National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health
We all k n ow someone 

old . 

It might be a grandparent, a neighbor, or

maybe the person behind the counter at the

d ry cleaners. So we all think we know a lot

about growing old. But, what is norm a l

a g i n g? In this booklet, there are several very

s h o rt stories, each followed by a few re l a t e d

questions. Some are multiple-choice, 

some are true/false (T/F), and some yes/no

(Y/N). Test yourself to see what you know.

Tear out the answer sheet on page 23, and

then circle the answers you think are right.

When you are done, compare your answers

with the correct ones starting on page 10.

L e t ’s 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. ba bi es and ch ild ren under age 5

b. ch ild ren age 15 to 19

c. people over age 85
W H AT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 1

P hy ll is is 65. R e c e n t l y, she had a

DXA-scan to check her bone density. 

The results showed she was at risk of a hip,

wrist, or spine fracture because she has

o s t e o p o rosis. Her doctor wants her to start

doing weight-bearing activities to incre a s e

the density of her bones and balance 

e x e rcises to help her avoid falls. 

In addition, the doctor 

suggested she get her 

husband to do those 

activities with her to 

p rotect his bones. 

A program of 

30 minutes of 

moderate-level 

activity on most 

days of the week 

might also help 

p revent heart 

disease in both 

of them. 

2. Is Phyllis too old to exercise? Y / N

3. Should her husband worry about his

bones? Y/N 

Do men get osteoporosis also? Y / N

4. Does Phyllis have to worry about heart

disease too? Y / N
Sy l via is 65. She has

smoked cigarettes since she

was 20. Her children and

g r a n d c h i l d ren all want her to

quit. But several

members of Sylvia’s

family died of lung cancer

in their old age. She

believes it’s too late now 

to make a diff e rence. 

5. Even if an older person has smoked

tobacco his or her whole life, it still

makes sense to quit. T / F

6. G e t t i ng tested for ca n cer can be just as

i m p o rta n t when people are older as w h e n

t h e y a re yo unge r. T / F

2 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

Is cancer still a major cause of death in

older people?

7. In 2006, heart disease was the

number 1 cause of death. What

was number 2?

a. stroke and related diseases

b. chronic respiratory disease, 

such as chronic bronchitis, 

emphysema, and asthma

c. cancer
W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 3

H a r ryis 80 and seems depre s s e d

l a t e l y. His wife has noticed a change in his

mood around the house and is concern e d .

He has always loved to drive his car. But,

l a t e l y, 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 surg e ry. 

8. Is cataract surgery likely to help Harry

see better? Y / N

9. Since he is 80, will Harry have to stop

driving his car anyway? Y / N

10. Depression isn’t normal at Harry’s age.

Maybe he needs to see a doctor. T / F
4 W H AT ’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. H e

often takes an afternoon nap.

Maybe it’s

because he has

a lot on his mind

right now. His younger

b rother was just diagnosed

with Alzheimer’s disease. Sam’s worr i e d

because he seems to be more forgetful than

b e f o re—even a little confused sometimes.

Could he have Alzheimer’s too? 

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

she needs sleep. T/F

12. Forgetfulness and even a little confusion

could come from a variety of causes, not

necessarily Alzheimer’s disease. T/F

13. Could Sam develop Alzheimer’s

disease like his brother has? Y/N

O s t e o p o rosis, heart disease, eye 

p roblems, trouble sleeping—just to

name some of the things we’ve 

discussed. No wonder older people

seem to take a lot of medicine!

14. W h i ch age group us es the most

p rescription medici n es ?

a. Under age 18

b. Age 18 to 44

c. Age 65 and older
W H AT’S YOUR AGING IQ? 5

Ma ry is 6 6. 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

b e f o re 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

H I V / A I D S .

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. Do people begin to lose interest in sex

around age 50? Y / N

17. What is George thinking? Do older 

people really have to worry about

getting HIV/AIDS? Y/N
6 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

Jim, 82 ,lives alone on a pension. 

To save money in the winter he keeps his

t h e rmostat at 62°, even when it’s fre e z i n g

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

buy a window air conditioner. When the

weather re p o rt predicted 100° heat, his son

Bob off e red to pick Jim up and let him

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

g rumpy 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 often are

sick and have trouble getting aro u n d .

O r, is that just another myth about

the aging population? L e t ’s see.

21. A m e r i ca ns a re actu all y l i vi ng

l o nge r. Bu t a re older America ns

als o :

a. Healthier

b. Sicker and more disabled
W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 7

H a r r i e t is 6 8. She is always on 

the go—busy doing things around her house

and managing the family finances. Lately she 

has been bothered more and more 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 bro k e

her hip. She spent almost a week in the 

hospital and then several weeks re c o v e r i n g i n

a care facility getting therapy. Her husband

had trouble at home finding what he needed

to pay the bills.

22. Urinary accidents don’t have to be 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 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

John, age 72, appears to be fairly

h e a l t h y, but he takes several medicines 

re g u l a r l y. There are pills for his high blood

p re s s u re, 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 check with his doctor before

trying a dietary supplement. Even

though they may claim to be natural,

does that mean safe and effective? Y / N

26. Older people can’t learn new things. T / F

27. Is there a “fountain of youth” treatment?

Y / N

So, since more Americans are living

l o n g e r, will there be many more 

people who are 100 or older in the future?

28. In 2007 there we re an est i ma te d

8 0 ,771 ce n te na r ia ns, people ove r

the age of 100, in America. The 

est i ma ted number of ce n te na r ia ns

in the U.S. in the year 2050 co uld be:

a. 112,000

b. 238,000

c. 600,000
Answers
10 W H AT’S YOUR AGING IQ?

1. c. To d a y, there are more than 6 million

Americans 85 and older. That number is

expected to more than triple by the year

2050, when the youngest baby boomers

t u rn 86. That means there may then be

m o re than 20 million people over age

85 in the U.S.

2. No. Physical activity at any age can help

make the heart, lungs, and muscles

s t ro n g e r. It may also lower blood 

p re s s u re and, depending on the exercise, 

might help slow bone loss. See the

inside back cover to learn how to 

contact the National Institute on Aging

for free information on exerc i s e .

3. Yes to both questions. Women are at

special risk for osteoporosis, but one in

five Americans who have this disease or

a re at risk for developing it are men.

E v e ryone 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 gre e n

leafy vegetables, salmon, sardines, and

tofu. Activities like walking, biking, 

playing tennis, and dancing can

also help. Medicines are

available for

those for

whom diet

and exerc i s e

a re not

e n o u g h .
W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 11

4. Yes. S u r p r i s e d? H e a rt disease is the

number one killer of both women and

men. Everyone can lower their risk

g reatly by not smoking, following a

healthy diet, being physically active,

and keeping blood pre s s u re and 

c h o l e s t e rol levels under contro l .

5. True. I t ’s never too late to enjoy the

b e n e f i t s 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

l o n g e r. They certainly save money. After

a time, food may even taste better. These

a re 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

m o re kinds of help available than ever

b e f o re. Talk to your healthcare pro v i d e r.

6. True. Many older people can beat 

c a n c e r, especially if it’s found early in

the course of the disease. That means

that testing in this age group can be useful.

7. c. Did you expect cancer to be the

a n s w e r? 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 re g u l a r
checkups and go to your healthcare

p rovider if you have any concerns. 

8. Yes. M o re than half of people over age

80 have a cataract or had one re m o v e d

in the past. A cataract clouds the lens o f

an eye. In cataract surg e ry the surg e o n

removes the cataract and puts in a n e w

a rtificial lens. This is very successful a t

restoring sight. More than 90 percent 

of people say they can see better after

this surg e ry, and it may make Harry a

safer driver.

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

which everyone is too old to drive. In

general, older drivers—those over 65—

a re 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 in h o w the eyes, ears, brain,

12 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?
W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 13

and body work may make things like

yielding right-of-way, turning (especially

left t u rns), changing lanes, and passing

m o re t roublesome for an older person

behind the wheel. Some of the re a s o n s

for older drivers’ problems cannot be

changed, but others, like Harry ’s

cataract, can. Older people should get

their vision and hearing checked 

re g u l a r l y. Older drivers like Harry might

feel more secure about driving if they

take re f resher training to improve their

driving skills.

10. True. For many people, their later years

a re an active, re w a rding 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 depre s s e d ,

she should encourage him to see a doctor. 

Once the cause of depression is known,

the problem can often be tre a t e d .

D e p ression can be caused by medicine 

or by physical illness or stress. Family 

s u p p o rt, psychotherapy, or antidepre s s a n t s

may help. If someone seems to be

d e p ressed, he or she should get help

f rom a doctor or mental health counselor.

Depression is serious, but help 

is available.
14 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

1 1 . Fals e . 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

m o re during the day than a younger

person does. Waking up tired every

d a y, however, is not normal and can be

helped. Sam needs to check with his

h e a l t h c a re pro v i d e r. 

1 2 . Tr u e . Some people worry about losing

their memory as they grow older, and

sometimes being forgetful or confused

might be an early sign of dementia. But

this does not always happen. Finding a

h o b b y, keeping an active mind,

eating well, and staying 

physically active might 

help many people

remain alert and

c l e a r- h e a d e d .

S o m e t i m e s ,

h o w e v e r, a

minor head

i n j u ry, high

f e v e r, poor

n u t r i t i o n ,

d rug side effects, or depression, for

example, can temporarily lead to 

confusion. When this happens, 

t reating the problem may relieve the

confusion. Other conditions, such as

A l z h e i m e r’s disease, cause perm a n e n t

damage to the brain and grow worse

with time.
W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 15

13 . Yes . I t ’s possible. Alzheimer’s disease is

one form of dementia, a brain disord e r

that makes it hard for people to carry

out their daily activities. People with a

family member with Alzheimer’s 

disease can be more likely to develop it.

But that is not necessarily the case.

R a re forms of Alzheimer’s, such as

early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease,

occur between the ages of 30 and 60.

These arise because of certain genes

that we inherit from our parents. The

role of genes in late-onset Alzheimer’s ,

which is by far the most common form

and occurs later in life, is not as simple.

At least one, and possibly several genes

have been identified that might play a

p a rt in someone developing late-onset

A l z h e i m e r’s. However, there is no 

obvious family pattern of inheritance.

Instead, the gene or genes appear to

i n c rease someone’s risk of developing

A l z h e i m e r’s disease.

1 4. c. M o re than 8 out of 10 people age 65

and older take at least one pre s c r i p t i o n

d rug. But only 1 of every 4 people

under age 18 and about 1 of every 3

age 18 to 44 do. Older people often

have several health problems. More

than one drug may be needed to tre a t

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 an updated list of all prescription 

and over-the-counter medicines and
16 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

supplements they use. They should

bring the list whenever they have an

appointment with any healthcare

p ro v i d e r. It’s also wise to check with a

doctor on a re g u l a r basis to 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 a

reason to check with the doctor.

16. N o. A slowing of sexual response is a

n o rmal part of growing older. But,

many older people want and can lead

an active, satisfying sex life. When

p roblems develop, they may be caused

by illness such as Mary ’s husband’s

h e a rt disease, disability, or medicines.

Often, something can be done—for

example, treat the illness, change a 

p rescription, try a diff e rent position, or

see a counselor.

17. Yes . G e o rge is right. About 15 perc e n t

of all people newly diagnosed with

HIV/AIDS in the United States are 50

or older. This means that older people

having sex need to take exactly the

same precautions as younger people.

They need to make sure their part n e r s
a re HIV-negative 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 use illicit drugs, they should

not share needles or other materials.

1 8 . 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 

4 percent of people over age 65 live 

in nursing homes.

19 . N o. Personality has long been considere d

one of the constants of life. That is, as

people age, they are likely to behave

much as they have their whole adult life.

H o w e v e r, recent re s e a rch suggests that

your personality may change slightly as

you grow older. While small variations in

W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 17
18 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

personality are possible, major changes in

personality are unlikely. For example, an

outgoing, cheerful, assertive young 

person is probably not going to turn with

aging into a solitary, cheerless, submissive

older person. In the same way, a calm,

easygoing person does not become a

g rumpy old person because of aging. 

So, it’s possible that someone in their 

60s, 70s, or 80s could become more 

conscientious and agreeable and less 

n e u rotic as they grow older. However,

Bob needs to question why his dad is

g rumpier than usual. Perhaps it’s the heat.

2 0. 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

people to keep their body temperature
a round 98.6°. The brain works as the

b o d y ’s thermostat. For example, if a

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. Wi t h

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

m o re quickly. Bob should check on his

dad often, try again to move him to

someplace cool, and get him medical

help if Jim does not seem better.

2 1 . a. For several decades, the perc e n t a g e o f

people age 65 and older with a disability

has been getting smaller. For example, in

1982, 26 percent of Americans age 65

and older suff e red a chronic disability,

and by 2004, that percentage had fallen

to 19 percent. Now, there are signs that

this decline might be leveling off in 

people in their 60s, but not yet in older

g roups. Still, it is important to re m e m b e r

that disability can be reduced, even at

advanced ages.

22 . Tr u e . Millions of older people, especially

older women like Harriet, have urinary

incontinence or bladder control pro b l e m s .

But these are symptoms, not a disease.

Incontinence can be caused by infection,

W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

19
disease or injury, or the use of cert a i n

medicines. No matter the cause, 

t reatment can usually help. Not tre a t i n g

incontinence might lead to serious 

complications like Harr i e t ’s fall.

23 . Fals e . Falls are a common cause of

injuries in people over age 65, but they

d o n ’t have to be. It is important to take

steps to avoid falling. Vision and hearing

should be checked re g u l a r l y. 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 eff e c t s

of medicines he or she pre s c r i b e s .

2 4. True. Whether someone has a larg e

family or just a spouse or lives alone

with no relatives nearby, he or she

needs to pre p a re 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 a trusted family member or

friend knows where things like the

checkbook, bills, a will, or an advance

d i rective for healthcare decisions are kept.

20 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?
W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ? 2

25 . N o. We don’t know which supplements

a re effective or even safe. Dietary 

supplements are big business today.

Many diff e rent types are sold, and you

d o n ’t need a prescription to buy them.

And, no Federal agency has the job of

checking the safety of these dietary

supplements before they go on the

market. In addition, the supplements’

i n g redients may have several effects on

your body and can interf e re with 

medications you may already be taking.

Some have serious side effects. Let your

doctor know which supplements you

a re taking, even vitamins.

2 6. Fals e . People of any age can still learn .

T h e re is even re s e a rch 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 inform a t i o n

and keep in touch with their families.
22 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

27. N o. Scientists have not found a magic

drink or pill that will prolong lives.

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 re g u l a r

checkups, and practicing safety habits

at home and in the car might help

e v e ryone make the most of life.

2 8 . c. In 2007, using an estimate based on

the 2000 census, the U.S. Census

B u reau suggested there could be

600,000 centenarians in America in

2050. However, depending on changes

in mortality rates at older ages and

migration/immigration rates, the 

number could easily shift.
W H AT ’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. T / F

11. T / F

12. T / F

13. Y / N

14. a . b. c.

15. a . b. c. d .

16. Y / N

17. Y / N

18. T / F

19. Y / N

20. Y / N

21. a . b.

22. T / F

23. T / F

24. T / F

25. Y / N

26. T / F

27. Y / N

28. a . b. c.
24 W H AT ’S YOUR AGING IQ?

SHARE YOUR AGING IQ QUIZ 

WITH A FRIEND

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. T / F

11. T / F

12. T / F

13. Y / N

14. a . b. c.

15. a . b. c. d .

16. Y / N

17. Y / N

18. T / F

19. Y / N

20. Y / N

21. a . b.

22. T / F

23. T / F

24. T / F

25. Y / N

26. T / F

27. Y / N

28. a . b. c.
S o, how did you do?

Did you already know every t h i n g? O r,

did some of the answers surprise you?

How can you know that those surprising

answers were actually tru e? All this information comes from the National Institute

on Aging (NIA), part of the Federal

G o v e rn m e n t ’s National Institutes of

Health at the U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services. The NIA conducts

and supports re s e a rch on aging and educates the public about our findings. More

i n f o rmation about many of the subjects

discussed in this aging IQ test is available

f rom the Institute in a series of free fact

sheets called A g e P a g e s. For a complete 

publications list, contact :

N AT I O N A L I N ST I T U T E O N AGI NG

I N F O R M ATIO N CE N T E R

PO Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

www.nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol

To sign up for regular email alerts about

new publications and other inform a t i o n

f rom the NIA or to try our interactive 

version of W h a t ’s Your Aging IQ? online, go

to www. n i a . n i h . g o v / H e a l t h I n f o rm a t i o n .

Visit NIHSeniorHealth 

( w w w. n i h s e n i o rhealth.gov), a 

s e n i o r-friendly website from the National

Institute on Aging and the National

L i b r a ry of Medicine. This website has

health information for older adults.

Special features make it simple to use.

For example, you can click on a button

to have the text read out loud or to

make the type larg e r.

Writer: D e s i g n :

Karin Kolsky Levine & Associates, Inc. 

National Institute on Aging Washington, DC
U. S. D EPA RTME NT O F H E A LT H 

A ND HUM AN SE R V I CES

National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Aging

NIH Publication No. 10-5431

August 2003

Updated July 2010