Here’s why it’s possible for life to get better as you age

Last week, we described what typically gets better with age. That included emotional and crystallized intelligence, positive memories and friendships. This week we will add several more to the list. 

But first, let’s clarify why this information is important. In our society, aging often is associated with decline and then dementia or depression. Yes, all three can occur. However, “the more we learn about aging, the clearer it becomes that a sweeping downward course is grossly inaccurate,” said Laura Carstensen, director of the Stanford Longevity Center, as part of a TED talk. 

To correct this inaccurate perception, it’s time to talk about the upsides of aging. Here are a few to add to last week’s list. 

Becoming happier. This is based on what is called the U-curve of happiness developed by Jonathan Rauch and first published in Atlantic magazine 10 years ago. His research and hundreds of other studies indicate we experience peak happiness in our youth and old age, with a dip in mid-life around 50. Psychologists followed more than 2,800 people for 23 years and found the older people got, the less they experienced negative feelings which translated into being happier over time. In early studies by Carstensen and colleagues, they noted “older adults are more satisfied with their lives because they want to be more satisfied.” Or, “As they see the end of life approaching, they start focusing on what feels good,” according to a Scientific American article by Marta Zaraska. Additionally, with social circles typically getting smaller with age, the relationships that remain are even more satisfying adding to one’s happiness. 

Becoming wiser. Wisdom is defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge, good judgment and insight. Yet getting older does not guarantee wisdom. Older adults do have an advantage because of their life experiences. But that still is not sufficient. Wisdom depends upon an individual’s ability to integrate life experiences and then reflect on them. Older adults are known to have an advantage over younger adults in solving social and practical problems. One theory suggests a contributing factor is the increase in crystallized intelligence with age. (That’s the accumulation of information learned over a lifetime.) It might be that older adults just know more and apply their knowledge to life events. 

Becoming stronger. As part of the typical process of aging, we lose muscle mass which affects strength, posture, gait, balance and more. Typically, muscle mass and strength increase from birth and then peak around 30 to 35 years of age. After that muscle power and performance decline gradually and linearly at first. Then the decline moves faster. For women, it typically occurs after age 65; for men, it is after age 70, according to the National Institute on Aging. The loss of strength can affect how we function in our daily lives. Roughly one-third of adults over age 70 have trouble walking, getting up out of a chair or climbing stairs. “A big culprit for losing our physical abilities as we grow older is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength,” according to the National Institute on Aging. Roger A. Fielding and his colleagues at Tufts University found the best recipe for improving physical functioning and avoiding disability is a combination of walking and resistance training. The important message is that we have influence over the loss of age-related strength… and we are never too old to get stronger. 

Becoming more creative. The late geriatrician Dr. Gene Cohen, former director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University and author of “The Creative Aging: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life” (Avon Harper, 2000), added to our perspective and knowledge about aging and creativity. He offered a different approach from one that links creativity to specific ages. He wrote, “Creativity is built into our species, innate in every one of us, whether we are plumbers, professors, short-order cooks or investment bankers.” He added, “It’s a basic human attribute.” Cohen believed we become more creative as we age based on our acquired experiences, wisdom and life relationships. We can experience big C’s that refer to extraordinary accomplishments such as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity or George Braque’s Cubist paintings. We also can experience little c’s such as creating a new recipe, an innovative fundraising strategy or by writing a poem to a grandchild. 

So yes, as we age, we can become happier, wiser, physically stronger and even more creative. Let’s remember that for ourselves and when anyone “sells us short” in accomplishing some of those upsides of aging. 

Stay well everyone and remember to be kind to yourself and others. 

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity