Everyone wants to stay fully independent as we age. A few people over age 80 do and they don’t suffer from memory loss either. They are called “super agers” because they do not suffer the same mental and physical declines as almost everyone else. They’ve been studied by researchers for decades. We do have some answers to what makes them different from everyone else. Maybe we all wish we could be super agers ourselves.
What Is A Super Ager?
The term describes someone over 80 with an exceptional memory — one at least as good as the memories of people who are 20 to 30 years younger. They don’t get Alzheimer’s disease. They think clearly and participate in many things most folks their age cannot do.
As reported in AARP, those who seem to defy normal changes of aging have a few things in common. Here are some of these, also reflected in research from other reports in other places in the U.S.
1. Thicker brains
We don’t know if it’s a hereditary thing or not but with this rare group, the part of the brain which impacts thinking, memory and decision-making is thicker in super agers — sometimes thicker even than it is in most people in their 50s and 60s. It resists shrinking.
2. Supersize memory cells in their brains.
These larger than average sized particular nerve cells resist the protein deposits associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. The protein plaques and tangles may be present in the brains of those super agers, seen from those who donated their brains to studies after they pass, but they do not seem to cause damage.
3. More “social intelligence” brain cells
These particular kinds of brain cell cells have been linked to social intelligence and awareness. They help facilitate rapid communication across the brain, providing an enhanced ability to navigate the outside world.which impacts thinking, memory and decision-making. As I see it, that would suggest greater levels of independence in aging, an elusive thing most want but few over 80 actually achieve.
What If You Aren’t Born With That Kind Of Brain?
There is plenty of research on preventing dementia to tell us that lifestyle is perhaps the most important feature of aging well, whether you are destined to be a super ager or not. Most of the super agers are very active and maintain healthy habits. One of my favorite examples is the late Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the famous sex therapist. She was a TV personality, author of numerous books and, as she used to say, a nonstop talker. Her belief was that talking exercises the brain. OK, we know some nonstop talkers who are definitely not exercising their brains so that’s not all there is to keeping one’s brain active. But being silent and withdrawn is certainly not helpful either.
Healthy lifestyle clearly includes regular exercise, even walking. It doesn’t take running marathons. And food choices are part of this, of course as well. Data more recently shows a link between consuming ultra processed foods (sweets, packaged snacks, etc.) and cognitive decline. The better choices, as we are often told, include fish, vegetables, fruits and whole grains, avoiding junk food and excess.
Other resources emphasize the importance of social connections in aging to help ward off dementia, getting enough sleep, and managing stress. Easier said than done! And one thing the super agers who have been studied also have in common is the unwavering willingness or ability to constantly challenge themselves.
The Takeaway
Not everyone will have a super ager’s remarkably different kind of brain structure. But everyone can see their good health habits and aim for doing what they do. They stay active in many ways, socially engaged, and everyone can make that an achievable goal.
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