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Neuroscience Explores the Wisdom of Aging
By Neil Peterson | September 5, 2009
Wisdom has fallen out of fashion. This is not meant as an inflammatory statement, but rather an observation of the times in which we live. Case in point: during John McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign, much was made of the fact that at age 73, if he had won the race, he would have been the oldest president to assume the office. Political pundits debated ad nauseam over whether he would have the mental capacity to handle the rigors of the job, rather than view his accumulated wisdom as an asset to a position that requires statesmanship and tact. He lost, and his (much) younger opponent won. While citizens may have cast their vote based on ideological reasoning, it begs the question – does wisdom matter anymore?
Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg seems to think it does. A Clinical Professor of Neurology at New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Goldberg has written three books on the human brain. His latest work, The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Gets Older is a treatise on wisdom and the aging brain. And his conclusions are a surprising – and welcome – challenge to many accepted theories in the field.
One such theory is the idea that our brains stop growing as we age. On the contrary, new research has shown that new nerve cells form in our brains during the course of our entire lives. Additionally, where those cells form – and how that will impact our abilities – is dependent on how we choose to spend our time. For those who practice music, the region associated with processing sound – the Heschl’s gyrus – is larger than those who don’t. So as a musician ages, his or her abilities will improve due to their increased brain function. (Though, no one has yet determined if this will translate into album sales.)
Research has also shown that while the right cerebral hemisphere does shrink (slightly) with age, the left hemisphere shows remarkable resiliency – developing increased connectivity and improving the ability to solve highly complex problems with minor effort. It is this connectivity can be seen as the neurological basis for wisdom. (Wisdom in this case defined as ‘the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.’)
As a person ages, the brain’s capacity for pattern recognition increases, as does the development of ‘templates’ for a myriad of everyday situations. Any number of occurrences – whether social, professional, or political in nature – would already have a mental template to use as a reference point, or one which would require only slight adjustments. These improved cognitive functions allow a person to assess a situation, and present a solution, without using the laborious reasoning tactics that a younger, less experienced person would need. This is why, contrary to popular belief, Dr. Goldberg believes older leaders may be better leaders, as their ability to address multi-faceted issues is far superior to their younger counterparts, as they are able to more quickly understand the ‘bigger picture’ and the numerous, unforeseen externalities that may result. What we have labeled as expertise and competence may in fact be due – in part – to the improved function of the aging mind.
Introduction to Brain Fitness
This is not to say that there are not cerebral losses as we age – among them failing memory, inability to concentrate, and the threat of dementia and Alzheimer’s. But there are compensations – it is not (as previously thought) a lose-lose game. One remarkable anecdote in Dr. Goldberg’s book is of painter Willem de Kooning. An acclaimed artist, de Kooning continued to paint, despite an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Besides being a vital creative outlet, his work was lauded by art critics who felt he had reached an evolution in his work. de Kooning had found a new style, a new wisdom.
The work of neuroscientists like Elkhonon Goldberg is giving us insights into the surprising powers of the aging brain. It may also one day restore our appreciation and understanding of the wisdom that aging bestows.
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