As I get older, it’s natural that the average age of my peers gets higher.  Which explains why I’m not as "funny" as I used to be.

The truth is, I’m just as funny as always — it’s just that my geriatric peers don’t "get" my jokes.  And here’s scientific proof:

A new psychology study at Washington University was no laughing matter: It found that older adults may have a harder time getting jokes because of an age-related decline in certain memory and reasoning abilities.

The research suggested that because older adults may have greater difficulty with cognitive flexibility, abstract reasoning and short-term memory, they also have greater difficulty with tests of humor comprehension.

Researchers tested about 40 healthy adults over age 65 and 40 undergraduate students with exercises in which they had to complete jokes and stories. Participants also had to choose the correct punch line for verbal jokes and select the funny ending to series of cartoon panels.

So the next time a make a joke, or deliver an impromptu pun, or crack wise — and you don’t "get" the humor — remember, it’s not ME.  It’s all due to the fact that you and your dimentia-ridden mind belong in a rest home, complaining about your sciatica, looking for your teeth, and complaining about "these kids today".