Disparities in depression and anxiety related to sexual orientation and gender identity among older adults: The role of age discrimination.

Summary: As we get older, our mental health is just as important as our physical health. A recent study looked at 744 adults over the age of 50 to see why LGBTQ+ seniors often struggle more with depression and anxiety than their straight peers. The researchers found that "ageism"—being treated unfairly simply because of how old you are—plays a huge role. LGBTQ+ older adults reported facing more age discrimination, which directly led to higher feelings of sadness and worry. Interestingly, among straight adults, men felt more age discrimination than women. The study suggests that if we want to improve mental health for seniors, we need to stop age discrimination.