Good thing we’ve got plenty of trans users here that can throw her in the :pit:

The data is still a bit unclear on that. The best study was done at MIT and actually showed that there was little difference in language mastery ability from childhood until the age of around 20. Also, the top quartile of learners over 20 did just as well as the younger cohort, which could suggest an epiphenomenal explanation for the disparity. It may turn out to be a myth and the brain’s ability to assimilate a new language may be pretty consistent throughout the lifespan.

So I do appreciate you all taking effort to think something in your native language, translate it in your head, then type it up in English.

This isn’t really how speaking multiple languages works. The human brain is remarkably bad at parallel processing complex tasks. If you want to be proficient in another language you really have to learn to think in that language. It’s definitely a skill that can be learned and there’s an added bonus of becoming a better listener.