Older Doesn't Always Mean Slower

Some abilities actually improve with age

The 'aging means decline' narrative is way too simplistic. Yes, processing speed and working memory tend to dip as you get older. But several important cognitive abilities actually improve well into your 50s, 60s, and beyond. Vocabulary, general knowledge, emotional regulation, and complex pattern recognition often peak much later in life than people assume.

Source

Hartshorne, J. K., & Germine, L. T. (2015). When does cognitive functioning peak? The asynchronous rise and fall of different cognitive abilities across the life span. Psychological Science, 26(4), 433–443.

In real life...

Instead of dreading cognitive aging, lean into your strengths. Keep practicing to maintain your processing speed, but also recognize that your growing expertise and emotional intelligence are real cognitive assets. The goal isn't to think like a 20-year-old. It's to think like the most experienced version of yourself.