January 20, 2025

Ah, aging—the delightful journey where our knees creak louder than our laughter and our memories play an exhilarating game of hide-and-seek. But fear not! The human brain, that squishy marvel, has a secret weapon: neuroplasticity. This incredible ability allows our brains to adapt and change throughout life, making it seem like we might just outsmart old age—or at least outsmart ourselves when we forget where we left our glasses (hint: they’re usually on our heads, right next to the lost remote.

Let’s take a moment to remember Professor Eleanor Maguire, the genius who uncovered the astonishing adaptability of the human brain through her research on London taxi drivers. These brave souls memorized 25,000 streets and landmarks, resulting in their hippocampi growing larger—yes, their brains literally got bigger! Talk about a brain workout! Sadly, we recently lost Professor Maguire, who passed away last weekend, leaving behind a legacy that proves learning can keep our brains as spry as a kangaroo on a trampoline—just without the bouncy enthusiasm.

Speaking of spry, let’s chat about former President Jimmy Carter, who just recently passed away (let’s hope he’s busy playing chess with the squirrels in the afterlife). Carter’s life was a masterclass —building houses, promoting peace, and he is probably having a lively debate with a raccoon about the best peanut butter brand.

And then there’s President Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, navigating politics like a seasoned taxi driver dodging potholes and pedestrians. One can only assume his secret is a daily crossword puzzle. If he can solve “four-letter word for ‘old’” (hint: it starts with ‘a’), he’s well on his way to neuroplastic success! Just don’t ask him for the answer; he might confuse it with his grocery list.

Now, let’s not forget the ever-enthusiastic Donald Trump, who’s being inaugurated today. Amazing, isn’t it? He keeps his neurons firing by tweeting at all hours. Who needs sleep when you can engage your brain with a 280-character limit? He’s like a caffeinated parrot on a sugar rush! If only his tweets could double as brain exercises—“Two plus two equals… whatever I say it is!” Who knew math could be so flexible?

And let’s not forget the evergreen Ronald Reagan, who famously said, “I don’t remember,” a lot. Perhaps he was just practicing neuroplasticity in a unique way: if you can’t remember, you can’t age! It’s like a fountain of youth, but with more confusion and fewer wrinkles.

So, as we celebrate the remarkable capacity of our brains, let’s embrace aging with a hearty laugh. Neuroplasticity reminds us that learning doesn’t stop with age; it continues as we bumble through life, trying to remember our grandchildren's names (or confusing them with our pets—“Fluffy, stop licking your cousin!”). Here’s to keeping our brains forever young, and may we all find joy in the beautiful chaos of growing older!