From Linda Priestley, Editor-in-Chief
What does it mean to have lived many years? How do people see those with long lifespans? Given that ageism continues to plague us and can rear its head in public spaces—and sometimes in private ones, resulting in our viewing ourselves through an ageist lens—these questions matter. That’s why the case of former US president Joe Biden is so enlightening.
In the weeks leading up to his withdrawing from the 2024 presidential election, the entire world seemed to have an opinion about what the 46th president of the United States should do. All over the media, here and abroad, his age was brought up constantly by both pundits and his political opponents, as if it were important to keep reminding people that the man was 81, after all, and that this explained his memory lapses and moments of confusion. The shadow of cognitive decline hovered, pitting electors against one another and perhaps causing some to worry that such decline awaited them as well.
The issue of someone’s cognitive health shouldn’t be subject to public speculation and rumour, but the subject of cognitive decline should be publicly discussed, explained, and demystified. Otherwise, we forget that cognitive losses can affect anyone, usually later in life but in some cases earlier. Although these losses can be paralyzing, and those affected are convinced that it’s a losing battle, a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean that they stop functioning or stop being creative or energetic.
Cognitive loss takes many forms. Although some brain functions, such as memory, diminish with age, others, such as reasoning, can grow stronger. Sometimes, it’s the other way around. We need to challenge preconceived ideas. Above all, we mustn’t judge people based on their age or cognitive state.
Extraordinary octogenarians and nonagenarians are more common than many might think. Until her death at age 96, Queen Elizabeth II was a true force of nature, and experts detected no decline in her intellectual faculties, apart from occasional lapses in concentration. Neuropsychologist Brenda Milner, now 106, known for her research on memory, worked at the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital at McGill University until she was 98.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that behind every cognitive loss or diagnosis of dementia is a human being with whom we must speak openly and sensitively about their condition, for their protection and for our own. And that’s the essence of who we are—empathetic and supportive—and what we need to focus on: offering every person the chance to go as far as their abilities can take them.
