People 65 and older can get better with age, study shows

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2026/03/25/aging-positive-mindset/

Researchers found that nearly half of adults over 65 did better on tests of cognitive and physical function as they aged.

Levy and her co-author found that nearly half of the participants over 65 improved — physically, cognitively or both. And people with positive beliefs about aging were more likely to be in that group.

Part of the reason for the disconnect between the stereotypes and the reality, experts said, is that a lot of research on older people looks at average outcomes rather than individual outcomes, or looks only for decline or lack thereof, rather than the possibility of improvement.

Lachs said his patients are around 89 years old on average, and the people who are thriving usually have one thing in common: something in their life that gives them meaning and a sense of purpose.