By Sangeeth Sebastian

A few years ago, journalist John Tierney took Helen Fisher, a noted American human behaviour researcher (pictured), on a date.

During their meeting, Tierney told Fisher that he is interested only in a “friends with benefits” relationship (read casual sex) with her. As someone who studied love and sex for a living, Fisher told Tierney that when you have sex with someone, there is a possibility that you may also end up falling in love with that person.  

True to her words, two years later, in 2020, Tierney married Fisher. In an interview, a few weeks ago, Fisher half-jokingly hoped that her partner of two years is not cheating on her, because they are now navigating a long-distance relationship.

There is nothing unusual about her apprehension, except when you are told that Tierney is 69 and Fisher is 77. Forget infidelity, sex is often the last thing (at least that’s what we think, ought to be) on many people’s mind at that age.  But the truth is something else.

Love hormones can kick in at any age. You can feel the same level of emotional dependency; burst in energy levels, separation anxiety and mood swings, which you experienced at 17, at 70 or even beyond that provided you are healthy. Love and sex are the two most powerful and basic brain systems human beings have evolved while wandering in the African savannas.