Do believe that mental exercise has no effect whatsoever on mental ability? You can definitely increase your ability. I don't think that's necessarily the same

Do believe that mental exercise has no effect whatsoever on mental ability? You can definitely increase your ability. I don't think that's necessarily the same as changing your intelligence. I think the derivative of ability may be intelligence though -- ie, the rate at which you can increase your mental ability, as opposed to the level of ability. I also think that the increase in ability is probably asymptotic, and intelligence could affect the point at which it becomes extremely difficult to increase your ability.