You may shrink and lose some hair, but your outlook on life becomes sunnier as you get older. Learn what else to expect.
1. You need to eat less as you get older. True False
True- You need about 20% fewer calories at age 80 than at age 30. Most of this is due to less activity, but your body also burns calories more slowly. If you eat less, be careful to get enough vitamins and calcium. Your body might not absorb certain nutrients as well as it used to, and medicines -- even antacids -- can interfere. A healthy diet helps protect your heart, memory, and bones.
2. After age 40, almost everyone has a harder time seeing things that are closer than 2 feet. True False
True-You may first notice it while trying to read a menu. Almost all adults get a vision problem called presbyopia, which means you have trouble seeing close up. It often starts in your early 40s. Fortunately, inexpensive, nonprescription reading glasses, which have magnifying lenses, can help. You can find a pair at your local drugstore. If you already wear glasses or contacts for distance, consider bifocals or no-line progressive lenses.
3. Your thinking abilities always begin to decline after your early 20s. True False
False- Your brain reaches its maximum size in your early 20s, and then it starts to shrink slowly. Blood flow also decreases over time. But some types of memory can improve throughout life, like your ability to recall concepts and facts. It’s just that “why” and “how” may be easier to recall than “what,” “when,” and “where.” Do your memory lapses interfere with daily living? Losing your keys is normal. Forgetting what they’re for is not.
4. You may have a harder time hearing, especially women’s and kids’ voices, as you age. True False
