Science finds wisdom grows with age as brain slows down

Elderly brains are less ruled by emotions and impulse. As a result, thoughtfulness and wise thinking is allowed to flourish, research suggests.

The conclusion is based on a series of studies on 3,000 Californians aged between 60 and 100.

Reporting on the findings, Professor Dilip Jeste, from the University of California at San Diego, said wisdom was a unique human mix of intelligence and spirituality.

He believes it may be hard-wired into the human brain as an evolutionary tool to extend lifespan.

Prof Jeste said older people were less affected by the brain chemical dopamine, which helps signals pass between neurons.

Speaking at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' International Congress in Edinburgh, he said : "The fact that older people are slower to respond than younger people is widely seen as a disadvantage. But that's not always the case.

"The elderly brain is less dopamine-dependent, making people less impulsive and controlled by emotion. Older people are also less likely to respond thoughtlessly to negative emotional stimuli because their brains have slowed down...This, in fact is what we call wisdom."