Many older adults light up – but they don’t like to admitit.

A total of 25% of people over age 75 deny that theysmoke, said Monica Fisher, associate professor at the Case Western ReserveUniversity School of Dental Medicine. That compares with 6% of 18-34 year olds.Researchers analyzed data collected from 15,182 adultswho took part in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicinefound that 8% of people will not tell the truth about their nicotine habits,even to their doctors. Additional measures are needed to validate who does or doesn’t smoke, as falsereports of non-smoking can have serious repercussions when it comes to treatingpatients, especially elderly patients with chronic diseases, researcherssuggested.