Life Matters - Separate stories podcast Does a positive outlook help you age better?
Mar 15, 2026
Dr Kate Grigorovic, geriatrician and author on healthy aging, offers a fresh look at growing older. She discusses a long Yale study showing many over-65s improved over time. Topics include how a positive outlook links to cognitive and physical gains, mindset-driven health behaviors, limits of causation, equity concerns, and practical steps to boost optimism and agency in later life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Many Older Adults Actually Improve Over Time
- Almost half of adults over 65 improved in memory, cognition, or walking speed over ~8 years.
- Yale tracked people starting average age 74 and found around a third improved in both cognitive and physical measures.
Positive Attitude Linked To Better Ageing Outcomes
- Positive attitudes toward ageing were strongly linked with improvement in the study, even after adjusting for some health factors.
- Researchers tried to control for age and health covariates but acknowledge imperfect measurement and life events can affect mood.
May's Boot Scooting And Water Slide Vitality
- May, now in her 70s, took fitness training in her 40s and stays active with long walks, pool outings and boot scooting.
- Her example shows lifelong learning and fun activities can sustain vitality and social engagement.