Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Should we be worried about older politicians?
Do older politicians represent the general population? How old is too
old to lead a country?
Brain volume diminishes over time in the areas where problem-solving, goal-setting,
and impulse control are involved. Then executive function declines as people
age, which increases the repetition of thoughts and behaviors especially over
65 even though the timing and extent vary by the individual. In the meanwhile, older
brains can perform better to direct and act on information even though they
cannot process new information as quickly as younger ones. Also, older brains
typically have better vocabulary. You may recall your grandparents or older
bosses speaking with words that describe and explain things more simply but
clearly than you. Indeed, the sayings of a wise old man are valuable. Then can
we evaluate the mental and cognitive fitness of election candidates? While cognitive
fitness can be assessed fairly for daily living and routines, measuring the
cognitive ability to deal with political decisions is highly complex as it
includes a mixture of fitness, intelligence, experience, and wisdom. All in
all, it really depends on the individual whether he or she fits the role. Also
important is how well and effectively the senior leader or politician is aided
by their staff to compensate for their weaknesses and make use of their wisdom.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about mental and cognitive
fitness to be a political leader.
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