Gene D. Cohen
Encyclopedia
Gene D. Cohen was an American psychiatrist
who pioneered research into geriatric mental health. He was the first head of the Center on Aging at the National Institute of Mental Health
, the first government-supported center on mental health and aging in the world, and was later the first director of the Center on Aging, Health, and the Humanities at the George Washington University
.
, where he showed a predilection for science at an early age. He attended Harvard College
as an undergraduate, earning his degree in 1966, and four years later graduated from the Georgetown University School of Medicine
. Cohen worked for a time in the United States Public Health Service
before becoming the founding Director of the Center on Aging at the National Institute of Mental Health
in 1975. In 1981, he earned a Doctorate in Gerontology at the Union Institute and University. He went on to serve as Acting Director of the National Institute on Aging
at the National Institutes of Health
from 1991-1993 and found the Center on Aging, Health, and the Humanities at the George Washington University
in 1994.
Cohen was a dedicated advocate of the idea that the aged are capable of functioning at high levels of creativity and intellectual rigor. When his career began, the medical profession largely treated aging like a disease, but Cohen argued based on his research that the brain would continue creating new cells at any age so long as it was engaged in new and challenging intellectual activities. His work in a number of studies on aging supported this belief, including a 2002 study which suggested that involvement in the arts late in life led to a lower incidence of illness and injury. According to Dr. Walter Reich, a colleague at George Washington University, "Single-handedly he changed the image of aging from one of senescence to a period of creativity."
Cohen was a prolific writer. His theories and research were published in a multitude of books, three which he was the sole author of and more than 150 others which he co-wrote or edited. Among his other contributions to his field, he helped found two journals on geriatric psychiatry, served as President of the Gerontological Society of America, and appeared on television programs as an expert on aging and with George Burns
in Public Service Announcements. He also developed a number of therapeutic activities, including intergenerational games. Two of his creations were patented, a combination of chess and scrabble called World War Three and a variation of cribbage. He is featured in the 2009 documentary film on Alzheimer's and the creative arts I Remember Better When I Paint
.
Cohen died at 65 of prostate cancer on November 7, 2009, in Kensington, Maryland
. He had two children, Alex Cohen and Eliana Miller-Cohen."
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who pioneered research into geriatric mental health. He was the first head of the Center on Aging at the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
, the first government-supported center on mental health and aging in the world, and was later the first director of the Center on Aging, Health, and the Humanities at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.
Biography
Cohen was born on September 18, 1944 in Brockton, MassachusettsBrockton, Massachusetts
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 93,810 in the 2010 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County...
, where he showed a predilection for science at an early age. He attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
as an undergraduate, earning his degree in 1966, and four years later graduated from the Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine, a medical school opened in 1851, is one of Georgetown University's five graduate schools. It is located on Reservoir Road in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, adjacent to the University's main campus...
. Cohen worked for a time in the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
before becoming the founding Director of the Center on Aging at the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
in 1975. In 1981, he earned a Doctorate in Gerontology at the Union Institute and University. He went on to serve as Acting Director of the National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life...
at the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
from 1991-1993 and found the Center on Aging, Health, and the Humanities at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1994.
Cohen was a dedicated advocate of the idea that the aged are capable of functioning at high levels of creativity and intellectual rigor. When his career began, the medical profession largely treated aging like a disease, but Cohen argued based on his research that the brain would continue creating new cells at any age so long as it was engaged in new and challenging intellectual activities. His work in a number of studies on aging supported this belief, including a 2002 study which suggested that involvement in the arts late in life led to a lower incidence of illness and injury. According to Dr. Walter Reich, a colleague at George Washington University, "Single-handedly he changed the image of aging from one of senescence to a period of creativity."
Cohen was a prolific writer. His theories and research were published in a multitude of books, three which he was the sole author of and more than 150 others which he co-wrote or edited. Among his other contributions to his field, he helped found two journals on geriatric psychiatry, served as President of the Gerontological Society of America, and appeared on television programs as an expert on aging and with George Burns
George Burns
George Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
in Public Service Announcements. He also developed a number of therapeutic activities, including intergenerational games. Two of his creations were patented, a combination of chess and scrabble called World War Three and a variation of cribbage. He is featured in the 2009 documentary film on Alzheimer's and the creative arts I Remember Better When I Paint
I Remember Better When I Paint
I Remember Better When I Paint is a 2009 feature length international documentary film about the positive impact of art and other creative therapies in people with Alzheimer's disease and how these approaches can change the way the disease is viewed by society...
.
Cohen died at 65 of prostate cancer on November 7, 2009, in Kensington, Maryland
Kensington, Maryland
Kensington is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,873 at the 2000 census. Greater Kensington encompasses the entire 20895 zip code and its population is an order of magnitude larger than that of the town at its center....
. He had two children, Alex Cohen and Eliana Miller-Cohen."