PDF Summary:Breaking the Age Code, by Becca Levy

Our beliefs about aging have a profound impact on our cognitive abilities, physical health, and overall well-being as we grow older. In Breaking the Age Code, Becca Levy challenges the assumption that decline is inevitable with age. She draws on extensive research to demonstrate that positive perceptions can improve memory, mobility, stress resilience, and even longevity. The book explores practical strategies for identifying and dismantling harmful age stereotypes at both individual and societal levels.

Levy also highlights ways that aging can foster creativity, emotional intelligence, and heightened sensory awareness. From psychology to neuroscience, the author makes a compelling case for embracing positive views on aging—not just to thrive in our later years, but to unlock our full human potential at every stage of life.

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• Chronic inflammation is linked to many age-related diseases, such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's. Reducing inflammation can therefore contribute to healthier aging.
• Cardiovascular health refers to the proper functioning of the heart and blood vessels, which is crucial for maintaining overall health. A healthy cardiovascular system ensures efficient circulation of blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs.
• A heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can support cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of age-related diseases.

Challenging and removing age-related stereotypes on a personal and community level.

Levy provides strategies to lessen negative impacts, showing that holding prejudiced views and negative perspectives about aging can be harmful. She emphasizes the need for a two-pronged approach that concentrates on changing individual beliefs and challenging the societal frameworks that perpetuate discrimination based on age.

Raising awareness of the prevalent yet frequently overlooked issue of bias due to one's age in our everyday exchanges, societal frameworks, and media representations.

Levy underscores the necessity of acknowledging and actively challenging the frequently ignored impact of ageism in our everyday lives. By recognizing how stereotypes related to aging permeate our everyday discussions, the portrayal in media, healthcare settings, and workplaces, we can begin to challenge these biases and foster a setting that guarantees the equitable treatment and complete inclusion of the elderly.

The exercises aim to alter deep-seated perceptions about aging that are unfavorable.

Levy offers a set of exercises aimed at helping people identify and challenge their deep-seated biases regarding the aging process. The book encourages individuals to be mindful of their speech and perceptions about older people, to identify aspects of their lives lacking in age variety, and to carefully evaluate the age-related messages they encounter in everyday conversations and through various media channels.

The author underscores the significance of cultivating a supportive circle that showcases the advantages and possibilities that come with growing older. Exposure to positive role models can begin to diminish the entrenched negative perceptions that shape our attitudes towards aging.

It is essential to recognize that the onus must shift from individuals to the systemic elements that persist in perpetuating ageist attitudes.

Levy argues that rather than placing the entire responsibility on individuals, it's important to recognize the broader social forces that benefit from devaluing older people, often resulting in ageist perspectives. She encourages individuals to carefully consider who profits from upholding the status quo when confronting discrimination based on age, identifying the organizations and industries that strengthen their power and economic gain by persistently endorsing negative stereotypes associated with aging.

Levy points out a common cognitive bias where we blame people for their circumstances without considering the external factors that may have shaped those situations. She argues that the challenges in health and the increased likelihood of solitude among the elderly are frequently and inaccurately attributed to their age, instead of acknowledging the fundamental issues such as the inaccessibility of affordable healthcare or discrimination based on age in the employment sector.

Practical Tips

• Create a personal policy to diversify the age range of the authors, podcasters, and content creators you follow. Actively seek out and engage with content made by individuals across different age groups, especially those who are older. This can help break down ageist preconceptions and provide a more balanced view of the capabilities and contributions of people at different life stages.
• Create a "bias bingo" game for yourself where you list common cognitive biases, including the one that involves blaming individuals without considering external factors. Whenever you catch yourself or others falling into one of these biases, mark it off. This can be a playful way to become more aware of how often these biases occur in daily life and work towards reducing them.
• Volunteer for a program that teaches digital skills to the elderly, facilitating their connection with others and reducing isolation. By helping seniors become more tech-savvy, you enable them to use social media, video calls, and other online tools to stay in touch with family and friends, thus combating loneliness without focusing on their age.
• You can volunteer with organizations that advocate for healthcare and employment rights to gain firsthand experience with the issues. By doing so, you'll understand the complexities of these problems and can share personal stories and insights with your network to raise awareness. For example, if you volunteer at a free clinic, you might learn about the challenges patients face and then use social media to spread the word about the need for affordable healthcare.

Advocating for the liberation of society from constraints associated with aging.

Levy outlines a strategy to challenge discrimination based on age, drawing inspiration from the effective movements for civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ rights. She outlines a three-phase approach to effect enduring societal transformation.

Promoting a collective understanding that ageism is a widespread type of bias.

Levy emphasizes the need for collective identification, where older individuals recognize themselves as belonging to a group that is systematically targeted by prejudice and discrimination. This involves opening a dialogue about personal encounters with bias based on age, underscoring its prevalence, and recognizing its deep-rooted existence in areas like the market for anti-aging products, different types of media, and the provision of healthcare services.

The writer emphasizes the work of activist groups that span multiple generations, including the Gray Panthers and the global advocacy organization HelpAge International, in their dedication to raising awareness of discrimination based on age.

Practical Tips

• Create a habit of challenging age-based assumptions by asking questions whenever you encounter them. If someone makes a generalization about a certain age group, politely ask for the reasoning behind their statement or provide counterexamples. This could be as simple as questioning a friend's joke about getting older or asking for clarification when a colleague implies a younger employee lacks experience.
• Create a personal policy to evaluate products based on their benefits rather than their anti-aging claims. When shopping for skincare or health products, focus on what they provide, such as hydration or nutrition, rather than how they might make you look younger. This approach promotes a healthier relationship with aging and reduces the influence of ageism in your purchasing decisions.

Bringing together people across different generations to advocate for transformation through demonstrations, economic impact, and legislative reform.

Individuals from the marginalized community come together to launch a transformative campaign. Levy examines a range of tactics to challenge ageism, including engaging in public protests, endorsing boycotts of companies that perpetuate ageist clichés through their advertising, advocating for legislation that safeguards older individuals' rights, and promoting unity among various generations.

She underscores the importance of fostering connections between generations and highlights how harmful discrimination based on age can be to everyone, including younger people who will eventually grow older. Levy argues that a powerful force for lasting change in society can be created when diverse groups unite in the pursuit of age-related equity.

Practical Tips

• Start a micro-grant program with friends or community members to fund small projects by individuals from marginalized communities. Even pooling a small amount of money each month can help someone print flyers, host a website, or cover transportation costs for their campaign. This grassroots funding approach can directly empower individuals who might not have access to traditional funding sources.
• Develop a habit of providing direct feedback to companies that use ageist clichés by writing emails or using social media. When you encounter an ad that you feel is ageist, craft a constructive message to the company explaining why the portrayal is harmful and suggest how they could improve. This personal engagement can influence companies to reconsider their marketing strategies.
• You can start a conversation with an older family member or neighbor about their experiences and concerns regarding their rights. By actively listening, you can gain insights into the specific challenges they face, which can inform your perspective on what legislative changes might be necessary. For example, if an elderly neighbor expresses worry about healthcare access, you could research related policies and consider how they could be improved.
• You can start a cross-generational conversation thread online using a platform like Reddit or Facebook, where each week a different age group shares their life experiences and current challenges. This encourages empathy and understanding across generations by providing a space for sharing and learning about the unique perspectives and life stages of others.
• Create a digital family tree that includes not just names and dates but also personal anecdotes and life lessons. Use a free website builder to create a simple site where family members of all ages can contribute stories, photos, and insights. This becomes a living document that strengthens family bonds and ensures that the legacies of older generations are preserved and appreciated.
• Create a "Common Ground" conversation series in your local community center or library. Invite people from different backgrounds to share their stories and perspectives on a chosen topic. This initiative can help build bridges between diverse groups and highlight shared values and goals, promoting unity and collective action.

Altering the viewpoint on aging to emphasize the considerable contributions and positive impacts made by the elderly demographic.

Levy emphasizes the importance of transforming how society perceives the aging process, promoting a positive acknowledgment of traits associated with growing older that were once considered undesirable. She cites a compelling declaration that reshaped the ideals of beauty and reinforced Black pride in a crucial period dedicated to advocating for social justice. Levy argues that the prevailing perception of aging as a decline should be challenged, highlighting the ample prospects for growth, creativity, the capacity to recover and adapt, as well as the potential for engaging with the community that can come with advanced years.

Levy showcases the efforts of advocates and creatives dedicated to challenging stereotypes associated with aging and to creating inspiring narratives about the aging experience. This includes programs such as Circus Smirkus, a youth circus that encourages people of all ages to join and learn from a diverse ensemble of performers and instructors, as well as a movement that motivates women to embrace their aging bodies and the lines that serve as emblems of their life experiences and beauty.

Practical Tips

• Start a positivity journal focused on aging where you write down one positive aspect of growing older each day. This could be a personal reflection, a story about an older individual you admire, or a positive statistic about aging. The act of writing reinforces positive associations and can gradually shift your mindset.
• Create a "growth through the ages" photo album, capturing moments of creativity, learning, and community involvement. This visual representation can serve as a powerful reminder of your ongoing development. You might include photos of a new dish you cooked, a project you completed, or a group you joined, alongside captions that describe the growth experienced in that moment.
• Create a mini 'circus' at home using common household items to mimic the acts you see in professional circuses. This can be a fun way to appreciate the skills and creativity involved in circus performances. For instance, you might use broomsticks as makeshift tightropes or juggle with oranges, allowing you to physically engage with the art form without needing specialized equipment or training.
• Swap out mainstream beauty magazines for independent or niche publications that focus on real-life stories and diverse representations of beauty. By surrounding yourself with more inclusive and realistic images of aging, you can reshape your perception of beauty to be more aligned with the celebration of life experiences and natural aging.

Older adults' creativity, mental health, and sensory sharpness can be significantly enhanced by holding positive views about aging.

Levy suggests that viewing aging favorably can protect people from the typical deterioration linked to aging and can also foster positive growth, including increased creativity, enhanced emotional understanding, and sharper sensory awareness, with the progression of age.

Intellectuals and artists employ distinctive techniques and creative terminology related to the process of aging.

Levy explores the concept that opportunities for creative expression can flourish in one's later years. She challenges the idea that older people are resistant to change and new experiences, pointing to examples of artists who have experienced a resurgence in their creativity later in life, producing works that are remarkably original and inventive.

As individuals age, their grasp of knowledge, emotional intelligence, and capacity for innovative thought generally increase.

Levy's research into aging and creativity indicates that as individuals age, they may develop distinctive abilities and perspectives that fuel creative breakthroughs. These advantages include a broad perspective that utilizes wisdom accumulated through extensive life experience; improved emotional intelligence that deepens understanding of human emotions and relationships; and an increased awareness of the subtle factors that shape our thoughts and behavior.

Many renowned creators experienced a renewed burst of inventiveness in their later years.

The author illustrates numerous examples in which artists, writers, musicians, and intellectuals have produced their most notable works in the later stages of their professional lives. This encompasses notable figures such as the artist who transformed his approach to pioneer the art of paper cutouts in his eighties, Grandma Moses, who embarked on her painting career at 78, and the concert pianist who adjusted to his changing physical abilities by developing a distinctive style of musical performance.

Levy argues that these events are not isolated; rather, they represent the unique chances for creativity that come with progressing into later stages of life.

Context

• Older individuals often engage in mentorship roles, which can stimulate their own creativity as they exchange ideas and perspectives with younger generations.
• Emotional intelligence tends to improve with age as individuals become more adept at recognizing and managing their own emotions and those of others. This can lead to better interpersonal relationships and communication skills, as well as a greater ability to empathize and connect with others on a deeper level.
• Many historical figures, such as Michelangelo and Beethoven, produced significant works later in life, demonstrating that creativity can flourish with age.
• Accumulated life experiences can provide a rich source of inspiration and material for creative work, offering deeper insights and more nuanced perspectives.
• Henri Matisse, a renowned French artist, developed the technique of "cut-outs" or "gouaches découpées" in his later years. This method involved cutting painted paper into shapes and arranging them into vibrant compositions. Matisse turned to this technique after surgery left him unable to paint comfortably, demonstrating adaptability and innovation in response to physical limitations.
• Having faced and overcome various life challenges, older individuals often develop resilience and adaptability, which can enhance their ability to experiment and take creative risks.

Benefits for mental well-being and overcoming age-related biases are evident in therapeutic settings.

Levy challenges the idea that inflexibility is a trait associated with older individuals, suggesting instead that their extensive life experiences and profound emotional insight frequently make them particularly open to psychological therapy. She advocates for the broadening of mental health services for older adults, tackling the biased perspectives that often hinder their access to proper care.

Older individuals have a distinct advantage due to their ability for deep reflection on life's occurrences and their heightened emotional acumen, which bolsters their receptiveness to psychotherapeutic methods.

Levy posits that the inherent wisdom and distinct abilities found within the elderly population may render them particularly apt for psychotherapeutic interventions. They possess an enhanced ability to reflect on past experiences, enabling them to construct a meaningful narrative from their life's journey; their advanced emotional intelligence fosters deeper empathy and a stronger sense of self; and they stand ready to tackle difficult matters and settle past conflicts.

Practical Tips

• Develop a timeline of life events using a digital storytelling tool. Choose an online platform that allows you to add photos, text, and audio to document key moments in your life. This can help you visualize the progression of your experiences and how they interlink to form a coherent life story. You could start with your earliest memory, add milestones like graduations and family events, and include recent achievements or challenges, each with a brief narrative on their significance.
• Start a personal 'empathy journal' where you document and analyze your interactions with others. Note how you felt, what you perceived about the other person's emotions, and how you responded. Reviewing this regularly can help you recognize patterns in your empathy and self-perception.
• Create a 'Conflict Resolution Plan' for yourself, outlining steps to approach individuals with whom you have unresolved issues. This plan should include identifying the right time and place for such conversations, practicing empathy and active listening, and preparing for possible outcomes. Begin with less challenging conflicts to build your confidence and work your way up to more difficult matters.

We need to develop strategies that oppose the prevalent ageist views in the field of mental health, thus broadening the range of treatments available to older adults.

This section challenges the erroneous notion in mental health that older adults have a reduced capacity for therapeutic improvement, a misconception rooted in the unfounded idea of decreased cognitive adaptability and the incorrect assumption that psychological problems are an inevitable part of aging. Levy calls for increased geriatric training for mental health professionals, challenging these ageist assumptions and highlighting the specific needs and strengths of older patients.

The book showcases the Zimbabwean initiative called the Friendship Bench, which serves as an exemplary model of holistic mental health care, involving senior women in therapeutic dialogues with their counterparts, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing the global mental health challenge.

Practical Tips

• Partner with local healthcare providers to develop a mentorship program where older adults who have successfully navigated therapeutic improvements mentor those just starting their journey. This peer-to-peer support system not only empowers the mentors but also provides tangible evidence to the mentees and the wider community of the potential for therapeutic progress, regardless of age.
• Challenge your brain with new hobbies that differ from your usual interests to foster cognitive adaptability. For instance, if you typically enjoy physical activities, try learning a new language or instrument, which requires different cognitive skills and can stimulate new areas of your brain.
• Start a book club focused on mental health topics, including geriatric mental health, to foster a community of informed advocates. This can lead to a grassroots push for improved training programs as more people become aware of the specific needs of the elderly population.
• You can create a personalized health journal to track the unique health journey of an older family member. Start by noting down their daily routines, medication schedules, dietary habits, and any changes in their physical or mental health. This journal can help you identify patterns and areas where they might need more support or adjustments in their care.
• Create a digital storytelling platform where people can anonymously share their mental health journeys. Use a simple blog or social media page to facilitate these stories, which can help normalize mental health discussions and provide comfort to those who may feel isolated in their struggles. This strategy leverages the power of shared experiences to create a virtual bench of companionship and understanding.
• Create a peer support buddy system with a senior woman in your circle. Pair up to check in on each other's mental well-being regularly, either through phone calls, text messages, or in-person meetings. This can help both of you feel connected and supported. For instance, you could agree to call each other once a week to talk about how you're feeling and what's been happening in your lives, providing emotional support and companionship.

Older adults who have successfully preserved and enhanced their sensory capabilities

Levy challenges the idea that sensory abilities inevitably decline as one gets older, emphasizing studies indicating that these abilities can be preserved and even enhanced over time.

The influence of beliefs regarding aging on auditory acuity has been shown in research conducted among various cultures.

Levy's research investigates how views on aging correlate with the occurrence of hearing loss. In the research conducted by Becca Levy, elderly individuals from New Haven who initially viewed aging in a favorable light demonstrated a significantly less decline in their auditory capacities over the following three years compared to those who had pessimistic attitudes towards aging. The study suggested that, even when considering factors like tobacco use and cardiovascular condition, people's perspectives on aging had a direct impact on their hearing capabilities.

Practical Tips

• Create a visual reminder in your living space that celebrates aging, such as a photo collage of individuals thriving at various ages, to reinforce positive views on aging daily. Seeing these images regularly can subconsciously influence your perception of aging, potentially impacting your auditory health.
• Engage in active listening exercises with friends or family to challenge and potentially improve your hearing capabilities. For example, during conversations, practice focusing intently on the speaker, noting the pitch, tone, and volume of their voice, and provide feedback to ensure you've heard and understood correctly. This can help you become more attuned to auditory cues and may strengthen your hearing over time.

Engaging in musical activities offers cognitive and social benefits that can help offset the decline in hearing associated with aging.

Levy examines ways in which senior individuals can preserve and enhance their auditory processing skills by actively participating in musical activities. Research has shown that older musicians tend to preserve their hearing abilities better than non-musicians, and engaging in musical activities activates brain regions involved in hearing, which assists in mitigating the usual decline in hearing associated with getting older.

The enduring engagement of Mavis Staples in the music industry serves as a testament to how continuous musical activity can preserve hearing abilities and enhance mental sharpness and inventiveness, particularly as one ages.

Other Perspectives

• Some research suggests that professional musicians might actually be at a higher risk of developing hearing loss or tinnitus due to repeated exposure to loud music, which contradicts the idea that musical activity inherently preserves hearing.
• The statement doesn't address the accessibility of musical activities for all seniors, as some may have barriers to participation, such as economic constraints, lack of previous musical training, or other health issues that limit their ability to engage in such activities.
• The enhancement of mental sharpness and inventiveness through musical activity may not be as significant or noticeable in some individuals, suggesting that the benefits might vary widely from person to person.