The myth of old age as a cause of diseases has been debunked by scientists

It is commonly believed that after 65, the human body steadily loses ground — both physically and cognitively. However, a large-scale study published in the journal Geriatrics has overturned these assumptions: in nearly half of older adults, bodily functions not only do not decline but actually improve. And the key factor turned out to be how the person themselves views their own aging.

Scientists analyzed data from over 11,000 participants in the large-scale American Health and Retirement Study — one of the world's largest aging research projects. Volunteers were monitored over a period of 12 years.

Researchers tracked two key parameters: cognitive abilities and physical condition. Mental functions were assessed using a comprehensive memory and thinking test, while physical fitness was measured by walking speed. Geriatricians call this indicator a "vital sign" — it is directly linked to risks of disability, hospitalization, and mortality.

The results were surprising: 45% of participants showed improvement in at least one of the measures over the observation period. Cognitive functions improved in 32%, while physical parameters improved in 28%.

If those whose mental abilities simply remained stable are added to this group, then more than half of the participants effectively disproved the established notion of inevitable cognitive decline in old age.

As the researchers emphasize, such positive changes are easy to overlook if one relies solely on averaged statistics.

"When we average the data, a picture of gradual and steady decline emerges. But once you look at individual trajectories, it becomes clear that many older adults actually improve their performance over time," Levy explained.

The scientists also identified a factor closely associated with these improvements. People with an initially positive attitude toward aging were significantly more likely to demonstrate progress — in both cognitive and physical domains. This pattern held even after adjusting for age, sex, education level, chronic diseases, and depression.

The authors explain the discovered effect through the theory of "stereotype embodiment." Its essence is that perceptions of aging that a person absorbs from culture, media, and their social environment throughout life gradually begin to influence their behavior and even physiological processes in the body.

Previously conducted studies had already documented that negative attitudes toward aging are associated with memory decline, slower walking speed, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

According to the authors, the findings point to the existence of a "reserve potential" in the body even at an advanced age. And since attitudes toward aging can be modified, this opens up prospects for developing health support programs for older adults — both at the individual level and on a societal scale.