10 Common Misconceptions About Aging

Many people make assumptions about aging, what it is like to grow “old,” and how older age will affect them.

许多人对衰老、变“老”是什么样子以及老年将如何影响他们做出假设。

But as we get older, it is important to understand the positive aspects of aging as well as its challenges.

但随着年龄的增长，了解衰老的积极方面及其挑战非常重要。

Research has shown that most individuals can help preserve their health and mobility as they age by adopting or continuing healthy habits and lifestyle choices.

研究表明，随着年龄的增长，大多数人可以通过采取或继续健康的习惯和生活方式选择来帮助保持健康和活动能力。

Read on to learn about 10 common misconceptions related to aging and older adults.

请继续阅读，了解与衰老和老年人相关的 10 种常见误解。

Depression is not a normal part of aging.

抑郁症不是衰老过程中的正常现象。

However, as people age, some may find themselves feeling isolated and alone.

然而，随着人们年龄的增长，有些人可能会发现自己感到孤立和孤独。

This can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and sadness.

这可能会导致抑郁、焦虑和悲伤的感觉。

Persistent feelings of depression and loneliness can lead to a decline in physical and mental functioning.

持续的抑郁和孤独感会导致身体和精神功能下降。

These feelings are not normal and shouldn’t be treated as such.

这些感觉是不正常的，不应被视为正常的。

Growing older can have many emotional benefits, such as long-lasting relationships with friends and family and a lifetime of memories to share with loved ones.

变老可以带来许多情感上的好处，例如与朋友和家人的持久关系以及与亲人分享一生的回忆。

In fact, some studies show that older adults are less likely to experience depression than young adults.

事实上，一些研究表明，老年人比年轻人更不容易患抑郁症。

However, it’s important to know that older adults with depression may have less obvious symptoms or be less likely to discuss their feelings.

然而，重要的是要知道患有抑郁症的老年人可能有不太明显的症状或不太可能讨论他们的感受。

Depression is a common and potentially serious mood disorder, but there are treatments that are effective for most people.

抑郁症是一种常见且可能严重的情绪障碍，但有一些治疗方法对大多数人有效。

Learn more about depression and older adults and get tips for staying connected .

了解有关抑郁症和老年人的更多信息，并获取保持联系的技巧。

If you are thinking about harming yourself, tell someone immediately who can help.

如果您正在考虑伤害自己，请立即告诉可以提供帮助的人。

Call or text the 24-hour 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline : 988 or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

拨打或发短信至 24 小时 988 自杀与危机生命热线：988 或 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)。

For TTY users, use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988.

对于 TTY 用户，请使用您首选的中继服务或拨打 711，然后拨打 988。

Older adults need the same amount of sleep as other adults: seven to nine hours each night.

老年人需要与其他成年人相同的睡眠时间：每晚七到九小时。

However, the quality and quantity of sleep can decline with age.

然而，睡眠的质量和数量会随着年龄的增长而下降。

Older adults may find themselves having a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep.

老年人可能会发现自己很难入睡和保持睡眠状态。

Getting enough sleep can help most people stay healthy and alert.

充足的睡眠可以帮助大多数人保持健康和警觉。

Adequate sleep can also help reduce the risk of falls, improve overall mental well-being, and have many other benefits.

充足的睡眠还有助于降低跌倒的风险，改善整体心理健康，并具有许多其他好处。

Learn more about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep .

详细了解睡个好觉的重要性。

Yes!

是的！

Older adults still have the ability to learn something new, create new memories, and improve their performance in a variety of skills.

老年人仍然有能力学习新东西、创造新记忆并提高各种技能的表现。

While aging does often come with changes in thinking, many cognitive changes are positive , such as having more knowledge and insight from a lifetime of experiences.

虽然衰老确实常常伴随着思维的变化，但许多认知变化是积极的，例如从一生的经历中获得更多的知识和洞察力。

Trying and learning new skills may even improve cognitive abilities.

尝试和学习新技能甚至可以提高认知能力。

For example, one study found that older adults who learned quilting or digital photography had improved memory.

例如，一项研究发现，学习绗缝或数码摄影的老年人记忆力有所提高。

Seeking out new social connections with others and engaging in social activities , such as a dance class or book club, can keep your brain active and may also boost your cognitive health .

寻找与他人的新社交联系并参加社交活动，例如舞蹈课或读书俱乐部，可以保持您的大脑活跃，也可以促进您的认知健康。

Learn more about cognitive health and older adults .

了解有关认知健康和老年人的更多信息。

No, dementia is not a normal part of aging.

不，痴呆症不是衰老的正常现象。

Although the risk of dementia increases as people grow older, it is not inevitable, and many people live into their 90s and beyond without the significant declines in thinking and behavior that characterize dementia.

虽然患痴呆症的风险随着年龄的增长而增加，但这并不是不可避免的，许多人活到 90 多岁甚至更久，思维和行为也没有出现痴呆症特有的显着下降。

About one-third of people over age 85 develop some form of dementia, meaning that about two-thirds do not.

85 岁以上的人中约有三分之一患有某种形式的痴呆症，这意味着约三分之二的人没有患上某种形式的痴呆症。

Occasionally forgetting an appointment or losing your keys are typical signs of mild forgetfulness , which is a common part of normal aging.

偶尔忘记约会或丢失钥匙是轻度健忘的典型症状，这是正常衰老的常见现象。

Nevertheless, talk with a doctor if you have concerns about your memory and thinking, or notice changes in your behavior and personality.

不过，如果您对自己的记忆和思维有疑问，或者注意到您的行为和性格发生变化，请咨询医生。

These problems can have a range of different causes, some of which are treatable or reversible.

这些问题可能有多种不同的原因，其中一些是可以治疗或可逆转的。

Finding the cause is important for determining best next steps.

找到原因对于确定最佳的后续步骤非常重要。

Learn more about what’s normal forgetfulness and what’s not .

详细了解什么是正常健忘，什么不是。

Exercise and physical activity can be good for a person’s health at any age!

锻炼和身体活动对任何年龄段的人的健康都有好处！

As people age, they may think exercise could do more harm than good, especially if they have a chronic condition.

随着人们年龄的增长，他们可能会认为锻炼弊大于利，尤其是患有慢性病的人。

However, studies show that most people have a lot more to gain by being active — and a lot to lose by sitting too much.

然而，研究表明，大多数人通过积极活动可以获得更多好处，但久坐也会带来很多损失。

Often, being sedentary or inactive is more to blame than age when older adults lose the ability to do things on their own.

当老年人失去独立做事的能力时，久坐或不活动往往比年龄更重要。

Almost anyone, at any age and with most health conditions, can participate in some type of exercise or physical activity.

几乎任何人，无论年龄大小，健康状况如何，都可以参加某种类型的锻炼或体育活动。

In fact, exercise and physical activity may help manage some chronic conditions .

事实上，锻炼和体力活动可能有助于控制一些慢性病。

Staying active can be great for a person’s mental and physical health .

保持活跃对一个人的身心健康非常有益。

Tai Chi and similar mind-body movement practices have been shown to improve balance and stability in older adults, which can help maintain independence and prevent falls.

太极拳和类似的身心运动练习已被证明可以改善老年人的平衡和稳定性，这有助于保持独立性并防止跌倒。

Resistance training , such as using exercise bands, is also an effective way to build muscle and reduce the risk of falling.

阻力训练，例如使用健身带，也是增强肌肉和降低跌倒风险的有效方法。

Learn more about how exercise and physical activity can improve your health.

详细了解锻炼和身体活动如何改善您的健康。

A person’s chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease may be higher if they have a family history of dementia because some genetic variants are known to increase risk.

如果一个人有痴呆症家族史，那么他患阿尔茨海默病的几率可能会更高，因为已知某些遗传变异会增加风险。

However, having a parent or other close family member with Alzheimer’s does not necessarily mean that a person will develop the disease.

然而，父母或其他近亲患有阿尔茨海默病并不一定意味着一个人就会患上这种疾病。

Learn about your own unique family health history and talk with your doctor about any concerns.

了解您自己独特的家族健康史，并与您的医生讨论任何疑虑。

In most cases, a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s is influenced by a combination of factors, including the effects of multiple genes.

在大多数情况下，一个人患阿尔茨海默病的风险受到多种因素的影响，包括多个基因的影响。

Environmental, lifestyle, and health factors — such as hypertension, exercise, diet, exposure to pollutants, and smoking — can also affect a person’s risk.

环境、生活方式和健康因素——例如高血压、运动、饮食、接触污染物和吸烟——也会影响一个人的风险。

While inherited genes are beyond control, people can take steps to stay healthy as they age, such as getting regular exercise, managing high blood pressure, and not smoking.

虽然遗传基因无法控制，但随着年龄的增长，人们可以采取措施保持健康，例如定期锻炼、控制高血压和不吸烟。

Learn more about Alzheimer’s genetics and what we know about preventing Alzheimer’s .

了解有关阿尔茨海默氏症遗传学的更多信息以及我们对预防阿尔茨海默氏症的了解。

Not necessarily.

未必。

Physical and cognitive changes can occur with age that may affect a person’s ability to drive.

随着年龄的增长，身体和认知会发生变化，这可能会影响一个人的驾驶能力。

These may include slower reactions, diminished vision or hearing, and reduced strength or mobility.

这些可能包括反应变慢、视力或听力下降、力量或活动能力下降。

However, not all people experience these changes and may still be safe behind the wheel in their later years.

然而，并非所有人都会经历这些变化，并且在晚年仍可能安全驾驶。

As the U.S. population ages, the number of licensed older adults on the road will continue to increase.

随着美国人口老龄化，持证上路的老年人数量将继续增加。

In 2022, there were 52 million licensed drivers over the age of 65 , a 77% increase from 2004.

2022年，65岁以上有执照的司机有5200万，比2004年增长77%。

The question of when it is time to limit or stop driving should not be about age; rather, it should be about one’s ability to drive safely.

何时限制或停止驾驶的问题不应与年龄有关；而应与年龄有关。相反，它应该与一个人安全驾驶的能力有关。

This article can help determine if you or a loved one needs to limit or stop driving .

本文可以帮助确定您或您的亲人是否需要限制或停止驾驶。

Talk with your doctor about any health and driving concerns.

与您的医生讨论任何健康和驾驶问题。

Learn more about driving safety and older adults .

了解有关驾驶安全和老年人的更多信息。

No, although osteoporosis — a condition that makes bones more fragile and prone to breaking — is more common in women, this disease also affects and could be underdiagnosed in men.

不，尽管骨质疏松症（一种使骨骼更加脆弱且容易骨折的疾病）在女性中更为常见，但这种疾病也会影响男性，并且可能会被诊断不足。

While men may not be as likely to have osteoporosis because they start with higher bone density than women, one in five men over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.

虽然男性患骨质疏松症的可能性较小，因为他们一开始的骨密度就高于女性，但 50 岁以上的男性中，五分之一的人会发生与骨质疏松症相关的骨折。

By age 65 or 70, men and women lose bone mass at the same rate.

到 65 岁或 70 岁时，男性和女性骨质流失的速度相同。

Many of the factors that put men at risk are the same as those for women, including family history, insufficient calcium or vitamin D, and too little weight-bearing exercise.

导致男性面临风险的许多因素与女性相同，包括家族史、钙或维生素 D 不足以及负重运动太少。

Low levels of testosterone, too much alcohol , taking certain drugs, and smoking are other risk factors.

睾酮水平低、饮酒过多、服用某些药物和吸烟也是其他危险因素。

Learn more about osteoporosis and how to maintain bone health as you age.

了解有关骨质疏松症以及如何随着年龄的增长保持骨骼健康的更多信息。

No matter how old you are or how long you have been smoking, quitting at any time improves your health.

无论您多大年纪或吸烟多久，随时戒烟都会改善您的健康。

Benefits to quitting may include fewer illnesses such as colds and the flu, breathing more easily, and having more energy.

戒烟的好处可能包括减少感冒和流感等疾病、呼吸更顺畅以及精力更充沛。

Some of the benefits of quitting are almost immediate.

戒烟的一些好处几乎是立竿见影的。

Within a few hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood begins to decline and, in a few weeks, circulation improves and lung function increases.

几个小时内，血液中的一氧化碳水平开始下降，几周后，血液循环得到改善，肺功能得到增强。

Over time, quitting can also lower heart rate and blood pressure .

随着时间的推移，戒烟还可以降低心率和血压。

Additionally, quitting smoking lowers the risk of cancer, heart attack, stroke , and lung disease.

此外，戒烟还可以降低患癌症、心脏病、中风和肺部疾病的风险。

Quitting will also reduce risks related to secondhand smoke exposure for other family members or caregivers in the home.

戒烟还可以降低其他家庭成员或家中护理人员接触二手烟的风险。

It is never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking and set a healthy example for your family and friends.

享受戒烟的好处并为家人和朋友树立健康的榜样永远不会太晚。

Learn more about how to quit smoking and where to find help .

了解有关如何戒烟以及在哪里寻求帮助的更多信息。

High blood pressure is a very common problem in older adults — especially those in their 80s and 90s — and can lead to serious health problems if not treated properly.

高血压是老年人（尤其是 80 多岁和 90 多岁）中非常常见的问题，如果治疗不当，可能会导致严重的健康问题。

If you take blood pressure medicine and your blood pressure goes down, it means your medicine is working.

如果您服用降压药并且血压下降，则表明您的药物正在发挥作用。

However, it is very important to continue treatment long-term.

然而，长期持续治疗非常重要。

If you stop taking your medicine, your blood pressure could rise again, increasing the risk for health problems such as stroke and kidney disease.

如果您停止服药，您的血压可能会再次升高，从而增加中风和肾脏疾病等健康问题的风险。

Make sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly and work with your doctor to help keep it under control.

确保定期检查血压并与医生合作以帮助控制血压。

Learn more about high blood pressure and how to help control it.

了解有关高血压以及如何帮助控制高血压的更多信息。

National Cancer Institute 800-422-6237 cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov www.cancer.gov

美国国家癌症研究所 800-422-6237 cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov www.cancer.gov

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 888-644-6226 info@nccih.nih.gov www.nccih.nih.gov

国家补充和综合健康中心 888-644-6226 info@nccih.nih.gov www.nccih.nih.gov

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 301-592-8573 nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov www.nhlbi.nih.gov

国家心肺血液研究所 301-592-8573 nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 877-226-4267 niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov www.niams.nih.gov

国家关节炎、肌肉骨骼和皮肤疾病研究所 877-226-4267 niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov www.niams.nih.gov

National Institute of Mental Health 866-615-6464 nimhinfo@nih.gov www.nimh.nih.gov

国家心理健康研究所 866-615-6464 nimhinfo@nih.gov www.nimh.nih.gov

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 or 800-273-8255 (24 hours a day) 711 then 988 or 800-799-4889 (TTY) https://988lifeline.org

988 自杀与危机生命热线 988 或 800-273-8255（每天 24 小时）711，然后拨打 988 或 800-799-4889 (TTY) https://988lifeline.org

Federal Highway Administration www.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/older_users

联邦公路管理局 www.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/older_users

AARP 888-687-2277 877-434-7598 (TTY) member@aarp.org www.aarp.org

美国退休人员协会 888-687-2277 877-434-7598 (TTY) member@aarp.org www.aarp.org

American Cancer Society 800-227-2345 www.cancer.org

美国癌症协会 800-227-2345 www.cancer.org

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA).

本内容由 NIH 国家老龄化研究所 (NIA) 提供。

NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.

NIA 科学家和其他专家审查此内容以确保其准确且最新。