Hidden Brain The Best Years of Your Life
Aug 11, 2025
Laura Carstensen, a psychologist at Stanford University and director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, discusses groundbreaking insights into aging. She explains how our emotional well-being often improves with age, challenging common stereotypes about cognitive decline. Carstensen highlights the shift in perspectives on time, which enhances social relationships and encourages savoring positive experiences. She also addresses the complex interplay between happiness, financial security, and the impact of mortality awareness on life choices, revealing the wisdom that comes with growing older.
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Near-Death Crash That Changed Her Path
- Laura Carstensen survived a car crash that broke over 20 bones and left her hospitalized for months.
- The experience shifted her priorities and led her to study aging.
Hospital Assignment Sparked Interest In Aging
- Nurses assigned Laura Carstensen to engage older patients while she recuperated.
- That contact revealed shared dependency and launched her interest in the science of aging.
Time Left, Not Clock Time, Drives Goals
- Laura Carstensen realized older people's shorter time horizons shift goals toward meaning and close relationships.
- Perceived time left, not clock time, reshapes social priorities and emotional focus.
