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Inside This Issue • New Goals for Your Golden Years • November Notes on Memory Health • A Legacy Beyond Wealth • Check Out Our Upcoming Events! • Take a Break • Curiosity Never Gets Old
THE MOST DANGEROUS THING ABOUT AGING? Thinking You Already Know Enough
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but for us humans, it opens the door to discoveries, experiences, and the ability to … age better? Each of us is born with a certain level of curiosity that drives our efforts to learn more about ourselves and the world around us. You probably remember being a kid and learning everything you could about your biggest passions, whether that was animals, history, science, sports, or anything else. As we get older, that curiosity can wane, but if it goes too far, you may be in trouble. Recent research by an international team of psychologists explored the impact of curiosity on health. Researchers invited participants aged 20–84 to complete an online survey that determined how naturally curious they were, also known as trait curiosity. Researchers then measured participants’ state curiosity (i.e., a temporary desire to know the answer to a specific question or topic) by encouraging them to guess answers to difficult trivia questions. After guessing, they were asked
They found that trait curiosity (a person’s more stable tendency to continually seek new knowledge) declines with age, whereas state curiosity is less predictable. Generally, it declined in early adulthood, then increased consistently in middle age and the senior years. The researchers suggested that this data shows people naturally focus on learning as much as they can about the world, their jobs, and everything they need for success. But as they grow older, their curiosity levels out, and once the kids leave the nest, they can dedicate more time to their biggest interests and passions. In other words, we’re more selective about what we learn. Further, the research also suggested a link between maintaining curiosity as we age and the risk of dementia. Always looking to learn new things may be able to offset or prevent dementia, while those who show disinterest may be at a greater risk.
No matter how you view it, curiosity remains one of humanity’s most valuable traits.
how curious they were to discover the real answer.
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