Published Aug 21, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT
Have you ever wondered why some people do better with each passing decade, while others do not?
Follow
Published Aug 21, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT
Many of us have seen both ends of the aging spectrum, from the vitality of youth and raising kids to caring for older parents. Have you ever wondered why some do better with each passing decade, and some do not? Do fitness, social activities and focused health and wellness make the difference? Or is it an added piece of psychology and mental outlook on aging itself? While the pillars of fitness, health and nutrition are critical to aging, so is your attitude about aging. Science is now proving that aging is not an inevitable decline; it's a path shaped by the story you tell yourself. A recent landmark study published in Geriatrics (2026) reveals a game-changing finding: 45.15% of older adults improved in physical or cognitive function over time. Even after controlling for health status, age, BMI, education and ethnicity, simply holding positive beliefs about aging directly predicted these gains. Those people with a positive attitude who saw aging as another decade for personal goals of achievement did much better than those who thought aging was living with one foot in the grave.
