You're conflating three things: when most people start programming, how long they stay productive, and whether it's possible to pick it up later in life.
When most people start programming: most people discover what they're passionate about early in life. That of course gives them a huge bonus, because they usually can spend a lot more free time and are nimble learners at that age. However, learning a skill early can also have draw backs, such as being set in your ways because you were in a "know it all" phase at the time, or learning to do things based on instinct rather than reflection.
How long they stay productive: that probably varies a lot, but I don't think I was as productive in my twenties as I'm now in my fourties. I suspect that people who drop out of programming lose passion for it or discover more important things, rather than lose the knack for it.
Whether it's possible to pick it up later in life: there is such a thing as innate suitability. If you're having a hard time, that could be a factor. Or maybe something just hasn't clicked yet. More likely, it's just not for you. All of these considerations don't matter if you're doing it just for fun, mind you. That being said, unless you really forgot how to learn new stuff, it's totally possible and pick up skills later in life and then excel at them (bodily restrictions may apply).
I would say programming as a skill is mostly driven by a constant dissatisfaction and need for improvement, not necessarily by the age of the programmer.
When most people start programming: most people discover what they're passionate about early in life. That of course gives them a huge bonus, because they usually can spend a lot more free time and are nimble learners at that age. However, learning a skill early can also have draw backs, such as being set in your ways because you were in a "know it all" phase at the time, or learning to do things based on instinct rather than reflection.
How long they stay productive: that probably varies a lot, but I don't think I was as productive in my twenties as I'm now in my fourties. I suspect that people who drop out of programming lose passion for it or discover more important things, rather than lose the knack for it.
Whether it's possible to pick it up later in life: there is such a thing as innate suitability. If you're having a hard time, that could be a factor. Or maybe something just hasn't clicked yet. More likely, it's just not for you. All of these considerations don't matter if you're doing it just for fun, mind you. That being said, unless you really forgot how to learn new stuff, it's totally possible and pick up skills later in life and then excel at them (bodily restrictions may apply).
I would say programming as a skill is mostly driven by a constant dissatisfaction and need for improvement, not necessarily by the age of the programmer.