Aging Myths Debunked: “Old” is a 3 letter word!

Myth: Older people are irritable and unhappy
No way! Research from Heidelberg, Germany with 40 centenarians cited that despite significant physical and mental challenges, 71 percent were happy, nearly 70 percent said they laughed often, and more than 50 percent said they were as happy as when they were younger. People today age better than their parents thanks to many medical breakthroughs.

Myth: You can’t avoid creaky, achy joints
It isn’t exercising that makes creaky joints inevitable. Monash Medical School found women ages 40 to 67 who exercise even once every two weeks for 20 minutes or more had more cartilage in their knees.

Myth: Genes are the game changer in how you age
Not so. Even if you’re born with a keystone set of genes, how you live determines how they behave over your lifetime. Genes can be affected by what you eat, your physical activity level, and even your exposure to chemicals.

Myth: You lose your creativity as you age
That depends! Creativity actually affords enormous benefits to older people. A George Washington University study determined older adults in a choir were healthier, used less medication, and experienced fewer falls during a year when a similar group didn’t join. The singers also said they were less lonely, had a better outlook on life, and participated in more activities overall than the non-singing group, who actually reduced the number of activities they participated in during the year.

Myth: Age causes bones to become fragile and your posture to bend
Death is the only certainty of aging. While osteoporosis is more common in older people, it’s very preventable. A study of females 100 years and older found only 56 percent had osteoporosis with average diagnosis age of 87.

Myth: Old age kills libido
Baloney. Impotence and reduced libido are tied to normally preventable conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and heart disease. The solution is to keep yourself in shape. Sexual desire may decline as you age, but typically not until 75. New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging found 60% of people in independent living facilities had regular experiences of kissing, touching, holding hands, and embracing.

Myth: Your brain stops developing after age 3
Overturned in the 1990s, when researchers stop seeing the older brain as static. Studies now show the brain as our body’s ultimate muscle continues sending out new connections and strengthen existing ones throughout our lifespan - as long as we continue to challenge it.

Myth: Older adults mostly sit around, watch television, and sleep
Nah! Older adults have a vast array of interests and sleep fewer hours per day than most younger adults.

Myth: Your brain shrinks with age
Debunked in the 1990’s by Dr. Lupien.  Contrary to “research” claiming the hippocampus which controls memory, was notably smaller in older than younger people, Lupien found chronic stress rather than age shrinks the hippocampus. Her brain scans of 177 people ages 18 to 85 to show that 25 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds showed hippocampus volumes as small as those of adults ages 60 to 75.

Myth: Older working adults are inefficient and miss many work days due to illness
Give me a break! Research demonstrates older adults who work are extremely productive and are rarely late or absent.

Myth: People over 65 have illnesses and disorders that limits their freedom to do what they want.
As if!  In fact, a lot of older folks are in better shape than their grandchildren.