Ability to adapt to change fades as we age
Ever wonder why change becomes less exciting as we age? It’s not about being set in our ways, but is instead due to a certain brain circuit which fades as we get older.
A new study from the Queensland Brain institute found that the brain circuit responsible for accepting change, called the striatum, naturally deteriorates over time, making it difficult for older people to adapt to new ideas or situations.
Dr J. Bertran-Gonzales and his colleagues tested their hypothesis by training mice to receive two different flavours of pellets based on whichever lever they chose. The experiment showed that younger mice quickly understood how to get the flavour they wanted, but that the group of older mice were confused by the situation, often pressing both levers.
By studying another group of younger mice whose striatum had been “switched off”, so to speak, the researchers found they were just as confused as the older mice, confirming that the brain circuit is responsible for the way we deal with and accept change.
However, there is a way to learn to cope better with change even as you age. By keeping the mind active, you’re less likely to become apathetic, which can in fact increase your likelihood of developing dementia.
“When an aged person is apathetic, their goal-directed action is reduced to zero. They simply do not fulfil any goals anymore,” Dr Bertran-Gonzales told ABC News. “There is more and more evidence showing the brain is similar to a muscle. The more you work it the more it responds.”
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