Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Age differences in the presentation of anxiety
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. gbrenes@wfubmc.edu
Abstract:
The research on anxiety and age has produced inconsistent findings. One reason for this may be that the manifestation of anxiety symptoms is age-related. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are age-related differences in the presentation of affective, cognitive, and somatic symptoms of anxiety. Primary care patients ranging in age from 19-87 years completed three self-report measures of anxiety. Results indicate that older adults report less worry than younger adults. There were no age differences in the report of somatic and affective symptoms. Thus, worry appears to play a less prominent role in the presentation of anxiety in older adults. These findings suggest that older adults do experience anxiety differently than younger adults.
Related Concept Videos
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.
