Professor Julie Henry from UQ's School of Psychology featured in an article published by The Senior discussing research which has linked exposure to ageist attitudes to a shorter life, poorer health, and declining mental ability.
Professor Henry, who led the school of psychology study, said older people were regularly exposed to negative assumptions about their worth, capacity or level of understanding, as well as jokes about their age.
"At the same time, as we grow older, we rely more strongly on prior knowledge and cues from our environment to guide how we feel, think and behave," Professor Henry said.
"In a world that devalues ageing, these cognitive changes make it more difficult for older people to challenge internalised ageist beliefs, known as self-directed ageism."
The article was republished from AAP.
