Auto-Gerontology: A Personal Odyssey

Introduction

Some colleagues have asked me to write an essay on how gerontology has affected my personal experiences and vice versa. The purpose of this article is twofold: First, to use the theories of optimal aging as a framework for responding to this question and how this may provide insights into what the field of gerontology could learn from these experiences. These theories of optimal aging are central to the ultimate goal of gerontology: How to understand and improve the common experience of aging processes?

The second purpose is to show how reducing ageism has become a personal priority for me.

Theories of Optimal Aging

There are four leading theories of optimal aging: activity, continuity, successful aging, and selective optimization with compensation (SOC). I believe that all four theories are congruent with the “Use it or lose it” slogan to various degrees.

The activity theory says that the way to age optimally is to stay as active as possible in three dimensions: physical, mental, and social (Atchley, 2001). Our longitudinal studies of aging found that various types of activities (physical, mental, sexual, and social) were among the strongest predictors of health and longevity (Palmore, 1982). Activity was also a strong predictor of life satisfaction (Palmore, 1979). In other words, activity theory asserts the validity of the old slogan, “Use it or lose it.” This is in contrast to the earlier theory of disengagement, which said that optimal aging occurs when individuals voluntarily disengage from their social roles, and society disengages from these individuals by allowing them to retire. Disengagement theory asserts that this is good both for individuals, because it allows preparation and adaptation to the inevitable declines of old age, and for society because it allows for smooth transitions as retiring individuals are replaced by younger persons. There continues to be controversy between these two theories, but our research in the Duke Longitudinal Studies of Aging tends to favor the activity theory. Also, my personal experience has confirmed that the activities I continue to use contribute to my continued good health and happiness, as noted below.

One of the main criticisms of activity theory is that it does not recognize the fact that society and environment may limit the amount of activity an older person can maintain. Many people live in crowded poverty, which makes it difficult to maintain their activity. Others may not have developed the skills and education which would favor continuing activity. Furthermore, it does not recognize that activity is no guarantee of optimal aging. In other words, even if you “use it,” you may “lose it.” For example, I have lost the ability to pump my bicycle up steep hills on the way to my office, despite the fact that I regularly ride it in good weather. So, I now use an electrically assisted bicycle which has a small motor in the hub to help me up hills.

Continuity theory asserts that optimal aging is based on continuation of mental attitudes, goals, social roles, activity, and adaptation strategies (Atchley, 2001). This does not mean no changes as people age, but rather that the changes are consistent with their past experiences and skills. However, the foremost advocate of continuity theory, Robert Atchley, has written: “Continuity theory does not assume that the results of continuity are necessarily positive” (p. 247). Continuity theory allows for some “exceptions to the rule”; the rule appears to be consistent with the slogan, “Use it or lose it.”

However, there have been criticisms of continuity theory similar to those of activity theory above that it does not recognize social and environmental constraints on continuity. Rowe and Kahn (1998) have attempted to incorporate social and environmental constraints into their theory of successful aging. They define successful aging as having three components:

The last two components show that this theory is congruent with the “Use it or lose it” slogan. However, this theory has been criticized by pointing out that good lifestyle choices do not guarantee good health (even if you use it, you may still lose it), and that good health may not be necessary for successful aging.

SOC theory argues that optimal aging occurs when older persons optimize selected activities and adapt them to their individual capacities and needs (Baltes & Baltes, 1990). Thus, this theory allows for diminishing or dropping some activities to concentrate on optimizing abilities in the remaining (selected) activities. In a sense, it would revise the “Use it or lose it” slogan to say, “it’s OK to lose some activities so you can concentrate on using and adapting your other activities.”

An example cited by Baltes is that of the pianist who maintained his ability to give concerts by dropping some pieces from his repertoire, so he could concentrate on maintaining the others (selective optimization) and slowing his speed somewhat to adapt to the declining speed of his abilities (Baltes, 1987). Actually, this example fits my personal experience well. I learned to play piano as a teenager. I never achieved concert-level skill, but I did manage to memorize one piece (the “Second Waltz” by Goddard) and have enjoyed playing it regularly through the years to maintain my memory of it. I no longer play any of the other pieces I once played, to concentrate on maintaining this one. I also slow the tempo somewhat in the difficult passages to play them fully. In this respect, SOC theory is somewhat similar to Carstenson’s (2001) socioemotional selectivity theory, which posits that as people grow older, they pay more attention to the emotional aspects of the world around them, which allows them to regulate their emotions more effectively.

A major criticism of these theories is their lack of recognition of the pervading influence of the environment, especially the social environment on the ability to “use it.” This influence starts with childhood and continues throughout life. It affects one’s physical abilities as well as one’s psychological motivation, financial ability, educational and environmental opportunities. Without this recognition, the theories are too person-centric and overemphasize the role of individual motivation and abilities. In my personal experience, I have been fortunate to enjoy a loving family, a healthy and happy childhood, a good education, financial security, and many environmental opportunities to use my abilities. I was also persuaded by my research and the gerontological literature that it is most important for optimal aging to continue as much activity as feasible and comfortable in one’s given environmental context (with all of the latter’s potential facilitators and barriers to such activity).

My Personal Response

I believe that the evidence in gerontology tends to support the common conclusion of these four theories that optimal aging, or the maintenance of health and function, is based on continuing and adapting most activities. This conclusion is not meant to deny that some individuals with considerable disability can still maintain a good life (or in Baltes’s view, compensate effectively).

As I have grown older, I have tried to abide by the “Use it or lose it” slogan in four key areas: professional, volunteer, personal relationships, and physical fitness.

On the professional level, I have continued to do some research and writing in gerontology (part-time). This is based on the research which shows that those who continue to work at least part-time in old age tend to be healthier and happier. I come in to my office at Duke 2 days a week and edit the Center for the Study of Aging newsletter, The Center Report. However, I have dropped some of my previous activities such as teaching, coordinating longitudinal studies, and attending professional meetings.

On the volunteer level, I have continued to be active in the local Unitarian Universalist congregation as well as with the local Democratic Party. I also deliver “Meals on Wheels” once a week and pick up trash from the nearby highway that I “adopted.” This too is based on research which shows that those who continue some volunteer work in old age tend to be healthier and happier.

On the level of personal relationships, I try to maintain regular contact with my family and with close friends. This involves phone calls to my family once a month and emails to all when we take a trip or some major event occurs. It also involves trying to arrange family reunions occasionally. I also have three “bowling buddies” who get together with me once a month to play a board game, have lunch, and go bowling. This is based on our research which shows that social activity is one of the strongest predictors of longevity and happiness.

On the level of maintaining physical fitness, I do stretching and resistance training 3 or 4 times a week, as well as walking our dog daily and riding my bike to church and my office (20 miles round trip) when the weather is conducive. I am trying to prove that you can improve with age: I celebrate my birthday by doing repetitions equal to my age (currently 85) in push-ups, knee-bends, and sit-ups. However, I gave up trying to ride my age in miles on my bicycle after my 84th birthday. I decided it was too stressful and dangerous.

Ageism—Is It Personal?

A more recent theory of optimal aging might be called the “power of positive thinking.” This theory asserts that positive attitudes toward aging and old age tend to maintain health and happiness, whereas the negative attitudes shown in ageism tend to create atrophy and depression (Palmore, Branch, & Harris, 2005). Experimental evidence is beginning to mount supporting this theory (levy, 2005).

Millions of older people suffer from various forms of ageism, from being denied a promotion to losing their job; from being ignored to being denied health care; from being sent ageist birthday cards to being the butt of ageist jokes (Palmore et al., 2005). But when this discrimination occurs, the question often arises in the victim’s mind: “Is this because of my age or for some other reason?” This is similar to the question that arises when a woman or African American experiences some negative action: Is this because of sexism or racism?

Personally, I have been fortunate in working in an academic environment with a minimum of obvious ageism. Once or twice, when a research grant application was denied, I wondered if the judges may have been influenced by the fact that I was above 60. My friends and family know better than to send me ageist birthday cards.

However, ageism has become personal in the sense that I have been doing research and writing about it for over 40 years (Palmore, 2005). This research has convinced me that ageism is rarely recognized but is actually one of the most widespread forms of prejudice in our society. I like to call it “the third great ‘ism’” in our society, after racism and sexism.

Ageism has also become personal in the sense that it has motivated me to try and reduce this hidden social disease in several ways:

Q&A

When my colleagues invited me to develop this article, they asked me to answer several questions. Here are my attempts to answer them:

Much of the earlier scholarly research tended to focus on the decrements and problems that often occur in old age. Even recently, some biologists equate “biological age” with measures that actually are measuring biological decrements as a proxy for old age (Belsky, 2015). This is in sharp contrast to my personal enjoyment of a healthy and active old age.

For a specific example, the geriatric literature is full of fearful descriptions of the many problems of sleeping that usually accompany aging. However, I have not experienced any of those problems. On the contrary, I enjoy about 10 hr of sleep every night plus a 30 min nap after each meal.

Fortunately, our research on Normal Aging at Duke University and elsewhere has tended to counter the earlier emphasis on problems and show the continuing abilities and continuing activities of older people (Palmore, 1985). But more research and writing on the positive aspects of aging is needed.

My knowledge of the literature has reassured me that aging is not all “down-hill to the grave”—that it is not something to be feared and denied, but something to be thankful for and to look forward to. It also assured me that when there are declines in some abilities, there are often ways to compensate (e.g., getting glasses and hearing aids). There are also medical interventions that can help with these problems, such as getting cataracts removed and medications to control heart irregularities.

I hope my positive personal experiences will inspire more research and writing on the positive aspects of aging to counteract negative stereotypes.

I have found it to be helpful for the reasons listed in #2 above. The only harmful aspect I can think of is that when people find out that I am a gerontologist, they often want to know (in a few words) how to “avoid aging” or the “secret of longevity.” These days, I just refer them to my recent book Older Can Be Bolder (Palmore, 2011).

I hope my positive experiences of aging will help encourage new research and theory about the “longevity dividend,” which is a positive conception of aging. Also, I hope that my experiences in developing the Facts on Aging Quiz and the other measures of ageism will encourage more research on this concept: How to measure it, what causes it, what its effects are, and how to reduce it.

I have been fortunate to enjoy a happy and healthy old age. But I recognize that many older people are not so fortunate. What we need is more research on those interventions that can make it more common for older people to enjoy a happy and healthy old age. I believe that this is the ultimate goal of all gerontology.

Conclusion

My main conclusion is that the leading theories of optimal aging are congruent with the slogan “Use it or lose it,” and I have personally experienced its validity. I hope that this experience may help guide future research and interventions to make optimal aging more common. I also hope that my personal research on ageism will lead to more effective methods of measuring and reducing ageism.