Mirror, Mirror on the Wall:What is Aging, After All?

Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D.

Director, Center on Aging, Health & Humanities, GWU www.gwumc.edu/cahh

Creative Potential and Psychological Growth with Aging:

Positive Changes Because of Aging, Not Despite It

Brain Plasticity & AgingThe Dance Between Nature and Nuture

TWO NEURONSMagnified 100,000-Fold

DENDRITICSPINES

1 2

CELL BODY

NUCLEUS AXONAXON

TERMINAL

SYNAPSE

Direction of messagetraveling down axon

DENDRITES

GLIAL CELLS

Definition of Creativity

“Bringing something new into existence”

Rollo May in The Courage to Create

Bringing something new into existence that is valued.

Types of Creativity

• Creativity with a “BIG C”vs. Creativity with a “little c”

• Personal vs. Public Creativity

• Social Creativity

Categories of Creativity

• Continuing Creativity with Aging

• Changing Creativity with Aging

• Commencing Creativity with Aging

• Creativity in Connection with Loss

Pragmatic CreativityThe New Senior Moment

Practical Intelligence Increases with aging.

It is further influenced by Psychological growth—e.g., the Liberation Phase.

Maria Ann Smith

In 19th Century Australia

In 19th Century Australia

William Edmondson

At 65, he had the inspiration to carve.

At 65, he had the inspiration to carve.

William Edmondson

At 67, in 1937, Edmondson had the first solo exhibit by a Black artist in the history of the MOMA.

Irving Dominickat the National Museum

Of American Art

Human Potential Phases

Psychological Growth and Development

in the Second Half of LifeI. Reevaluation/Exploration/Transition Midlife Reevaluation Phase • (±40 – ±65)

------------------II. Liberation/Experimentation/Innovation

Liberation Phase • (±55 – ±75 ) ------------------

III. Recapitulation/Resolution/ContributionSumming Up Phase • (late 60s — ±90)------------------

IV. Reflection/Continuation/Celebration Encore Phase • (late 70s on)

Postformal Thought

1. Relativistic Thinking: the role of subjective perspective and integrating the heart and the mind

2. Dialectic Thinking: dealing with opposing views and dealing competing solutions

3. Systematic Thinking: ability to think from a systems perspective

SimultaneousBilateral Brain Involvement

HAROLD MODEL: Hemispheric Asymmetry Reduction in Older Adults:

From 22 to 27, he traveled the world collecting thousands of plant and animal specimens and recording his observations in dozens of notebooks. But he struggled for 23 years to see the bigger picture, finally piecing the puzzle together in his classic publication at age 50—On the Origin of Species.

From 22 to 27, he traveled the world collecting thousands of plant and animal specimens and recording his observations in dozens of notebooks. But he struggled for 23 years to see the bigger picture, finally piecing the puzzle together in his classic publication at age 50—On the Origin of Species.

19th Century Naturalistdrawing upon postformal reasoning

With Aging, Art is Like Chocolate to the Brain

Emotions & AgingChanges in the Amygdala and the

Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Favoring of positive emotions with aging by the amygdala

Favoring of positive emotions with aging by the amygdala

Emotional stability, via controlling negative emotions, is governed by the medial prefrontal cortex, and improves until nearly age 80.

Emotional stability, via controlling negative emotions, is governed by the medial prefrontal cortex, and improves until nearly age 80.

Georgia O’KeeffeSKY ABOVE CLOUDS

Famous Figure of London, 1843It was said at the time that "the cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.”

Outcomesfrom Assisting

the old

Benefits to the young and to the community

Benefits to the young and to the community

Developmental Intelligence…Shows Itself as Wisdom

COGNITION

EMOTIONALINTELLIGENCE

JUDGMENT

SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

LIFEEXPERIENCE

CONSCIOUSNESS(SPRITUALITY)

A New View of AgingPostulating That The Whole Is

Greater Than the Sum Of Its Parts

Sitting down, I’m fine, and if necessary, I’ll become a lie down comic.

Sitting down, I’m fine, and if necessary, I’ll become a lie down comic.

The Old

Tortoiseand the

Young Hare

Positive Capacity of Aging Brain

AESOP’S FABLES

A New View of Aging,

Postulating That

The Whole IsGreater Than

the Sum Of Its Parts

Yoda and a Jedi Colleague