What is a Superager? According to researchers at Northwestern University, Superagers have a youthful episodic memory and show whole-brain resistance to the aging process. It is a person who is 80 years old or older, yet has a memory at least as good as someone who is 20 to 30 years younger.
Dr. Emily Rogalski is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Chicago. She is the director of its Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care Center. She says that the outer layer of the brain goes through shrinkage as we age. The shrinkage tends to occur in areas related to memory. The peak performance of our memory is in our 20’s or 30’s. The rate of shrinkage for Superagers is slower than the average 80 year old. But before you run out and get tested, keep in mind that Superagers are rare.
Researchers worldwide are trying to focus on the reasons that Superagers have a slower and less pronounced brain atrophy in regions critical for memory and language. Much of the research around Superagers seems to point to healthy living that is crucial to everyone. Here are some of the attributes of Superagers:
Being more active in midlife
Getting enough sleep
Independent in daily living
Practicing stress reduction
Getting exercise
Getting help with mood and mind disorders
(e.g. mental health issues such as depression are known risk factors for developing dementia)
Being social and engaging in one’s community
Education (It doesn’t necessarily have to be higher education or an advanced degree but continually learning new skills and information is important and it stimulates one’s brain. The process should be challenging. Learning a new language is a good example).
And finally, genes play an important part although the effect on genes can be changed based on environmental factors and lifestyle choices. The research that is being conducted is invaluable because it helps people to make lifestyle changes early and it helps to analyze why some people get dementia and others thrive in their older age.
For more information:
https://haarc.center.uchicago.edu/superagers/
https://www.australiandementianetwork.org.au/
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/4-habits-super-agers