Found this article on the brain & aging. Interesting.
The
director of the George Washington University College of Medicine argues that
the brain of an elderly person is much more plastic 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 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 wins in
flexibility. That is why, 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 at about 70 years old, when the brain
begins to work 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
are increased by 300% compared to the average.
And the
peak of active production of this substance falls on 60-80 years of age. 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 brain of an
elderly person chooses the least energy-intensive path, cutting unnecessary and
leaving only the right options for solving the problem. A study was conducted
in which different age groups took part. Young people were confused a lot when
passing the tests, while those over 60 made the right decisions.
Now let's
look at the features of the brain at the age of 60-80. They are really rosy.
FEATURES OF THE BRAIN OF A PERSON OVER 60
1. The
neurons of the brain do not die off, as everyone around them says. Connections
between them simply disappear if a person does not engage in mental work.
2.
Absent-mindedness and forgetfulness appear due to an overabundance of
information. Therefore, you do not need to focus your whole life on unnecessary
trifles.
3.
Beginning at the age of 60, a person, when making decisions, uses not one
hemisphere at the same time, like young people, but both.
4.
Conclusion: if a person leads a healthy lifestyle, moves, has a feasible
physical activity and has full mental activity, intellectual abilities DO NOT
decrease with age, but only GROW, reaching a peak by the age of 80-90 years.
So, don't
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, make plans for the future,
travel as best you can. Don't forget to go to shops, cafes, concerts. Do not
lock yourself alone - it is destructive for any person. Live with the thought:
all the good things are still ahead of me!
A large
study in the United States found that:
The most
productive age of a person is from 60 to 70 years;
The 2nd
most productive human stage is the age from 70 to 80 years old;
3rd most
productive stage - 50 and 60 years old.
Before
that, the person has not yet reached his peak.
The
average age of the Nobel Prize laureates is 62;
The
average age of the presidents of the 100 largest companies in the world is 63
years;
The
average age of pastors in the 100 largest churches in the United States is 71;
The
average age of dads is 76 years.
This
confirms that a person's best and most productive years are between 60 and 80
years of age.
This study
was published by a team of doctors and psychologists in the NEW ENGLAND
JOURNAL OF MEDICINE.
They found
that at 60 you reach the peak of your emotional and mental potential, and this
continues until you are 80.
Therefore,
if you are 60, 70 or 80 years old, you are at the best level of your life.
* SOURCE:
New England Journal of Medicine *.
