National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health
We all know someone “old.”

It might be a grandparent, a neighbor, or 

maybe the person behind the counter at the 

dry cleaners. But do you really know what 

it means to be “old?” Do you know what 

older people are concerned about, how they 

can get the most out of the rest of their 

lives, and what normal aging really is? Here 

are several very short stories, each followed 

by a few related questions. Some are 

multiple-choice, some are true/false (T/F), 

and some yes/no (Y/N). Tear out the answer 

sheet on page 23. Then circle the answers 

you think are right. When you are done, 

compare your answers with the correct 

ones starting on page 10. 

Scattered between these story/question 

combinations are more general questions about 

growing old, like this first one. 

 

Let’s look at some older people and see 

how much you know about aging.

1. Which of the following age 

groups is one of the fastest 

growing segments of the

 American population?

a. babies and children under age 5

b. children age 15 to 19

c. people over age 85
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 1

Phyllis is 64. Recently, she had a 

DEXA-scan to check her bone density. The 

results showed she was at risk of a hip, 

wrist, or spine fracture because she was 

developing osteoporosis. Her doctor wants 

her to start doing weight-bearing exercise 

3 or 4 times a week to increase the density 

of her bones. The doctor also suggested 

she get her husband to exercise with her to protect

his bones. An exercise

program of 30-minutes

of moderate-level

activity on most

days of the week

would also help

prevent heart

disease in both

of them. 

2. Is Phyllis too old to lift weights? Y/N

3. Should her husband worry about his 

bones? Y/N

Do men get osteoporosis also? Y/N

4. I thought heart disease was a man’s 

disease. Does Phyllis have to worry about 

that too? Y/N
Sylvia is 75. She has 

smoked cigarettes since she 

was 20. Her children and 

grandchildren all want her 

 to quit. But several 

members of her 

family died of cancer in 

their old age, and she 

believes it’s too late now 

to make a difference. 

5. Even if an older person has smoked 

tobacco his or her whole life, it still makes 

sense to quit. T/F

6. Screening for cancer is less important with 

each year of life since older people can’t put 

up with aggressive treatment. T/F

2 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

If many older people survive cancer, is it 

still a major cause of death?

7. After heart disease, the next most 

common cause of death after age 

65 in 2000 was:

a. stroke and related diseases

b. chronic respiratory disease, 

 such as chronic bronchitis, 

emphysema, and asthma

c. cancer
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 3

Harry is 80 and seems depressed 

lately. His wife has noticed a change in his 

mood around the house and is concerned. 

He has always loved to drive his car. But, 

lately, he’s worried when he gets behind 

the wheel. His vision seems to be changing. 

Last week he almost hit a messenger on a 

bike. The eye doctor says he has a cataract 

in one eye and needs surgery. 

8. Is cataract surgery really likely to help 

Harry see better? Y/N

9. Will Harry still have to stop driving his 

car anyway, since he is 80? Y/N

10. Is depression normal at Harry’s age? Y/N
4 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 

Sam is 70. He can’t understand 

why he is more tired than he used 

to be. He goes to bed and gets up 

at the same time he always has. 

He often takes a nap in the afternoon. Maybe 

it’s because he 

has a lot on his 

mind right now. He’s 

worried because he seems to 

be more forgetful than before—even a little 

confused some times. And his younger 

brother was just diagnosed with probable 

Alzheimer’s disease. Does he have it too?

11. The older a person gets, the less he or she 

needs sleep. T/F

12. Forgetfulness and even a little confusion 

are not necessarily signs of Alzheimer’s 

disease. T/F

13. Sam’s brother having Alzheimer’s 

disease means Sam will get it too. T/F

Osteoporosis, heart disease, eye problems, trouble sleeping—just to name 

some of the things we’ve discussed. 

No wonder older people seem to take 

a lot of medicine!

14. Which age group uses the most 

prescription medicines?

a. Under age 18

b. Age 19 to 64

c. Over age 65
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 5

Mary is 66. Her husband

had a heart attack and died two

years ago. She’s gained weight

in recent years although her

eating habits haven’t

changed. This makes her

wonder if she is still attractive.

Last month George, a man she 

met in her local senior center,

asked her out. After a few

dates, he suggested

they become more

intimate. Her husband

had lost interest in having sex several years 

before he died, so Mary was surprised, but 

also pleased. George added to her surprise 

by asking if she had been with other men 

and suggested they use a condom to avoid 

HIV/AIDS.

15. Why might Mary be gaining weight?

a. Her body needs less food as she

gets older.

b. She is not exercising as much as 

in the past.

c. Both of the above

d. Neither of the above

16. People begin to lose interest in sex around 

age 50. T/F

17. What is George thinking? Do older 

people really have to worry about 

getting HIV/AIDS? Y/N
6 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

Jim, 82, lives alone on a pension. 

To save money in the winter he keeps his 

thermostat at 62, even when it’s freezing 

outside. Now it’s summer, and he refuses to 

buy a window air conditioner. When the 

weather report predicted 100° heat, his son 

Bob offered to pick Jim up and let him 

spend the day in Bob’s cool house. Jim was 

grumpy and refused to leave his home.

18. Like Jim, most older people live alone. 

T/F

19. Do people always get grumpy as they 

age? Y/N

20. What about the heat? Can too much 

heat or cold be dangerous for older 

people? Y/N

It seems like older people are always 

going to the doctor. Or, is that just another myth about the aging population?

Let’s see.

21. Americans are living longer, 

so they are sicker and more 

disabled. T/F
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 7

Harriet is 68. She is always on 

the go—busy doing things around her 

house. And she has always managed the 

finances for her husband and herself because 

he worked long hours and she was a homemaker. But, lately she has been bothered by 

urinary incontinence. Sometimes she can’t 

make it to the bathroom in time. Then last 

month, while hurrying to the bathroom, she 

slipped on a throw rug in the hall, fell, and 

broke her hip. She spent almost a week in 

the hospital and then several weeks in a care 

facility getting therapy. Her husband had 

trouble at home finding what he needed to 

pay the bills.

22. Urinary accidents are a fact of life for older 

people. T/F

23. Older people can’t help falling. T/F

24. Make sure someone you trust knows 

where all your important papers are. T/F
8 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

John, age 72, appears to be fairly 

healthy, but he takes several medicines regularly. There are pills for his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis, plus a 

multi-vitamin. It’s a little hard to keep track 

of them all. What he would really like is 

a “fountain of youth” pill. Maybe he’ll try 

some of those dietary supplements. His 

daughter says exercise, eat well, and keep 

your mind active—you’ll stay young at heart. 

She wants him to get a computer and learn 

how to email his grandchildren. He says, 

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

25. John should try a dietary supplement 

because we know they are natural, safe, 

and effective. T/F

26. John is right. Older people can’t learn 

new things. T/F

27. Will there ever be a “fountain of youth” 

pill? Likely/Unlikely

So, since more Americans are living longer, will there be more people who are 

100 or older in the future? 

28. In 2002 there were an estimated 

58,684 centenarians, people over 

the age of 100, in America. The estimated number of centenarians in the 

U.S. in the year 2050 could be:

a. 112,000

b. 238,000

c. 1,149,500
Answers
10 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

1. c. Today, there are more than 4 million 

Americans 85 and older. That number is 

expected to grow almost 5 times larger 

by the year 2050, when the youngest 

baby boomers turn 86. That means 

there may then be more than 20 million 

people over age 85 in the U.S. Some 

researchers forecast even larger numbers—perhaps more than 28 million 

by that year.

2. No. Physical activity at any age can help 

make the heart, lungs, and muscles 

stronger. It may also lower blood pressure and, depending on the exercise, 

might help slow bone loss. The last 

page has information on how to contact 

the National Institute on Aging to get an 

exercise video and free exercise guide.

3. Yes to both questions. Women are at 

special risk for osteoporosis, but one in 

five Americans who have this disease 

or are at risk for developing it are men. 

Everyone can help prevent bone loss 

by eating foods rich in calcium and 

vitamin D and exercising regularly 

throughout life. Foods that have lots of 

calcium include milk and 

other dairy products, 

dark green 

leafy vegetables, salmon, 

sardines, 

answers
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 11

and tofu. Activities like walking, biking, 

playing tennis, and dancing can also 

help. Medicines are available for those 

who need more than diet and exercise.

4. Yes. Surprised? Heart disease is the 

number one killer of both women and 

men. Everyone can lower their risk 

greatly by not smoking, following a 

healthy diet, being physically active, 

and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.

5. True. It’s never too late to enjoy the 

benefits of quitting smoking. Soon after 

stopping, people of any age have better 

blood flow in their arms and legs. In a few 

months, breathing should become easier. 

People feel better and could possibly live 

longer. They certainly save money. After 

a time, food may even taste better. These 

are just a few of the reasons why it’s a 

good idea to quit no matter what your age. 

Of course stopping is hard, but there are 

more kinds of help available than ever 

before. Talk to your health care provider. 

And, think how proud and happy Sylvia’s 

children and grandchildren will be.

6. False. Many older people can beat cancer, especially if it’s found early in the 

course of the disease. That means that 

screening in this age group is very 

important.

answers
7. c. Did you expect cancer to be the 

answer? Well, you were correct. If you 

combine deaths from all types of cancer, 

then cancer is the second leading cause 

of death in older people. But, those 

numbers could be lowered. With early 

testing and treatment many people with 

cancer can be cured or at least add years 

to their lives. So, be sure to have regular 

checkups and go to your health care 

provider if you have any concerns. 

8. Yes. More than half of people over age 

65 lose eyesight because a cataract is 

clouding the lens of an eye. In cataract 

surgery the surgeon removes the 

cataract and puts in a new artificial lens. 

This is very successful at restoring sight. 

More than 90 percent of people say 

they can see better after this surgery, 

and this may make Harry a safer driver.

9. No. It is not possible to pick an age at 

which everyone is too old to drive. In 

general, older drivers—those over 65—

are safe drivers. They drive fewer miles 

and avoid risky behaviors like speeding, 

drinking and driving, or driving at night, 

in heavy traffic, or on interstate highways. 

But, changes with age and disease in 

how the eyes, ears, brain, and body 

work may make things like yielding 

right-of-way, turning (especially left 

turns), changing lanes, and passing more 

troublesome for an older person behind 

the wheel. Both drivers and passengers 

12 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

answers
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 13

over 70 are also more likely to die from 

crash injuries because their bodies are 

more fragile and more easily hurt in an 

accident. Some of the reasons for older 

drivers’ problems cannot be changed, 

but others, like Harry’s cataract, can. 

Older people should get their vision and 

hearing checked regularly. Older drivers 

like Harry might feel more secure about 

driving if they take refresher training to 

improve their driving skills.

10. No. For many people their later years are 

an active, rewarding time of life. But others 

may become depressed. They could have 

trouble sleeping, remembering, or making 

decisions or could eat more or less than 

usual. If Harry’s wife continues to worry 

about whether he is depressed, she 

should urge him to see a doctor. Once 

the cause of depression is known, the 

problem can often be treated. Depression 

can be caused by medicine or by 

answers
14 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

physical illness or stress. Family support, 

psychotherapy, or antidepressants may 

help. If someone seems to be depressed, 

he or she should get help from a doctor 

or mental health counselor. Depression 

is serious, but help is available.

11. False. In later life it’s the quality of 

sleep that changes, not total sleep time. 

Older people may have trouble falling 

asleep or staying asleep. They may nap 

more during the day than a younger 

person does. Waking up tired every 

day, however, is not normal and can be 

helped. Sam needs to check with his 

health care provider. 

12. True. Some people worry about 

losing their memory as they 

grow older, but this 

does not always 

happen. Finding 

a hobby, keeping an active 

mind, eating 

well, and 

staying 

physically active 

will help many people remain alert and 

clear-headed. Sometimes, however, a 

minor head injury, high fever, poor 

nutrition, adverse drug reaction, or 

depression, for example, can temporarily 

lead to confusion. When this happens, 

treating the problem may make the 

confusion disappear. There are other 

answers
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 15

conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, 

that cause permanent damage to the 

brain and grow worse with time.

13. False. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one 

form of dementia, a brain disorder that 

makes it hard for people to carry out 

their daily activities. AD, the most 

common form of dementia among older 

people, affects the parts of the brain that 

control thinking, memory, and language. 

Although it gets more common as people 

grow older, AD is not a normal part of 

aging. A rare form of AD, familial AD, 

occurs between the ages of 30 and 60 and 

may be inherited. There is no obvious 

family pattern in the more common 

form that occurs later in life. About 

4.5 million Americans suffer from AD.

14. c. Almost 3/4 of people over 65 years 

old take at least one prescription drug, 

while only 1/5 of people under age 18 

and less than 2/5 of people 19 to 64 do. 

Older people often have several health 

problems. More than one drug may be 

needed to treat them. They are also 

more likely to have a serious reaction 

to a drug. It’s a good idea for everyone, 

no matter what age, to have a list of all 

prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements they use. They 

should bring the list whenever they 

have an appointment with any health 

care provider. It’s also wise to check 

with a doctor on a regular basis to 

answers
16 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

make sure all drugs and doses still 

make sense.

15. c. Many people gain weight as they 

age. Along with changes in how the 

body uses food, older people are often 

less active. That means they usually 

need fewer calories—less food. But, a 

balanced diet is still important. So are 

valuable nutrients. An unplanned gain 

or loss of 10 pounds over 6 months is 

reason to check with a doctor.

16. False. A slowing of sexual response is 

a normal part of growing older. But, 

many older people want and can lead 

an active, satisfying sex life, no matter 

their age. When problems develop, they 

may be caused by illness such as Mary’s 

husband’s heart disease, disability, or 

medicines. Often, something can be 

done—for example, treat the illness, 

change a prescription, try a different 

position, or see a counselor.

17. Yes. George is right. About 10% of all 

people with AIDS in the United States 

were 50 or older when first diagnosed. 

This means that older people having 

sex need to take exactly the same precautions as younger people. They need 

to make sure their partners are HIVnegative and free of other sexually 

transmitted diseases. And, they need to 

protect themselves by using a male or 

female latex condom during sex. If they 

answers
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 17

use illicit drugs, they should not share 

needles or other materials.

18. False. Most older people are not alone. 

About 8 of every 10 older men and 

6 of every 10 older women live in 

family settings—with a husband, wife, or 

other family members. Less than 

5 percent of people over age 65 live 

in nursing homes.

19. No. Personality has long been considered 

one of the constants of life. That is, 

people are likely to behave with age 

much as they have since becoming adults. 

However, recent research suggests that 

your personality may even change some 

throughout your life. So, it’s possible 

that someone in their 60s, 70s, or 80s 

could become more conscientious and 

agreeable and less neurotic as they 

answers
18 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

grow older. While small changes in 

personality are possible, major changes 

in personality are unlikely. For example, 

an outgoing, cheerful, assertive person 

is probably not going to change with 

aging into a solitary, cheerless, submissive person. In the same way, a calm, 

easygoing person does not change into 

a grumpy old person because of aging. 

Bob needs to question why his dad is 

grumpier than usual. Perhaps it’s the heat.

20. Yes. A change in behavior such as 

becoming confused or grouchy can be a 

sign of heat stroke during hot weather 

or hypothermia in the cold. Getting too 

hot or too cold can make it hard for the 

human body to keep its temperature 

around 98.6°. The brain works as the 

body’s thermostat. For example, if a 

answers
person gets too hot, the brain sends 

messages to glands in the skin to 

release fluids, the person sweats, and 

the skin cools down. If a person gets 

too cold, the brain sends messages to 

the muscles to start shivering, and that 

activity helps warm the person. With 

age, this thermostat in the body may 

not work as well as it did before. As a 

result, hot or cold weather is more likely 

to make an older person very sick more 

quickly. Bob should check on his dad 

and get him medical help if Jim does 

not seem better.

21. False. As our population ages, the actual 

number of disabled older people is 

expected to grow. But disability rates 

for people age 65 and older—the percentage with a disability—are falling. 

For example, in 1982, 26 percent of 

Americans age 65 and older suffered a 

chronic disability, while by 1999, that 

percentage had fallen to 20 percent. 

Experts don’t know how long this decline 

will continue, but it is a hopeful sign 

that disability can be reduced, even at 

advanced ages.

22. False. Millions of older people, especially 

older women like Harriet, have urinary 

incontinence or bladder control problems. But these are symptoms, not a 

disease. Incontinence can be caused by 

infection, disease or injury, or the use of 

certain medicines. No matter the cause, 

WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

answers

19
treatment can usually help. Not treating 

incontinence might lead to serious 

complications like Harriet’s fall.

23. False. Falls are a common cause of 

injuries in people over age 65, but they 

don’t have to be. It is important to take 

steps to avoid falling. Vision and hearing 

should be checked regularly. There are 

ways to make sure the home is safe. 

Loose rugs, like the one Harriet slipped 

on, should be fastened down or 

removed, and electrical cords should be 

put out of the way. Some medicines 

can affect balance and coordination. 

A doctor can talk about any side effects 

of medicines he or she prescribes.

24. True. Whether someone has a large 

family or just a spouse or lives alone 

with no relatives nearby, he or she 

needs to prepare for the uncertainties 

of the future. No one expects to be too 

sick to pay bills, take care of his or her 

home, or to say how he or she wants 

to be cared for. But, sometimes this 

happens. That’s why everyone should 

make sure someone they trust knows 

where all the important papers are 

kept—whether it’s the checkbook, 

bills, a will, or an advanced directive 

for health care decisions.

25. False. We don’t know which supplements are effective or even safe. 

Dietary supplements are “big business” 

20 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

answers
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 21

today. Many different types are sold, 

and you don’t even need a prescription 

to buy them. But, it is not the U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration’s job to 

check dietary supplements before they 

go on the market. In addition, the supplements’ ingredients may have several 

effects on your body and can interfere 

with medications you may already be 

taking. Some have serious side effects. 

Make sure your doctor knows which 

supplements you are taking, even 

vitamins.

26. False. People of any age can still learn. 

There is even research showing that 

older people can improve skills they’ve 

had for years, for example, driving. 

Older people can also learn new skills 

like using computers to get information 

and keep in touch with their families.

answers
22 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

27. Unlikely. Scientists have not found a 

magic drink or pill that will prolong 

lives and don’t imagine they ever will. 

Aging is a complex process. There are 

things people can do to stay healthy 

and active as they age. John’s daughter 

was on the right track. Eating a balanced diet, keeping mind and body 

active, not smoking, getting regular 

checkups, and practicing safety habits 

at home and in the car will help everyone make the most of life.

28. c. Using an estimate based on the 

2000 census, the U.S. Census Bureau 

has suggested there could be 1,149,500 

centenarians in America in 2050. 

However, depending on changes in 

mortality rates at older ages and migration/immigration rates, the number 

could be lower or higher.

answers
WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 23

1. a. b. c.

2. Y / N

3. Y / N Y / N

4. Y / N

5. T / F

6 T / F

7. a. b. c.

8. Y / N

9. Y / N

10. Y / N

11. T / F

12. T / F

13. T / F

14. a. b. c.

15. a. b. c. d.

16. T / F

17. Y / N

18. T / F

19. Y / N

20. Y / N

21. T / F

22. T / F

23. T / F

24. T / F

25. T / F

26. T / F

27. Likely / Unlikely

28. a. b. c.

answer Sheet
24 WHAT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

1. a. b. c.

2. Y / N

3. Y / N Y / N

4. Y / N

5. T / F

6 T / F

7. a. b. c.

8. Y / N

9. Y / N

10. Y / N

11. T / F

12. T / F

13. T / F

14. a. b. c.

15. a. b. c. d.

16. T / F

17. Y / N

18. T / F

19. Y / N

20. Y / N

21. T / F

22. T / F

23. T / F

24. T / F

25. T / F

26. T / F

27. Likely / Unlikely

28. a. b. c.

answer Sheet

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So, how did you do?

Did you already know everything? 

Or, perhaps some of the answers 

surprised you. How can you know that 

those surprising answers were actually 

true? All this information comes from 

the National Institute on Aging (NIA), 

part of the Federal Government’s 

National Institutes of Health at the 

U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. The NIA conducts 

and supports research on aging and 

educates the public about our findings. 

More information about many of the 

subjects discussed in this aging IQ test 

is available from the Institute in a series 

of fact sheets known as Age Pages. For 

a complete publications list contact:

National Institute on Aging

Information Center

Dept. IQ

PO Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

800-222-2225

800-222-4225 (TTY)

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation

to order publications (in English or 

Spanish), sign up for regular email alerts, 

or try our interactive version of What’s 

Your Aging IQ? online.

Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov 

(www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a 

senior-friendly website from the 

National Institute on Aging and 

the National Library of Medicine. 

This simple-to-use website features 

popular health topics for older adults. 

It has large type and a “talking” 

function that reads the text out loud.

Writer: 

Karin Kolsky

National Institute on Aging

Design:

Levine & Associates, Inc. 

Washington, DC
U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services

Public Health Service

National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Aging

NIH Publication No. 03-5431

Reprinted April 2006

First Printed August 2003