There’s something fascinating about watching someone in their seventies navigate a smartphone with more ease than their middle-aged children. Or the grandfather who picks up conversational Spanish just because.
These signs of something deeper—a kind of mental resilience that has less to do with luck and more to do with how you approach everyday life.
1. Learning new things for no practical reason
My neighbor is 73 and just started learning to play piano. Not because she needs to, not because anyone’s watching. She heard something that made her curious and went for it.
When older adults take on genuinely new skills—woodworking, astronomy, a language—their brains show increased activity in memory networks that usually quiet down with age. The trick is that it has to be *new*. Doing the same crossword format you’ve done for twenty years doesn’t cut it.
2. Actually wanting to hear what younger people think
Some septuagenarians talk to their kids and grandkids out of obligation. Others are genuinely curious what a 25-year-old thinks about dating apps or the housing market.
That curiosity across generations keeps something important flexible in the brain. Research shows that older adults with age-diverse friendships do better on tests of mental agility. You’re literally exercising your ability to see from different angles.
3. Figuring out tech without having a meltdown
Look, nobody loves it when their bank changes the app interface again. The difference is in how you respond.
Sharp 70-somethings treat confusing technology like a puzzle rather than a personal insult. They poke around, ask questions, maybe get frustrated but keep going. That willingness to experiment matters. Technology use in older adults tracks with better executive function—your ability to plan, focus, and juggle tasks. The tech itself is less important than the mindset.
4. Being willing to be wrong
I know someone who spent decades convinced butter was terrible for you, then read new research and just… changed her mind. No drama, no doubling down. Just “huh, I guess I was wrong about that.”
Most people get more rigid in their thinking as they age. But being able to update your beliefs when you learn something new? That’s a sign your brain is still operating at a high level. The willingness to be wrong keeps your mind loose in ways that matter for everything else.
5. Getting randomly curious about weird topics
You’re at dinner and someone mentions how octopuses think, and instead of politely nodding you actually want to know more. Or you hear about some historical event and find yourself Googling it later.
That instinct to follow curiosity—even when it’s impractical—predicts how well your brain ages. The 70-year-olds who are still wondering “why” and “how” about random things are keeping neural pathways active. Curiosity isn’t just nice to have; it’s doing actual work in your brain.
6. Doing things that feel a little awkward
Most people’s comfort zones shrink over time. Fewer new restaurants, fewer unfamiliar places, fewer situations where you might look foolish.
The cognitively sharp ones lean the other way. Travel somewhere you don’t speak the language. Try a cuisine that seems bizarre. Go to a lecture on something you know nothing about. These novel experiences create what’s called neuroplasticity—your brain forming new connections. Mild discomfort is actually good for you.
7. Reading or watching things that make you think hard
There’s entertainment that washes over you, and there’s stuff that makes your brain work. Long articles about evolution or economics. Documentaries where you can’t check your phone. Books that require real attention.
When you regularly engage with complex ideas, you’re building something called crystallized intelligence. Unlike other cognitive abilities that fade, this one can actually get stronger if you keep challenging it. The catch is you have to actually challenge it.
8. Still giving a damn about what happens next
This one’s subtle. It’s not about forced optimism. It’s about maintaining real interest in the future—what your grandkids will do with their lives, how technology might change things, plans you want to make for next year.
When older adults keep that forward-looking mindset, they perform better on cognitive tests. It’s like your brain needs something to reach toward. The moment someone decides the interesting part is over, things start to slide.
Final thoughts
None of this guarantees anything—genetics matter, and brains are complicated. But these habits definitely stack the deck in your favor.
What strikes me most is how simple these things are. Not expensive supplements or complicated programs. Just staying curious, staying open, refusing to let your world get smaller.
The 70-year-olds with unusually sharp minds aren’t doing anything mysterious. They’re just still interested. Still learning. Still reaching for what they don’t understand yet. That reaching might be the whole game.
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