>I had an arterial problem for a couple of years [..] this made me forgetful, slow, and easily overwhelmed
Zoom out a bit. Everyone middle aged and above in our society is expected to have some degree of arterial plaque. Nowadays it is considered normal. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise.
Doesn't this mean that many supposedly healthy people are already more slow and forgetful than need be?
It might, but at the same time, I doubt that the difference would be noticable if he only realized it once the doctors were puzzled at how he was alive.
> Doesn't this mean that many supposedly healthy people are already more slow and forgetful than need be?
Absolutely. I imagine that if you summed up the various nutritional and environmental factors that impact on IQ (iodine deficiency, lack of aerobic exercise, vegetables and fish, poor sleep hygiene, dual n-back training etc.) you would find that many supposedly healthy people could increase their IQ by a fair number of points (probably <10, though).
Zoom out a bit. Everyone middle aged and above in our society is expected to have some degree of arterial plaque. Nowadays it is considered normal. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise.
Doesn't this mean that many supposedly healthy people are already more slow and forgetful than need be?