Science writer Barbara Strauch brings news that middle-aged brains can use: that they are smarter, wiser, calmer, and happier than they may think. They should be proud of the unique talents of the middle aged brain, such as better decision-making ability and problem-solving skills.
Middle-Aged Forgetfulness Doesn't Indicate Mental Decline
Backed by science, the author of The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind tells readers they should tease apart their ideas concerning physical aging and mental decline. For years, scientists and the public have thought that the human brain decayed over time, as indicated by frequent memory lapses. But it just isn't so.
Neuroscientists and psychologists have found that the brain actually reorganizes and improves in important functional areas. At middle age, people have learned a lot and have developed strong connections. Sometimes, forgetting the car keys just means a person has a lot on his or her mind and the connections encountered while looking for the keys simply side-track a brain full of knowledge and experience. Yes, brain processing speeds are slower at middle age, but let's accept the little bit of bad along with the good, the very good.
Strauch tells middle-aged readers to rethink the way they see themselves in middle age and to adopt habits that lead to keeping the brain vital in the future.
Rethinking Myths About Middle Age
While the first section of Strauch's book seeks to convince those who have bought into the mystique of decline and mid-life crisis, other readers will say “I told you so.” Life is long and then some. The point is that at age 50 to 60, when many people have 25, 30, 40, or more years of life yet to be lived, everyone seems to be talking about retiring and moving to assisted living. They should be looking forward to quality years when they can be active in society. Keep the brain working, for this is the best way to prevent a long, slow decline of mental activity. By continuing to use the brain to build knowledge in their old age, which won't start until 80 or 90, Stauch says that even if there is a family history of Alzheimer's individuals may avoid it or decrease the time they will live with the disease..
The possibilities are vast and those in middle age could do their brain and society a favor by continuing to work, going back to school to learn a 21st century job skills, or volunteering more. When children leave home, rather than feeling like life is meaningless and empty without children around, people are discovering that they feel renewed and ready to take on new and different challenges, not retire and call themselves old.
Middle age is something new in our world where good nutrition and medicines are ensuring longer and longer lives.
The Brain is Plastic
The brain is the most amazing human organ and Strauch draws a picture of the inner workings in the second section of her book. Many learn about brain science after an elderly friend or parent has a stroke. Today, scientists and health care professionals understand more about the parts of the brain, the hemispheres of the brain, and how the brain rewires itself to recover. This plasticity of the brain is a function that can be used to learn how to retrieve information better.
After all, the brain has lots of room and storage is not the problem. There is lots of room for new information and as a person ages he or she learns more and more every day. The white matter and brain connectors of the middle-aged brain are at their peak. The middle aged brain is fit and skilled in recognizing patterns, making better decisions, and finding solutions to almost any problem.
At middle age, our brains are better than ever. The need to enforce retirement age and discriminate against middle aged and older people is a pattern of thinking that Strauch suggests it would be best to change. Remember the pilot who landed a jet in the Hudson River, Stauch reminds us? The airline pilot, his crew, and the boat captains that quickly came to his aid were all over 50. Experience does make a difference.
Optimizing Brain Function
Strauch explains the science behind keeping the brain processing at optimal levels in the third section of the book. Science tells us that education and exercise are the two best ways to ensure that the mind does not begin to decline too soon. She explains that these two things, education and exercise, have been proven to keep the brain active and fit. These are the most important things a person can do to keep neurons firing and oxygen nourishing the brain.
Studies also suggest certain foods, and the take-home message is clear: eat more fruits and vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids, nuts, red wine, blueberries, and other foods, especially dark fruits and vegetables, have been advertised as brain food, and they do help. Some like acacia berries have been heavily promoted. But no “silver bullet” food or drug has been found yet. When looking at the brain value of food think anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. Any food that ultimately nourishes the brain with oxygen-rich blood can be nothing but good.
How-to Brain Health Book Backed by Science
The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain is a how-to book (prunes are best!) that is also rich in scientific data written in the readable style of a journalist. The information can help readers make informed decision about how to live their middle age and not buy into the old-age feeling at 55. The middle years are too important to waste. Instead, Stauch encourages us to keep living like there is another career life to give. Perhaps the second time around a middle-aged mind will work smarter, make wise decisions, not be in such a hurry, and pursue happiness first.
Sara E. Lewis - Sara E. Lewis is a writer and publications consultant. As a freelancer, she writes and produces marketing materials and especially enjoys ...
