SuperAgers are a group of people, typically over the age of 80, who have abilities to recall events from the past with clarity as compared to those 20 or 30 years younger.
SuperAgers: One of the main causes older people have trouble naming things, or as simple as remembering which day it is, arises from a slowdown in brain functions. Our human brain shrinks as we age, and that is why most adults are forgetful. However, there are a few exceptional people known as ‘SuperAgers‘, defying the forgetful trends in older age.
What Are SuperAgers?
The term ‘SuperAgers’ was first coined by the Northwestern Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre (NADRC) to define an individual above 80 years of age, who can recall memories as if like of 20 or 30 years old.
While most of us struggle to remember what we ate in the morning, one such SuperAger is Carol Siegler from Chicago, who entered the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament for fun at age 82 but actually won the competition.
Tamar Gefen, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern University in Chicago, tells a leading media outlet that Siegler is still going strong, well on her way to her 90th birthday.
What Keeps SuperAgers’ Brains Young?
According to Gefen, he was reported to have stated that one of the key traits that keeps SuperAgers’ brains young is that they are highly social people and value connection. SuperAgers are also often active in their communities.
He further added, “Another common thread in all SuperAgers is a sense of autonomy, freedom and independence. They’re making decisions and living their lives the way that they want to live.”
The psychiatry and behavioural sciences professor also outlines the association between isolation and dementia, where staying active is a known protective feature to avoid Alzheimer’s disease.
What Does Successful Ageing Look Like?
Talking about successful ageing, Gefen states, “I feel very strongly that successful ageing is not just about sociability. If a person feels trapped, tethered or burdened, especially in a vulnerable state like poor health or older age, I think it can encroach on their entire psychosocial being.
“But as far as healthy behaviours, SuperAgers run the gamut. We have SuperAgers with heart disease, diabetes, who aren’t physically active, who don’t eat any better than their similar age peers.”
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