Aging IQ Quiz

This is an excerpt from the Aging IQ quiz prepared by the National Institute on Aging to get people more aware and in tune with the senior population.

These are true or false statements...answer in your head before reading the explanation!

1. American families have by and large abandoned their older members.
2. Depression is a serious problem for older people.
3. The numbers of older people are growing.
4. The vast majority of older people are self sufficient.
5. Intelligence declines with age.
6. If a person has been smoking for 30 years, it does no good to quit.
7. Extremes of heat and cold can be particularly dangerous to old people.
8. Snake oil salesman are as common today as they were on the frontier.
9. Personality changes with age, just like hair color or skin texture.
10. Many older people are hurt in accidents that could have been prevented.



1. False. The American family is still the number one caretaker of older adults.
2. True. Depression, loss of self esteem, loneliness, and anxiety can become more common as older people face retirement, the deaths of relatives and friends, and other such crises. Fortunately, depression is treatable.
3. True. Today, 12% of the U.S. population is 65 or older. By 2030, one in five people will be over 65 years of age.
4. True. Only 5% of the older population lives in nursing homes; the rest are basically healthy and self sufficient.
5. False. Intelligence per se does not decline without reason. Most people maintain their intellect or improve as they grow older.
6. False. Stopping smoking at any age not only reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease, it also leads to healthier lungs.
7. True. The body's thermostat tends to function less efficiently with age.
8. True. Medical quackery is a $10 billion business in the U.S. People of all ages are commonly duped into "quick cures" for aging, arthritis, and cancer.
9. False. Personality does not change with age. As we age, we just care less about what others think about us.
10. True. Falls are the most common cause of injuries among the elderly. Good safety habits, including proper lighting, nonskid carpets, and keeping living areas free of obstacles, can help prevent serious accidents.

So, how did you do? Did you learn anything new? Did the quiz help you identify any issues in your own family?

You can find the entire quiz and a whole lot more, on a fabulous caregiver website: www.FamilyCaregiversOnline.net