The Truth About 10 Myths Regarding Aging and Mental Health

Myth 1: Depression and Anxiety are Normal in Older Adults

Age-related depression is NOT natural and is treatable. However, sadness and anxiety in older persons frequently go undiagnosed and untreated, in large part because of the misconception that having a mental health issue as you age is typical.

In fact, research indicates that older persons have lower rates of anxiety and depression than younger adults.

Hence, when should you exercise caution? The signs of depression in older persons may be less visible, and they may also express their emotions less openly. When left untreated, depression, a common and potentially dangerous mood disease, can worsen physical conditions, have an impact on functioning, cause family strife, and raise the risk of suicide.

The good news is that depression in older persons is very treatable.

Myth 2: As we age, we don’t need as much sleep

It's untrue! Sleeping for an average of 7-8 hours per day is associated with better physical and mental health in older persons, according to experts.

What Alters in Sleep with Age? For instance, sleep may become less deep as we become older, and we might wake up more frequently. Sleep also becomes more susceptible to disruptions from things like pain, health problems, stress, mental health concerns, environmental changes, etc.

But for total emotional and physical health and wellbeing, sleep is crucial. It is essential for maintaining cognitive function and brain health. In fact, those who consistently lack proper sleep are more likely to develop dementia, depression, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, injuries from falls, and cancer.

Myth 3: Older adults can’t learn new things.

Every stage of life offers opportunities for learning and development. Older folks have the capacity to develop new talents, be imaginative, and perform better.

Consider older actors who learn new lines for their roles, such as 83-year-old Lily Tomlin and 85-year-old Morgan Freeman. Or athletes like Ida Keeling, who began jogging after the age of 65 and became the oldest woman to complete a 100-meter race. Then there's Loongkoonan, an Aboriginal painter who started working when she was in her 90s and presented her work in Washington, DC, at the age of 105.

According to studies, older persons who learn new skills or hobbies, such as quilting or digital photography, see memory gains.

Elderly people never cease developing and learning.

Myth 4: It is inevitable that older people will get dementia.

Aging does not necessarily cause dementia. In actuality, the most prevalent form of dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, will affect only 1 in 9 adults aged 65 and older (10.7%) in 2022. Age does raise the chance of dementia, with Alzheimer's dementia affecting 33.2% of those 85 and older. But, dementia is not inevitable, and the chance of getting it is actually going down.

It is true that ageing causes changes in the brain, and some memory loss is normal as we become older. In spite of this, elderly persons can still lead fulfilling lives on their own.

For instance, it's common to forget someone's name and then remember them later in the day. You might lose your spectacles, only to find them later. To remember appointments or tasks, you might need to prepare lists more frequently than in the past. These memory alterations are typically mild and treatable, and they don't interfere with your ability to work, live independently, or keep up with social activities.

Not all changes are detrimental. According to research from Trinity College Dublin, older persons have been found to have higher attention spans, lower levels of anxiety, and better cognitive control than younger adults.

Myth 5: If my parent has Alzheimer’s disease, I will get it too. 

Although if having certain genes, such as the APOE-4 gene, increases your risk for Alzheimer's disease, dementia is NOT a given. According to Yale University research, those with the APOE-4 gene and favourable attitudes towards ageing were 49.8% less likely to develop dementia than those with negative attitudes towards ageing. These individuals' risk was effectively reduced to the same level as those who are completely deficient in the APOE-4 gene!

You can adopt a variety of different lifestyle practises to lower your chance of developing Alzheimer's disease, such as getting regular exercise, eating healthy, developing a sense of meaning and purpose in your life, and much more.

If you’re concerned about changes in your brain, the first step is to contact your doctor to identify what may be causing these changes. Sometimes brain changes are a symptom of other medical problems that can be helped.

Myth 6: People with dementia don’t benefit from mental health care. 

Prior to focusing on older persons, I shared this misconception. In fact, I would say that I preferred to work with elderly folks without dementia. I was ableist, boy. Bias and stereotypes regarding a person's aptitude are called ableism. Although dementia is a disease that affects thinking and functioning, this does not mean that people cannot receive care and support. In reality, mental health services for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other conditions can help people with dementia.

Myth 7: At a certain age, seniors must stop driving.

There are more than 40 million people 65 and older who have an active driver’s license. You may be surprised to hear that older drivers are, by and large, very safe drivers. In fact, they’re more likely to wear their seat belt and drive the speed limit and are less likely to drink and drive than any other age group.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), older adults are less likely to be the drivers involved in fatal car accidents than people younger than them. As might expect, people ages 16-24 were the most likely to be driving.

Driving is based on ability, not age, which is why we have to take a test to demonstrate our ability to drive. 

As we age our bodies naturally experience physical changes like to our vision, hearing, mobility, reaction time, mild memory changes, and so on. Our bodies are also more vulnerable to medical conditions, which might impair our ability to drive or require medications that can affect driving. 

If you’re concerned about driving, it’s important to talk with your doctor for assistance in navigating changes. 

Finally, gaining tools and adapting your car can help you stay safe on the road for as long as possible.

Myth 8: Sex and intimacy are no longer valued after a certain age.

Humans like intimacy and sex throughout their entire lives. According to a recent poll of more than 1,000 seniors aged 65 to 80, 50.9% of males and 30.8% of women reported engaging in sexual activity. Just 17.3% of persons aged 65 to 80 reported consulting with their healthcare provider about sexual health in the previous two years, and of those, the clear majority of older adults (60.5%) initiated the conversation, according to the same poll.

Researchers have discovered that older persons' perceptions of sex are frequently "shameful, repulsive, comical, and nonexistent," which can result in internalised stigma and a rise in sexual issues.

It's time to adopt a more accurate and comprehensive perspective in the narrative surrounding ageing and sexuality. Sexual interactions have numerous advantages for older adults, including psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual ones. The sooner aging-related stereotypes are dispelled from discussions about intimacy and sexual health, the better.

Myth 9: Seniors are set in their ways and so don’t respond to well to mental health care.

Wrong. This is a widespread fallacy that stems from false assumptions of older folks as being rigid and resistant to change. The opposite is true, as you can see. In actuality, older folks benefit equally from mental health therapy as do younger adults.

In a recent SAMHSA report on alcohol treatment, it was discovered that older persons who took part in drug use treatment programmes fared almost as well as or better than younger adults in terms of outcomes, and they were also more likely to finish treatment.

Older persons are less likely to be referred for mental health care due to these and other beliefs, as well as the stigma that surrounds mental health care, which is a significant difference between younger and older adults.

Myth 10: Addiction is not a mental health problem that affects older adults.

Those 60 and older have been drinking more frequently during the previous 20 years, particularly women. According to other studies, 11% of people 65 and older and 20% of people in the 60–64 age bracket currently binge drink (consuming 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women).

As you can see, there are an increasing number of older persons who struggle with alcohol and other drug use, but these disorders are still largely undiagnosed and untreated. This is why:

Due to brief appointment times and a lack of understanding regarding substance use disorders in older persons, healthcare professionals may overlook substance use problems. Not to mention that substance use disorders in older adults might be challenging to detect and diagnose since their symptoms may resemble those of other conditions that are frequently associated with the elderly (like diabetes, cognitive and dementia disorders, and depression).

The belief among family members that it is pointless to refer a loved one to drug or alcohol rehab because they will never change.

The good news is that older persons CAN CHANGE and CAN INDEED BENEFIT from substance use disorder treatment. Lean in, express your worries, and offer to help the elderly person get in touch with care.