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10 Of The Most Common Myths About Aging
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3. Aging leads to memory loss
“Senior moments” are not normal. Let’s face it, individuals of all ages are likely to misplace their keys or forget things from time to time. And, while some change in thinking patterns is a normal part of the aging process, memory loss is not. Sometimes difficulty with memory may be due to related medical conditions and sometimes it may be related to dementia. No matter what the cause, if you or a loved one is experiencing a noticeable change in memory, it is important to talk to your doctor about it. This should never be attributed a simply a “normal part of aging.”
4. Older individuals are bad drivers
We’ve all seen older drivers portrayed in the media as the little old lady hunched over behind the steering wheel driving well below the speed limit. Well, the reality is older adults are not all bad drivers. In fact, compared to younger individuals, older adults have fewer crashes per mile driven. They are less likely to drive while intoxicated or texting. And, they are also more likely to self-regulate or restrict driving during bad weather, at night, and on unfamiliar roads. Unfortunately, when involved in a crash, older individuals are more likely to suffer fatal injuries. However, this is likely tied to age-associated health conditions.
5. Aging means losing all your teeth
This myth is often shown in popular media. You know, the one where an old man has his dentures or false teeth fall out during dinner. Well, as it turns out, this too is a myth. While it is true that some individuals will lose teeth as they age, this is not something that happens to everyone. In fact, only about 1 in 5 individuals have lost all their teeth. Even in the oldest age group, 75 and older, only about 1 in 4 individuals have lost all their teeth.
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