Older and Wiser by Restak: Brain Aging Myths Debunked

Introduction: Challenging Aging Stereotypes

As scientists gain more information about the brain and how it works, they are also realizing that some stereotypes about human aging may not be true. For example, many of the beliefs regarding significant memory loss and cognitive decline in older individuals could be highly exaggerated. In Older and Wiser: How to Maintain Peak Mental Ability for as Long as You Live, Dr. Richard Restak provides some of the latest research findings on maximizing the brain's ability regardless of age.

Restak quickly challenges stereotypes about aging and brain capability through a series of true-and-false questions. It is easy for readers to agree with statements they have heard many times — such as, "Every day we lose thousands of brain cells as an inevitable consequence of aging." However, readers soon discover that what they assume to be true and what is actually true are two different things, since "the degree of nerve-cell loss differs tremendously from one person to another" (p. 47).

Genetics, Environment, and Individual Differences

Once Restak captures the reader's attention, he moves into an explanation of how differences between individuals are shaped by two key factors: genetics and environment. He notes that "even though the brain cannot generate new neurons, it does have remarkable self-generating power" and that "the brain is capable of recovery and self-modification if provided the means." These findings point to a far more adaptable brain than stereotypes suggest, with individual variation playing a central role in how aging unfolds.

Aging does take place, but not necessarily to the degree or in the manner previously assumed. Restak explains that cognitive decline with aging, when it does occur, stems from three major causes: disuse, disease, and aging itself. As people grow older, they often begin to use certain skills less frequently, or they suffer from psychological or physical problems that impact their cognition (p. 69).

Causes of Cognitive Decline

What, however, happens to individuals who do not suffer from health problems and do not reduce their level of brain stimulation? Arthur Shimamura, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, decided to study the differences between the typical aging person and someone who has maintained a high level of intellectual ability throughout their lifetime. He found that education alone did not protect against cognitive slowing. "Intelligence and mental activity during adulthood cannot prevent problems in memory for arbitrary associations, such as associating names to faces or phone numbers to colleagues" (p. 72).

Yet the mature brain performs as well as a younger one in tasks requiring planning, organization, and the manipulation of information. As people age, the brain redesigns itself to compensate for declines in reaction time and general processing speed. Quick retrieval of information becomes less important than the application of knowledge. In short, "A good education and an occupation requiring a high degree of mental activity leads later in life to maintained and even enhanced mental performance in some areas" (p. 76).

Conclusion: Relevance and Takeaways

This book was written in 1997, so much of this information has been covered a number of times since its publication. However, it is always worthwhile to remind people — both young and not so young — that stereotypes about aging abound and that there are always many exceptions to the rule, especially when it comes to the brain and the aging process.