{"id":4813,"date":"2025-10-02T00:22:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T00:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=4813"},"modified":"2025-10-02T02:09:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T02:09:59","slug":"are-you-a-superager-read-on-to-find-out-how-you-can-become-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/are-you-a-superager-read-on-to-find-out-how-you-can-become-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Are you a superager? Read on to find out how you can become one\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4813\" class=\"elementor elementor-4813\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54adab4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54adab4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-30cb85f\" data-id=\"30cb85f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f512c8 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f512c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>T<strong>he &#8220;superagers,&#8221; monitored by the Northwestern University team since 2000, are people over 80 years old with memory scores equivalent to those 30 years younger.<\/strong><\/p><p>To be classified as a &#8220;superager,&#8221; one must, among other things, remember at least nine words from a list 15 to 30 minutes later.<\/p><p>What distinguishes these &#8220;superagers&#8221; isn&#8217;t a fake miracle diet or a drastic exercise routine, but simply a personality trait: sociability. Strong family ties, a well-maintained network of friends, and community life and volunteer activities are part of their daily lives.<\/p><p>Scientists point out that they share a desire for connection and autonomy, willingly forming new relationships and tenaciously maintaining their social lives.<\/p><p>Autopsies and brain scans show that their anterior cortex remains surprisingly thick, often thicker than in much younger adults. This area of the brain, involved in emotion, motivation, and social interaction, is home to a high concentration of von Economo neurons in &#8220;superagers,&#8221; which are linked to social behaviour and cognitive resilience. Some even have the typical lesions of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, without showing cognitive decline\u2014suggesting exceptional resilience.<\/p><p>&#8220;Superagers&#8221; fall into two categories: those who resist the development of toxic proteins (resistance) and those who limit the impact of these lesions on their cognition (resilience). Their cholinergic system, essential for memory and attention, also remains more intact; the breakdown of acetylcholine is slower, promoting efficient neuronal communication, the scientists explain.<\/p><p>In short, these seniors prove that age is not a fatality for memory and that the richness of social bonds, sociability and tenacity are the true pillars of a brain of steel.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-748e60a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"748e60a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b7f9fc\" data-id=\"3b7f9fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76b7aa6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"76b7aa6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture6.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4816\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture6.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture6-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture6-585x329.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7aea3ee elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7aea3ee\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b0f8bf\" data-id=\"5b0f8bf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab8136c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab8136c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Common Habits of SuperAgers<\/strong><\/p><ol><li><strong>An active lifestyle<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Staying active is one of the best things you can do as you age. Even exercising twice a week will help lower your chances of getting the disease later in life. Physical activity results in increased oxygen intake, which helps your body perform optimally. Exercise helps your heart, and muscle-strengthening exercises specifically reduce the risk for falls.<\/p><p>Regular exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight. The risk for developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease triples in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 30.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>Continuing to challenge themselves<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mental activity can be just as important as physical activity. If Sudoku doesn\u2019t speak to you, no need to fret. Mental activity comes in many forms. Try reading an article on a subject with which you\u2019re unfamiliar, or take classes that put you outside your comfort zone. These will help stimulate and engage the brain in new ways.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>Social butterflies<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>SuperAgers tend to report strong social relationships with others, says Dr. Lindquist. To support this, the attention region deep in the brain is larger in SuperAgers. This region is packed with large, spindly neurons called von Economo neurons, which are thought to play a role in social processing and awareness. Northwestern Medicine Geriatrician <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nm.org\/doctors\/1346279213\/lee-a-lindquist-md-mph\">Lee A. Lindquist, MD,<\/a> states that autopsies on SuperAgers revealed they have more than four to five times the number of such neurons compared to the average person in their 80s.<\/p><p>&#8220;While we can\u2019t guarantee that you\u2019ll never get Alzheimer\u2019s disease if you have a strong social network, it\u2019s an important part of the lifestyle decisions we can make \u2014 like diet and exercise \u2014 that can contribute to living better, longer,\u201d says Dr. Lindquist.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>SuperAgers indulge<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Dr Lindquist says SuperAgers span individuals who are fitness buffs and those who indulge in a nightcap every evening. They also indulged in an occasional glass of alcohol; people who drink moderately were 23% less likely to develop Alzheimer\u2019s disease or signs of memory problems than those who don\u2019t drink alcohol.<\/p><p>The key here is moderation. It\u2019s equally important to note that drinking more than the recommended amount would be considered a risk factor for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p><p><strong>Risks You Can\u2019t Control<\/strong><\/p><p>While studying SuperAgers can lead to suggested lifestyle changes, it\u2019s important to know that some dementia risk factors cannot be changed. Risks you cannot control include:<\/p><p><strong>Age:<\/strong> For most, symptoms tend to appear after the age of 65, and the risk of Alzheimer\u2019s doubles every five years.<\/p><p><strong>Family history:<\/strong> Those with a relative who has or had Alzheimer\u2019s disease are more likely to develop the disease. Those with more than one family member diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s have an even higher risk.<\/p><p><strong>Gender:<\/strong> Women are more likely to get Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and the odds increase after menopause. The reasons for this remain an active area of research.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.feinberg.northwestern.edu\/sites\/longevity\/index.html\">Learn more<\/a> about what Northwestern Medicine researchers are discovering about ageing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-911b566 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"911b566\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7562d9d\" data-id=\"7562d9d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-574af7f elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"574af7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/thedcmgroup.createsend1.com\/t\/y-e-qhluhjd-l-c\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Return to Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The &#8220;superagers,&#8221; monitored by the Northwestern University team since 2000, are people over 80 years old with memory scores equivalent to those 30 years younger. To be classified as a &#8220;superager,&#8221; one must, among other things, remember at least nine words from a list 15&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4813"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4863,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4813\/revisions\/4863"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}