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Aging Redefined: Cognitive and Physical Improvement with Positive Age Beliefs.
Becca R Levy1,2, Martin D Slade3
1Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 24, 2026
Summary
Many older adults can improve cognitive and physical function, challenging the notion of inevitable decline. Positive age beliefs are linked to better aging outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Common belief: aging inevitably leads to cognitive and physical decline.
- Existing measures may not capture improvement in older adults.
- This study uses a measure allowing for upward trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate improvement in cognitive and physical function in older adults.
- Examine the role of positive age beliefs in promoting this improvement.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of individuals aged 65 and older.
- Assessed physical health (walking speed) and cognitive health (global performance measure).
- Analyzed improvement over up to 12 years and the predictive role of age beliefs.
Main Results:
- 45.15% of participants showed improvement in cognitive and/or physical function.
- Positive age beliefs significantly predicted improvement in both domains.
- Prediction remained significant after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Aging is not universally characterized by decline; improvement is possible.
- Positive age beliefs are a key factor in promoting better aging outcomes.
- Redefining aging to include potential for improvement is crucial.
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