Who says that growing old must be paired with mental decline? Not Alan Castel, professor of psychology in the UCLA College. Our brain’s ability to adapt as we age, can actually lead to the improvement of some types of memory.

“Getting older doesn’t have to be about aches and pains and memory loss,” says Castel, who recently wrote a book about the psychology of successful aging. “If we take care of ourselves physically and choose to focus on remembering the good things, we lay the groundwork for a long and happy life.”

People coming to UCLA Alumni Day on May 18 can attend a conversation with Castel at 2:30 p.m., during which he’ll share some of what goes into successful aging.