Chiari malformation type I (CM-1) is a disease in which part of the cerebellum and brainstem invades into the spinal canal beyond the foramen magnum. Patients with CM-1 can present with various symptoms; however, most cases of CM-1 are asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases are distributed bimodally in children and middle-aged adults, but occur very rarely in elderly individuals. We experienced a case of CM-1 onset after the age of 60 years that followed a favorable postoperative course. We report the potential mechanism of asymptomatic CM-1 in elderly patients along with a review of the literature.