Just because we’re getting older, (we all do it,) does that mean that we are also getting slower in our minds? This popular thinking is called “ageism” and it’s rampant in our society. The Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging has been studying ageism: what it is, how it’s used, and its affects on older adults for years. The center has developed white papers and other informational briefs to help the public understand ageism and its impact.
The Christian Science Monitor recently published an article featuring commentary from Friedman Center co-Director, Brian Carpenter, PhD, a professor in psychological & brain sciences at WashU Arts & Sciences. Carpenter cites studies that show internalized ageism effects older adults’ cognitive, physical and mental health. Ageism was recently negatively illuminated when President Joe Biden recently stepped down from the presidential race. Read the article.
Intense scrutiny of veteran politicians has prodded America toward greater awareness of how unchallenged ageism affects everyone, not just presidential candidates.
Christian Science Monitor, “Biden says he’s ‘too old to stay as president.’ It shows the pull of ageism.”, Aug. 20, 2024
Center co-Director, Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD, the Bettie Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Social Policy at the Brown School and her work are featured in a recent Modern Elder Academy blog post by guest author, Marc Freedman, a specialist in intergenerational collaboration. He talks about our nation’s “unprecedented age diversity” and lauds Morrow-Howell and team’s WashU for Life initiative, and her co-authored study on age-diversity on college campuses.
Professor Nancy Morrow-Howell at Washington University St. Louis, for example, has put forth the notion of Wash U for Life and co-authored a compelling case setting out the benefits of a truly age-integrated incarnation for higher education, one that infuses the power of age-diversity and intergenerational connection into every aspect of university learning and life.
Marc Freedman, guest blog author and faculty member of Modern Elder Academy
To find out more about this work and the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging, visit the center’s Programs and Projects page.