A. Science is showing that’s not true. That curmudgeon probably had a lot of experiences that led to his being mean to kids. As we have new experiences, new neuropathways are created. Connective tissue between neurons develops. Of course, as we get older, we’re going to see a natural cognitive decline, some degeneration in brain cells. And as we get older, we tend to cling even more to what we know. We create a very small but cohesive world for ourselves based on comfortable habits and routines.
Q. But a curmudgeon is also still changing, even if he or she doesn’t think so.
A. Exactly. It’s easy to overlook that you’re also still growing, reading new books, forming new opinions, along with the people around you. This slight shift in thinking—toward seeking out what you don’t know, purposefully looking for novelty—will actually increase your neural connections and can reduce the speed of cognitive decline. Research is showing it’s vital to be exposed to novelty—it’s not enough just to be active and spend time with people; there has to be some element of newness and uncertainty.
Q. Give an example how to shift your mindset.
A. Look for people who aren’t like you, who have values and ideas that aren’t like yours. In one of my classes I had students write down their political values, then purposefully watch a TV station they’d never go to because it doesn’t reflect those values. I told them to watch it with the attitude not that you have to accept and agree but to see what you can learn from the other side. What’s valuable about a different perspective? It’s annoying, anxiety-provoking, hard to do and, in the moment, not pleasurable. But when you reflect on it later, you might think there were some nuggets of information there that added to your understanding. That complexity is a beautiful thing.
Q. Are there ways to enhance curiosity in people who have dementia?
A. There’s promising research showing it can have some level of stabilizing function even in a diseased brain. An early marker of Alzheimer’s is the inability to attend to novelty and to manage novelty; with any change in their routine, people get distressed. Slight exposure to little tiny changes can help preserve some of that brain function. As a caregiver, it’s important not to try to inoculate someone from negative emotions, because the process of learning, of figuring something out, is what’s important.
Q. But wouldn’t you want to make everything easier for someone who is struggling?
A. It’s hard to step back, no doubt. You want to protect, to soothe; you don’t want them to experience any pain. But sometimes these little moments of pain, whether psychological or physical, help us grow and handle challenges.
Q. Where would we be today if our ancestors hadn’t been curious?
A. Biological evolution is slow and arduous, but cultural evolution—there’s no debate about how fast that works. Look at how quickly cellphones and other gadgets have infiltrated our world. When we’re curious, we explore new things, whether an idea, a value, a plan. We wonder, are my goals aligned with what I care about most? If we could figure this out, we could have a more stable platform for having pleasure and meaning in our daily lives. Realize that you can actually intentionally pursue ways to grow, opportunities to feed your relationships so they grow and thrive.