Latest Newscasts. Shirley, second oldest elephant in the U. By Lauren Meyers. Published: Feb. Share on Facebook. Email This Link. Share on Twitter. Share on Pinterest.
Share on LinkedIn. Most Read. One explanation for the trend: years of experience. The Not-So-Good News: You might stay away from stressful situations, thereby missing out on new opportunities. Just make sure all of your social interactions stay strong. They may be key to facing future challenges with resilience. Does your spouse seem mellower than he or she once did? What's Ahead: As long as your health remains good, you can expect to be happy.
Studies also suggest that negative emotions like anger and sadness become less frequent with age, perhaps because older adults get better at tuning out negativity. As you age, your eye muscles slow down, causing your eyes' pupils to react more slowly to changes in light. The Good News: Research shows that the steep loss of brain function once thought intrinsic to aging is often avoidable. Kennedy, M. And your gut instincts remain sharp as you age, too. In one study, older adults fared as well as those under 30 on intuitive decisions.
The Not-So-Good News: Part of your brain circuitry starts to burn out with age, but most of us compensate by relying on other parts of our brain, and our past experiences, to make decisions. Feeling increasingly forgetful? This happens because the transmission of nerve impulses between cells slows down as you age.
What's Ahead: Real cognitive decline becomes more prevalent by your 80s; nearly half of Americans 85 or older have Alzheimer's. Your best prevention plan, as Kennedy advises: intellectual stimulation, time with family and friends, and exercise.
Visit the AARP home page for great deals and smart tips. You are leaving AARP. Please return to AARP. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering.
Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at www. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. Now Reading:. Membership My Account. Rewards for Good. Share with facebook. Share with twitter. Share with linkedin. Share using email. Save Your Skin The Good News: Your skin is drier, which can be welcome relief for the third of women who were plagued by oily skin and breakouts throughout their adulthood.
Photo by Craig Cutler Studies show strength training can build muscle, which can take force off the joints. Photo by Craig Cutler 44 percent of women 68 through 80 report being very satisfied with their sex lives, compared with just 30 percent of women 55 to 68 years old.
Motivate Your Metabolism The Good News: While metabolism typically slows up to 5 percent per decade, that doesn't mean you have to gain weight in your 70s. Photo by Craig Cutler Your response to vaccines decreases with age, leaving you even more vulnerable to illnesses like flu and pneumonia. Photo by Craig Cutler As you age, your eye muscles slow down, causing your eyes' pupils to react more slowly to changes in light.
You may also like: How to tell if someone's lying to you How to sell your stuff safely online. Leaving AARP. Got it! Please don't show me this again for 90 days. Cancel Continue. Thank You. Your email address is now confirmed. Continue to AARP. The most common form of arthritis affecting senior health is osteoarthritis , which results from a lifetime of wear and tear on the joints — especially in the fingers, hips, knees, wrists, and spine.
As people grow older, they often report problems maintaining balance. About 40 percent of all Americans will have a bout of balance problems in their lifetimes, and studies suggest that 24 percent of people over 72 suffer from dizziness.
As the heart ages, it may need to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. Although some changes in the heart and circulation system are normal with aging, other changes can lead to heart disease and related problems, including heart attack and stroke.
In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and men over Classic signs of a heart attack include chest discomfort, shortness of breath , and nausea or lightheadedness. Stroke symptoms include face drooping, speech difficulty, and arm weakness.
If you experience any of these, call The good news is that you can lower your heart disease risk with a healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, exercising, and eating a healthy diet. Although people can develop diabetes at any age, the risk increases as you get older. In the United States, more than 25 percent of people over 60 have this serious health condition. With diabetes, your blood sugar — the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood — is too high, which can eventually lead to complications such as damage to the eyes, nerves, and kidneys, as well as heart disease or stroke.
Early signs of diabetes include feelings of extreme hunger or thirst, fatigue, and a frequent need to urinate, as well as blurry eyesight. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor. As we age, our immune system can become weaker. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness characterized by sudden symptoms such as fever, cough , sore throat , muscle or body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, and fatigue. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 71 and 85 percent of flu-related deaths in recent years have occurred in people over Symptoms of pneumonia include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
If you suspect you have the flu, call your doctor right away. To help avoid getting the flu or pneumonia, get annual flu and pneumococcal vaccines, wash your hands frequently, and avoid people who are sick.
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