SEE UPDATE BELOW--ALAS, IT ISN'T SO!
Philosopher Galen Strawson (who turns 71 this year) sent me this with the quip, "I certainly feel I’m beginning to get the hang of a few things in philosophy....":
SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine.
The director of the George Washington University School of Medicine argues that the brain of an older person is much more practical than is commonly believed. At this age, the interaction of the right and left hemispheres of the brain becomes harmonious, which expands our creative possibilities. That is why among people over 60 years of age you can find many personalities who have just started their creative activities.
Of course, the brain is no longer as fast as it was in youth. However, it gains in flexibility. Therefore, with age, we are more likely to make the right decisions and are less exposed to negative emotions. The peak of human intellectual activity occurs around the age of 70, when the brain begins to function at full strength.
Over time, the amount of myelin in the brain increases, a substance that facilitates the rapid passage of signals between neurons. Due to this, intellectual abilities increase by 300% compared to the average.
Also interesting is the fact that after 60 years, a person can use 2 hemispheres at the same time. This allows you to solve much more complex problems.
Professor Monchi Uri, from the University of Montreal, believes that the old man's person’s brain chooses the path that consumes less energy, eliminates the unnecessary and leaves only the right options to solve the problem. A study was conducted involving different age groups. Young people were very confused when passing the tests, while those over 60 years of age made the right decisions.
Now, let's look at the characteristics of the brain between the ages of 60 and 80. They are really pink.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BRAIN OF AN ELDERLY PERSON.
- Neurons in the brain do not die, as everyone around you says. The connections between them simply disappear if one does not engage in mental work.
- Distraction and forgetfulness arise due to an overabundance of information. Therefore, it is not necessary for you to concentrate your whole life on unnecessary trifles.
- From the age of 60, a person, when making decisions, does not use one hemisphere at the same time, like young people, but both.
- Conclusion: if a person leads a healthy lifestyle, moves, has viable physical activity and is fully mentally active, intellectual abilities do NOT decrease with age, they simply GROW, reaching a peak at the age of 80-90 years .
So do not be afraid of old age. Strive to develop intellectually. Learn new crafts, make music, learn to play musical instruments, paint pictures! Dance! Take an interest in life, meet and communicate with friends, plan for the future, travel as best you can. Do not forget to go to shops, cafes, shows. Don't shut up alone, it's destructive to anyone. Live with the thought: all good things are still ahead of me!
Curious to hear what readers knowledegeable about these topics make of this.
UPDATE: Alas, It isn’t true, as readers point out in the comments
