People in Their 90s Staying Sharper

Those who make it into their 90s today are sharper and healthier than previous generations who lived that long, say Danish researchers in the Lancet. They compared two large groups of seniors, one born in 1905 that was tested in 1998 and the other born in 1915 that was tested in 2010. Generally speaking, the latter group did better on a range of physical and mental challenges. What's more, the 1915 group had a 28% greater chance of living to at least 93, and a 32% greater chance of reaching 95, reports USA Today.

“There’s a fear that getting older means many years of living in bad shape with a rather gloomy outlook,” the lead researcher tells Bloomberg. "I’m looking forward to living longer than 90 myself after this study.” The researchers chalk up the improvement to a host of factors including better nutrition, vaccinations, and intellectual stimulation. “We have to change our image of aging,” says another reseacher. “It’s not being old and decrepit at 90; it’s being old and active.” (More aging stories.)