The assumption that it does is why older people stop being asked.
A national survey of American adults aged 57 to 85 found that 73 per cent of those aged 57–64 were sexually active, 53 per cent of those aged 65–74, and 26 per cent of those aged 75–85. Among those with a partner the figures were far higher — the main predictor of activity was having a partner and being in reasonable health, not age itself.
The belief that desire simply switches off has a measurable cost. Doctors ask older patients about sexual health markedly less often, which is part of why sexually transmitted infection rates in the over-sixties have risen faster than in any other age group in several countries.
