你有没有觉得我们的爸爸妈妈上了年纪后脾气比以前好多了？有没有注意到和年轻人比起来，周围的老人更开心、更快乐？人上了年纪确实积累了一定的生活智慧。但是人老了、脾气变好了还有生理上的原因。

Studies by psychiatry professor show that our psychological defense mechanisms, ways of coping with difficult feelings, become stronger as we grow older. With age we really do cope better with life’s upsets. Actually a physical change in the brain may contribute to this mellowing process. Scientists have been studying a cluster of cells that could be called the brain’s “alarm system”, a center that is involved in arousing anxiety and fear. Around age 40, this system starts to shrink and lose function just as many of us are experiencing a reduction in anger, anxiety and impulsiveness. So here we can see that being old is also a good thing .Do not be afraid or complain about it any more!

（北京语言大学通讯员柴宇迪供稿 英语点津 Annabel 编辑）