This Unexpected Finding Could Change How You Think About Aging
Think about the last time you blamed your age for something.
Maybe you joked that your memory "isn't what it used to be," felt slower after a workout, or assumed a new ache was simply part of getting older.
Those moments are common, especially when we've spent years hearing that aging naturally means decline. But a new 12-year study of more than 11,000 older adults1 suggests the picture is more nuanced.
Researchers found that some people actually improved in key measures of brain and physical function as they got older, and they wanted to understand what might help explain that difference.
About the study
Researchers from Yale wanted to know whether decline is really inevitable with age or whether some older adults continue to improve.
They followed more than 11,000 older adults for up to 12 years, repeatedly testing memory and measuring walking speed, a common marker of mobility and overall physical function, in the 4,638 participants who were 65 and older.
The researchers also asked participants how positively or negatively they viewed their own aging, allowing them to see whether those beliefs were linked to changes in brain and physical function over time.
Nearly half of participants improved with age
Over the course of the study, 45% of participants improved in memory, walking speed, or both. In other words, nearly half showed measurable gains in at least one area rather than simply experiencing decline.
People with more positive views of aging were also more likely to improve in both memory and walking speed.
That link remained after researchers accounted for other factors that could affect aging, including physical health.
This doesn't mean that thinking positively will automatically make your memory or mobility better. The study found an association, not cause and effect.
But it does suggest that how we think about getting older may be one factor connected to how well we function as we age.
Why your expectations may matter
This isn't the first research to connect attitudes about aging with health.
A well-known study of adults over 502 found that people with more positive views of aging lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those with more negative views, even after researchers accounted for physical health, income, loneliness, and other factors.
More recently, a review of 107 studies3 found a small but consistent link between positive attitudes toward aging and better health outcomes across different countries and age groups.
That doesn't mean optimism is an anti-aging treatment.
Researchers think our beliefs about aging may influence how we behave, including whether we stay physically active, challenge ourselves mentally, or continue pursuing activities that support our health.
How to rethink your own aging
You don't have to convince yourself that getting older is always easy or pretend that your body and brain won't change. Instead, pay attention to the assumptions you make about what aging means for you.
A few places to start:
- Notice automatic thoughts: When you catch yourself thinking "I'm too old for that," ask whether your age is actually the reason.
- Keep challenging yourself: Movement, learning new skills, and mentally engaging activities remain valuable as you get older.
- Focus on what you can do: Rather than comparing yourself with who you were decades ago, pay attention to what your body and brain are capable of now and look for ways to keep building on it.
The goal isn't to deny the changes that come with aging. It's to leave room for the possibility that some things can still improve.
The takeaway
Aging doesn't necessarily mean everything moves in one direction. This research found that improvement in memory and mobility is possible later in life, while a more positive view of aging was linked with a greater likelihood of seeing those gains.