DEFYING THE DECLINE: HOW A POSITIVE MINDSET LETS NEARLY HALF OF ADULTS OVER 65 ACTUALLY IMPROVE WITH AGE

For decades, the dominant narrative around aging after 65 has been one of inevitable physical and mental decline. But a major new study challenges that stereotype head-on. It reveals that getting better—not just holding steady—is far more common than most people believe. The secret? A positive attitude toward aging itself, which triggers a powerful “snowball effect” of healthier behaviors and better outcomes.Published in March 2026 in the journal Geriatrics, the research was led by Becca R. Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Public Health. Levy and co-author Martin D. Slade analyzed data from the long-running Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative longitudinal survey of older Americans. They tracked more than 11,000 participants aged 65 and older, measuring two key indicators of healthy aging: cognitive function and physical function (using walking speed, a widely accepted “vital sign” linked to disability, hospitalization, and mortality). Participants were followed for up to 12 years.THE RESULTS WERE STRIKING
Among participants with measurements in both domains, 45.15% showed improvement in cognitive function, physical function, or both over the study period. Broken down further:

• 31.88% improved their cognition
• 28.00% improved their walking speed

These figures far exceed the U.S. government’s Healthy People 2030 target of at least 11.5% of older adults showing meaningful improvement. Positive beliefs about aging strongly predicted these gains—even after adjusting for baseline health, demographics, and other factors.Levy, who has spent years studying how age beliefs influence health, was motivated by real-world examples of thriving in later life. “I started thinking about these examples of people thriving in later life,” she explained. “How does that fit into this dominant belief that aging is a time of universal and inevitable decline? Are they exceptions, or are they actually showing the potential of later life?”One such example is ultra-endurance swimmer Diana Nyad. At 64, she completed a record 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. At 76, she says she feels even better physically and mentally than she did then.Experts say Nyad’s story is not an outlier. While some age-related changes are unavoidable, improvement is absolutely possible. Negative stereotypes are wildly inaccurate for most older adults. A 2024 global survey found that 65% of health-care workers and 80% of the general public wrongly believe dementia is a normal part of aging. In reality, the vast majority of older people have no cognitive impairment and do not need assistance. Research also shows gains in wisdom, emotional intelligence, judgment, happiness, and purpose with age.THE POWER OF THE “SNOWBALL EFFECT”
The study’s most compelling insight is the role of mindset. Positive age beliefs don’t just correlate with better outcomes—they actively drive them through a self-reinforcing cycle. People who expect to improve are more likely to exercise, socialize, volunteer, and pursue meaningful activities. These behaviors boost physical health, mood, confidence, and social connections—which in turn encourage even more positive actions.The reverse is equally true: negative expectations can create a downward spiral of inactivity and isolation. Yet the beauty of this mechanism is its simplicity and safety. “Positivity about aging—it’s not a drug, it’s not a surgery,” says geriatrician Mark Lachs. “It’s an attitudinal adjustment.” The mind-body connection here is as powerful as many drugs we give and without any of the side effects.Co-author Martin Slade summed up the practical message: “Don’t give up… life can get better.”PRACTICAL WAYS TO SHIFT YOUR MINDSET
The good news is that age beliefs are not fixed—they can be changed. Experts offer these evidence-based strategies:

1. Spend time in intergenerational settings. Mixing younger and older people combats ageism and highlights examples of thriving seniors. Intergenerational teams often outperform same-age groups by combining the wisdom of elders with the creativity of youth.
2. Use the ABC method (developed by Levy):
   • A = Awareness: Notice the constant negative messages about aging.
   • B = Blame: Attribute challenges to ageism rather than aging itself.
   • C = Challenge: Actively dispute negative stereotypes in yourself and society.
3. Reframe aging as a privilege. Every life stage has pros and cons. Ageism is the ultimate paradox because we all get older—if we’re fortunate, we share the opportunity for longer lives.

This research reframes aging not as a story of loss but as one that can include genuine improvement. “Improvement in later life is not rare; it’s common, and it should be included in our understanding of the aging process,” Levy said.By instilling or magnifying positive age beliefs, society can help more people unlock their potential in their later decades. The takeaway is empowering: aging is not a one-way street toward decline. With the right mindset, many of us can—and do—get stronger, sharper, and more fulfilled after 65.

CITATIONS

1. Penman, M. (2026, March 25). People 65 and older can get better with age, study shows. This is the key. The Washington Post. (Republished on MSN). https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/senior-health/people-65-and-older-can-get-better-with-age-study-shows-this-is-the-key/ar-AA1ZlYRC
2. Levy, B. R., & Slade, M. D. (2026). Aging Redefined: Cognitive and Physical Improvement with Positive Age Beliefs. Geriatrics, 11(2), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics11020028
3. Yale School of Public Health. (2026, March 5). Yale study challenges notion that aging means decline, finds many older adults improve over time. https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/yale-study-challenges-notion-that-aging-means-decline-finds-many-older-adults-improve-over-time/