Definition
Aging brings real changes to the nervous system — in speed, sensory processing, and some cognitive domains — alongside preserved or improved capacities in others, including emotional regulation and wisdom.
Why it matters
The decline narrative is oversimplified. Aging is real; so is the reliable finding that emotional regulation and social selectivity often improve with age.
The Science
Socioemotional selectivity theory (Carstensen) documents shifts toward emotionally meaningful goals with age. Neurocognitive aging is heterogeneous; healthy older adults often show stable or improved emotional regulation despite processing speed changes.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats aging as an ongoing developmental stage deserving respect and specific care — not a fall from an idealized younger state.
Clinical Implications
Ageist assumptions in care worsen outcomes. Careful, individualized attention to what does and does not change with age produces better care.
Practical Application
If you are aging — and you are — some things get harder. Others actually get easier. The nervous system’s story is not one-directional.
References
- 1.Carstensen LL. The influence of a sense of time on human development. Science. 2006;312(5782):1913–1915.