SuperAger
A person who is at least eighty years old and has the memory and cognitive ability of someone who is at least thirty years younger are referred to as a superager, sometimes known as a super-ager.
This population is much below the “normal” age range for memory ability.
While there is probably a biological component to why a person does or does not become a superager, lifestyle choices can increase a person’s likelihood of becoming one. Research on the brain differences of superagers is currently ongoing.
The Development of SuperAgers
The Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease is credited with coining the term “superager.”
It is situated at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. According to their definition, superagers are “adults above the age of 80 who have the memory of people who are at least three decades younger.” In the year 2008, they came up with the phrase.
The Mesulam Center is presently undertaking research to identify the genetic, neurological, and lifestyle components that contribute to a person’s superior memory retention compared to peers. They use paper surveys, blood tests, brain donations, brain imaging, and other research methods.
Symptoms of a SuperAger
One primary indication of being a superager is that you remember more than those in your age group, at least from a layperson’s perspective.
But from a scientific standpoint, several variables impact whether a person is a superager. The following applies to superagers who are over the age of 80:
- When visualized, their brains appear twenty to thirty years younger than their actual age.
- Their brains do not exhibit the typical atrophic changes seen in those of their age group due to their resistance to cortical atrophy.
- Compared to their colleagues, who lose 2.24% of their brain volume annually, they only lose 1.06%.
- They have more Von Economo neurons, a particular type of neuron, in their brains.
- Their brains’ fibers do not tangle in ways that are indicative of Alzheimer’s disease.
Can You Develop Into a SuperAger?
There is no question that some aspects of being a superager are likely biological, despite the fact that research into superagers is still ongoing.
It’s reasonable to think that some people’s bodies and minds are just predisposed to resist specific signs of aging better than others, similar to how some people are born with more intelligence than others.
The Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease does believe that lifestyle variables play a part in the retention of brain cells, even if it is likely that becoming a superager has a genetic component.
How to Boost Memory as You Get Older
You can adopt a variety of various lifestyle practices to raise your likelihood of becoming a superager.
The good news is that these are all healthy lifestyle choices to make in general, even though there is no way to ensure that you’ll adopt any of them. They may boost your happiness, fitness, and overall well-being and enhance your memory and brain function.
#) Push Yourself Intellectually:
- Become multilingual; take a class, either online or in person
- Play board games, word games, or puzzles
- Break your routine by, for example, running errands along new routes
- Pick up a skill like knitting or crocheting.
#) Remain Active:
- Exercise & Dance
- Swimming or engaging in other water sports
- Hiking
- Walking
- Use stairs rather than using an elevator
- Playing Sports
- Bowling
- Frisbee
#) Consume Vital Nutrients:
- Start consuming leafy greens like kale, spinach, and lettuce
- Eat some fatty fish
- Have tea and coffee
- Consume berries
#) Be Social and Have Fun
