When it comes to fulfilling our greatest potential as human beings experiencing aging, do we really know what truly excellent aging looks like? Just what is possible for elders? How much resilience and adaptation to change are possible as we age? How many unfounded assumptions are we making about what is possible for us as we age, despite our imperfect health? And how do those assumptions keep us from helping elders from experiencing the best lives possible?

I am of the school that says, "we know a lot less than we think we know," and every day I work to provide home care and family support through CCC, I have to admit: even a really, really, REALLY open-minded and optimistic person like myself -- a person who absolutely thrills at having her mind expanded when it comes to the possibilities of human potential -- even I have limiting assumptions about aging that are much better discarded.

Which is why I just love the four links I'm about to pass along: they each remind me that we never know what is truly possible... that it's likely what we believe is the outer reaches of human aging today are going to be considered laughably limited in 10 years.

Yes, you can rebuild a shrinking brain. And you can do it without drug intervention, seeing physical progress in just two months! This report on a peer-reviewed, published study shows us it's entirely possible to impact areas of the brain involved in memory and learning just through the power of the mind itself: Mindfulness Meditation Training Changes Brain Structure in Eight Weeks (thanks Pam Ressler, RN of Stress Resources for pointing us to this article).

Positive aging could bring us some lovely changes. Swedish sociologist Dr. Lars Tornstam's evidence-based Theory of Gerotranscendence says that old age holds "a shift in meta perspective, from a materialistic and rational view of the world to a more cosmic and transcendent one, normally accompanied by an increase in life satisfaction." Why would we want to be perpetually worried about aging (which sure beats the options, as they say), when we could instead experience increased life satisfaction by embracing our old age? Is this why so many of us like to hang out with elders, because we think they have life's priorities straight? (I know that's why I do...)

This is what a magnificent 85 year old brain can do! You don't  have to agree or disagree with the author's politics to admire the beauty of her mental functioning. This woman's writing is just wonderful!  With its tightly crafted text, she is obviously well and recently informed -- not to mention funny, bold, and probably gerotranscendent. Full of life, too!

Hopelessly unmanageable dementia patients can be totally turned around. Again, without drug intervention. Giving Alzheimer's Patients Their Way, Even Chocolate in the New York Times shows magnificent work being done through the right care environment and care interventions.  This article just makes my heart sing -- rather than break, as it does when I see the dreadful, rapid decline dementia patients can experience in inappropriate settings with caregivers who are inadequately trained. (Don't miss the slide show with this article.)