Aging with Grace by David Snowdon Ph.dAging with Grace is subtitled what the Nun Study Teaches US About Leading Longer, Healthier and More Meaningful Lives. Although this book is a 'good read' I am not sure it lives up to the promise of its subtitle. It does offer the reader a fascinating glimpse into the lives of many of the retired RomanCatholic Sisters who are members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. And those who do not know anything of the dailylives of women religious - especially after they retire from active ministry (work) may find that aspect of the book enlightening. But it is important to remember that each religious order in the Catholic Church has its own spirit and traditions. What is true of the SSND (School Sisters of Notre Dame) is not necessarily true for all Congregations. Readers of Aging with Grace also get a glimpse into some of the pressures and politics of modern research universities and the extraordinary warmth and sensitivity of one researcher, David Snowdon, Ph.d. His personality and style dominate the text. This is not a 'rigorous scientific document' but a warm story of relationshipsamong people who engage in an important epidemiological study. The School Sisters of Notre Dame kept a wealth of information about their members - from the time of theirentrance into the community up to the time of their death. This is what makes it possible for researchers to correlate education, health history and work history with the old age mental status of each sister. In addition the 678 women who volunteered to participate in this study also 'donated their brains' for study after their deaths. It is this that allowed the researchers to learn that the number of tangles etc. did not necessarily correlate with intellectual function. Another helpful source of information were the short biographies written by the sisters in the early days of their membership. Comparing these with the eventual mental status in old age, allowed the researchers to hypothesis that complexity of thought, overall emotional tone of one's writing at a young age seem to indicate some protection from Alzheimers in old age. It is insights like this that may be important to the scientists but have little to import for someone reading thisbook while in their 50's or 60's. No one can go back and acquire complexity of language in their late teens when they are already past 50 years of age. If you are in your middle or older years and are looking for specific things that you can do to protect your brain as you age, I think you would find more help in The Anti-Alzheimers Prescription byVincent Fortanasce M.D. or Brain Longevity by Dharma Singh Khalsa M.D. and Cameron Stauth Still if you want a 'good read' and some real encouragement that old age can be a time of meaningful engagements, then Aging with Grace is more than worth the effort. It offers an upbeat assessment of aging and an inspiring view of warm human relationships between researchers and their subjects. Buy yourself a copy of Aging with Grace
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