There has been a paucity of studies published that shows any benefits of growing old. That was at least until an article appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience this last June.
In the study, scientist found that people over 50 handled life’s rotten realities and found life’s bright side more effectively than the younger generation. It was shown that older people use the prefrontal cortex to look for meaning in life whereas younger adults emotion-related activity centers on the amygdala, a brain structure implicated in automatic fear responses.
The bottom line of the study “indicates that our ability to register the significance of information is preserved, and even enhanced, as we age”…thus helping us “avoid experiencing negative information and focus instead on positive information.”