How to add life to the years

Medical advances during the twentieth century have resulted in an older population. Can this increasingly large section of society find fulfilment in their later years? These and other issues will be explored in a free lecture at the University of Teesside on Wednesday 9 June. Entitled ‘Adding life to the years?’ the lecture will be delivered by Professor Peter Britton at 6.30pm in the University’s Europa Building on Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough. Refreshments are available from 6pm.

Peter Britton is a Visiting Professor at the University. He said: “My lecture will explore the issues that surround making the most of the extra years of life, given to us by medical advances in the last century. Insights and therapies based on a deeper understanding of the psychological processes of ageing can contribute enormously to fulfilment in the later years of life. We need to attack and destroy some of the common myths about ageing, about what is seen as an inevitable decline in intellect and memory. These myths are damaging.”

Professor Britton was born 1940 in Spennymoor, County Durham. He has a long interest in the subject of the ageing process, while a postgraduate student at the University of Newcastle, his PhD examined intellect and personality in older people. From 1971 to 1998 he worked in various posts at the University of Newcastle, where he continued to produce research on older people including studies of intellectual deficits, depression in the older person and aspects of caring. He was Director from 1977-1998 of the Clinical Psychology training course at Newcastle.

Professor Britton added: “I was appointed Visiting Professor at Teesside 2000 as part of an active 'retirement'. This reflects a belief in practising what I preach as 'use it or loose it' as one ages.”

For more details on this lecture please call the University’s Alumni Officer, Sarah Buckley on 01642 384255.

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