Achievement in Later Life

Is there a steady intellectual decline after early adulthood? While cross-sectional studies suggested a decline, longitudinal
studies indicate intellectual stability into old age. Still other research shows that while fluid intelligence declines in later life,
crystallized intelligence does not.

There have been some remarkable achievements that have come late in life. For example, Sophocles wrote
Oedipus Rex at the age of 75; Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocal lens at 78; Bertrand Russell formed the
Committee of 100, a radical organization devoted to nuclear disarmament, at 88; Frank Lloyd Wright completed
the Guggenheim Museum at 91; Paul Spangler completed his fourteenth marathon at 92;
Dr. Benjamin Spock published A Better World for Our Children at 91; Cecile B. De Mille
produced The Ten Commandments at 75; Claude Monet began his Water Lily series at 73. Other world
leaders besides Ronald Reagan have served in later life, including the following: Pope John XXIII was
elected at 77, Konrad Adenauer won the election that allowed him to lead West Germany to
reconstruction at 72, Charles De Gaulle returned to power in France at the age of 68,
and Strom Thurmond served in the U.S Senate until he was 100. Finally, you might note that George Burns
launched a new movie career and won an Oscar for Sunshine Boys at age 80 (and at 94 performed at
Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY, 63 years after he first played there). Clearly, some individuals remain
creative and productive throughout the life span.

Is it possible that our societys negative view of the aging person stifles creativity? Do stereotypes of the elderly become a selffulfilling prophecy? Judith Stevens-Long notes that Thomas Jefferson was convinced that he was becoming an imbecile at the
age of 68, although he seemed to function as well as ever. In writing to Benjamin Rush, Jefferson stated, Had not a conviction
of the danger to which an unlimited occupation of the executive chair would expose the republican constitution of government
made it conscientiously a duty to retire when I did, the fear of becoming a dotard and of being insensible to it would of itself
have resisted all solicitations to remain.

Stevens-Long, J., & Commons, M. (1992). Adult life: Developmental processes (4th ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co.

Living to 100
Would you want to live to 100? The surprising results of a survey conducted for the American Association of
Retired Persons indicated that only 1in 4 Americans hopes to reach the 100-year milestone. On average, Americans
prefer to call it quits at 91. The reasons most frequently given for not wanting to live to 100 were worries about
declining health and concerns about not having financial support. Other concerns were the possibility of losing
mental faculties, increasing dependence on others, being isolated or alone, and living in a nursing home.
Centenarians are an extremely fast-growing age group in the U.S. populationfrom an estimated 50,000 in 2005, to
an astonishing 1 million by the year 2050 and close to 2 million by 2080. These predictions by the U.S. Census Bureau are
considered to be fairly reliable; they are based partly on the likelihood that larger age groups, such
as the immense baby-boom generation, will be able to reach 100 and partly on further advances in
health care and the treatment of killer diseases. Currently, about 1 percent of each generation reach
the 100-year mark. That could increase to 2 percent or more in future years.
Do centenarians share common characteristics that provide clues to successful aging? Centenarians are a pretty
diverse group, explains Dr. John Thompson, a researcher at the Sanders-Brown Research Center on Aging at the University of
Kentucky in Lexington. They dont exhibit as uniform a physical or emotional profile as some investigators had expected. For
example, some researchers have speculated that those reaching 100 would tend to be calm, serene Type
B personalities, leading relatively stress-free lives. Although some fit this profile, others are fiery Type A
personalities who seem to thrive on tension. Leonard Poon, director of the University of Georgia
Gerontology Center, calls American centenarians expert survivors. Out of 16 personality traits, he found
that the expert survivors exhibited four important coping mechanisms. First, Poon states, centenarians
are dominant. They want to have their way and are not easily pushed around. Second, many are also characterized by
suspiciousness. That is, they do not simply accept the information they are given but will question it and think through an
issue. Third, they tend to be practical rather than idealistic. And, finally, in their approach to life they are
likely to be more relaxed. In short, they are strong but not inflexible people.
There do, however, seem to be some commonalities beyond the genetic propensity to long life.
(Research shows that the vast majority have had at least one close relative who made it into the 90s or
above).
For example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Even those with serene temperaments tend to be active, generally physically active, people.
Centenarians set standards for themselves and follow them rigorously.
They tend to have led people-centered lives, often helping those in distress. Clearly, those over 100 are not selfcentered.
They have a bright, positive outlook on life. Even at 100, they continue to look forward to the future.
Although they are not all avid churchgoers, most say they enjoy active spiritual lives. They also enjoy
very strong social support networks.
Perhaps most important, centenarians take an active interest in the world around them. They cherish
life and enjoy simple pleasures with obvious enthusiasm.
When you reach 100, each day is a day to treasure, says 100-year-old Jay Hoover. I have very few regrets
about my life. And I wouldnt change places with anyone.