A new study concludes that older people can’t tell when others are being a bit sarky.

However will they cope?

People over 65 are less able to detect and understand sarcasm – according to an immensely valuable study just published in Developmental Psychology.

You might think it is obvious when somebody is saying the opposite of what they mean for comic effect.

Indeed you probably find the device so funny that you never tire of it.

However quite a lot of research now suggests that ageing tends to make people less good at perceiving emotional cues and understanding the intentions of others – thereby excluding some in later life from sarcasm’s playfulness and charm.

Source: Vitally important news: over-65s don’t get sarcasm | Science | The Guardian