How Are Age and Anxiety Related?

Anxiety affects about 10-20% of older adults, but it’s a mental health condition that often goes undiagnosed. Some seniors may not recognize or acknowledge their symptoms, be hesitant to share their feelings with their healthcare provider, or believe what they’re experiencing is normal. 

So, does anxiety get worse with age? Not exactly. Some anxiety disorders actually become less common with age, but new or worsening symptoms can still appear for several age-related reasons.

While experiencing anxiety is prevalent among seniors, it’s not considered a “normal” part of aging. If anxiety is left untreated, it can lead to further complications that impact physical, mental, and emotional health.

Key takeaways

• Anxiety affects up to 20% of older adults, but is often underdiagnosed because its symptoms can be mistaken for normal aging, medical conditions, or medication side effects.
• While some worry is part of everyday life, persistent or severe anxiety that interferes with daily functioning is not a normal part of aging and requires attention.
• Older adults can manage anxiety through lifestyle habits, therapy, and medication, but early recognition is crucial to prevent complications.

Is anxiety just a regular part of getting older?

A summary of the latest research  found that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common type of anxiety disorder among older adults. An estimated 10-20% of seniors have some form of anxiety. Anxiety disorders in the elderly are often linked to a low socioeconomic status, identifying as a female, co-occurring medical conditions, and disability. 

Most anxiety disorders typically decrease with age. Research suggests that  anxiety tends to peak in adolescence, then gradually declines with age. However, studies focused on older adults show that specific struggles, such as fear of falling, become much more common later in life, affecting up to 73% of seniors. 

Despite the prevalence of anxiety among seniors, it’s not a “normal” part of aging. It’s natural to have worries about your health, loss of loved ones, or changes in your living situation. But severe anxiety that’s keeping you from enjoying your life is a significant concern that requires mental health support. 

Anxiety factors in older adults

Anxiety can affect you at any stage of life, but the contributing factors can vary from person to person. For older adults, new or ongoing anxiety can be tied to several age-related factors, including:

• Stress or trauma 
• Grief 
• Frequent illnesses
• Sleep troubles
• Chronic conditions
• Physical disability
• Certain medications

While generalized anxiety is common among older adults, it often goes undiagnosed. Research indicates that symptoms in seniors may be dismissed as part of aging or mistaken for other medical conditions or medication side effects.

Research finds that most adults over 65 are able to recognize physical signs of anxiety. However, they are less likely to identify mental symptoms compared to younger adults. Older adults may also downplay psychological symptoms and discuss anxiety in different ways than their younger counterparts. 

These factors ultimately leave many seniors living with unmanaged anxiety, which can impact quality of life and potentially worsen health outcomes. 

How your experience of anxiety can change as you age

While the definition of anxiety remains the same regardless of age, its presentation may look different in older adults.

Possible signs of anxiety in older adults include:

• Sleep disruptions
• Nightmares
• Irritability
• Muscle tension and stiffness
• Restlessness
• Uneasiness
• Unwanted thoughts, such as a fear of dying or falling
• Unsteadiness
• Feeling faint
• Lightheadedness
• Blurred vision or seeing spots

Certain medications may also induce anxiety symptoms in the elderly, such as:

• Asthma medications
• Thyroid medications
• Steroids
• Medications that contain caffeine

According to one study, GAD remains the most common anxiety disorder in older adults. Other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, tend to become less severe as people enter the latter stages of life. In contrast, GAD persists, and new symptoms can develop with aging.

If you believe you or a loved one is showing signs of anxiety, it’s essential to seek treatment. Anxiety disorders don’t “clear up” on their own — they only get worse over time, and they can progress to serious complications, such as:

• Reduced quality of life
• Depression
• Substance or alcohol abuse
• Cardiac events, such as a heart attack
• Suicide

Diagnosing anxiety in older adults

Being anxious isn’t always a sign of an underlying mental health concern — most people have everyday worries. However, moderate-to-severe anxiety that impacts daily life could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

Below are some signs to help determine what’s “normal” worry and what could be symptoms of an anxiety disorder in older adults.

Typical worry:

• Worry is proportionate to the situation (e.g., concerns about health or finances)
• Worry is persistent, excessive, and hard to control — even when nothing’s wrong
• Doesn’t interfere with daily functioning
• Interferes with daily routine — avoiding social activities, medical appointments, or driving
• Concerns come and go; a person can be distracted or reassured

Possible anxiety disorder:

• Worry is constant, lasts more than six months, and reassurance doesn’t help
• Mild physical symptoms (occasional tension)
• Frequent physical symptoms (restlessness, poor sleep, muscle tension, etc.)
• Worry doesn’t cause significant distress
• Distress is significant, often causing a decrease in independence or quality of life

Diagnosing an anxiety disorder in older adults can often look different — and, in some cases, be more challenging — than diagnosing anxiety in younger adults. 

Here are a few reasons why:

Physical symptoms can be mistaken for medical conditions

Older adults often present anxiety symptoms through physical complaints, such as fatigue, pain, dizziness, or gastrointestinal (GI) upset. These symptoms can often overlap with:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic illness
• Thyroid problems
• Medication side effects

This can make it challenging to identify anxiety as the root cause.

Older adults may underreport emotional symptoms

Many older adults grew up during a time when mental health information and treatment were less accessible. 

Because of this, they may:

• Describe physical sensations instead of emotions.
• Avoid words like “fear,” “panic”, or “anxiety.”
• Attribute their symptoms to “just aging.”

Cognitive decline can mask or mimic anxiety

Mental health conditions like Alzheimer’s or early dementia can cause:

• Restlessness
• Increased irritability
• Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms can often overlap with anxiety disorders, complicating diagnosis.

Multiple medications can complicate symptom interpretation

Common medications — such as thyroid medications, steroids, stimulants, and some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs — can cause anxiety-like side effects.

Co-occurring depression is more common

Anxiety commonly co-occurs with depression in older adults. This co-occurrence can make it harder to distinguish between what’s anxiety, what’s depression, and what’s a combination of both.

These factors are often why healthcare providers misdiagnose or underdiagnose seniors who are showing signs of an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety management and treatment for seniors

While treatment is recommended for addressing geriatric anxiety disorder in older adults, several lifestyle habits can help manage symptoms at home:

• Engage in physical exercise: Regular exercise, whether that’s a walk around the neighborhood, playing table tennis, or gardening, can help manage anxiety levels.
• Eat regular, balanced meals: Adopt a diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, seafood, and other healthy foods to support your mental and physical well-being.
• Get enough sleep: Older adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep each night. You can catch a better night’s rest by following a regular schedule, having a bedtime routine, and keeping naps short.

In addition to these tips, medical treatment can help manage anxiety symptoms in older adults.

These include:

• Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the first-line medications for seniors with anxiety. These medications can rewire your brain to help better regulate your mood and behavior.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A talk therapy in which you learn skills to improve symptoms and gradually return to activities you’ve avoided due to anxiety.

Please consult with your healthcare provider to rule out any other medical or mental conditions that could mimic anxiety disorders. 

How Sailor Health can help

Anxiety disorders are common among many older adults, but are often misdiagnosed or completely overlooked. If left untreated, symptoms can worsen over time, leading to serious complications that further impact daily functioning.

If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, know that there’s help available. At Sailor Health, we offer teleteletherapy via computer, phone, or even landline. If you’re a Medicare recipient, you could pay as low as $0 per session. We’re here to give seniors and their families peace of mind that they are in experienced, reliable hands. Get started today.

References

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