A surprise in a long-term study: A new study found that aging is not necessarily a process of continuous decline. Data collected over more than a decade indicate that nearly half of adults over the age of 65 actually improved over the years in thinking abilities, physical functioning or both together.
The study was conducted by researchers from Yale University in the United States and was published in the scientific journal Geriatrics. The researchers relied on data from the “Health and Retirement Study”, a long-term study supported by the American government that tracks the health and lifestyles of adults in the United States.
12 years of research – and surprising findings
The analysis included a 12-year follow-up of thousands of participants aged 65 and over. During this period, the researchers examined changes in cognitive abilities and physical functioning. Cognitive ability was measured using standard thinking and memory tests, while physical functioning was assessed according to walking speed, a measure considered in geriatric medicine to be an important marker of overall health and risk of disability, hospitalization and mortality.
The findings surprised even the researchers themselves. About 45% of the participants showed improvement in one of the two areas. About 32% showed improvement in cognitive abilities, while about 28% improved in physical functioning.
According to the lead researcher, Prof. Becca Levy, from the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Yale University, the results challenge a very common perception. According to her, in society it is customary to think that aging is a period of continuous and inevitable decline, but the data show a more complex picture. When calculating the average of all participants, it indeed appears that there is some decline over the years. But when examining each person separately, a completely different story is revealed, in which a significant portion of adults actually improve.
The reason – A positive attitude toward aging
One of the surprising factors found to be associated with improvement is the participants’ own perception of aging. People who held a more positive attitude toward aging were more likely to show improvement both in cognitive functioning and in walking speed.
The connection between a positive perception and better functioning remained even after the researchers adjusted the data for various medical and demographic factors. Among other things, age, gender, level of education, chronic diseases, depression and duration of follow-up were taken into account.
Another important finding was that the improvement did not appear only among people who started with poor health or after an injury. Participants who began the study with relatively normal functioning also managed to improve over the years.
According to the researchers, it is possible that positive perceptions regarding aging affect the body in several ways. People who believe that old age is not necessarily a period of decline tend to respond less to stressful situations. In previous studies, it was found that such people show lower levels of stress hormones and biological markers associated with stress.
In addition, a positive approach to aging may also affect behavior. People who believe in their ability to remain active and healthy may be more involved in physical activity, social activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Groundbreaking findings that change perception
However, the researchers note several limitations to the study. For example, the biological changes themselves in the brain or muscles that may explain the improvement observed among some participants were not examined. Future studies will be required to examine how nerve cells and muscle tissues adapt and change over the years.
In addition, the researchers note that the sample included a broad American population but there is still a need for additional studies in more ethnically and socially diverse populations.
Despite the limitations, the researchers believe that the findings may change the way society and medicine view aging. According to them, the common perception of old age as a period of inevitable decline is not accurate, and the data indicate that there are psychological, behavioral and physiological pathways that can affect health even at an older age.
The possible implication of the findings is that a more positive attitude toward aging, both at the personal level and at the social level, may be an important factor in maintaining physical and cognitive functioning even in the later decades of life.
Dr. Itay Gal is a specialist in pediatrics, a sports and aviation physician, and a researcher of infectious diseases. The health correspondent and medical commentator of Maariv and a lecturer in the fields of medicine and innovation. For more articles click here