Page 32 - August 2016 Life In Naples Magazine

Artfully

WITH THE NAPLES

by Laurel Meny

I n the past 100 years, the number of
Americans age 65 years and older has
grown tenfold and accounts for 13
percent of the population. By 2030,
this age group is expected to reach 70
million. Not only are we living longer, but
we are searching for meaningful ways to
stay engaged. At the Naples Art Association
(NAA), we have found that those that
participate in arts programming – including
workshops, exhibits, volunteering, and more –
not only feel a sense of community, they end
up feeling better overall as well.

But, don’t just take our word for it.
According to a three-year controlled study
conducted by prominent senior psychiatrist
Gene Cohen, George Washington University
and the National Endowment for the Arts
—Creativity and Aging Study —adults ages
65 to 103-years-old who are actively engaged
in the arts required fewer medications and
doctor visits than the control group.
In his book, The Creative Age: Awakening
Human Potential in the Second Half of Life,
Cohen argues that people involved in
creative activities feel better, remain more
independent, and lead more meaningful lives.
In the PBS documentary Arts & the
Mind, neuroscientist Dr. Jay Giedd with the
National Institute of Mental Health cites the
concept of neuroplasticity – meaning that no
matter our age, our brains’ neural-pathways
continually adapt to our experiences,
especially if our activities are mentally and
physically engaging – of which creating and
viewing art rated quite high.

32 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2016