Medical Myths debunked ageing

There is a wonderful series on Medical Myths put out by Medical news Today. This article tackles myths relating to ageing For the Full article click on the link/

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.

As the World Health Organization explains, “Increased physical activity and improving diet can effectively tackle many of the problems frequently associated with old age.” These problems include reduced strength, increased body fat, high blood pressure, and reduced bone density.

In short, keeping active, eating right, and maintaining a positive outlook can often slow the physical deterioration associated with older age.

2. Older adults should not exercise

From the previous section, it is clear that this is a myth. According to an older article in Neuropsychobiology, keeping active can boost muscle strength, reduce fat, and improve mental health.

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.

There is also good evidence that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. A study, which involved 1,740 older adults, found that regular exercise was “associated with a delay in onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”

However, people should consult their doctor before embarking on a new exercise regime if they have a medical condition. For example, the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom indicate that people with certain conditions associated with age, such as osteoporosis, should avoid high impact exercise. However, the vast majority of older adults can indulge in some form of physical activity.

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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) state that people aged 61–64 need 7–9 hours, and people aged 65 or older need 7–8 hours of sleep each night. It just might be more difficult for them to get that all-important shut-eye.

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 or people of any age. However, osteoporosis is indeed much more common in older people, white people, and females.

Another related myth is that osteoporosis is inevitable for women as they age. As the figures above attest, two-thirds of women over 50 do not have osteoporosis. To minimize risks, the National Institute on Aging advise people to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D and exercise regularly.

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 increases with age, but it does not affect all older adults. Worldwide, an estimated 5–8%Trusted Source of people over 60 have dementia. That means that 92%–95% of people aged 60 or older do not have dementia.

Cognitive decline leads to dementia

Contrary to popular opinion, cognitive decline does not necessarily signal the start of dementia.

One older study estimated that 22.2% of people in the U.S. aged 71 or older experience cognitive decline. Of these, each year, 11.7%–20% develop dementia.

Cognitive decline is inevitable

As the above statistics show, cognitive decline is not inevitable, regardless of the long-held myth that older adults experience a mental slowing down. And, importantly, there are ways to reduce the risk.

They also found good evidence that a healthful diet and lifelong learning or cognitive training also reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

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. As the NHS clearly explain:

“No matter how long you have smoked for and no matter how many cigarettes you smoke a day, your health will start to improve as soon as you quit. Some health benefits are immediate, some are longer-term, but what matters is that it’s never too late.”

7. Sex is rare or impossible as you age

Some people believe that older adults lose their ability to enjoy sex and that their sexual organs become unfit for purpose. This, thankfully, is a myth.

It is true that the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) and vaginal dryness increases as people age, but for most individuals, these are not insurmountable problems.

Intercourse between older people may be less fast and furious, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. As one author writes, “Growing old does not necessarily discontinue a healthy sexual life, but it does call for redefining its expression.”

To end this section on a high, below is a quote from a survey study that involved 158 older adults. Although the participants reported that they were having less sex than a decade earlier, the authors write:

“A remarkably robust sex life was evidenced by both the men and the women, even until advanced old age.”

The take home

Overall, most of the myths surrounding age seem to center on inevitability. People believe that it is inevitable that they will gradually crumble into dust as their lives become increasingly unbearable, boring, passionless, and painful.

Although certain aspects of health might decline with age, none of the above is inevitable for everyone. As we have discovered, a positive psychological outlook on aging can benefit the physical aspects of ageing.

Medical Myths Dementia

There is a wonderful series on Medical Myths put out by Medical news Today. This article tackles myths relating to both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at large. For the Full article click on the link/

1. Dementia is inevitable with age

This statement is not true. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.

According to a report that the Alzheimer’s Association published, Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia, affects 3% of people aged 65–74 years in the U.S.

As a result of the risk increasing as we age, 17% of people aged 75–84 years and 32% of people aged 85 years and older have a dementia diagnosis.

2. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the same thing

This is not quite correct. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia, accounting for   60–80%of all dementia cases. Other types of dementia include frontotemporal dementia (FTD), vascular dementia, mixed dementia, and Lewy body dementia.

The National Institute on Aging define dementia as “the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.”

Although dementias share certain characteristics, each type has a distinct underlying pathology.

3. A family member has dementia, so I will get it

A common myth is that dementia is purely genetic. In other words, if a person’s family member has a dementia diagnosis, they are guaranteed to develop dementia later in life. This is not true.

Early-onset Alzheimer’s is relatively uncommon, though. It occurs in about 5.5% of all Alzheimer’s cases.

4. Dementia only affects older adults

Age is a risk factor for dementia, but dementia can affect younger adults in rare cases. Some scientists estimate that, in people aged 30–64 years, 38–260 people in 100,000 — equivalent to 0.038–0.26% — develop early-onset dementia.

5. Using aluminum pans causes Alzheimer’s

In the 1960s, scientists injected rabbits with high levels of aluminum. They found that the animals developed neurological lesions similar to those that form in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.

Additionally, some studies have identified aluminum within the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s. However, aluminum also appears in the healthy brain, and researchers have not established a causal link between this element and the disease.

However, since those early experiments, scientists have not found a clear association between Alzheimer’s and using aluminum pots and pans.

6. Dementia signals the end of a meaningful life

Thankfully, this is not the case. Many people with a dementia diagnosis lead active, meaningful lives.

It is true that these adjustments may come in time as the condition progresses, but in mild cases of dementia, no changes may be necessary. As dementia worsens, changes to the way an individual leads their life are likely, but that does not mean that the person cannot lead a fulfilling life.

7. Memory loss always signifies dementia

Although memory loss can be an early symptom of dementia, it does not necessarily signify the start of this condition. Human memory can be unpredictable, and we all forget things occasionally. However, if memory loss is interfering with everyday life, it is best to speak with a doctor.

8. Dementia is always preventable

This, unfortunately, is untrue. Importantly, though, certain factors can either reduce the risk of certain types of dementia developing or delay their onset.

For instance, the Lancet Commission’s 2020 report on dementia prevention, intervention, and care lists 12 factors that increase the risk of dementia:

·        less education

·        hypertension

·        hearing impairment

·        smoking

·        obesity

·        depression

·        physical inactivity

·        diabetes

·        low levels of social contact

·        alcohol consumption

·        traumatic brain injury

·        air pollution

Some of these factors are more difficult to modify than others, but working on changing any of them might help reduce the risk of developing dementia.

9. Vitamins and supplements can prevent dementia

Linked to the section above, this is also false. To date, there is no strong evidence that any vitamin or mineral supplements can reduce the risk of dementia.

10. All people with dementia become aggressive

In some cases, people with dementia might find it increasingly hard to make sense of the world around them. This confusion can be frustrating, and some individuals might respond to the emotions in an angry manner. However, this is not the case for everyone.

11. Dementia is never fatal

Unfortunately, dementia can be fatal. According to a 2020 study among adults aged 70-99 years, dementia may be a more common cause of death than experts have traditionally thought. The authors “found that approximately 13.6% of deaths were attributable to dementia over the period 2000–2009.”

Loss Aversion

 Behavioural economic theory is relatively new concept, but it raises some interesting ideas to think about.

Recognizing your biases helps focus your mind when it comes to money.

Behavioural scientists have found we experience far more pain when we lose money than we do pleasure when we make a profit. This bias was termed ‘loss aversion’ by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. Loss aversion has a strong relationship with risk – it means we prefer to avoid financial risk, even if the potential returns are better.

Let’s look at one of the tests Kahneman and Tversky used to examine loss aversion. I want you to think about what you would do in this situation – but don’t overthink it. Focus on your initial reaction because that will be your biases acting for you.

If you were given a choice between receiving a guaranteed $900, or having a 90% chance of gaining $1,000 but a 10% chance of losing it all, what option would you take?

What did you do? Most participants took the $900 that is presented as ‘risk free’. But, when you do the cold, hard maths, the ‘risk’ is the same. That is: Expected value = ($1,000 × 0.9) + ($0 × 0.1) = $900

Now reverse the choice. If you had a choice between a guaranteed loss of $900 or a 90% chance of losing $1,000 but a 10% chance of not losing anything, what option would you take?

Most of the participants in the study took the risk of losing $1,000 with the small chance of losing nothing as Kahneman and Tversky found. Like the first scenario, the cold hard maths shows that the expected value is a $900 loss.

It’s important to understand that this is your biases influencing you to do what you believe is the right thing. That right thing might not be the ‘rational’ thing, because rational isn’t human.

If we take the Kahneman and Tversky study into the real world, a 2020 report from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) found more than 36% of Australian adults have never invested. There’s a variety of reasons behind this, but the underlying theme is the fear of losing money on the markets. When it comes to loss aversion you need to think about loss as a relative factor, rather than the be-all and end-all.

Over the long term, if you have invested in companies that have value, you will probably gain not lose money. So, keep sight of the goals you are looking to achieve in the future. In other words, put the loss into perspective, which may reduce its emotional impact.

False economic thinking

 According to a report by the Senior Advocate of the one million seniors in BC, half live on $31,000 or less per year or between $1,700 to $2,500 per month. As we age, our ability to earn extra money through work declines. Pensions may not be indexed, with little flexibility for income growth. Unexpected health care or housing expenses may amount to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars leaving our lowest-income seniors living in poorly heated and maintained properties, without phone or internet, and further having to choose between buying proper food or needed medications, or in some cases, incontinence supplies. Living in these conditions leads to social isolation and a downward spiral of poor health, thereby creating further demands on our health care system.

I met a 94-year-old the other day and I asked him about his story. He told me of his time in the mines, his 8 books he has written and the fact he gave up his licence abut 20 years ago. He now relies on his E-Bike and his wife to drive him around. As we reach the age of 75 years, older adults gradually start giving up our drivers’ licenses and thus need alternative methods to visit health care and other business and services in our communities.

In British Columbia we had the privilege this year of celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the BC Old Age Pensioners Organization and the 75th Anniversary of the BC Government Retired Employees Association, reflecting the long and storied history of the advocacy by seniors groups for incomes sufficient to support a dignified retirement. At present we understand 250,000 Canadian seniors have greatly reduced incomes due to bankruptcies of companies such as Nortel and Sears and therefore increase the costs of other government programs such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement. By protecting pensions from bankruptcy, the government will save money.