I would say that the level of aptitude of a pilot is definitely proportional to his / her age.
It is the same with driving cars. There are different groups.
The new driver thinks he knows it all but is quite honestly lethal under certain circumstances. He has excellent reactions but still doesn't quite know how to maximise them. Decision making can be poor due to lack of experience.
The driver who has driven for 10 years/covered quite a few thousand miles is pretty safe and has reached the top of the learning curve. Decision making can be based on experience and reactions are still good. Complacency might be the single most important downside to this bracket.
The driver who is approaching a more senior age who won't actually admit that his reflexes are slowing down or that his distance and speed judgement is gradually deteriorating. It is this one who offsets his degrading performance with the justification of having "lots of experience". In certain situations the experience is certainly going to help him. In others it might lead him into dangerous situations.
The driver who really is past their sell by date and actually causes accidents due to their dangerous approach. (Exactly why pilots and drivers eventually have to hang up their keys).
Just my views on a Wednesday night anyway.