Index

ACC (anterior cingulate cortex), 52

Ackerman, Diane, 154

action plan

age imperative, 180, 182 (table)

author’s test run with “Miami cabinet,” 161–187

celebration, 161, 187–190

if you are healthy and happy, 159

if you are stuck, 159–160

if you need help, 160

legacy, 161, 183–187

in ninth stage, 160

reinvention, 160, 176–183

reserve, 160, 163–169

resilience, 160, 169–175

active geropause, 118

Advanced Style project, 64

age culture, 150–151, 159–160, 176–180, 194

age culture grid, 177–180, 177 (table), 179 (table)

age imperative action plan, 180, 182 (table)

age imperatives, 176, 180, 181 (table), 182–183

age point grid, 169–175

constructing yours, 175

examples, 170–173 (table), 175 (table)

age points, 24, 78–90

description of, 78–79

events of, 79–80

examples, 170–173

geropause trigger, 117

navigating, 87–90

ninth stage and, 84

non-linearity of, 86, 101

reckoning stage, 79, 81, 87–89, 101, 174

resolution stage, 79, 81–82, 89–90, 101, 172, 174

reviewing, 169–175

suspension stage, 79, 80, 85–86, 88, 101, 174

triggers of, 79–80, 170

what they give us, 83–87

age wave, 6

ageist attitudes, 98, 115–116

Agewise (Gullette), 178

aging

cellular, 10

definitions of, 11, 194–195

justification of, 26

altruism, 61, 95

Alzheimer’s disease, 78

art therapy and, 65

author’s experiences with patients, 36–39, 84–87, 99, 170

deterioration of brain tissue in, 45–46

eventual cure for, 192

Hilda Gorenstein (Hilgos) and, 65

prevalence of, 9

suicide in face of diagnosis, 20

ambition, 48

amygdala, 56–57

amylotrophic lateral sclerosis, 192

Anderson, Ellis, 93–95

andropause, 116

anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), 52

apathy, 42, 152, 167

approach of death, 48

Aristotle, 104

Arking, Robert, 11, 194

art therapy, 65

artificial intelligence, 11

artistic pursuits, in age imperatives, 183

assisted suicide, 21

Attitudes Toward Older People Scale, 34

Baltes, Margret, 132–133

Baltes, Paul, 49, 132–133

Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging, 34

Bandura, Albert, 122

A Beautiful Mind (film), 45

behavior, improvement with aging, 47

beliefs, questioning our, 81

Benedict XVI, Pope, 30

Berlin wisdom paradigm, 49

beta-amyloid protein, 87

Bhagavad Gita, 31, 44

Bible, 30

biotechnology, 11

Blackstar (album), 185

Blood Memory (Graham), 141

Blue Zones, 3

Bowie, David, 185

brain

changes in abilities of, 46–48

compensation-related utilization of neural circuits (CRUNCH), 52, 56, 64

hemispheric asymmetry reduction (HAROLD), 52, 56, 64

physical changes with aging, 45

reserves, 48–49, 51–52

scaffolding theory of aging and cognition (STAC), 52

socialized in given time, place, and culture, 122

stress impact on, 93

brain regions

amygdala, 56–57

anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), 52

orbitomedial prefrontal cortex (OMPFC), 56–57

brain scan, 86

bucket list, 183–184

Buddhism, 31–32

Butler, Robert, 73

Calment, Jeanne Louise, 2, 6

caloric restriction, 191–192

cancer, 32, 38, 66, 92, 99, 174, 192

Cano, Margarita, 62–63

Carstensen, Laura, 34

Celebrage Festival, 190

Celebration of aging, 161, 187–190

cellular aging, 10

ceremonies to celebrate aging, 161, 187–190

beginning, 188–189

ending, 190

middle, 189

change

barriers to, 176

resistance to, 116

Christianity, 30–31

Cicero, 10, 41

cognitive changes, 46

cognitive disorders, 9

cognitive reserve, 51

cognitive testing, 86

Cohen, Ari Seth, 64

Cohen, Gene, 63, 111, 133–135, 144, 180, 182

Cohen, Leonard, 185

commitment, suspension of, 80

compensation, 47, 49, 52, 132–133

compensation-related utilization of neural circuits (CRUNCH), 52, 56, 64

comprehension, 47, 60

confidence, loss of, 122–123

Confucian thought, 31

conscientiousness, 100–101

counterclockwise study of older men, 33–34

The Creative Age (Cohen), 63, 111

creative aging

life affirming, 176

reinventing ourselves, 138–143

renewing ourselves, 135–138, 143

creative aging model, 133–135

creativity, 63–64, 142–144

benefits to aging, 111, 130, 134, 143, 151

developmental intelligence, 63

difficulty in measuring, 47

divergent thinking and, 63–64

as emerging strength of age, 13, 47, 48, 50, 79, 134, 138, 159

Henri Matisse and, 106

Liz Lerman and, 142–144

purpose and, 143

as reason to thrive, 128, 130

reinventing yourself and, 160, 165, 194

creator

age imperatives, 181–182 (table)

reserves of wisdom, 163, 164–166 (table), 168 (table)

resilience and, 95–96

in resolution stage of an age point, 89

wisdom, 62–65, 68, 70 (table)

crown of wisdom, 69, 70 (table), 82, 117, 163, 184, 195

CRUNCH (compensation-related utilization of neural circuits), 52, 56, 64

crystallized intelligence, 46

culture, definitions of, 150

culture of age, 148–151

curator

age imperatives, 181–182 (table)

reserves of wisdom, 163, 164–166 (table), 168 (table)

resilience and, 95

in resolution stage of an age point, 89

wisdom, 57–62, 68, 70 (table)

cutouts, of Matisse, 137, 178

Czaja, Sarah, 124

dance, 138–143, 153–154

Dance Exchange, 142

de Grey, Aubrey, 10, 26

de Hennezel, Marie, 89

death, approach of, 48

decline, ideology of, 98

dementia, 7, 40, 46, 153

art therapy for, 65

author’s experiences with patients, 53, 66, 153

Erik Erikson and, 32

future reduction in risk factors for, 192

prevalence of, 9, 192

as tipping point, 35

developmental intelligence, 63

diet, caloric restriction in, 191–192

disease and disability

in “positive aging” concept, 132

in “successful aging” concept, 131–132

disengagement, 88–89

divergent thinking, 63–64

Eight-Decade Study, 100

eighth stage of Erikson’s life cycle theory, 36, 100

Emanuel, Ezekiel, 9, 10, 24–25, 36, 139

emotional problems, as barrier to change, 176

emotional regulation, brain center for, 56

empathy, 48, 61, 95

encore phase, in Cohen’s model of human potential, 144, 147

engagement, 89, 131–132, 151

Erikson, Erik, 32, 35–36, 60, 100, 103, 144

Erikson, Joan, 35–36

estrogen, 116

ethics committee, 21–22, 28

eudaimonia, 104

event stage of an age point, 79–80

events, in age point grid, 170–173 (table), 175 (table)

evolutionary theory of aging, 27

failure, 48

faith, crisis of, 81

fatalism, 98

fear responses, amygdala and, 56–57

The Fifth Diamond (Zisblatt), 59

Final Exit (Humphrey), 19, 21

flourishing, 133

fluid intelligence, 46

Frameworks (Weinberg), 17

Frances, Pope, 31

Frankl, Victor, 103

friction, 122–124

Friedman, Howard, 100–101

generativity stage, 60

gerodicy, 26

geropause, 116–124

active, 118

age point trigger of, 117

barriers to change, 176

core fears of, 123

description of, 116–117

end of, 129

friction, 122–124

functional, 124

inhibited, 118–119

nostalgia and, 119–121, 123

old brain, 122, 123

passive, 118

stuck in, 159–160

gerotranscendence, 68

Goldberg, Elkhonon, 55

“good enough parent” concept, 131

Gorenstein, Hilda, 65

Graham, Martha, 138–141

grandmother hypothesis, 28

grandparents as curators, 60

Grant Study of Adult Development, 100

grief, 37, 53, 92, 117, 121

Grossman, Terry, 10

guardians, 28, 60

Gullette, Margaret Morganroth, 178

HAROLD (hemispheric asymmetry reduction), 52, 56, 64

heart disease, 42, 192

hemisphere asymmetry reduction (HAROLD), 52, 56, 64

Hertzog, Christopher, 142

Hibbs, Albert, 191

Hiking the Horizontal (Lerman), 143

Hill, Robert, 132

Hilton, James, 44

Hinduism, 31, 44

Holocaust, 58–59

homeostasis, 94

Honor Flights, 61

hospice, 91, 105, 145

How We Age: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Growing Old (Agronin), 7

Hrostowski, Susan, 94–95

Huebner, Berna, 65

human personality, as a congress of many, 149–150

human potential phases, 144

Humphrey, Derek, 19

Hurricane Katrina, 92–97

identity, fluidity of one’s, 32

inhibited geropause, 118–119

insight, 48

intelligence

crystallized, 46

developmental, 63

fluid, 46

intuitive supporters, 57

Islam, 31

Jacoby, Susan, 8, 10

James, William, 148

Jazz (Matisse), 137, 178

Jeste, Dilip, 43–45

Jones, Susannah Mushatt, 3

Judaism, 29–30

judgment

lessons learned that enhance, 48

suspension of, 80

justification of aging, 26

Kahn, Robert, 131

keepers of meaning, 28

knowledge, 48, 51

Kurzweil, Ray, 10

Labouvie-Vief, Gisela, 55

Langer, Ellen, 33–34

legacy, 128, 134

action plan, 161, 183–187

in age culture grid, 177, 177 (table), 179 (table), 186

examples of creation of, 185

motivation of desire for, 48, 62, 128

Leibniz, Gottfried, 26

Lerman, Liz, 142–144

lessons learned that enhance judgment, 48

Levy, Becca, 33

Lewis, C. S., 120, 131

liberation phase, in Cohen’s model of human potential, 144

life cycle theory, 32, 35–36

life span extension, 10–11, 191–192

limitations, acceptance of, 83

Lokon, Elizabeth, 183

Lost Horizon (Hilton), 44

Luhrmann, Tanya, 27–28

March of the Living, 57–58

Martin, Leslie, 100–101

Maslow, Abraham, 103

Matisse, Henri, 106, 136–139, 157, 178

matriarch, 166

meditation, 67

Melville, Herman, 148–149

memory

short-term, 36, 53, 86, 145

in superagers, 52

memory decline, 46

menopause, 116

“Miami cabinet,” author’s, 161–187

Alfred, 162, 166–167

David, 162–165, 165 (table)

Jim, 163, 173–174, 175 (table)

Judy, 161–162, 170–172, 171–173 (table)

Ken, 162, 178–180, 179 (table)

Norma, 163, 167–169, 168 (table)

Peter, 162, 186–187

Shirley, 92, 162, 186

Sydell, 162, 165–166, 166 (table), 185–186

Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, 34, 102, 104

midlife reevaluation phase, in Cohen’s model of human potential, 144

morale, strengthened by creativity, 134

Morano, Emma, 3

motivation

aging itself as, 35

of desire for legacy, 48, 62, 128

loss of, 118

motivational reserve, 64

multitasking, 46

Murray, Henry A., 148–150

Myerhoff, Barbara, 187

nanotechnology, 11

Nash, John, 45

National Grandparents Day, 187–188

natural selection, 27

negative attitudes, 176

neurocognitive disorders, 9, 45–46

neuroplasticity, 49

Newmar, Julie, 141–142

Nicomachean Ethics (Aristotle), 104

ninth stage of Erikson’s life cycle theory

action plan in, 160

age points and, 84

author’s description of patients in, 36–37

creators in, 65, 70 (table)

curators in, 61, 70 (table)

description of, 35–36

examples of, 167

purpose in, 105

reinvention in, 176

sage in, 57, 70 (table)

savant in, 53, 70 (table)

seer in, 68, 70 (table)

successful aging concept and, 132

thriving in, 151–154

wisdom reserve in, 40, 50

nostalgia, 119–121, 123

Okawa, Misao, 3

old brain, 122, 123

OMPFC (orbitomedial prefrontal cortex), 56–57

Open Minds through Art (OMA) program, 183

optimism, 44

optimization of abilities through rehearsal or exercise, 132–133

orbitomedial prefrontal cortex (OMPFC), 56–57

pain, 91, 97–98, 100, 106–107, 135–136

paradigm of old age, 7, 9, 12

paradoxes of old age, 6–7

Park, Denise, 52

Parkinson’s disease, 152–153

passive geropause, 118

pattern recognition, 55

performance

on cognitive tests, 47

speed, 47, 60

PET scan, 87

phenomenology, 80

physical health, improved by creativity, 134

physical problems, as barrier to change, 176

Pirke Avot, 29–30

“positive aging” concept, 132

positivity, 33–35

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 94

Ptah-Hotep, 10, 26

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), 94

purpose, 33–35

creativity and, 143

as emerging strength of age, 13, 33–35, 50, 159

examining your resilience, 160

highlighted by an age point review, 169, 175

loss of, 69, 114–115, 117–118

of old age/aging, 27, 32

power of, 101–106

as product and tool in aging, 105

as protective, 105

rejuvenation from newfound, 37

quaking aspen trees, 26

quest energy, 144

re-aging, 161

reckoning stage of an age point, 79, 81, 87–89, 101, 174

regression, 82

Rehner, Timothy, 94–95

Rehoboam, 31

reinvention

action plan, 160, 176–183

in ninth stage, 176

of ourselves, 114–115, 135, 138–143, 154, 194

relationships, enhanced by creativity, 134

relics, 68

renewal, 134–138, 143, 176, 180, 194

reproductive success, 27–28

reserves

in action plan, 160, 163–169

brain, 48–49, 51–52

cognitive, 51

compensation by drawing on, 47

motivational, 64

of wisdom in ninth stage, 40, 50

resilience, 90, 147

in action plan, 160, 169–175

based on wisdom, 95–96

description of, 94

as emerging strength of aging, 44, 50, 79, 194

purpose exercised in, 101

of survivors, 94–96

resistance, 82

resisting change, 116

resolution stage of an age point, 79, 81–82, 89–90, 101, 172, 174

resources, lack of, 176

Reuter-Lorenz, Patricia, 52

Richmond, Lewis, 31–32

rituals to celebrate aging, 161, 187–190

Rogers, Carl, 103

Rowe, John, 131

Rubinstein, Arthur, 133

Russell, Kent, 9–10

Ryff, Carol, 102–105

sage

age imperatives, 181–182 (table)

in reckoning stage of an age point, 82

reserves of wisdom, 163, 164–166 (table), 168 (table)

resilience and, 95, 96

in resolution stage of an age point, 89

wisdom, 54–57, 68, 70 (table)

savant

age imperatives, 181–182 (table)

in reckoning stage of an age point, 82

reserves of wisdom, 163, 164–166 (table), 168 (table)

resilience and, 95

in resolution stage of an age point, 89

wisdom, 50–53, 68, 70 (table)

scaffolding theory of aging and cognition (STAC), 52

Schiff, Solomon, 28–31

schizophrenia, 41–45

seer

age imperatives, 181–182 (table)

examples of, 65–66, 167

reserves of wisdom, 163, 164–166 (table), 168 (table)

in resolution stage of an age point, 83, 89–90

wisdom, 65–69, 70 (table)

selection among pursuits, 132–133

self-efficacy, 122, 124, 180

self-gratification, 69

Sherman, Andrea, 188

short-term memory, 36, 53, 86, 145

silver tsunami, 6

Simchat Chochmah ceremony, 190

SOC model of aging, 132

social portfolio, 180, 182

social supports, 37

socioemotional selectivity theory, 34

spirituality, 66–67

stages of life, in Erikson’s life cycle theory, 35–36

stagnant quo, 114–116

stereotype embodiment theory, 33

strengths of age/aging

development of, 39, 44–45, 193

difficulty in measuring, 47

Erikson’s life cycle theory and, 35

five core strengths, 48

stress

coping with a portfolio of strengths, 100

impact on brain and body, 92–93

in the moment, 99

resilience and, 94–97

survival in the face of, 98

“successful aging” concept, 131

suicide, 19–24, 121, 139

summing-up phase, in Cohen’s model of human potential, 144

superagers, 52, 164, 192

survival, aging and, 26–28

suspension stage of an age point, 79, 80, 85–86, 88, 101, 174

talk therapy, 97, 152, 171

Taylor, Eugene, 148

technology, struggle with new, 123–124

tenth stage, legacy as, 186

testosterone, 116

Teubal, Savina, 190

theodicy, 26

thinking

divergent, 63–64

improvement with aging, 47

thriving, 133

in ninth stage, 151–154

why thrive?, 116, 128, 130, 193

Torah, 29

Tornstam, Lars, 68

transcendent attitude, 66, 68

Transitional Keys (Sherman and Weiner), 188

Turritopsis dohrnii, 26

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 124

Vaillant, George, 28, 60, 100

van Andel-Schipper, Hendrikje, 2–3, 6

veneration of aging, 193–195

Walford, Roy, 191–192

The Weight of Glory (Lewis), 131

Weinberg, Matis, 17

Weiner, Marsha, 188

well-being, Ryff model of, 102, 104

Wenski, Thomas, 30–31

who am I?, 151, 163, 177

who was I?, 151, 163, 177

who will I be?, 151, 177

why age?, question of, 25–39, 69, 102, 193

positivity and purpose, 33–35

survival, 26–28

wisdom, 28–33

why survive?, question of, 78, 92, 98, 102, 106, 193

Why Survive? Being Old in America (Butler), 73

why thrive?, question of, 116, 128, 130, 193

Winnicott, D. W., 131

wisdom, 28–33

in action, 96

antiwisdom, 69

crown of wisdom, 49–50, 69, 70 (table), 82, 117, 163, 184, 195

defined, 49

difficulty in measuring, 47

as emerging strength of aging, 13, 40, 44, 47, 159

as form of mental currency, 194

as gift of aging, 48

resilience based on, 95–96

wisdom charts, 163, 164 (table), 166, 166 (table), 168 (table), 169

wisdom forms, 49–69, 70 (table)

creator, 62–65, 68, 70 (table)

curator, 57–62, 68, 70 (table)

sage, 54–57, 68, 70 (table)

savant, 50–53, 68, 70 (table)

seer, 65–69, 70 (table)

verbs representing mutual interactions with others, 68–69

withdrawal, 4, 42, 119, 122, 130

World War II veterans, 61

Yeats, W. B., 17

You Want It Darker (album), 185

youthist philosophy, 115

Zisblatt, Irene Weisberg, 57–62

Zumba, 153–154