The paradox of the human brain
German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was 86 when he finished his monumental work «Faust.» Great maestros, such as Arturo Toscanini and Herbert von Karajan, gave some of their greatest performances at an advanced age. Even today, we all wonder at the works produced by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali during their more mature creative periods. Greek artists Yiannis Moralis and Panayiotis Tetsis continue to impress us with their creations as they grow older. Meanwhile, as the European Union is celebrating its 50th anniversary, the media is full of commemorative features on charismatic leaders, such as France’s Charles de Gaulle and Germany’s Konrad Adenauer and Willy Brandt – all visionaries who managed to guide their countries through troubled times, thanks to their seemingly faultless intuition. Many will say that these individuals are exceptions, gifted by nature with exceptional talent and a strong genetic constitution. Meanwhile, most of us are struggling to make peace with the idea that the passage of time will wear down our intellectual capacities. But a new book, which has been a publishing sensation on both sides of the Atlantic, seeks to challenge this disturbing conviction. «The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger as Your Brain Grows Older» is the product of Dr Elkhonon Goldberg, a professor of clinical neurology at the New York University School of Medicine. Goldberg concedes that certain intellectual functions, such as short-term memory, weaken with the passage of time. However, he insists that the human brain, as it ages, develops a very particular and significant ability: that of grasping the broader picture, of gaining a broader and deeper understanding of things. To be more specific, the aging brain becomes increasingly proficient at drawing information from a reservoir of accumulated knowledge and experiences. Then, using spontaneity and intuition, that leads to decisions and actions which one commonly refers to as wisdom. Dr Goldberg seeks to explain the paradox of this wisdom by invoking the findings of recent medical studies. In any case, the positive conclusion remains uncontested: The aged brain – just like good mellow wine – makes up for in depth and complexity what it may lose in drive. But, despite these cheering facts, one must not forget that the brain is still a human organ. Like the muscles and the heart, it needs daily exercise if it is to stay healthy. According to the author, the best daily exercise to keep the brain sharp is a computer game, not specified in the book, doubtlessly for commercial reasons. Other activities Goldberg recommends include reading, frequent exposure to the arts and debate for those who want to keep their brains in top form. As the old adage goes, the laborer should read at least one newspaper a day and the scientist should walk at least one kilometer if both are to remain fit.
