Age related limitations on gains.

Hi everyone, here's a question for ya!

Does age have any bearing on your potential to gain muscle and size?

Now i'm guessing that us older guys will be slower, because of metabolism and slower recovery etc. What I want to know is, if I train consistantly and intelligently, will my potential "upper limit" be the same now than it would have been say in my twenties?

Well, speaking from my vast wealth of experience (not), my answer is a conditional yes.  Conditional, because as you say, you are going to have to take into account your metabolism and other age-related factors.  It'll be more difficult to hit the peak than it was in your twenties, but I think you can still get there.  Also, I believe testosterone production starts to taper off in your thirties, and I've heard that can have an impact on your potential as well.

In my case, I was a mess when I was in my twenties and I'm in a lot better shape now than I ever was then, so I don't know what my potential was when I was that age.  As you mentioned, recovery seems to be the biggest piece for me--the older I get, the more important recovery and sleep seems to become.  Pay special attention to your joints, proper form, good nutrition, have a great workout program, and I think you can get just as big and ripped as a 24 year old.  The only difference to me is that a 24 year old can probably hit top end a lot quicker and has a more forgiving body when it comes to cheating on diet, drinking, lack of sleep, etc.  Us "old guys" just have to be a little more committed to achieve the same results.  

Besides, most of the dudes in their twenties I run into are pouring themselves out the front door of a bar drunk out of their minds with a gut hanging over their belts and looking for a place to pass out, throw up, or relieve themselves before they try to drive drunk or thump on their girlfriend.  Older guys who hit the iron scare the crap out of those turds, so don't think about age when you work out.  Just tear it up.  Being a cut up hulked out 36 year old is way cooler than being a ripped 25 year old.  Don't worry about whether or not you could be doing more if you were younger.  Just get BIG.  

i don't think our metabolism slows as we age.  it's not a product of our age.  see this article on the metabolism myth.  pistolpete21 may be right about testoterone decreasing and therefore it being tougher to build muscle as we age; but overall, if you have the same amount of muscle, you'll burn the same number of calories.