In our Medical Myths series, we approach medical misinformation head on. Using expert insight and peer reviewed research to wrestle fact from fiction, MNT brings clarity to the myth riddled world of health journalism.
Addressing the ‘inevitabilities’ of ageing: What is fact and what is myth?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will double from about 11% to 22%.”
With these facts in mind, dispelling the many myths associated with ageing seems more pressing than at any point in our evolutionary history.
1.Physical deterioration is inevitable
This is not entirely untrue. As we age, our body does experience wear and tear from decades of use. However, physical deterioration does not have to be complete, and people can often slow it down.
Time and again, research has suggested that engaging in regular exercise and following a healthy diet can help people live longer lives by fighting or preventing the physical problems that appear with age.
Some research suggests that merely expecting physical deterioration increases the likelihood that someone will physically deteriorate.
It is concluded that “a more positive [self-perception of ageing] is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality,” suggesting that “this association is partly mediated by healthy lifestyle behaviours and social participation.”
In short, keeping active, eating right, having an active social life, and maintaining a positive outlook could help slow down the physical deterioration associated with older age.
2. Older adults should avoid exercise
Some people think that, once they reach a certain age, there is no point in exercising, as they believe that it will provide no benefit. This is another myth.
An increasing amount of evidence uncovered by recent studies supports the notion that keeping active as we grow older can maintain cardiometabolic fitness and brain health. There is also good evidence that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
3.Older adults need less (or more) sleep
Some people believe that older adults need more sleep than younger adults, perhaps because of the stereotype that older people enjoy a nap. Others say that older adults need less sleep, which might stem from the stereotype that older adults rise early in the morning.
These myths are relatively difficult to unpick because there are many factors involved. It is undoubtedly true that older adults have more difficulty getting to sleep and that their sleep tends to be more fragmented.
This might help explain why some older adults need to nap in the day. As the human body changes with age, it can disrupt the circadian (daily) rhythms.
This, in turn, can impact sleep. The relationship is multifaceted, too: If a person’s circadian rhythms become disrupted, it can influence other aspects of their physiology, such as hormone levels, which might also impact their sleep.
Aside from circadian disruptions, certain diseases that occur more commonly in older adults, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, can cause discomfort, which might adversely influence an individual’s ability to get to sleep or stay asleep.
Similarly, some conditions cause shortness of breath, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure. These can also make sleeping more challenging. COPD, for instance, is known to cause fatigue. Certain medications, including beta-blockers, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, some decongestants, and diuretics can also interfere with sleep. Older adults are more likely to be taking these types of medication, sometimes together.
4. Only women get osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones gradually become weaker. Some people believe that it only affects women. This is not true; it can affect either sex as well as people of any age. However, osteoporosis is indeed much more common in older people, white people, and females.
5. As you age, your brain slows
The term “cognitive decline” refers to a gradual decrease in mental functioning with age, but before we tackle the facts of the matter, we dismiss a couple of associated myths:
Dementia is inevitable as you age
According to the WHO, the risk of developing dementia does not affect all older adults. The latest available WHO data, from 2021, indicates that 57 million people around the world live with dementia.
A nationally representative study conducted by researchers from Columbia University and published in 2022, in the United States, notes that adults aged 65 and older have dementia, which means that around 90% are dementia-free.
Cognitive decline leads to dementia
Contrary to popular opinion, cognitive decline does not necessarily signal the start of dementia.
People who go on to develop dementia tend to experience cognitive decline first. However, not everyone who experiences cognitive decline will develop dementia.
Cognitive decline is inevitable
As the previously cited statistics show, cognitive decline is not inevitable, regardless of the long-held myth that older adults experience a mental slowing down.
6. There’s no point giving up smoking now
Whether this is a genuine myth or merely an excuse, some older adults say that there is no point in giving up smoking at “their age.” This is not true.
“When you stop smoking, good things start to happen. You’ll begin to see almost immediate improvements to your health. It’s never too late to quit.”
Although certain aspects of health might decline with age, none of the above is inevitable for everyone.
Original Article written by Tim Newman and Maria Cohut Ph.D
Fact Checked by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-aging