What’s the trick to aging well?

If you’re curious about the answer, you’re already on the right track, says UCLA psychology professor Alan Castel.

Castel and an international team of psychology researchers have shown that curiosity doesn’t have to fade with age — certain types of curiosity can persist into later life and actually increase. And better yet, they say, older adults who maintain their curiosity and are eager to learn new things relevant to their interests may be able to offset or even prevent cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, those whose curiosity is muted and who display general disinterest may be at risk for dementia.

The researchers distinguished between two types of curiosity. The first, “trait curiosity,” is a personality trait and reflects a person’s general curiosity and disposition toward learning. The second, “state curiosity,” is the momentary feeling of curiosity people experience when they’re asked about specific topics or something grabs their attention; prior studies suggested this form of curiosity declines as people get older. But Castel’s study, supported by federal funding, suggested a different story.

It was trait curiosity, the researchers found, that generally declined with age. State curiosity dipped in young adulthood and hit a low in midlife — but then increased sharply after middle age and continued upward well into older age. In fact, older adults in general showed a rising enthusiasm for learning about topics that genuinely interested them.

The reason for the shift? It might be tied to life’s shifting demands, Castel says. Midlife often comes with heavier responsibilities like careers and families, which limit the time and space for intellectual exploration. But as these pressures ease, later life offers the freedom to return to passions and curiosities.

And importantly, maintaining a curious mindset isn’t just enriching — it may also support lifelong cognitive health. Adults who stay curious, Castel says, tend to remain mentally sharp. He recommends that people keep the spark alive by exploring things that matter to them, engaging with people who share their curiosity, taking classes and attending lectures.

“As we get older, we don’t want to stop learning; we’re just more selective about what we want to learn,” Castel says. “You see this in the context of lifelong learning: A lot of older adults will go back to take classes or pick up hobbies or engage in bird watching. I think it shows that this level of curiosity, if maintained, can really keep us sharp as we age.”