FACTS VS MYTHS OF AGEING

There are often a few misconceptions of what we will be when we get older. Most of them have turn to a belief among the masses when in fact it is just a myth. Here are a few myths and facts regarding ageing.

1. Myth: If you didn't exercise in your 20s, 30s and 40s, it's too late to start in your 50s, 60s or 70s.

Fact: It's never too late! In an oft-cited study, 50 men and women with an average age of 87 worked out with weights for 10 weeks and increased their muscle strength 113 percent. Even more important, they also increased their walking speed, a marker of overall physical health in the elderly.

2. Myth: Most elderly living in nursing homes and cannot get around by themselves.

Fact: Fields points out, only five percent of older adults live in nursing homes, and most are totally mobile. So, where does this myth come from? “The media is always showing a family putting the wretched mother-in-law in a home, or a grandparent who needs a nurse 24/7,” she says.

3. Myth: The pain and disability caused by arthritis is inevitable as you get older.

Fact: While arthritis is more common as you age, thanks to the impact of time on the cushiony cartilage that prevents joints and bone from rubbing against one another, age itself doesn't cause arthritis. There are steps you can take in your youth to prevent it, such as losing weight, wearing comfortable, supportive shoes (as opposed to three-inch spikes), and taking it easy with joint-debilitating exercise like running and basketball. One study found women who exercised at least once every two weeks for at least 20 minutes were much less likely to develop arthritis of the knee (the most common location for the disease) than women who exercised less.

4. Myth: Older people are all the same.

Fact: There is a perception that older people are all the same, and that they are boring. The reality Far from being boring, many older people find the years between the mid-50s to mid-70s are a time of liberation where a sense of personal freedom allows them to speak their minds and make plans for new and different experiences.

5. Myth: Disabilities come with age.

Fact: There is a perception that growing old inevitably means becoming frail and disabled. The reality Far from being frail, the majority of older people remain physically fit well into later life, carrying out the tasks of daily living and playing an active part in community life.

6. Myth: Older adults are lonely and depresse

Fact: Countless research done says that older people with families are the most likely to be satisfied with their lives.

7. Myth: You Lose Your Creativity as You Age.

Fact: Creativity actually offers huge benefits for older people. A study found that older adults who joined a choir were in better health, used less medication, and had fewer falls after a year than a similar group that 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.

Interesting aren’t they? Which are the myths that you have thought to be true before? Does this revelation changes the view of being old to you?