Introduction/objective: The healthy aging process involves changes in neurobiological functions at various levels and is associated with a slight impairment in various cognitive domains, such as executive functions (EF), as well as the enhancement of emotional skills. The objective of this study was to compare the use of emotion regulation (ER) strategies in young adults (YA) and older adults (OA) and explore the association between ER skills and EF between age groups. Method: Participants were 40 YA between 18 and 39 years of age (50% women) and 40 OA > 60 years old (50% women), residents in the Federal District, Brazil. Phonological Verbal Fluency (FAS), semantic and switching (animals and fruits) and action tests were administered, along with the Stroop Test. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation of the Cognitive Reappraisal (CR) strategy and both semantic and switching verbal fluency tests in YA, and between the CR strategy and the FAS test and the Stroop Test in OA. That is, executive performance showed a direct relationship with ER in both groups, with greater use of cognitive reappraisal by older adults. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the relevance of continuing to investigate the relationship between these abilities and analysing in greater depth their alterations during the aging process.