After last week’s Health-e-Byte about ageism, I received numerous requests for more of what I spoke about at the American Society on Aging Conference in Orlando, Florida. Thank you for your interest. Here is another excerpt from my presentation.
Our expectations of ageing drive how we age.
One of the reasons for this, is that people with negative expectations of ageing are less likely to engage in health-promoting behaviours such as physical exercise, eating fresh whole food, quitting smoking, keeping alcohol consumption in check, and taking prescribed medications — because what’s the point? If decline with age is inevitable, whatever I do won’t make much difference. Thus, we turn our beliefs into a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I don’t look after my health, of course it’s going to get worse — which further reinforces my belief that ageing means poor health and decline.
In a group of 395 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, those holding more negative age stereotypes demonstrated significantly worse memory performance over 38 years than those subscribing to less negative age stereotypes. This was after ruling out the effects of education, depression, and chronic illness. The decline in memory performance for those aged 60 and above was 30.2% greater for the more negative age stereotype group than for the less negative age stereotype group.
Negative expectations that lead to negative outcomes are known as the ‘nocebo effect’ — in contrast to the placebo effect. A placebo is a pill or injection containing no active ingredient. However, because the patient believes it will improve their condition, many people experience amelioration of their symptoms nonetheless.
Likewise, if a person anticipates unpleasant drug side effects, they’re more likely to experience them. In 2007, University of Florida researchers used the drug Finasteride to treat men with an enlarged prostate (prostatic hypertrophy). Half of the men were told that the drug could cause erectile dysfunction. Half were not told. Ten percent of men who were unaware of the possible side effect, experienced erectile dysfunction compared with 30% of men who were told about it. Three times as many men had erectile dysfunction if they were warned about it!
I’m not suggesting that patients are not advised about potential drug side effects. I’m merely illustrating the power of negative expectations.
When an older person forgets where they parked their car in a multi-storey carpark, they immediately call it ‘a senior moment’ and fear they’re getting dementia. When a young person forgets where they parked their car, do they call it ‘a junior moment’? I don’t think so. They tell themselves not to be in such a hurry and to pay more attention in future.
Next time you can’t find your car or keys or glasses, call it what it really is: a distracted moment. You weren’t paying attention when you parked your car or put down your items.
Here’s another game for you to play. (For those who missed last week’s Health-e-Byte, I recommend you go back and read about the Birthday Bonus game.)
If ever you’re about to blame ‘getting old’ for something you’re experiencing, ask yourself: what could be another potential cause? If you were 20 or 30 years younger, what would you attribute your symptom/situation to? Come up with as many different reasons as you can. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe your reasons. Simply entertain the possibility. Then take a step towards rectifying the situation.
Instead of being critical of your age, be curious about your potential to improve.
Please share this Health-e-Byte with anyone who thinks they’re past their prime.
Love your emails, you are so, so right!! Love the logic and honesty, it’s refreshing!!
I am 59 and so happy to be alive and healthy!!! Thank you for your insights Helena.