Aside from the chronic ailments noted above, probably the most common fear of old-age is a loss of mental faculties. In reality, there is no conclusive evidence of a dramatic decline in intellectual functioning or memory due to age. Aging does commonly bring a loss of sight or hearing, and this can create the appearance of mental confusion. Overall, declines in mental capacity and increases in mental illness appear to affect only a small proportion of seniors and are not a major problem of old age. Actually, adolescents are more likely to suffer from depression than seniors.
Health is partly physical, but to a degree also depends on how people feel about themselves.
Somewhat surprisingly, most seniors view their health on the whole as good or excellent. Expectations vary from person to person. People look at others their own age and make a judgment of their own health in comparison with these others. There are, for example, sex differences regarding health among seniors just as there are among younger age groups. Women report more symptoms than men.