Naturally, researchers want to study them, and Northwestern University has ongoing research that tracks these SuperAgers\u2014and they just released findings after 25 years of studying these medical phenoms…. <\/p>\n
Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO<\/a>, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Scott Kaiser, MD<\/a>, is a geriatrician and Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute <\/p>\n What exactly did the study find?<\/p>\n The scientific perspective paper, which was published in the journal Alzheimer\u2019s & Dementia<\/a>, is part of ongoing research into said SuperAgers. It notes a lot of interesting factors, like that SuperAgers have less brain thinning as they get older compared to other people of the same age, and that they have less Alzheimer’s disease\u2013type changes in the brain. As the research is still ongoing, scientists aren\u2019t exactly sure why this is the case. <\/p>\n But the researchers also discovered that SuperAgers tend to share certain lifestyle and personality traits. A key one worth noting: These older adults tend to be highly social and outgoing. (We can get on board with that!) <\/p>\n Why does socializing help your memory as you age?<\/p>\n There are a few possible things going on here. The researchers found<\/a> that SuperAgers have more than four to five times the number of large, spindly neurons called von Economo neurons in their brains, which are thought to play a role in social processing and awareness. (It\u2019s just not clear if being socially active causes this or if you tend to socialize more when you have more of these neurons in your brain to begin with.) <\/p>\n But there is a growing push for people to stay social as they age for health reasons. \u201cChronic isolation can be as bad for your health as smoking,\u201d says Scott Kaiser, MD<\/a>, a geriatrician and Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. \u201cConversely, we know that healthy social connections are critical for improved cardiovascular health, neurological health, and reducing your risk of dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n More On Brain Health<\/p>\n Staying social lowers overall stress levels and increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin, Kaiser points out. He also notes that people who feel well connected to others may be more likely to make healthy choices around their diet, drinking, and lifestyle\u2014and that could support good physical and mental health even more. <\/p>\n