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Aging might seem scary, but you probably don't have all of the facts. Like, how much sleep do older people really need? And, is it dangerous for them to partake in hanky panky? Join host Justin Dodd as he debunks some common myths and misconceptions about aging.
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Misconceptions About Aging | Mental Floss
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0:00
In the 1993 movie Grumpy Old Men, Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon trade barbs as two senior
0:06
frenemies who seem to have some anger management issues. The film plays into the popular trope
0:11
that older people, particularly men, tend to get more irritable as they age. After all
0:16
you've probably encountered a senior with minimal patience for a grocery store cashier
0:20
or a grandfather scowling at a kid's birthday party. But it turns out that being short-tempered
0:25
or mean isn't a result of getting older, just because you might be kind of a jerk at any age
0:31
Hi, I'm Justin Dodd, and in this episode of Misconceptions, we're going to take a close
0:35
look at the myths and misunderstandings behind getting old. Let's get started
0:48
Contrary to popular belief, older people might be more likely to be happier, not grumpier
0:53
than younger people. That's according to Heidi K. White, MD, professor of medicine in the geriatrics
0:58
division at Duke University. Speaking with AARP in 2018, Dr. White explained that most research
1:04
demonstrates aging is associated with patience and acceptance, not public freakouts. Think about it
1:10
For most of our lives, we tend to assume older people have wisdom, tolerance, and knowledge
1:16
all traits that can help maintain a sense of calm. Older people may also have fewer stressors
1:21
in their lives leading to irritability. Someone retired and traveling, for example
1:26
probably isn't likely to be cursing someone out at a CVS. White went on to say that when an
1:30
elderly person does exhibit some impatience, it's not because of some hardwired neurological change
1:37
It might be because they're experiencing age-related impairment of some kind, like
1:42
hearing or vision loss. So we're not saying older people are never cranky, just that the stereotype
1:47
of evolving into Grandpa Abe Simpson is inaccurate or particularly sensitive to their needs
1:52
And speaking of cranky… Older People Need Less Sleep You might sometimes hear seniors need less sleep as they get older. Someone who could crash for
2:02
10 hours on a weekend, for example, might be waking up after just 5 hours in their 60s. And
2:07
people might say, well, guess older people just need less sleep. But there's an important
2:12
distinction here. Getting less sleep and needing less sleep. Seniors usually need just as much
2:17
sleep as younger people do—roughly seven to nine hours per night. Less sleep—less than five hours
2:23
per night—has been linked to health issues, including chronic disease and earlier death
2:27
in people over 50. One 2022 study found that those 60 and over had a 32 percent greater risk
2:34
for having at least two chronic ailments when sleeping less than those getting seven or more
2:38
hours. But they just don't always get it. There are a variety of factors that can prompt
2:43
sleep disruption, from chronic pain to medication to having a lower tolerance for sleep-disrupting
2:49
substances A person who can fall and stay asleep after drinking in their 20s might find that alcohol is far more disruptive to their sleep cycle in their 70s So if a senior is having trouble sleeping it shouldn be dismissed as a consequence of aging or that their body just simply doesn need it anymore
3:06
They might have a problem that can be solved with the help of a physician. Lack of sleep may also be contributing to another misconception
3:14
Older people can't build muscle. Sometimes we have an image of seniors as frail and brittle
3:20
prone to breaking like saltine crackers if exposed to any physical stress
3:25
Even some elderly people avoid exercise based on the belief their body simply can't handle it
3:30
But it's totally inaccurate to think that you can't get in shape or even build muscle at an advanced age
3:35
You can get jacked well into your golden years. A 2023 study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
3:43
found that subjects in their 70s and even 80s who had never lifted weights before
3:48
had measurable gains in strength and muscle mass after engaging in a program three times a week
3:54
for 12 weeks. According to the National Institute on Aging, resistance training is incredibly
3:59
important when it comes to maintaining physical independence as we get older. Strength training
4:04
builds and maintains muscle mass, which can help prevent falls and assist in everything from
4:09
simple walking to getting out of a car or up from a chair. Now, it is true older people can't pack
4:15
on masks like Prime Arnold, but less muscle doesn't mean no muscle at all. Providing they
4:20
get clearance from a doctor to begin a weight program, seniors can get their pump on. In 2023
4:26
Guinness recognized Jim Arrington as the world's oldest bodybuilder at the age of 90. One side
4:32
misconception belonging in the never-too-late category, smoking. While some seniors may think
4:37
they're beyond the point where quitting makes sense, that's not true. Research has shown that
4:42
smokers in their 70s still have a statistically better chance of gaining at least one year of life
4:47
when they stop puffing. Quitting at 65 could in theory add almost two extra years to your lifespan
4:54
Being in better cardiovascular shape brings us to our next misconception. Older people don't have sex. The same Hollywood that tells us older people are grumpy also tells
5:05
us senior sex is supposed to be funny because it shouldn't be happening at all. Older people don't
5:10
have any interest in sex or that they might be too frail to survive it. One study surveying 270
5:15
young adults found that 25% believed sex in seniors could be dangerous and lead to a heart attack
5:22
But first, let's talk desire. One AARP survey found that two-thirds of respondents 65 and over
5:27
were still interested in sex. A separate study found that of people 75 to 85 who were sexually
5:33
active, they were engaging in intercourse two or three times per month. Not only does sexual desire
5:38
remain an old age, but it can have plenty of health benefits. Like any physical activity
5:44
sex promotes cardiovascular health It can also improve mood due to promoting positive emotional relationships It also a myth that older people can have sex AARP surveyed readers and found that 75 of men asserted they were let say functional
6:00
Arthritis only affects older people. Joint inflammation, which is more commonly known
6:05
as arthritis, can have debilitating effects on people. Everything from exercise to daily
6:10
activities can be impacted. But hey, if you're young, you won't have to worry about it, right
6:15
Sorry, but the idea that arthritis is only a cause for concern at an advanced age is
6:20
flat-out wrong. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than half of arthritis sufferers
6:25
that have been formally diagnosed are under the age of 65. Many people afflicted are in
6:30
their 40s, 30s, or even their 20s. Each year, more than 300,000 children are diagnosed with
6:36
a juvenile form of the condition. That's because arthritis isn't due to wear and tear
6:41
factors like genetic dispositions, injury, body mass, and lack of physical activity
6:46
It is true your risk of arthritis can increase as you get older, particularly if it's osteoarthritis
6:52
but remember that arthritis isn't always going to affect quality of life. Some older people can
6:57
have physiological signs of arthritis like knee inflammation on an x-ray but may not be symptomatic
7:03
Another myth about arthritis, you can't exercise. Actually, exercise can improve symptoms, provided it's cleared by your doctor. Older people don't make good employees
7:14
A lot of older people report feeling marginalized at work due to a perception they might be less
7:19
capable. Others have said getting a job past a certain age can be more challenging. While this
7:24
could be true in cases, data trends are pointing to the opposite. Job opportunities for seniors
7:29
are growing. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, only one in seven workers was
7:35
over age 55 in 2001. In 2021, the number was up to one in four, or a two-fold increase
7:41
Being an employed senior is probably easier than it's ever been, though admittedly the reasons may
7:47
not be heartwarming. It's possible financial insecurity keeps older people on the job
7:52
while companies experiencing retention issues may be looking to keep older workers on the payroll
7:57
But a lack of job opportunities is just one myth. What about the idea that seniors are less
8:02
productive. The CDC points out that one theory about older workers, that they're often out sick
8:08
doesn't really hold up to scrutiny. Ailments like high blood pressure or, yes, arthritis
8:12
don't usually result in acute problems leading to absences. In cognitive functioning
8:17
workers with experience tend to be more informed and more capable than people with less experience
8:22
Their knowledge can also be passed on to younger employees, leading to greater overall productivity
8:28
With age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes retaining a lot of useful skills in the office
8:33
Older people can't donate organs. As we age, our skin, joints, eyes, and ears can all experience some form of decline
8:43
But is it true of organs Not quite Despite what some believe older people can be viable organ donors According to the U Health Resources and Services Administration there is no age limit to give or receive organs The agency reports that roughly 50 of donors are over the age of 50
9:01
One donor was 92 when he passed. His donated liver saved the life of a 69-year-old patient
9:07
Another donor known as Cecil was 95 when he passed, leaving his liver, tissue, and skin
9:13
donations that benefited 20 other people. It's true that some organ procurement services do have
9:19
age cutoffs because they're apprehensive about outcome guidelines, but studies have shown older
9:24
organs can be just as viable. One demonstrated that the survival rate of kidney transplantation
9:30
was 88% from kidneys donated by people over 70. What's important is matching the age of the organ
9:36
to the age of the recipient. A 20-year-old might not be the best candidate for an 80-year-old's
9:41
liver, but it might be perfectly suited for someone closer in age. And remember, that organ donation
9:46
doesn't necessarily mean transplanting into a living recipient. Many organs are routed toward
9:52
scientific research. Those advancements could mean life-saving treatments down the road. We're all headed for the nursing home. One of the most unnerving thoughts we can have about getting
10:04
older is giving up our independence and moving into an assisted living facility. It doesn't help
10:09
when we hear of such care being prohibitively expensive as well as isolating
10:14
Fortunately, aging doesn't have to mean turning in the keys to your house
10:18
According to the Population Reference Bureau, in 2020, about 7% of seniors 70 and older were in assisted living or nursing facilities
10:27
It's actually 4% fewer people than in 2011. Census data yzed by the Washington Post in 2023
10:33
found that less than 10% of 85-year-olds were in a care facility
10:37
That means the vast majority of seniors are living outside of those programs
10:41
So if not there, then where? The rest either lived alone or with family members
10:46
One reason for their independence might be greater access to home improvements
10:50
like grab bars for balance in the bathroom. For others, it might be a choice related to heritage or culture
10:57
Multigenerational households are better equipped to care for older family members. Others might have family living nearby or a neighborhood community
11:04
that makes occupying a residence by themselves much easier. Why debunk these myths and stereotypes
11:11
Ideally, we're all going to get older, and we're also on a trajectory to living longer. According
11:16
to the American Psychological Association Office on Aging, one in four people aged 65 today will
11:22
live to be 90. By 2060, the number of older Americans will reach 98 million, outnumbering
11:29
children under the age of five. It's important that as our population ages, we don't rely on
11:34
outdated beliefs. Anyone can be productive, happy, and healthy at any age
11:39
That's all for this episode of Misconceptions. Getting older, maybe not as scary as we once thought. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time
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