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Key Takeaways
- A Yale-led study suggests that aging doesn’t always follow a steady decline.
- In the study, older adults with more positive beliefs about aging were more likely to experience these improvements, though the study cannot show that mindset directly caused them.
- Regular exercise, nutritious eating, quality sleep, social engagement, lifelong learning, and preventive healthcare remain the strongest evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.
Most people expect physical and cognitive abilities to decline with age, but new research from Yale University challenges that idea. The study found that many older adults improved their physical and cognitive function over time. Researchers also found that people with more positive beliefs about aging were more likely to experience those improvements.
While the findings don’t suggest that optimism can reverse aging, they do add to growing evidence that aging isn’t the same for everyone—and that staying physically and mentally healthy later in life may be more achievable than previously believed.
Many Older Adults Improved Over Time
In the 2026 study, researchers analyzed data from more than 11,000 participants aged 65 and older who were followed for up to 12 years in the long-running Health and Retirement Study. They examined changes in cognitive performance, including memory and thinking skills, and in walking speed, a common measure of physical function over time.
Overall, more than 45% of adults in the study improved their cognitive function, physical function, or both during the study period. Specifically:
- Nearly 32% improved their cognitive function.
- Almost 28% improved their walking speed.
- About 44% of participants who improved cognitively also improved their walking speed.
When researchers averaged all the participants’ results, they observed the expected overall decline associated with aging. But when they looked at individual results rather than averages, they found that a substantial number of older adults improved in at least one area over time.
The researchers also examined what predicted these improvements. One factor stood out: Participants with more positive beliefs about aging were more likely to experience gains in both cognitive and physical function.
The findings offer a broader outlook on what aging can look like, Amy Fitzpatrick, MD, a physician at Boston Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University, told Verywell. “The research provides evidence that with proper support and the development of healthy habits, some individuals may actually experience an increase in quality of life as they get older,” Fitzpatrick said.
“Rather than viewing older adults based solely on chronological age, families and caregivers now have hope that with proper care, many older adults will continue to learn, grow, and possibly even recover from previous limitations,” she said.
How Beliefs About Aging May Shape Health
Researchers also assessed participants’ attitudes about aging using a validated questionnaire. People with more positive age-related beliefs were significantly more likely to improve in both cognitive and physical function, even after researchers accounted for factors such as age, sex, education, and overall health.
That doesn’t mean a positive mindset directly causes people to become healthier. Instead, beliefs about aging may influence the choices people make every day, said Fitzpatrick.
“If someone believes they can continue [to improve] with age, they’re more likely to stay socially active, keep learning, exercise, and seek medical care when problems arise,” she said. “On the other hand, someone who believes muscle weakness or memory loss is just a part of getting older may become less motivated to engage in the very behaviors that help maintain physical and cognitive function.”
Does a Positive Mindset Help You Age Better?
The findings shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that positive thinking alone can improve health.
Because this was an observational study, researchers could identify associations but couldn’t prove that positive beliefs caused better physical or cognitive outcomes. It’s also possible that people who were already healthier—or who had stronger social support—naturally developed more positive views about aging.
“The research suggests a person’s outlook could potentially be one element of promoting healthy aging,” Fitzpatrick said. “However, it shows no evidence that simply having a positive mental attitude will improve physical or cognitive function.”
Instead, she said, a more accurate takeaway is that a positive outlook may encourage healthier behaviors, including regular exercise, nutritious eating, adequate sleep, maintaining social connections, and seeking appropriate medical care.
How to Maintain Physical and Cognitive Health as You Age
Although aging is inevitable, research suggests that healthy habits can help preserve physical and cognitive health later in life. Habits that support healthy aging include:
- Staying physically active every day, including strength training, walking, balance exercises, and stretching
- Eating a nutritious diet with adequate protein and fiber
- Getting seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night
- Staying socially connected with family and friends
- Continuing to learn new skills or hobbies
- Managing chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure
- Keeping up with hearing, vision, and other preventive healthcare appointments
“The most important lesson from this research is that aging isn’t defined simply by the number of years you’ve lived,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s also shaped by the thousands of everyday decisions we make, the support we receive, and our ability to remain physically, mentally, and socially engaged.”
Read the original article on Verywell Health
