What Does ‘Aging Really Mean?

What is aging? When we were young and callow, it wasn't something we thought about, because it was simply too far away to contemplate. The closer we get to the horizon,  however, the more aware we are of the conversation between our bodies and our minds (or among our bodies, minds and souls, if you want to get all philosophical about it). We lose neurons as we age, that much is objectively measurable, but what does aging mean for us as thinking, rational ‘humans beans’?

This is a TED talk given by neuroscientist Thad Polk that “walks us through the actual effects of aging on the human brain and shows that our assumptions might not be so accurate”. From the description: "Dr. Thad Polk has been a member of the University of Michigan psychology faculty since 1996. His lab uses functional MRI, computational modeling, and behavioral experimentation to study the neural architecture of cognition, including how it is affected by aging, by experience, and by genetics". One interesting take away from the Talk: emotional life usually improves as we age.

If you haven’t yet discovered TED talks (TED stand for technology, entertainment and design), they are an amazing repository of information and knowledge freely available on-line by searching ‘TED’ along with the subject matter of your choice. There is the occasional dud, but most are well worth the time to listen and learn. Here’s another about the main indicators for a healthier, longer life.

Tom New