There’s bad news for me and my fellow Eeyores (there always is): a positive mindset could help you age better. If you’re a glass-half-full type, you’re probably thinking that nearly half of the over-65s studied upping their physical or cognitive performance over a period of years seems like great news. But it’s the positive thinkers – the “you’re as young as you feel”, “age is just a number” people – getting positive results that rankles. Does this mean people like me who are always expecting the worst may in fact be bringing the worst on ourselves, our gloomy beliefs becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy? Failing that, I can only hope another force is as powerful as positivity: the grim determination to prove science wrong.

Source: The Guardian March 30, 2026 20:30 UTC