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Comment by selfhifive | Hacker News Reader

I have met people who can't and people who won't. Also, a lot of people in their 50s and above aren't solving this.

I think you would need some statistics to back up the over 50s argument. If I were to give an instinctive opinion it would be that under 40s are poor at mental arithmetic because they have always had a machine to do it for them whereas over 50s can split a bill in their heads quite quickly.

I’m 43. What exactly happens once I turn 50 that I will no longer be able to add a couple of single digit numbers?

Incidentally, how old are you, and do you have any involvement with IT hiring?

A study was making the rounds last week saying that the brain stays "sharp" until 60. Presumably 60 is an average which means people in their 50s will start to see some decline.

I think they should do some studies whether there’s any basis to my observation of a sudden sharp rise in IQ among SDEs once they reach mid-30ies, as they seem to suddenly want to be treated as adults and no longer fall for foosball tables, slides, colorful company attire, and free vending machine lunches as a substitute for being treated like people. ;)

Coming back to the topic, it’s interesting how this IQ cliff seems to exclusively affect ICs in IT, while somehow spares all of the middle and upper management, that all seems to be on top of their compensation game as they gracefully age ever so upwards in titles.

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