Is 'grumpy old man' a thing? The relationship between anger, aging, and your health

Everyone feels some level of anger from time to time — that is a normal part of being human. These emotions may be beneficial if they motivate someone to perform better at something they want to achieve, or if it helps them become optimistic about things they do have or that are going well. It also may be useful to help people survive a difficult situation.

Anger may also be problematic, causing someone to engage in aggressive or inappropriate behavior, including violence. Out-of-control anger that has interfered with school, work and social relationships occurs in up to 8% of all people (often with problematic consequences). This is most common in young adult males, especially those with a psychiatric disorder.

However, "the grumpy old man yelling at the neighborhood kids" is a common stereotype. Although it's not inevitable, and not a normal part of aging, certain conditions that are more common as we age can trigger outbursts of anger. That's what I will focus on in today’s column.

More Dr. Hersh: It's not too late to get flu vaccine or COVID-19 booster shots

Decreased hormone levels can lead to behavioral changes

Part of the normal aging process includes changes in hormone levels, specifically a decrease in testosterone in men and a decrease in estrogen and progesterone in women. This drop in hormone levels can lead to mood swings and depression, both of which may cause behavioral changes — including anger.

As we age, we may experience diminished hearing and vision, increased difficulty expressing ourselves and other changes that may create frustration or behavioral changes, all of which may manifest as anger. In addition, as someone’s cognitive levels decline (whether it's minor memory issues or more severe dementia-like symptoms), they may feel frustrated and angry.

Loss of control can trigger frustration, anger

Older people may also feel a loss of control over their lives. They may be less able to maintain their homes, no longer be able to drive or even no longer able to live independently. This may trigger frustration and anger. In addition, older people may have trouble providing themselves with adequate nutrition (due to limitations in getting groceries and/or preparing meals) and may be hungry/fatigued (“hangry”).

People with some level of depression may have suppressed feelings of anger. Many things elderly people go through may increase the risk of them becoming depressed. For example, their social support system may change after friends die or they become physically unable to do things that used to bring them joy. This increases feelings of loneliness and possibly leads to depression.

Many physical changes can also trigger behavioral issues. Older people may have difficulty getting regular sleep.  They may have certain physical conditions that cause some level of chronic pain.

Increased stress from life changes can trigger anger

Older people may also be more likely to have a significant stressor occur, such as the loss of a loved one, being diagnosed with a medical condition, getting a divorce, having their kids grow up and move out, changes in their living situation, having a change in their work situation— even if it's something viewed as positive, such as retiring. Increased stress can trigger anger.

Finally, older people may have less impulse control and, hence, "show" their anger more.

Besides the social consequences of someone acting out in anger, there are negative medical implications. Chronic underlying anger can lead to increased overall inflammation, potentially exacerbating or worsening many health conditions, such as heart disease.

So, what can be done? If you notice a loved one acting angry more often, you should have them discuss this with their health care provider (or bring it up yourself to their provider). Counseling may be beneficial, as well as increasing their physical activity and getting treatment for an underlying medical condition. Family counseling to improve communication, understand the issue and learn better ways to address it may also be beneficial.

Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., can be reached at DrHersh@juno.com.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Noticed an increase in anger recently? Many factors can cause changes