Gerascophobia

Gerascophobia is an excessive and irrational fear of growing older or of the process of aging itself, classed in the DSM as a distinct specific phobia and considered separately from gerontophobia, the fear of old people. It is thought to arise from an interaction of cognitive, experiential, physiological, psychological and social factors acting on a person over time. Symptoms include a sense of disconnection from reality, anxiety attacks, shortness of breath, heavy perspiration, a dry mouth, trembling, heart palpitations and difficulty speaking or thinking clearly, and the excessive fear of aging is itself associated with poorer mental health. Researchers have developed dedicated psychometric instruments, such as the Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale, to measure the condition.