, etc.), and generally less fears (if I screw this up, it's fine because I'm 17). As you grow older, these things get added on and it becomes difficult to motivate yourself to actually spend the 10k hours.

If you're talking about something like skateboarding, I think you're right that younger people will learn it better and faster than old people, because it's inherently physical. If you're talking about a mental task, I think it's a matter of whether or not you will sit down and do the work.

[vwinsyee]

I agree that less time and more obligations does make learning new things more difficult later in life. But there's also evidence that fluid intelligence [1] peaks in young adulthood and declines with older age.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_and_crystallized_intellig... : "This decline may be related to local atrophy of the brain in the right cerebellum. Other researchers have suggested that a lack of practice, along with age-related changes in the brain may contribute to the decline."

[ekm2]

And there is also evidence that you can increase you fluid intelligence[1] [1]http://www.pnas.org/content/105/19/6791.full

[incision]

Well said.

I think this discussion [1] from other day is relevant.

Basically, getting old and taking on more responsibilities doesn't necessarily have to mean becoming less productive as long as you can adapt your strategy and habits.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5488037