People in their 70s can struggle with new tasks, research shows

[BeyondGeography]

For people in their mid-70s such as myself, the 2020 presidential campaign is an oddly personal experience. Among the front-runners for the Democratic and Republican nominations are two men our age (Joe Biden, 76, and Bernie Sanders, 77) and another just a few years behind us: Donald Trump, 72, the oldest man ever elected president. If Trump had lost in 2016, Hillary Clinton, at 69, would have been the second-oldest person ever elected.


Is this okay? Can politicians our age be effective presidents?

...Studies of old people conclude that between 16 percent and 23 percent of Americans over 65 experience some form of cognitive impairment. Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology found that these subjects performed worse than others on tasks involving working memory — the ability to remember information while manipulating it, as when calculating the tip on a restaurant bill — and that they’re more impaired when those tasks become more complex. Older adults also have difficulties with tasks that require dividing or switching attention, like cooking while chatting on the phone. On tests of reasoning, memory and cognitive speed, the average scores for adults in their early 70s were near the 20th percentile of the population, whereas the average performance for adults in their early 20s was near the 75th percentile. A Mayo Clinic study of 161 cognitively normal adults between 62 and 100 years of age showed that declines in learning ability closely track the passage of time. “Research has shown that concept formation, abstraction, and mental flexibility decline with age, especially after age 70, as older adults tend to think more concretely than younger adults,” according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who surveyed several studies. I would hope that impaired executive functioning is not the sort of torture Americans want their president to suffer.

...Any given human could function at a high level well into his or her dotage. But these are outliers. The overwhelming majority decline. This happens to different people at different ages, but scientists have established that decline accelerates with advancing age: In a study by the University of Virginia, adults between the ages of 61 and 96 showed a decrease in cognitive speed twice as great as adults under age 60, and a drop-off in memory four times as great. Memory loss causes “slowed processing speed, reduced ability to ignore irrelevant information, and decreased use of strategies to improve learning and memory,” according to the University of Alabama’s meta-study.

More at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2019/04/09/feature/research-says-septuagenarians-struggle-with-new-tasks-thats-bad-news-for-several-2020-candidates/

[rzemanfl]

1. I am 71. This needed to be said. K&R n/t

[delisen]

10. I think it is good to get prejudice out in the open

[BeyondGeography]

14. And climate change is a myth too

Because, you know, science.

[delisen]

20. No need to attack. I believe the piece reveals prejudice.

I keep up with research on aging. I think the article is not well-sourced and is an example of prejudice against older Americans.

[BeyondGeography]

24. How so? Seems balanced to me

Democrats are overly invested in older politicians (see the average age of our House leadership and committee chairs, eg) so they should be open to understanding what that could mean for job performance.

If that doesn’t work, we could always refer to personal experience; I’m only pushing 60 and boy am I starting to suck at names.

[delisen]

61. What have you gotten better at?

[BeyondGeography]

62. Seeing things in slow motion and keeping my cool

[delisen]

64. I am glad.

[dawg day]

28. As a soon-to-be senior, I understand--

Aging varies. I've got friends in their 80s who hike every day-- and one is an inventor.

But I have several friends in their 80s who are incapable-- and one who has become newly hostile and even violent... because of the brain deterioration.
I've got friends in their early 70s who are well into dementia (who were college professors until incapable-- one was a judge-- that is, it's not that they didn't 'keep mentally active'. I have a friend in her 60s who is descending into darkness.

It's not that everyone will experience this. But we can't know. Vibrant aware people can rather suddenly deteriorate, and within four years be incapable of living by themselves. We just can't know.

This generally isn't something we need to worry about with people 55 and below.

Personally, I'm going to opt for younger candidates, old enough to have life experience and wisdom, but young enough that senility isn't a danger. We have lots of good candidates, so I can pick and choose.

I will, of course, support whoever gets the Democratic nomination. Anybody but Trump.

[True Blue American]

33. I am with you

Last edited Mon Apr 15, 2019, 11:24 AM - Edit history (1)

On that!

The elderly have life experience but we need the younger,fresh progressive.. The young are open to fresh ideas. New ways of dealing with problems. We can help, but it is their world.

I was really happy to see a young Obama win. If it had not been for the stubbrn obstruction of hateful old men we would be in a much better place today.

I hope and pray the average voter can now see what onstruction, vindictive tearing doown has done to our once proud Country.

[delisen]

60. I think it is all our world.

We live in a culture that has a long history of scapegoating, of creating and maintaining our groups to whom the doors of inclusion, participation, and opportunity to contribute are sealed.

You mention hateful old men-are you seeing that their younger counterparts can be just as hateful and just as exclusive? I think identifying individuals as part of a group, and then limiting their participation in the public space based upon their identity as a member of that group is a definition of prejudice.

In our politics a lot of damage has been done by younger men.The Republican tea party candidates were relatively young. They revoked against a group of legislators whom they considered older.

Ted Cruz, Devin Nunes, Trey Gowdy-all obstructionists in their 40s.

These are men born in 1970s.

Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933 while in his early 40s and 12 years later his country and part of the world lay in ruins.
Napoleon crowned himself emperor while in his 30s (He left a lot of dead bodies around Europe too).

Sociologists in the US are projecting that prejudice against older people and disabled people is changing so slowly that it will not disappear for 150 years. Racial prejudice is projected to last 120 years. Prejudice against fat people has also been enduring. I don't have the projections for women.
One bright spot is that prejudice against gay persons is projected to disappear in just 9 years.

[True Blue American]

63. Yes, I agree

But for the last few years it has been hateful old men who have tried to take us back to the 1950’s.

Of course there are many young men following the same path. Most learned at Daddy’s knee. They will never go away.

But the smart young ones have much better ideas. I am happy to watch them take over.

[qazplm135]

32. so you believe the science says there

is what zero evidence of cognitive decline? It's all made up? People 70+ have no mental degradation at all?

Generally speaking, men are stronger and faster physically than women. That's not prejudice, it's biology.

Cognitive decline with age is also biology.

[True Blue American]

35. Yet,at my age I am still quite capable

Of lifting heavy boxes, moving heavy furniture around!

Yes,we poor defenseless women need big strong men.

I watch my Dil work as hard as my Son does. She is an accomplished Food Scientist but is a very hard worker.

[qazplm135]

36. So you believe on average

Women are as strong and fast as men?

Because nowhere in there did I say women didn't work hard or lift heavy things, so I can only assume you believe that.

Science says you are wrong.

Science also says women on average are better at pain management and spatial awareness.

And both sexes are equal at intelligence overall.

But hey if you want to be offended feel free I guess.

[True Blue American]

38. Yes, I do.

I have seen tiny women do things. Men twice their size can do.

And I bet many women agree with me. Size has little to do with strength.

[cwydro]

41. And women are tougher than men. Can you imagine a man dealing with a monthly period?

Can you imagine a man dealing with childbirth?

Women are tough as nails.

[qazplm135]

43. Then why are the fastest runners

Longest runners, heaviest record lifters, fastest swimmers, all men?

If women and men are generally equal physically why do we have women's sports at all? Why isn't every sport coed?

Some sort of conspiracy?

The fact that some women are stronger or faster than some men doesn't say that on AVERAGE they aren't.

[BeyondGeography]

50. Watch it

You’ll be accused of men-ism.

[quickesst]

52. Just had to say....

.... that given the replies to your post, which I don't see any, I think someone finally understood what you were saying, and not what they thought you were saying. Facts and logic are wonderful things.

[delisen]

68. Don't recall saying science made up. Science is finding

that lifestyle may be a major driver of disability.

Stronger and faster-depends on how "strong" and "fast" are defined.

Even if you are defining strong as weightlifting or fast as running a race, we still find that many women are stronger and faster than many men.

In any case, in our society weightlifting and physical lifting objects are not as useful as they once were and so if most men are able to lift more weight than most women it is simply not as important as it once was; same with running fast.

However we have chosen to become a machine society and about strength and speed have new meanings.

Actually this is a benefit to men ho were physically strong and speedy in running. The increase utilization of thinking and employment and deployment of machine has been beneficial to men who once were labored to disability and death. The price of that benefit is that they no longer have a advantage due to personal strength and speed. I applaud the trade off, I prefer that men no longer be labored into infirmity.

[qazplm135]

69. sigh

yes there are plenty of women stronger and faster than plenty of men...but on AVERAGE, men are stronger and faster than women.

That's plain and simple biology. They are taller on average, have more muscle mass on average, etc.

The whole being that some things ARE biology. Race, intelligence, those things are not biology. So in all the ways that matter, men and women are equal. But in some ways that don't (like speed and strength) they are not.

As with age...we don't let folks under 21 drink, or folks under 16 have sex with adults or smoke, or folks under a certain age work. Because while there are "many" young people who could handle each of those things, the AVERAGE young person cannot.

And just like there are "many" older people who don't experience much of a decline mentally in their 70s, the AVERAGE person in their 70s does.

The exception cannot be used to disprove the rule.

[rzemanfl]

47. Did you intend to reply to me or to the OP?

I missed all the posts that followed until now because I was away swimming laps and busy with other things. I swim better now than I did when I was much younger, because I have had time to practice, a coach, Silver Sneakers and Florida weather. It does not mean I am as young as I used to be. I just swim better. Let's not talk about my eyesight, teeth, prostate or any other organ recital stuff.

[delisen]

70. I am glad you are swimming better.

I had originally trained in gerontology but had not practiced in that field. I am now returning to this field and am amazed and gratified to see so many older people living full lives and feeing optimistic.

I think medicare has been so beneficial and as it begins to address lifestyle with programs like silver sneakers it gets better.

[rzemanfl]

72. When I started lap swimming again I hadn't done it

since Kennedy was President. After about three years of swimming and six months of gym workouts I did some Silver Sneakers testing. Clearly I was not being tested against a representative age cohort, but against people who worked out. Let's just say there is room for improvement in some areas.

[lillypaddle]

45. I am 71 also

and it definitely needs to be said. I can just hear the screaming now.

[sandensea]

2. As they say, it's not the years in your life but the life in your years.

History is littered with people who shouldn't have been entrusted with matters of state at any age.

But they were useful to entrenched interests, so there they were.

I'd much rather have a well-seasoned head of state, but with a humanist outlook, than any fast-talking shill.

[delisen]

71. Well said. n/t

[Doodley]

3. What's the answer? No presidential candidates over 65? That would give out a terrible signal.

[KitSileya]

4. I am always surprised at those complaining about ageism in Presidential elections

After all, if they're not also working to lower the age of eligibility to 18 years, they're just being hypocrites. As long as there's a lower age limit, being against candidates above a certain age is not ageism. It's recognizing that not all ages are suitable for the onerous job as President.

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Well, most of us already know that this does happen, that age does affect people...

in different ways. rump is a perfect example of how age negatively affect some people, lashing out, coming up with extreme rationale and poor reasoning (more than his normal mode), etc. rump however is the exception. Didn't take care of himself, eats poorly, etc.

I experienced this in a few friends (extreme forgetfulness, etc.) and thank goodness we (their friends and family) stepped up to the plate and helped them along the way. They, however, were in their late 50s and early 60s, and not as old as a lot of us (including me) are. Most of us at that time were shocked at how quickly they went down, so I think illness, genes and environment play a major role in their demise. A terrible thing to witness.

On the other hand, there are tons of us that do not experience the negativism of aging. Perhaps its the combination of their ability to handle the coming of age and realizing the limits it can place on one as they age. This makes sense, after all, we have a vast library of life experiences to draw upon, to help us handle the things in life that come our way.

[True Blue American]

37. Trump was the same

When he was young. Throwing rocks at baby carriages. Sent off to Military School, he bevame worse.

He has always been a cheat, a con man. Age has little to do with it. He and his sister stole from their own Father.

[Arkansas Granny]

6. I am 72. I want someone younger than me to be elected.

I haven't decided on which candidate I'll support in the primaries, but it won't be Joe or Bernie. Nothing against either of them, we just need fresh faces.

[Arkansas Granny]

23. It appears that way. I love Joe and Bernie, but I want a younger person in office.

[True Blue American]

39. Count me on on that!

Fresh faces, fresh ideas.

[comradebillyboy]

55. Amen sister!

[dalton99a]

7. Well, America has a shortage of younger people

Hence the need for geriatric presidential candidates in both parties

[dawg day]

29. How do we have a shortage of young people?

The millennial generation is (now) as big as the baby boom generation.
Gen-X (which probably counts as "older" now <g&gt is quite small in contrast to the millennials.

There are plenty of good candidates under 60. I'll push for one of them (though I do love me some Liz .

[delisen]

8. Sad that the writer Kaiser, a man in decline (mid seventies)

wants us all to buy his recently published book on Congress and how it really works.

Given the statistics he presents in his courtesy op-ed ( as former managing editor of the Washington Post) I think it necessary to warn others that they should not waste their scarce resources buying a book from someone in cognitive decline about an important topic.

I aslo urge The Washington Post to stop printing material from former editors unless they first pass and score in the top 75 percentile on a battery of cognitive tests.



ok I am being sarcastic

[ecstatic]

9. I read an article that said the best way to prevent cognitive decline

is to constantly learn and study new things. Of the oldest candidates running, which of them are constantly studying and/or learning new information? I'd say Warren, and probably Biden as well (I assume he did a lot of studying/ reading as VP but I'm not clear on what he's been working on since leaving that position).

I haven't seen any evidence of Sanders absorbing or taking on new information but I have seen behavior suggesting cognitive decline.

[dawg day]

30. I'm sure that helps--

However, doing the crossword or getting a new degree isn't going to stave off Alzheimers or dementia. It can probably help people cope with the minor mental changes in those who don't have the real disease-- we can all do better with memory training and staying mentally active, whatever our age.

But I've seen way too many mentally active people go from bright and alert to confused in a few years. It's a physical illness.

[loyalsister]

11. It's a reality I won't ignore in the primary

The exceptions don't disprove the rule which are reflected in those results as well as average life spans. I'm glad we have a field that includes several candidates whose ages are at least some distance from the point of natural escalating physical and mental decline.

[BeyondGeography]

15. They should watch this clip first

[loyalsister]

18. Despite having only mediocre acting skills

Reagan was able to portray himself as youthful and energetic. Over the course of at least the last 70 yrs he is the only older candidate won when there was an obvious age difference.

[True Blue American]

40. Reagan could tell a joke.

He still ended up with Alzheimers. Mommdale is still brilliant.

[loyalsister]

16. I hope to see civil and productive debates

I am actually hearing a lot of people in their sixties and seventies express concerns about ageing as a reason for supporting a younger candidate.
Most people I know who have retired or are looking forward to retirement find it ridiculous that anyone would want to take on a hugely demanding job at their age or older. As one friend put it, "I have no business using stairs or driving a car at my age, and I damn sure don't want a president who is older than me."
It's a practical consideration that should be left to voters. We all know their ages so there should be no reason for any other candidate to exploit it as a personal attack.

[loyalsister]

19. Based on name recognition and gossip and assumptions

He has not even announced, so there is no such thing as a primary poll with him as a candidate.

[delisen]

22. Possibly they are generalizing from their personal infirmities

Millions of Americans of ll ages are unlikely to succeed as president or speaker of the house because they have never built up experienced capabilities over time or simply may have no talent or interest in these role; possibly millions may have personal characteristics making their success likely.

[loyalsister]

27. I'm sure they are

And it is undeniably common experience. Pretending the exception disproves the rule regarding age is reminiscent of the talk of people who smoked their whole lives and lived into their 90s. The reality is that the odds are still stacked against smokers.

[MustLoveBeagles]

21. I agree

It would backfire on the candidate who does it.

By the way, welcome to DU.

[MarcA]

25. After the next election it would be 79,78,74. n/t

[brewens]

26. All I can say is I worked for a blood center registering donors at blood drives. When we went to

using a computer tablet questionnaire, replacing the old paper donor questionnaire, it was invariably the older people that were pissy about it. Typical was an upset, "I don't do computers" or something similar. I would just lie to them, "it's not a computer, just like using your debit card." That actually worked sometimes.

[PeeJ52]

31. There is no definite cut off age. It could be 50 when mental capacity starts to decline...

It's all on the individual. There is also nothing to say someone can start showing symptoms at 70 and will have a good 6 or 7 years until they need help. It could be the next day. The person could be great for one day, two days, maybe even a week or two. Then one day they wake up and don't know who you are. Then that goes away.

You can't say when someone wouldn't be an effective pResident by age alone. However, when they say they don't know anything about WikiLeaks, only 2 1/2 years after saying it almost daily over 140 times, and they have trouble finding the right words such as misusing oranges in place of origins, or if they start rambling incoherently during a public speaking engagement and their propaganda television network cuts away because they are embarrassed to be showing it, then you might have an issue and need evaluation for suitability to perform their duties.

[Atticus]

34. Oh, yeah? Well let me tell you younger people------I-------don't------------. Sorry.

Lost it.

If I remember it later, I'll repost.

[True Blue American]

42. I

i reallyneed to remember your name!

Atlas,yeah that is it. Good ole Abe,or is it Abel.nah,that is the guy in the Bible. You held up the world, yeah, now I remember!

[BlueStater]

44. Plenty of reasons to find Biden an incredibly unappealing candidate aside from his age.

Some of his votes as a Senator were absolutely horrendous. I can't believe this guy is the frontrunner. If people actually closely examined his record, that would change real quick.

[DesertRat]

46. k&r

[IluvPitties]

48. And young people like me do crazy shit because of inexperience every day.

[treestar]

49. If they are still out there running, they are not declining

Over and over DUers will say they are older and they know how you decline but they aren't Joe Biden or Bernie and they likely are retired. Why don't Joe and Bernie or Dianne or Nancy or Ruth retire? They are doing something excited and are still excited to get out of bed in the morning and go to work. There are people who are only 40 who are not like that. If the people who don't decline are "outliers" maybe it makes sense that outliers are national leaders.

[Lazy Daisy]

51. And yet

Ruth Bader Ginsburg - 86
Nancy Pelosi - 79


One we give overwhelming support to uphold the rule of law on the highest court, the other we supported to be 3rd in line for the Presidency.
We don't seem to have any problem with either of them. Wonder why?

[BeyondGeography]

54. Because what could be better than praying for Ginsburg to outlive the Trump presidency?

[Lazy Daisy]

57. you completely missed the point

we trust these women but the OP is suggesting being older should keep a person from being trusted in high office

[BeyondGeography]

58. The article is about the vagaries of aging

It can be forgiven that it omitted increased risk of death as one of them.

[Irishxs]

53. I'm 69 and I also believe this. Some people are still working at their job, and

that is perfectly fine, but being president is not a normal job. It’s a 24/7 never quit job.

[Aussie105]

56. I struggle with

new tasks.
And old tasks too.
I'm 71.

The best age for a politician to become POTUS, is old enough to have gathered a lot of experience, yet still have fire in the belly.
And still be able to communicate properly.

Trump: no experience, no fire in the belly (just abusive revenge boiling away) and . . . . Orange? Covefe?

So, the best age? JFK's age, when he was elected? 43!

[tiredtoo]

59. At 78 years of age

I agree, we should seek a younger candidate.

[Cold War Spook]

65. I am 75,

My main problem is remembering words. Sometimes I read a post and want to respond to it. It is fine in my head, but by the time I get to writing something, it's not there anymore. Outside of that, I am fine. Looking forward to getting my new Kawasaki KLX 140 dirtbike.

[radical noodle]

66. I'm in my 70s

and it's not just a slight mental decline. There's a slight physical decline as well. I'm in great health, but I tire more easily and need more sleep than I did even 10 years ago.

[LanternWaste]

67. What new arbitrary (unofficial) age limit is then the collective sentiment...?

...and more importantly, on what objective evidence is that arbitrary measure based on?