Aging: It's Not What You Think | Thad Polk | TEDxUofM

Our brains are powerful pieces of machinery that give us the capacity to do amazing things. Unfortunately, common wisdom says that age isn’t too kind to our minds’ abilities. Neuroscientist Thad Polk walks through the actual effects of aging on the human brain and shows that our assumptions might not be so accurate.

Dr. Thad Polk has been a member of the University of Michigan psychology faculty since 1996. His lab uses functional MRI, computational modeling, and behavioral experimentation to study the neural architecture of cognition, including how it is affected by aging, by experience, and by genetics. He has taught over 6,000 UM students over the past 20 years. In 2006, he was named an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in recognition of outstanding contributions to undergraduate education, and in 2012 Princeton Review included him on its list of the Best 300 Professors in the US.

[conscious]

As a man of 84 I could not quite understand the technical points of his talk but it makes me more hopeful of my memory when he concludes his speech with 'aging is a kind of transformation rather than deterioration' Thanks.

[michaelbelt]

My great aunt was born in the late 1800's but in 1975 I asked a question during her favorite TV show. When a commercial came on., she finally answered the question. It was then I realized her 'Rolodex' was simply huge. She answered the question in HER time, not mine. Her mind was fine into her 90's. She was briefly distracted by a device that was invented in her mid-age time of life but I might have used my misplaced and WRONG judgement in estimating her cognitive ability.

[tessarix]

I'm older than dirt, but there are some positives about that. With age comes skills. It's called "Multitasking". I can laugh, cough, sneeze, pee and fart all at the same time!

[EveningTV]

I wonder what effect trauma has on this, or having a loving and supportive family, or creative pursuits, things to look forward to.etc/etc.

[paulwagner]

this is one of the ted talks of all time

[stanfrymann]

Of course, it's anecdotal, but my experiences with my aging parents, and now my own experience with aging is that memory deteriorates. Did I do this? Where did I put this? Where did I park the car in the parking lot? What's their name? One person may be "sharp as a tack", but a lot of others, like me, notice deterioration.

[jmerlo]

Your life is your piece of art. Do it right and you will love it just as it is. Do it wrong and it will be a worthless mess.

[CariFromDitchDiets]

Fascinating way of looking at the brain and aging.  Love how he explains what an fMRI is - never quite heard it put that simply!

[MosesRabuka]

Currently enjoying his Great Courses, loving it 😊

[rileyesposito]

My brain functions improved in many aspects after I play Taichi.

[jessikapiche]

your brain start losing cells at about 30's and continue onward. You could use that to say 'old is bad'. But we have so many cells in that brain that it doesn't really mean anything. I know people who are old and boring at a very young age, and old people who are funny, open minded, original and have opinions in life that make them young and inspiring. Life intelligence is in your heart, not so much in your head.

[coreycox]

This fMRI technology seems like magic to me. I am amazed at what it can do. Thank you.

[radhikadahal]

Amazing to know how to avoid secondary Aging. I have been watching so many TED TALKS and other types of speeches about the use of both Brain. I want to learn how to use all parts of brain. It would be awesome to know HOW TO use both brain.

[yexpower]

talking about the brain without diet is like talking about how a plane flies considering only the wind and ignoring the fuel it needs.

[mexcanfun]

Retired in Mexico at 72 I notice that all my younger hurts come back, fine, but the worst of all is all my friends are dead or dying.Mostly from sugar or coca cola.

[almi]

My concern with his findings is, that he did not talk about the general differences in education of today and the past. Furthermore he did not say something about the general biography of the test subjects. Those who you used their brains in their 70s might have done so already in their 20s. We just didnt have the technical tools to measure it. So my point is, were lacking a really time series. Because we cant say wether there is a decline or not for an individual as long as we didnt monitor the individual. Sorry bad english, typing down quickly

[georgegalamb]

Those old or aging people who paid enough attention throughout their life and learned their life lessons will have wisdom. Wisdom only comes with an experienced mind. While young people's brain and mind is fresh and able to learn quickly, old people's brain and mind is experienced and therefore wise.

[mikeanthony]

This is my current college psychology professor at u of m

[arvilmogensen]

I am retired. I recall so many people earning more than me. I recall thinking my paltry savings put away each year not amounting to much. The difference in return between investing options amounting to a case or two of beer based on the meagre sum of money I accumulated. From time-to-time conversations with other people about saving for retirement revealed they saved nothing because “the Government can’t let us all starve.” Saving amounts to effort, and foregoing things I wish I had or wished I could give my family. Now 47 years later, I see lots of opportunity produced unequal outcomes.

[mikelincoln]

So fluid processing, the vitally important one declines with age. Which we all knew. Not much use being stuck in the middle of WAl-Mart totally lost and not knowing how to remedy it, while knowing '30 days has