October 2, 2024

The Power of Attitude on Aging: Lessons from Ellen Langer and Becca Levy

Aging is often seen as an inevitable decline, a slow march toward limitations in physical, mental, and social capacities. But what if much of what we attribute to aging is more a product of our mindset than biology itself? Groundbreaking research from psychologists Ellen Langer and Becca Levy suggests that our beliefs about aging significantly impact how we age—and that adopting a positive attitude can add years to our lives and enhance the quality of those years.

Living in a positive environment may be the greatest support for a positive attitude.

Ellen Langer’s Clockwise Study: Turning Back the Clock with the Mind

Ellen Langer, a renowned Harvard psychologist, conducted one of the most famous studies on aging and the mind in 1979, known as the *Clockwise Study*. In this experiment, a group of elderly men in their 70s and 80s was taken to a retreat designed to look like 1959—20 years earlier. For five days, the men were asked to immerse themselves in this environment, including listening to old radio shows, discussing past events as though they were happening in the present, and interacting as if they were younger versions of themselves.

The results were astonishing. By the end of the week, the participants showed remarkable improvements in physical and cognitive abilities. Their hearing, memory, and even strength improved. Some of them even exhibited better posture and walked with more confidence. Their biological markers, such as vision and joint flexibility, showed noticeable progress. Langer’s study demonstrated that when we change our mindset about aging and see ourselves as capable and vibrant, the body can reflect that belief.

This research highlights the placebo effect in aging—a concept where believing in a particular outcome leads to physical changes. In the case of Langer’s study, when the men believed they were living in a time when they were younger, their bodies and minds responded as though they were younger. It’s as if they mentally turned back the clock, and their bodies followed suit.

Seeing is believing; the placebo effect

When Independent Living residents are seen playing pool, or in the movie theater, you can literally see the smiles and increased energy they bring to the activities they’ve done all their lives. Coffee klatches and other game activities bring life to residents. Sitting at home alone watching TV is a sure way to see a decline both mentally and physically.

Becca Levy’s Research: A Positive Attitude Can Add Years to Your Life

While Langer’s work demonstrated the power of mental framing in the short term, Becca Levy’s research takes it a step further by showing the long-term effects of attitudes toward aging. Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale, conducted a pivotal study on the relationship between our beliefs about aging and our life span. Her research found that, on average, individuals who held positive attitudes about aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with negative views.

Levy’s studies show that when elders believe that aging is a time of continued growth, wisdom, and fulfillment, they live longer and better. They tend to remain more physically active, have sharper cognitive skills, and are more likely to recover from illness. Her findings suggest that how we internalize societal messages about aging shapes our reality.

In contrast, when people see aging as a period of inevitable decline, they’re more likely to experience stress, disengage from social activities, and even neglect self-care. Levy’s research underscores the powerful connection between the mind and body, showing that changing our beliefs can have real, measurable health benefits.

When Elizabeth moved into McCrite Plaza, she had been suffering from depression and was taking medication to help her. When she got involved in the activities and started making new friends, she improved so dramatically that she was able to discontinue her meds. Even the doctor was surprised by her immediate improvement. Her family and even Elizabeth herself thought that she would never improve mentally, but the socialization literally gave her a new look at life and, in the long run, probably extended her life expectancy.”

The Placebo Effect: Belief Shapes Reality

At the heart of both Langer’s and Levy’s work is the concept of the placebo effect, where belief plays a pivotal role in producing real changes in the body. Often associated with medicine, the placebo effect demonstrates that when people believe they are receiving an effective treatment, they can experience actual physiological benefits, even if the treatment is inert.

The placebo effect works in a broader sense in the context of aging. When people believe aging is synonymous with deterioration, their bodies are more likely to mirror that belief. Conversely, when they embrace aging with optimism, their bodies can defy the conventional expectations of decline.

A positive attitude is not just a state of mind but an active ingredient in health and longevity. The same mental processes that allow someone to heal more quickly with a sugar pill can also enable someone to age with more grace, strength, and vitality when they believe aging is a period of continued growth and potential.

Living Longer and Better: How Attitude Affects Aging

Aging with a positive attitude doesn’t just extend life—it improves the quality of those extra years. Elders who adopt an optimistic view of aging are more likely to engage in physical activity, maintain social connections, and pursue lifelong learning. All these factors contribute to greater overall well-being.

Moreover, having a positive attitude toward aging can buffer against some of the common stresses associated with growing older. Stress can accelerate aging at the cellular level by shortening telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. However, research shows that a positive mindset and a sense of purpose can help mitigate this process, preserving mental acuity and physical health for longer.

The shift from seeing aging as a loss to seeing it as a time for personal growth is a powerful one. Whether it’s Langer’s men literally turning back the clock or Levy’s research demonstrating a life span boost of 7.5 years, the evidence is clear: how we think about aging deeply influences how we experience it.

Attitude is Everything

The new science behind aging tells us that our attitudes are as important as our genes or lifestyle. The groundbreaking research of Ellen Langer and Becca Levy provides compelling evidence that a positive attitude toward aging not only makes life more fulfilling but can add years to it. The mind and body are inseparable, and the beliefs we hold about ourselves and our potential profoundly affect our biology.

For those seeking to age well, it’s not just about maintaining a healthy diet or staying physically active. It’s about cultivating a mindset that sees aging not as a decline but as a chapter full of opportunity, growth, and satisfaction. A positive attitude, in essence, may be the most powerful anti-aging tool we have.

The best way to maintain a positive attitude is to be in a positive atmosphere! Come for a tour – seeing is believing!