Growing Older, Growing Anxious: Recognising the Hidden Burden of Anxiety Disorders Among Older Adults

As global populations age, anxiety disorders in older adults are emerging as a hidden yet consequential public health challenge. Despite a sharp rise in total burden, these disorders remain under-recognized at the individual, clinical, and policy levels.

This Editorial highlights the growing disconnect between apparent epidemiological stability and rising absolute impact. It calls for targeted action across mental health literacy, screening, and age-sensitive policy design. Differences between high- and low-SDI countries underscore the need for regionally tailored responses. Reducing the future burden of late-life anxiety depends on systemic recognition of its importance-and timely investment in inclusive mental health strategies.

This Editorial highlighted anxiety disorders as an under-recognized contributor to distress and disability among older adults. It underscored the importance of improving clinical awareness, integrating routine anxiety screening into primary care, and developing age-appropriate diagnostic tools. Clinicians are encouraged to consider late-life anxiety as a distinct clinical entity, rather than attributing symptoms to ageing or comorbidity. Our discussion also points to the need for regionally adapted clinical strategies to address disparities in detection and care.