You may have heard the term super ager from a friend or on the evening news, and perhaps a friend has even called you one. However, you’re not sure whether to be offended or pleased when being referred to by this phrase, so let’s break down precisely what is means to be a super ager.
What Is A Super Ager?
A fairly new term, a super ager refers to a senior citizen of advanced age that has an agile mind that has not been slowed by the passing of years. They are considered to be young in the mind, but with a senior’s body. Super agers can recall details of events from decades long past and can pass challenging memory tests. Most super agers are at least 80 years old and act as if they are still in their late 50’s. This particular condition is extremely rare and affects a very small portion of senior citizens. According to small study released in 2013, super agers do not appear to have a lot in common, except a thick anterior cingulate cortex.
The Anterior Cingulate Cortex:
It is entirely possibly you have never heard of the anterior cingulate cortex. No need to worry; it’s not the most well known part of the brain. It does have a few important tasks which everyone benefits from. This portion of the brain does its best to regulate your emotions, help you anticipate actions and it gives you the motivation you need to push through the day. It appears that super agers have a large anterior cingulate cortex and this may help them to stay young in the mind longer. Although it is not entirely clear how it helps super agers, this portion of the brain may help prevent disorders such as alzheimer’s from occurring.
How To Become A Super Ager:
There isn’t a formula or a special medication that can make you a super ager. Scientists are trying to understand what makes a super ager and it could twenty years or more before they have a definitive answer. What they do say is it is likely a combination of good genes, a healthy lifestyle that includes eating well, refraining from excessive drinking or smoking, working out and keeping a happy, positive outlook on life. Of course, doing these things are a great choice for you to do anyhow, but living a prolonged life can be infinitely better with a happy, healthy body and mind.
There really isn’t a lot of information available about super agers yet. It is still a novel term for something scientists. It’s a phenomena few have yet to be able to fully comprehend. While things like dementia and alzheimer’s can strike fear into your heart, there is hope for all seniors to one day benefit from the knowledge gained about super agers. They may hold the key to unlocking some fascinating mysteries about aging, how the brain works and memory skills. Whatever the cause, being a super ager is a compliment and if you are one of these extraordinary seniors, you are one of a select group of individuals that could possibly change the way aging adults are treated in the future.