How true is the phrase “use it or lose it” when it comes to learned skills?

Question

Does the brain really forget skills permanently if you don’t use them?

In: Biology

Answer 1

As someone who recently started a job I haven’t done in ten years, the muscle memory is still there so your learning curve is shorter, but you still have to relearn the process. Said more concisely: lose it? No. You do have to relearn but the curve is significantly shorter.