[ExI] we must remember this

[Damien Broderick]

On 8/11/2011 4:48 AM, BillK wrote:

> I don't see how evolution could have generated a beneficial effect in
> 70 year old humans at a time when 70 year old humans didn't exist.

Well, an effect preferentially protecting earlier memories that would 
prove beneficial both in youth and later. However, an aging expert on 
the GRG list (where I cross posted) commented:

 > As I understand it, it's not the process of accessing old memories
 > that is superior.  It's the writing of new information into long-term
 > memory that deteriorates.  For some people this fails completely, so
 > their long-term memory becomes a read-only memory.

That makes sense and probably gazumps my notion--as long as special 
maintenance isn't required to sustain or reinforce old memories, because 
if it is that might support my (not very serious) suggestion.

Damien Broderick