The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain is a book by Gene D. Cohen that literally causes one to questions traditionally held beliefs about aging, retirement and working. Cohen makes the case for the value of seasoned workers: “Healthy older brains are often as good as or better than younger brains in a wide variety of tasks.” In his book, Cohen asserts:

• “The most important difference between older brains and younger brains is also the easiest to overlook: Older brains have learned more than younger brains. Many aspects of life are simply too complicated and subtle to learn quickly, which is why experience counts in so many spheres of life.”

• “The United States has one of the highest labor force participation rates for persons aged 65 or older in the developed world, surpassed in 1999-2000 only by Japan, Iceland, and Portugal. In other words, the dividing line between ‘career’ and ‘retirement’ is not only moving into higher ages, it is also becoming more blurry, with more people opting for phased retirement options that allow them to work part-time …”

• “Strikingly, more than half of those I interviewed – women and men alike, up to age 75 – said they would like to work at least part-time if the right job were available.”