Whether we want to or not, we all age. So it is no surprise that a vast consumer industry exists for all things antiag-
ing—creams, diets, mantras, contraptions, pills, surgeries and legitimate prescription drugs. To be sure, a robust area
of scientific research is devoted to the topic. One of the most interesting findings to emerge is that longevity is
closely correlated with intelligence. This may be discouraging for those who never graduated from Oxford, consider-
ing raw intelligence is a relatively stable psychological trait and not easily amplified by any intervention. But as David
Z. Hambrick writes in this issue, your attitude in life may count more than your smarts. A so-called openness to
experience brings with it positive behaviors that improve your health and could extend your life (see “In Search of a
(Subjective) Fountain of Youth”).
Elsewhere in this issue, Simon Makin explores the ways that ketamine acts in the brain—first by changing brain
circuit function and later by triggering the regrowth of brain synapses (see “Behind the Buzz: How Ketamine Chang-
es the Depressed Patient’s Brain”). And Jonathan Pevsner reflects on the genius—and limitations—of Leonardo da
Vinci and wonders whether the Renaissance man would thrive in today’s society (see “The Mind of Leonardo da
Vinci”). As always, enjoy!
Andrea Gawrylewski
Senior Editor, Collections
[email protected]On the Cover
An openness to new
experiences can make
you feel younger than
your yearsYour Opinion Matters!
Help shape the future
of this digital magazine.
Let us know what you
think of the stories within
these pages by emailing us:
[email protected].A Fountain of Youth for Your Mind
FROM
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