Looking at the features of the brain at the age of 60-80. They are really rosy.
As a host of psilocybin retreats for elders (mostly 60’s – 80’s), I’m seeing evidence that supports a multitude of benefits for mental health, plus creativity and future inspiration for creating the next chapter of life.
As an elder myself, I’ve been keenly interested in ways to support mental health and growing healthy brains as we age, as opposed to declining brain health with dementia and disease.
During these special private journey retreats, I see clients who have been on medications for depression and anxiety for years be able to totally get off these pharmaceutical band-aids. I’ve seen new creativity as clients “see the way” to completely change up their lives with new meaning and deep enthusiasm.
In continuing these studies, it’s noteworthy to see the reasons why . . .
In researching support articles, I found where the director of George Washington University College of Medicine argues that the brain of an elderly person is much more plastic than is commonly believed. At this age, the interaction of the right and left hemispheres of the brain becomes harmonious, which expands our creative possibilities. That is why many people over 60 embrace new creative activities.
Of course, the brain is no longer as fast as it was in youth. However, the brain wins in flexibility. That is why, with age, we are more likely to make the right decisions and are less exposed to negative emotions.
I went on to read that the peak of human intellectual activity occurs at about 70 years old, when the brain begins to work at full strength.
The reason for this is that over time, the amount of myelin in the brain increases, a substance that facilitates the rapid passage of signals between neurons. Due to this, intellectual abilities are increased by 300% compared to the average. And the peak of active production of this substance is 60-80 years of age. Also interesting is the fact that after 60 years, a person can use the two hemispheres of the brain at the same time. This allows you to solve much more complex problems.
Professor Monchi Uri from the University of Montreal believes that the brain of an elderly person chooses the least energy-intensive path, cutting unnecessary and leaving only the right options for solving the problem. A study was conducted in which different age groups took part. Young people were quite often confused when passing the tests, while those over 60 made the right decisions.
The Highlights of the Brain of an Elderly Person
1. The neurons of the brain do not die off. Connections between them simply disappear if a person does not engage in mental work.
2. Absent-mindedness and forgetfulness appear due to an overabundance of information. Therefore, you do not need to focus your whole life on unnecessary trifles.
3. Beginning at the age of 60, a person, when making decisions, uses not one hemisphere at the same time, like young people, but both.
4. Conclusion: if a person leads a healthy lifestyle, moves with walking or exercise, has a feasible physical activity and has full mental activity, intellectual abilities DO NOT decrease with age, but only GROW, reaching a peak by the age of 80-90 years.
So we do not have to grow into old age with fear if we continue to develop intellectually.
And this is what I’ve seen in providing retreats. People go on to learn new crafts, make music, start paining, or dancing!
Here are a few more stats that are interesting;
This study was published by a team of doctors and psychologists in the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE.
The most productive age of a person is from 60 to 70 years
The 2nd most productive human stage is the age from 70 to 80 years old
3rd most productive stage - 50 and 60 years old; before that, the person has not yet reached his peak.
The average age of the Nobel Prize laureates is 62
The average age of the presidents of the 100 largest companies in the world is 63 years
They found that at 60 you reach the peak of your emotional and mental potential, and this continues until you are 80.
Therefore, if you are 60, 70 or 80 years old, you are at the best level of your life.
Age when combined with psilocybin therapy can be a wonderful boost to our inspiration
Although therapy with psilocybin mushroom is not something to be taken lightly, psilocybin is arguably the safest of all the plant medicine teachers.
Unlike many naturally occurring plant medicines they are incredibly gentle and non-toxic in the body and actually encourage the new growth of neurons in the brain.
They also help the body repair from the damaging effects of stress and work to restore physiological function. Furthermore, psilocybin has therapeutic benefits in many different dosages ranging from the barely perceptual “micro” dose to the so-called “heroic” dose, for an experience of healing deep seeded issues and trauma.
Under the right set, setting and intention with an experienced guide, these magical little mushrooms have a distinct intelligence of their own that guides ones experience towards what it perceives to be the most pressing priority, targeting what needs to be healed in the moment.
For more info on private psilocybin retreats - click HERE