Why Nookie Is Good For You
Put down the crossword puzzles and stop taking memory supplements by the fistful. Seniors who want to stay in sharper mental shape should start having more sex.
“Sex can be hugely beneficial for people as they get older, not only for the reported medical health benefits but for our psychological and emotional health,” said Kate Thomas, director of clinical services at The Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic, in an interview with AARP. “It can strengthen our relationships, promote self-esteem, and improve our sense of identity.”
According to the Journal of Sex Research, adults aged 75-90 who have more frequent sex have better cerebral functioning, and for adults aged 62-74, better sexual quality, feelings of physical pleasure, and emotional satisfaction, are related to better cognitive functioning.
Let’s face it, seniors have fewer distractions, don’t have to worry about pregnancy concerns, and have more time to get busy in between the sheets. They have a lot more experience than younger people, and they usually are willing to enjoy sexual contact and intimacy with role-playing, sex toys, and even by pursuing the thrill of an affair.
And “sex” doesn’t mean only intercourse and achieving the Big O. Sexual activity that stimulates brain matter has been proven to happen when you touch or hold hands, embrace or hug, or kiss. Marriage.com reports kissing is an ageless emotional act that releases feel-good chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin in your brain.
A Senior Sex guide published by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mayo Clinic finds intimacy in older adults contributes to less stress, better healing, and a lower risk of depression.
So, next time you’re spending a boring night in front of the TV, turn to your partner instead and start turning up the heat. Studies have shown that seniors who are generally healthier are probably more sexually active.
“Continuing [sexual] activity provides protection against a sense of aging and loss,” John DeLamater, a sociology professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, told Reuters. “The sexuality of older people should be considered and encouraged.”
