Experts say this long-held assumption about aging may be wrong

The moment you start noticing changes in your body, it’s often under the dim light of a bathroom mirror. You might think, “When did that wrinkle appear?” or feel your body groaning when you stand up from the couch. These signs seem to signal a familiar story: aging means slowing down, fading away, and shrinking as time passes. But there’s an emerging conversation among scientists and researchers that challenges this idea.

The notion that aging is a relentless decline might not be the whole story. Instead, new findings suggest that aging is more complex, and the “downhill slide” might not be as inevitable as we’ve been told.

The Myth of Inevitable Decline

It’s a common refrain: “Wait until you hit 60, everything starts falling apart.” This joke might seem harmless, but it plants a deep-seated belief that aging inevitably leads to a steady decline. Yet, when researchers track large groups of older adults over decades, they don’t find a neat downward slope. Instead, the data reveals a more jagged path, with some people thriving well into their 80s and 90s.

Studies have shown that a significant number of individuals don’t fit the aging narrative. For instance, many older adults retain sharp cognitive abilities or even improve in areas like vocabulary, emotional regulation, and pattern recognition. In one influential study in Berlin, older adults were categorized as “cognitive maintainers” due to their stable mental performance over time. These individuals weren’t outliers—they were everyday people, such as teachers and mechanics, whose lifestyles played a crucial role in maintaining their cognitive function.

The Bottom Line: Decline Isn’t Universally Inevitable

The key takeaway from these findings is clear: decline isn’t uniform. In fact, many areas of aging are modifiable, contrary to the common belief that deterioration is the natural course of life.

Why Do We Buy Into the Aging Narrative?

One reason we buy into this narrative is simple visibility. We often notice the dramatic signs of aging, like dementia in a loved one, while overlooking those who continue to live fully, even well into their later years. It’s also important to recognize that medical science traditionally focused on disease and illness, not what researchers now call “healthspan”—the years we spend living well and fully, not just existing.

This shift in focus is helping experts understand that aging is more about maintaining function than simply preventing disease. Studies of centenarians and “super-agers” suggest that aging could be more adaptable than previously thought. The idea that decline is automatic and linear may no longer hold true.

How to Age Like a “Super-Ager”

When examining individuals who remain sharp and active into their 80s and 90s, the details of their lifestyles vary greatly. However, a few common threads emerge. These individuals tend to move more than they sit, stay engaged socially, and continuously seek new learning experiences. It’s not about hacking the aging process but rather maintaining an active and engaged lifestyle.

One neurologist suggests that if you want your brain to stay younger than your age, you need to give it reasons to adapt. This could mean tackling challenging conversations, learning new skills, or simply choosing to walk instead of sit. The body, it turns out, doesn’t stop responding to regular exercise just because the calendar says you’re over 65.

Small Steps Lead to Big Changes

What’s crucial here is that the old aging narrative subtly shapes our behavior long before we reach old age. We start to say things like “I’m too old for that” at an age as young as 35. These mental shortcuts prevent us from trying new things or pushing through discomfort, and they can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of decline. The more we limit ourselves, the more our bodies and minds follow suit.

Rewriting the Aging Script

The traditional aging story paints a picture of inevitable decline. But experts are asking us to consider a new narrative. Aging doesn’t have to be about losing capacity—what if, instead, aging means being active, imperfect, and still capable of growth, even at 70 or beyond? This shift doesn’t come from medical breakthroughs alone but from millions of small personal choices we make every day.

The next time you feel an ache or forget something, you may hear two voices: one telling you that the end is near, and the other suggesting that the story isn’t finished yet. The truth is, we have more control over aging than we think, and the more we choose movement, curiosity, and connection, the more we can rewrite our own aging story.