Brain Slowdown Is The Source Of Elderly Wisdom

A slower brain may be a wiser brain.
New research proves that wisdom develops with aging, and that wisdom is the result of the brain slowing down and the resulting decrease in impulsivity.
"Older people are less likely to respond thoughtlessly to negative emotional stimuli because their brains have slowed down compared to younger people. This, in fact is what we call wisdom," said Professor Dilip Jeste of the University of California, San Diego, who led the research study.
While there it may be common wisdom that it is difficult for older people to learn new skills - e.g., "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" - that appears to be a misconception. Prior research has made clear that even after brain damage, for instance, after a stroke, the brain has an amazing ability to regenerate lost function. After damage to one part of the brain, other areas of the brain are able to compensate by learning new functions. This ability is known as neuroplasticity, and appears to carry on throughout life