Many Seniors Gain Physical, Mental Fitness As They Age, Study Finds

March 9, 2026

People think of aging as a steady decline, with seniors gradually losing their physical abilities and mental agility as the years wear on.

But a new study suggests that seniors can – and often do – improve over time, with the right mindset.

Nearly half of seniors 65 and older showed measurable improvement in their brain health, physical function or both over time, researchers reported in the journal Geriatrics.

“Many people equate aging with an inevitable and continuous loss of physical and cognitive abilities,” lead researcher Becca Levy, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Yale School of Public Health, said in a news release. HealthDay