To improve sex life in old age, psychologists from the University of Missouri advise coming to terms with old age.  The work of the research group was published in The Gerontologist. The work involved 1,000 older couples over the age of 50. All volunteers filled out a questionnaire about their sex life, as well as their attitudes toward old age. The collected data allowed them to find out how the subjects' perception of aging affects their sexual satisfaction. Researchers found that people with more positive attitudes had more sex and also had more pleasure. According to the researchers, there are several possible reasons why perceptions of aging may affect a person's sex life. "If people expect a dramatic decline in energy due to aging, they stop enjoying the moment of intimacy, subconsciously sex is perceived as something tedious. In addition, some people begin to feel disgust for their bodies as they age, which also has a negative impact on their sex life," the experts explained. Past studies have shown that negative perceptions of aging are also associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive decline, the development of cardiovascular disease and even shorter life expectancy.