A Negative Attitude Towards Aging is Making You Age Faster
By Graham Lawton (Excerpted by Kelli Deferme)
March 20th, 2026
A growing body of research shows that how we think about aging can directly impact how well we age. Studies have found that people who hold negative beliefs about getting older tend to experience faster physical, mental, and cognitive decline. In contrast, those with more positive attitudes toward aging are more likely to stay active, eat well, and maintain better overall health outcomes.
This effect appears to go beyond simple correlation. Research indicates that a person’s outlook earlier in life can actually predict their future health trajectory. In one study, individuals with the most positive views on aging experienced significantly slower decline over time—suggesting that internal beliefs may play a powerful role in shaping the aging process itself.
Experts are increasingly pointing to “internalized ageism”—the negative assumptions we hold about our own aging—as a major and under-recognized health risk. One estimate suggests that ageism contributes to millions of additional cases of chronic disease each year, highlighting the need to rethink not just how society views aging, but how we view ourselves as we grow older.
Link to original article: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2519983-a-negative-attitude-towards-ageing-is-making-you-age-faster/
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