What’s good about growing old? Well, a University of Illinois study found that older air traffic controllers excelled at their cognitively taxing jobs. Despite the fact that they had losses in short-term memory and visual spatial processing. This means that while older minds may have trouble with mental skills, they can gain more abilities in other areas.
What’s Good About Growing Old
Older people also learned how to deal with social conflicts better. For a 2010 study, researchers at the University of Michigan presented “Dear Abby” letters to 200 people and asked for their advice.
Subjects in their 60s were better at picturing different points of view, thinking of multiple resolutions, and suggesting compromises.
Older people handle losses better than younger people as well. They also are happier, less angry, and have less stress.
Read more about these studies here.