Back in 5th or 6th grade, there was a brain activity chart in one of our text books. After a bit over a half century, still remember it.

The chart's x line showed years of age, and the y-portion showed the slant upward of the line.  For the first few years of a person's life, the line didn't go upward very much - which is why four year-olds don't run heavy equipment.  At around six-ish, the line took off like a rocket, and continued up and up.  At around the late teens or early 20s, the line plateaued, and remained on that plain throughout adulthood.  At around 50 or 60-ish, the line began to drop just a little, but basically remained at the same level.  

One particular i still remember - as if was yesterday - was the line noticeably, but nowhere near radically, dropping at around age 82 and 84, and then dropping off a bit more - noticeably, but not radically - during the mid 80s.

Though occurred to me, about a half hour ago.  When you're old, like pushing 80, you're mind is so busy planning each step - a simple fall can equal an ambulance ride.  Yeah, just a misstep.  Any wonder, old people sometimes forget to record a check, leave their keys ... eh, somewhere, misspell words, leave their scarf ... eh, somewhere.

People don't realize how stress weighs on the mind.  Talk to a young, strong war veteran, who is dealing with shell-shock.  While old people have years to prepare, veterans find themselves plunged suddenly into ugliness - and is it any wonder that, while during wartime veterans operated sophisticated equipment - come back, and spend many a sleepless night.  Workday mornings come early.

Anyway, this post is about old people.

Back when i was still young, i heard about dementia and alzheimers - and seriously, right off the bat, suspected a fear-mongering PSY-OPS!!!  Ya know, hey old fart, get th' eff off th' effin' planet already!