Scientists are attempting to discover the mysteries of super agers’ younger-looking brains.
Do you want to live an incredibly long life? Probably only if you can maintain your mental acuity the entire time. And it’s probable that’ll happen. In an effort to discover the secrets of a younger brain, researchers are looking at persons who are considered super agers.
Super Elderly
Researchers simply refer to adults in their 80s or older who have cognitive health comparable to that of people 20 to 30 years younger as “super agers,” despite the fact that the name sounds like a marketing gimmick (sometimes it’s even styled as Super Agers).
The brains of super agers provide some insights into how they maintain their cognitive function when so many persons in their age group experience various sorts of cognitive deterioration.
The Entorhinal Cortex Is Strong
A crucial node in the brain network responsible for memory, time perception, and navigation is the entorhinal cortex. You don’t need to be told that these are the regions that the disease first damages if you’ve ever had a loved one with the sickness.
Earlier this year, scientists with Northwestern University’s Super Aging Research Programme discovered that the neurons in super agers’ entorhinal cortex were noticeably larger than those in people with Alzheimer’s disease and larger than those in cognitively healthy adults their own age. Even more unexpectedly, entorhinal neurons in super agers were greater than those in individuals who were 20 or 30 years younger.
What Causes a Brain to Age More Slowly?
Neurons in super agers were not just bigger in size but also healthy. Even though entorhinal cells are particularly prone to the production of these tangles, a recent study discovered that the brains of super agers exhibited minimal signs of the neurofibrillary tangles that are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
The head of Northwestern University’s Super Aging Project, Emily Rogalski, stated that the anterior cingulate, a region of the brain that is crucial for memory and attention, is thicker in super agers in a podcast with the American Psychological Association (APA). Additionally, superagers’ brains age more slowly than those of other individuals.
The reason super agers have larger, healthier entorhinal neurons, thicker anterior cingulate, and shrink-resistant brains is, of course, not explained by this. The Super Aging Project and other researchers are concentrating on providing an answer to that query.
Super Agers’ Healthy Habits
Genes may be responsible for larger, more durable neurons. That’s probably not all of it, though. It seems that super agers work more. A rising body of studies indicates that maintaining physical and mental activity is at least one of the secrets to ageing properly.
The brain benefits from exercise. You don’t have to be a gym rat to reap the benefits, the CDC claims. Your brain will benefit from exercise in a variety of ways, including going for a walk with your dog, using the stairs rather than the lift, or even dancing around the house to your favorite music.
The Secrets of Super Agers to Longevity
Activity, though, might mean different things to different people. While cardiovascular exercise tremendously benefits the brain, not all super agers are committed exercisers, Rogalski notes in the APA podcast. Some claim that people only run when they are being pursued, as she puts it.
However, the majority are engaged in some sort of physical activity. That could just mean continuing to work, or it could require engaging in regular exercise like riding or walking. Rogalski does, however, add that being physically fit is not a requirement for being a super ager. A wheelchair or walker may be necessary for many people who function exceedingly well mentally to go around.
Keeping your mind active is also essential. Traditional methods of maintaining mental youth include learning new things and taking on intellectual challenges. Reading, chess play, and language study are a few activities that have been linked to enhanced cognitive function.
The Road to Super aging
It’s a good idea for the prospective super ager to maintain social connections. Von Economo neurons, a type of neuron thought to be involved in processing social interactions, have been found to be more abundant in older individuals who retain their mental sharpness. What constitutes social connection varies from person to person, just as what constitutes exercise.
To profit, you don’t have to be a social butterfly. Maintaining contact with your loved ones and close friends is also beneficial.
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that any activity, whether it’s doing puzzles or running laps, needs to be difficult in order to promote healthy ageing. “Our brains like to be challenged,” claims Rogalski. Proust was never read by you? Having trouble with your tennis serve still? The time has come. You still have time to finish your super ager game.
