Many people assume that getting older means a steady loss of physical strength and mental sharpness.
Researchers found that a surprisingly large number of older adults actually improved their physical abilities, cognitive performance or both over time.
The findings suggest that aging may be far more dynamic than commonly believed.
The typical belief is that the aging process is a downward slide, from which there can never be some segments rising up again.
Researchers Track Older Adults for More Than a Decade
The study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, examined data from more than 11,000 participants enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, a long-running national survey of older Americans.
Researchers followed participants for up to 12 years.
To evaluate mental function, the team used a broad cognitive assessment.
Physical function was measured using walking speed, a widely used indicator of overall health in older adults because it’s closely associated with disability risk, hospitalization and longevity.
The results surprised researchers. Nearly 45% of adults 65+ improved in either physical function, cognitive function or both during the study period.
About 32% showed cognitive improvement, while 28% demonstrated gains in physical performance.
Many of these improvements were large enough to be considered clinically meaningful rather than minor fluctuations.
Researchers also noted that when participants whose cognitive abilities remained stable were included, more than half avoided the mental decline that many people assume is inevitable with aging.
Looking Beyond Group Averages
When all participants are grouped together, overall decline appears to be the dominant trend.
But examining individuals separately revealed a different picture.
A substantial portion of older adults actually improved over time rather than declining.
The study says that this improvement in later life should be viewed as a normal part of aging rather than a rare exception.
The researchers also investigated factors that might help explain why some people improved while others did not.
One factor stood out: beliefs about aging.
Participants who held more positive views about growing older at the start of the study were significantly more likely to experience gains in both mental performance and walking speed.
The association remained even after researchers adjusted for age, sex, education level, chronic illnesses, depression and other variables.
Positive Beliefs and Better Outcomes
The findings suggest that people gradually internalize society’s messages about aging.
Messages encountered through advertising, media and everyday interactions may eventually influence physical and cognitive health.
Earlier research found that negative age beliefs are linked to poorer memory, slower mobility, higher cardiovascular risk and biological markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The new study suggests the opposite may also be true.
Older adults who embrace more positive expectations about aging may be more likely to maintain or even improve their abilities over time.
The study also suggests the existence of a reserve capacity for improvement in older adulthood.
Improvement Was Seen Even in Healthy Participants
Researchers found that participants who started with normal cognitive and physical function often improved as well.
This suggests the observed gains cannot be explained simply by recovery from illness or rehabilitation after a temporary setback.
The researchers hope the findings will encourage a broader and more balanced view of aging.
The study was published in the journal Geriatrics.
