Myths About Aging
Until recently, people believed that all mental and physical functions declined with age. ''Old'' meant forgetful, senile and feeble. But many researchers are now finding that some of the conditions thought characteristic of old age are a result of poor nutrition, lack of exercise or disease, such as Alzheimer's and other neurologically based dementias. According to Dr. T. Franklin Williams, director of the National Institute on Aging, even the heart and kidneys of a person over 65, if free of disease, can function as well as those of a young person.
Carol Tavris, Old Age Is Not What It Used
To Be
NY Times, September 27, 1987
Most older people live in institutions.
Only 5% of people over 65 live in nursing homes.
Retirement is easier for women than for men.
Many men look forward to retirement and getting out of the “rat Race”, whereas women often enjoy the social aspects of work and are not ready to retire. Additionally, financial concerns may be more difficult for women than for men.
Alzheimer's is to be expected as you get older.
About 10% of Americans aged 71 and over (2.4 million people) have Alzheimer's. Another 1 million have some other form of dementia.
Sickness and disability are a part of old age.
Actually, disability is decreasing. In 1984, about 12% of those 65-74, 28% of those 75 to 84, and 63% of those over 85 were disabled. In 1999, 7% of those 65-74, 17% of those 75 to 84 and 50% of those over 85 were disabled. In addition, there are medications available now to help ease the pain of arthritis and other age-related illnesses.
Older people can't learn.
The way we learn changes somewhat as younger people tend to be more impulsive and can learn better by rote memory. But older people have much more experience and can put information into perspective, and appear to be able to learn new information adequately.
Old people have no interest in or capacity for sexual activity.
A recent national survey of more than 3000 people aged 57 to 85 indicated that more than half to three-quarters of those questioned remain sexually active, with a significant proportion engaging in frequent and varied sexual behavior. Interest in sex remains high and frequency remains stable among the physically able lucky enough to still have partners.
Old people are boring and forgetful...
Only those who were boring and forgetful when they were younger.
Old age begins at 60.
Now that we live to be 80 and 90 and many to be 100, old age begins when a person starts feeling like they are old. Many of us know 30 year olds who are “old people”.
Old people don't have feelings.
Older people may not be quite as sensitive as teenagers or young adults (hence the saying: in my teens and twenties I thought everyone was talking about me, in my thirties and forties I didn't care that they were talking about me, and in my fifties and sixties I realized nobody was even paying attention) but of course they still have feelings, and are hurt when they are treated as children or idiots.
Old people shouldn't make important decisions.
Only if they are in that unfortunate group of people who have dementia or similar cognitive problems.
Most old people are set in their ways.
There is some evidence that older people tend to become more stable in their attitudes, but it is clear that most older people do change. To survive, they must adapt to many events of later life such as retirement, children leaving home, widowhood, moving to new homes, and serious illness. Their political and social attitudes also tend to shift with those of the rest of society, although at a somewhat slower rate than for younger people.
Most old people are lonely and isolated from their families.
It is an unfortunate fact that many elderly are lonely as their friends die and their families become busy and self-involved. But the majority of the elderly are busy pursuing their hobbies and learning new things.
You can't change your brain.
Your brain is constantly changing in response to your experiences, and it continues this well into old age. Changing our thinking or changing the way we behave causes corresponding changes in the brain systems involved.
People lose brain cells every day and eventually just run out.
Actually, most regions of the brain do not lose brain cells as you age. And while you may lose some nerve connections, this is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be part of the reshaping of the brain that occurs with experience. It's also possible that you can even grow new brain cells and create new connections, or prevent the ones you have from withering, if you exercise your brain.
The brain doesn't make new brain cells.
This has recently been proven false. We now know that certain areas in the brain—including the hippocampus (where new memories are created) and the olfactory bulb (the scent-processing center)—regularly generate new brain cells. Many of these cells go on to become working parts in brain-cell connections.
Memory decline is inevitable as we age.
Many people reach very old age and are still sharp as ever. Genetics clearly plays a role in "successful aging," but how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis is also critical. To help your brain age well, you can perform mental and physical exercise, eat a healthy diet, maintain social connections, learn effective stress management, develop a positive attitude and focus on enjoying life on a day to day basis.
