Leading article: Old spice

Wednesday 10 March 2010 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The primary activities of the elderly, if the media is any guide, are dandling grandchildren on knees, tucking into meals-on-wheels, acquiring hospital infections, collecting the winter fuel allowance and flogging the family home to pay for social care.

But according to a study by researchers from Chicago University the sunset years have their share of carnal pleasures too. They have discovered that four out of 10 men and two out of 10 women over the age of 75 are still having sex.

The gender discrepancy is explained not by a minority of floozy grannies but by the fact that men tend to marry women younger than themselves. They also die sooner which may, or may not, be related to the first fact.

Yet we shouldn't be surprised by these vigorous statistics. For as Andrew Lloyd Weber has recently reminded us, Love Never Dies. And thanks to drugs such as Viagra there's not only a will but a way too.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in