Can You Actually Get Better With Age? Science Proves It

A new Yale study followed thousands of older adults for up to 12 years and found something that challenges everything we assume about aging: nearly half of them improved. So can you actually get better with age? The research says yes, and it points to something you can act on today. Here is what that means for you and the people you love and potentially care for.

Many people have subscribed to a story about aging that after a certain age, we decline. The mind starts to get less clear, the body gets a little slower, and the goal shifts from thriving to managing. Is that your perception too?

It turns out, that is not the complete story. A landmark study published in March 2026 in the journal Geriatrics by Yale researchers Becca R. Levy, PhD and Martin D. Slade, PhD makes a compelling case that it is time to rewrite the narrative we’ve been telling ourselves.

What Did the 2026 Yale Study on Aging Find?

The 2026 Yale study found that 45% of adults 65 and older improved in cognitive and/or physical function over a 12-year period, a direct challenge to the assumption that aging means continuous decline (Levy & Slade, Geriatrics, 2026).

The researchers analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative, federally funded study of more than 15,000 Americans aged 50 and older, tracked for up to 12 years. Researchers measured two key health indicators: walking speed, often called the “sixth vital sign” (a well-established predictor of hospitalization risk, disability, and longevity), and cognitive performance (assessed with a validated tool covering memory, recall, and reasoning).

Their findings were striking over the 12-year study:

One important note: when researchers averaged scores across all participants, the pattern of decline was evident. It is when they looked at individuals separately that the different perspective emerged. Older people are genuinely getting better, year after year.

“If extrapolated to the full U.S. population, the researchers estimate that more than 26 million older Americans are experiencing an improvement in functioning.”
‍Levy & Slade, Geriatrics, 2026

Do Positive Beliefs About Aging Actually Improve Health?

Yes. In the 2026 study, participants who held more positive beliefs about aging were significantly more likely to show gains in both walking speed and cognitive function over time. Mindset was the standout predictor of who improved.

The most fascinating finding in the study is not just that improvement happens. It is what predicts improvement.

To evaluate “positive age belief,” researchers used a validated scale with statements like, “I am as happy now as I was when I was younger.” Those who agreed showed more improvement over time. This builds on earlier research from the same Yale team showing that positive age beliefs were linked to a significantly higher likelihood of recovery from mild cognitive impairment (JAMA Network Open, 2023). The pattern is consistent: how people think about aging shapes how they age.

Why Is Walking Speed Called the Sixth Vital Sign?

Walking speed is a simple, validated measure of how fast a person walks at a normal pace, and clinicians treat it as a “sixth vital sign” because it reliably predicts hospitalization risk, disability, independence, and longevity in older adults. In the Yale study, participants walked a set distance at their usual pace, using mobility aids if needed, with measurements recorded every two years. The fact that 28% of participants walked faster at their final assessment than at baseline makes it one of the most encouraging signals in the research: physical capacity in later life can move in the right direction.

Why Does This Matter for Families and Caregivers?

Because expectations shape outcomes. If you are an older adult, or if you are caring for one, this research has real implications. The societal messages that equate aging with inevitable loss can make an impact. These impressions shape medical decisions and recommendations. For example, a provider may be less likely to offer preventative rehabilitation to older patients, assuming it will not help. These societal impressions also shape how older adults see their own future, and they may literally be shaping how they function in the future.

Another finding in this research was that most of those who improved did so in just one area, either cognition or walking speed, not both. This challenges the perception that the mind and body decline at the same rate. The picture of aging is far more hopeful than many have believed.

For family caregivers, this is a meaningful reframe. The goal of caregiving is not only to manage decline. It can also be to create the conditions for improvement: encouraging movement, supporting cognitive engagement, and pushing back on the assumption that “this is just what happens.” Clinician-led support platforms like Arlow are built around this same principle, helping families navigate the elder care journey with expert guidance rather than low expectations.

How Can You Age on Your Own Terms? A 5-Step Action Plan

The research points to concrete steps. Here is an action plan for aging on your own terms, whether for yourself or someone you care for.

1. Challenge your beliefs about aging. Pay attention to how you talk and think about getting older. Do you use phrases like, “I’m too old for that,” or “What do you expect, I’m old, that’s what happens”? Catch yourself and try to reframe your mindset. Growth doesn’t have an expiration date.
2. Seek out others who are thriving later in life. Actively seek out others who have a positive outlook on aging. Surround yourself with a community who wants to live well as they age.
3. Keep moving, consistently and at your own pace. Walking speed is a great predictor of health and independence. Daily movement, even gentle walks indoors, can make an impact. Talk to your provider about realistic goals and before you start a new exercise regimen. Having a friend to connect with during walks can help with keeping your commitment.
4. Stay mentally engaged with things that challenge and interest you. Cognitive function, like physical function, responds to use. Pursue activities that interest and stretch you. Learn something new, read frequently, have meaningful conversations, and engage in your community if possible. Consistent engagement is key.
5. Talk to your doctor about what improvement looks like for you. Initiate a conversation with your provider: “What would getting better look like for me?” This research shows that improvement is within reach. It is happening for nearly half of older adults.

Final Thoughts

Millions of older people are improving physically and cognitively. They are walking faster, thinking more clearly, and defying what the culture around them said was “normal.” This research highlights that believing improvement is possible is a key mindset to realizing the improvement.

If you are caring for an aging parent or loved one, you do not have to navigate this chapter alone. Visit www.arlow.ai to learn how clinician-led caregiving support can help your family plan for what is possible, not just what is feared. Have a story of improvement in your own family? We would love to hear it.

Source: Levy, B.R. & Slade, M.D. (2026). Aging Redefined: Cognitive and Physical Improvement with Positive Age Beliefs. Geriatrics, 11(2), 28.

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