The Mature Mind delivers good news for those in the second half of life, with an extraordinary account of cutting-edge neuroscience, groundbreaking psychology, fascinating vignettes from history and case studies, and practical advice for personal growth strategies. Gene Cohen, a renowned psychiatrist and gerontologist, draws from more than thirty years of research to show that surprising positive changes in our brains have the powerful potential to enhance, not diminish, our lives after fifty.

"Old dogs can learn new tricks, says psychiatrist Cohen, drawing on the latest studies of the aging brain and mind. In fact, new scanning technologies show that in some ways the aging brain is more flexible than younger ones. How we look at the 'mature mind' may change with the theories and research presented by Cohen (The Creative Age), founding chief of the Center on Aging at the National Institute of Mental Health. Aiming to debunk the myth of aging as an inevitable decline of body and mind, Cohen introduces the concept of developmental intelligence, a 'maturing synergy of cognition, emotional intelligence, judgment, social skills, life experience, and consciousness.' Expanding on Erik Erikson's developmental psychology, Cohen postulates that there are four phases of psychological development in mature life: midlife re-evaluation, 'a time of exploration and transition'; liberation, a desire to experiment; the summing-up phase of 'recapitulation, resolution, and review'; and 'encore,' the desire to go on. Drawing on the results of two groundbreaking studies, Cohen illustrates that the years after age 65 are anything but 'retiring,' and that creativity, intellectual growth and more satisfying relationships can blossom at any age." Publishers Weekly (Copyright © Reed Business Information)

"[A]ll-in-all offers a shot in the arm to the hopes of millions who wish to remain vital to the end." Booklist (Starred Review)

Based on the latest studies of the brain, as well as moving stories of men and women in the second half of life, this text reveals how the mind creates new opportunities for positive change throughout adult life. That growth can be jump-started at any age and under any circumstances, actively building brain reserves and new possibilities.

Gene Cohen, M.D., PH.D., is a founder of the National Institute on Aging and is currently Director of the Center of Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University. He is the author of The Creative Age. Cohen has been interviewed on the Today show, in the New York Times, Time, and Newsweek, among other programs and publications. He lives in Kensington, Maryland.