Well said Aces Low! If you really want to do it you will succeed BUT don't kid yourself, your age IS a factor with an awful lot of employers although of course they won't admit it. There are undoubtably many airlines who will consider you for employment but you do have an extra factor against you compared to younger Wannabees.
Think of it from the 'hirers' point of view. A number of operators have a bulge in those not a million miles from retirement already, it has taken them some time to get round to addressing this and now they have they need to spread the demograph more evenly which means hiring from the other end now.
Don't want to spoil the party too much just get you thinking, and lets face it, if you have the yearning and the determination required to succeed in this industry nothing I or anyone else says is going to stop you!
I wish you all the best of luck, but do remember it is going to take you 2 years absolute minimum to get a CPL/IR and around 200-250hrs experience. That's the minimum requirement for an F/O position but DO read all the other posts on this forum from people out there with this qualification and considerably more hours who cannot get employment. It is a very tough industry to break into.
Good luck with your decision and careers............
PP