Proud to be an elderly citizen: elderly, the brain is getting worse!

Happy National Elderly Day, May 29, 2025

In commemoration of national elderly days, let us change the perspective on the aging process. The elderly are not the end of the productive period, but the gold phase in human life. Behind gray hair and wrinkles, stored brain strength which actually reached its highest maturity.

This article raises various scientific findings that refute the myth that intellectual abilities decrease dramatically as we get older. Conversely, a lot of evidence shows that the old age is a period of human cognitive triumph – it is supported by a healthy and active lifestyle.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health (2020), aging is a transition to a period of policy with high intellectual and social potential. In fact, in Indonesia many elderly ages over 60 years are still active as senior consultants in the fields of health, education, economics, social, and even construction.

At this age, they are precisely at the peak of wisdom, experience, and have a strong professional network – the main capital in the knowledge -based profession.

BPS data (2023) noted that the population of the Indonesian elderly reached 11.75% or around 32.7 million people from a total population of 278 million.

This indicates that Indonesia has entered the phase aging populationwhich requires special attention in social, health and economic policy planning in order to ensure the welfare and empowerment of the elderly in the future.

Myths and facts about elderly brain

There are still many who believe that the neurons of the brain continue to die as we get older and the ability to think also decreases. However, research from George Washington University and Montreal University showed different results: the elderly brain actually worked more harmoniously and efficiently.

The interaction between the left and right hemisphere becomes more balanced, produces more creative, calm, and wise thoughts. In fact, studies published in New England Journal of Medicine shows that the peak of human intellectual activity is not in the age of 30 or 40s, but rather close to the age of 70 years!