Plasticity as we age!

Plasticity as we age!

Too often, aging is linked with negative stereotypes. In this virtual event for volunteers of The American Museum of Natural History, I will talk about plasticity, how it changes over time, and what we can do (including dance!) to sustain and maintain plasticity. 
Please contact me if you would like a link to register for the talk, which will be held online on Tuesday, March 10 at 2pm EST!  

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I provided several hypotheses on how the practice of Bharatanatyam might promote plasticity and enable healthy aging. I discussed many aspects of the dance form, such as gestures, grounding, balance, as well as additional artistic modalities such as fabric, embroidery, language, sculptures, and iconography. There were close to 25 people in attendance. Below are some reflections and thoughts:

• On gesture and language: "On the other end of life, I've enjoyed using sign language with my grandchild, who is less than two. It's amazing to be able to communicate with non-verbal (yet) being!" 
• "That was a great and really interesting talk.  Thank you!"
• "Fascinating and delightful." 

What did you notice in the dance? 

• telling a story
• flexibility of your hands
• music
• hand movements 
• facial expressions
• hand and eye coordination 
• eye movements, in some cases distinct from hand and feet movements 
• head movement 
• conveying a message 

What comes to mind when you think of plasticity and aging?

• Less plasticity as we age 
• Less plasticity, not just of the brain 

What comes to mind when you think of creative aging?

• wanting to learn
• keeping one's mind active 
• learning to adjust to the changes in your life 
• These Zoom meetings 

What might be some challenges when thinking of creative aging in a scientific way?

• being objective
• the many variables 
• willingness to participate 
• associaiton vs causation