Age doesn’t always bring wisdom. “If you want to be a rigid old coot, you can do it,” says University of Utah psychologist Monisha Pasupathi. But it’s far from inevitable, she adds: “There’s this myth that old people are rigid.” And a growing body of research suggests that creative activity can actually help keep you healthy. For the last three years Cohen has been conducting a study of 300 senior citizens. Half are participating in community-based arts programs while the others serve as a control group. The members of the arts group make fewer visits to the doctor, fall less often, use less medication and are less likely to be depressed than the controls. Why? “You have a personal sense of mastery,” says Cohen. Other studies have shown similar results.

　　Scientists are gradually unlocking the secrets of staying mentally vigorous. Marian Diamond, a 78-year-old professor of integrative biology at UC Berkeley, lists five essentials: diet, exercise, challenge, novelty and love. Nutrition’s importance is obvious. Exercise is likewise vital to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems that keep the brain going. Experiments show that lab rats’ brains grow larger and sharper when they get new mazes to solve and a variety of toys to play with. And they live longer – as long as 900 days instead of 600 days – if the scientist (or a graduate assistant) keeps them stimulated. People ask Diamond why she hasn’t retired. “Why should I?” she answers. This year, 736 students signed up for her general human anatomy class.

　　Chuck Close doesn’t need to be told about challenges. One of the acknowledged masters of contemporary American art at 64, he worries about falling into a rut. “Ease is the greatest enemy of the artist –when you get good at something and just keep cranking it out,” he says. “The hard thing is to keep yourself in a little bit of trouble.” He might seem to have had more trouble than anyone needs without looking for it. At 50 he was hospitalized with a blood clot that initially left him paralyzed from the neck down. In effect he had to learn his craft all over. “I don’t think I’m doing work drastically different than if this hadn’t happened to me,” he says. “I work very slowly. I make three paintings a year.” He admires the way Matisse, Picasso and de Kooning continued to evolve as they grew older. “Otherwise you have to be lucky and die early, like Pollock.” What about his own art? “I hope I’m making some of my best work now, but I’m not done yet,” he says. “Call me back when I’m 89.” It’s a date.