For many Americans, getting older is associated with an assumption that memory, mobility, and independence will inevitably decline. But new research from Yale suggests the reality of aging may be considerably more optimistic.

A 2026 study led by Yale researchers Becca R. Levy, PhD, and Martin D. Slade, MPH, found that a significant number of older adults actually improved in cognitive ability, physical function, or both over time.

The findings offer an encouraging reminder for retirees and their families: later life can be a period of continued growth, independence, and possibility.

Nearly Half of Older Adults Improved in at Least One Area

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Geriatrics, the study examined data from the long-running Health and Retirement Study, following participants for as long as 12 years.

Researchers measured cognitive performance as well as walking speed, which is commonly used as an indicator of physical functioning in older adults.

Among participants with measurements in both areas, 45.15% improved in cognition, walking speed, or both during the study period.

Looking at the measures individually:

• 31.88% showed improvement in cognitive performance
• 28% improved their walking speed
• When researchers considered older adults whose cognition either improved or remained stable, 51.06% avoided cognitive decline

The researchers also conducted more conservative analyses requiring larger improvements, and a meaningful portion of participants still demonstrated gains. Importantly, improvement was not limited only to people who began the study with poor health or impaired functioning. Participants who started with normal levels of cognition and walking speed also demonstrated improvement over time.

Your Expectations About Aging May Matter, Too

One of the study’s particularly interesting findings involved how people think about getting older.

Participants with more positive beliefs about aging were significantly more likely to improve in both cognitive performance and walking speed, even after researchers accounted for a number of other factors.

Dr. Levy, a professor at the Yale School of Public Health who has extensively studied attitudes toward aging, said the findings suggest older adults may have a greater capacity for improvement than society often assumes.

The researchers argue that our cultural view of aging deserves reconsideration. Instead of treating later life exclusively as a period of deterioration, they suggest recognizing that stability and improvement are possible outcomes as well.

Rethinking What Retirement Can Look Like

For older homeowners, research like this is particularly relevant because retirement planning isn’t simply about preparing for decline. Increasingly, Americans are thinking about how to make their later years active, comfortable, independent, and fulfilling.

That might mean remaining in a longtime home, traveling, spending more time with family, pursuing hobbies, staying socially connected, or simply having greater flexibility in day-to-day life.

Financial planning can be an important part of making those choices possible.

For homeowners age 62 and older, a reverse mortgage is one potential financial tool that may allow eligible borrowers to access a portion of their home equity while continuing to live in their home, provided they meet the loan requirements. Depending on someone’s individual circumstances, home equity may become part of a broader retirement strategy alongside savings, investments, Social Security, pensions, and other resources.

A reverse mortgage isn’t appropriate for everyone, which is why homeowners should carefully consider their long-term goals, costs, responsibilities, and alternatives before making a decision.

A More Optimistic View of Growing Older

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the Yale study isn’t that everyone will become physically or cognitively stronger with age. Aging remains highly individual, and health circumstances differ substantially from person to person.

Instead, the research challenges the assumption that decline is automatic and universal.

Nearly half of the older adults studied improved in at least one of the two areas researchers examined. That leaves room for a much more expansive way of thinking about retirement and aging—one that includes not only preparation for the future, but the possibility of continued improvement.

For Santa Barbara homeowners planning for retirement, that can be an encouraging perspective: growing older doesn’t necessarily mean giving up independence, aspirations, or new experiences. With thoughtful health, lifestyle, and financial planning, the years ahead may hold more possibilities than conventional ideas about aging would suggest.

Sources

This article discusses findings from:

Levy, Becca R., and Martin D. Slade. “Aging Redefined: Cognitive and Physical Improvement with Positive Age Beliefs.” Geriatrics, Volume 11, Issue 2, 2026.

Additional information was provided by the Yale School of Public Health in its coverage of the research.

This article is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, tax, or financial advice. Reverse mortgage borrowers must continue to meet applicable loan obligations, including paying property taxes and homeowners insurance and maintaining the home. Consult appropriate qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.