Why Perceptions of Aging Matter

By Kaye Olsson, I Start Wondering Columnist

If you’ve ever seen the movie Field of Dreams, you most certainly recall the quote, “If you build it, they will come.” It conveyed the message that whatever we envision can eventually become reality. 

This is true in many aspects of life. We set intentions for future aspirations or repeat positive affirmations because we know internalized beliefs can influence our behaviors. And, according to mounting data, our attitudes and beliefs can also impact how well we age. 

When I was growing up, older people on television were often portrayed as cartoonish characters with grey hair and grumpy attitudes, stooped over a cane or walker. I remember thinking to myself, “Is that what I have to look forward to?” 

Imagine my surprise several decades later when I entered my sixties full of energy with plenty of life to live. And I marvel at my friends in their seventies (and beyond) who routinely enjoy fulfilling activities such as exercising, traveling, or writing books. Those old stereotypes could not have been more wrong!

Quieting Our Thoughts

It turns out age is not necessarily a one-way ticket to decline. In fact, a study published in the journal Geriatrics found that about 45% of people over 65 actually improve their physical health, cognitive health, or both over an average of eight years. The key seems to be all in our heads. People who thrive later in life are more likely to reject negative stereotypes about aging and, instead, invest in healthy habits such as exercise, social connection, or mental engagement. They tend to have strong support networks, meaningful routines, and a sense of purpose.

Sure, we are often confronted with more health concerns as we age. But research suggests that our mindset can have a huge influence on our longevity. For example, data from the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retirement showed a striking correlation between early attitudes towards aging and participants’ death records. People who had reported holding positive beliefs about aging lived, on average, 7.5 years longer than those who held more negative beliefs. This advantage remained true even after controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, loneliness, and health.

The relationship between stereotypes and health can be explained by a number of factors, including stress. That is, negative stereotypes about aging can compound the stress people feel about getting older. This, in turn, can affect our autonomic nervous system, which regulates our heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and respiration.

Beyond the physiological effects of stress, however, there is also evidence that our expectations about growing older become a self-fulfilling prophecy because they impact our behaviors. For example, while a positive attitude about aging doesn’t take the place of exercise and eating well, a belief that we can live long, healthy lives often encourages people to invest in their future selves by taking more walks or eating more vegetables. On the flip side, when health problems are viewed as inevitable, then we are more likely to see healthy behaviors as futile. Why take that pickleball class if you don’t believe it will make a real difference? 

This dynamic is seen in mental health, as well. When older people believe that unhappiness is simply part of aging, they are less likely to seek treatment for depression.

People with a sunnier outlook on aging tend to have fewer brain biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease, such as plaques and tangles. One explanation is that a sense of grounded optimism helps you face acute problems with more resilience. In one study researchers found that positive aging beliefs boosted brain health, promoting recovery in those who had mild cognitive impairment. These beliefs seemed to act as a resource to provide patients with positive images that could be inspiring and lead to more self-efficacy. 

Getting a Boost

But the research suggests that positive perceptions of aging can do more than help us bounce back from a tough time. Positive aging beliefs also help many people with normal cognition and physical function make additional gains.

This is important to note as demographics in the United States are shifting, with the oldest Baby Boomers turning 80 soon. Getting this old is a relatively new phenomenon. In the past, people retired in their 60s, then lived only a few years longer. It was unusual to make it eight decades.

Today, the number of Americans who are turning 80 or older is close to 15 million—and demographic trends predict this number will double within two decades. Having reached octogenarian levels, the Baby Boomer generation that shaped much of our past is now shaping the future of aging for themselves and those who follow. They want better healthcare and housing, cures for dementia, and a say in when to die. They are basically reinventing perceptions of how to age. Unlike the patient Silent Generation, Boomers have high expectations and are using their sheer numbers (as well as financial and political clout) to make things happen.

A Learned Response

A positive view of aging doesn’t necessarily have to be instinctive. It can be learned, even in our later years. The first step is becoming aware of any negative assumptions we may have. 

To reduce negative age beliefs and strengthen their positive counterparts, start by increasing your awareness of how these stereotypes show up. Here is a quick self-test to try:

It is never too soon to begin dismantling these negative perceptions and you don’t have to do it alone. There are growing movements trying to change perceptions of later life as a time marked by flourishing, not decline. The National Center to Reframe Aging challenges ageist bias through research and advocacy. And the I Start Wondering community promotes the conviction that life after 50 is a period of expansion, not contraction. We routinely highlight women who are enjoying purpose and meaning in their third chapter. This bodes well for the long healthy lives I hope we will all have.