Are you counseling your aging patients effectively? New data says maybe not
Industry Buzz
Improvement in later life is not rare, it’s common, and it should be included in our understanding of the aging process.
—Becca Levy, PhD, via a press release
Muscle mass really is the key to longevity. It really is our insurance policy for how long we want to stay functional. To live a long and healthy life, you want to be as functional and independent as possible, and that’s going to depend on how well you move.
—Elaina Manolis, ScD, DPT, via a press release
Aging is often viewed as a period of inevitable physical and cognitive decline.
But new research published in Geriatrics suggests that growing older does not automatically mean diminished ability or well-being. Instead, researchers found that an older adult’s mindset about aging may play a significant role in shaping how successfully they age.[]
You can get better with age
The study analyzed more than a decade of data from a large sample of older Americans, finding that just over 45% aged 65 and older showed measurable improvement in cognitive function, physical function, or both.[]
Notably, these improvements were linked to one factor: how participants thought about aging itself.
Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health assessed changes in cognition using a global performance measure and tracked physical function using walking speed, which geriatricians often describe as a “vital sign” because of its links to disability, hospitalization, and mortality among older people.
When researchers also accounted for participants whose cognitive performance remained stable over time, more than half challenged the common stereotype of age-related cognitive decline.
“Improvement in later life is not rare, it’s common, and it should be included in our understanding of the aging process,” Becca Levy, PhD, professor of public health and psychology at Yale School of Public Health and lead author of the study, said in a press release.[]
The researchers found that participants with more positive beliefs about aging were significantly more likely to show improvements in both cognition and walking speed.[][]
“Our findings suggest there is often a reserve capacity for improvement in later life,” Dr. Levy says. “And because age beliefs are modifiable, this opens the door to interventions at both the individual and societal level.”[]
Strengthening glutes for longevity
Beyond mindset, experts also emphasize maintaining muscle strength—particularly in the glutes—to support balance, mobility, and healthy aging.[]
Strong glutes may help prevent and manage back pain and lower fall risk in older adults. Exercises such as squats, glute bridges, and sit-to-stand movements can help strengthen lower-body muscles over time.[]
“Muscle mass really is the key to longevity. It really is our insurance policy for how long we want to stay functional,” Elaina Manolis, ScD, DPT, assistant clinical professor of physical therapy, human movement, and rehabilitation sciences at Northeastern University, told Northeastern Global News. “To live a long and healthy life, you want to be as functional and independent as possible, and that's going to depend on how well you move.”[]
What this means for the clinic
These findings may help physicians reframe conversations about aging and encourage patients to take a more active role in preserving function and independence.
Encourage patients to view healthy aging as achievable, as positive beliefs about aging may influence physical and cognitive outcomes.
Consider gait-speed assessments in routine care, as walking speed remains a strong predictor of disability and mortality.
Reinforce strength and mobility exercises, including lower-body training, to support balance, independence, and fall prevention.
Address age-related pessimism that may reduce motivation to exercise, engage in rehabilitation, or seek preventive care.