What Does It Take to become a Superager? Domenico Pratico', MD, FCPP
- Dr. Domenico Pratico
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
When it comes to aging, we know that it is not a uniform process for everyone. We all know and have even experienced that there are people who stay active and independent even at a very old age (80-85 and older), while others experience rapid declines in their health.
Among the individuals forming the first group, there is a cluster of people who are older than 80 years called “Superagers”.
In general, we consider a “Superager” any individual who is older than 80 and in the “15 Words Delayed Recall Test” remembers at least 9 words, which is the typical score for someone who is 65. Just to put this notion into context, please consider that a typical score for an 80-85 age older is about 5 out of the total 15 words and it is considered normal for the age.
So, the big questions are:
What are the reasons, or mechanisms, responsible for becoming a “Superager”?
Is it possible to delay or totally prevent age-related cognitive decline?
Recent studies have given us some very interesting clues for these questions. In a nutshell, although they found that Superagers are a diverse group, there is one factor that unifies them. It is how they perceive the importance of social connection and how they live and manage social relationships.
Bottom line: to stay “young” our brain must have friends.
Social connections are paramount; they are probably one of the best foods we can feed our brain with!
The Critical Importance of Connections
We as humans are inherently social beings. Human brains are wired to thrive on social interactions. Studies have illustrated how social isolation is a strong risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Loneliness and social isolation over the long term can have real impacts on brain health. According to some recent research, loneliness is also on the rise in the US with an average of 1 in 3 adults aged 50 or more reporting that they experience this condition on a regular basis.
Social Engagement and Brain Health
Social engagement is a strong cognitive stimulator. When we engage in social activities we typically are bound to perform and being involved in different tasks which may include problem-solving, reasoning, dialogues and conversations, etc. All these activities are well known to stimulate different brain regions, neuronal cells circuits and pathways which ultimately will promote cognitive sharpness, resilience and flexibility.
Social Engagement and Emotional Well-Being
Another important aspect of social engagement is that it results in increased production of important chemicals in our brains, such as dopamine and oxytocin. These chemicals are called neurotransmitter because they “transmit” a message to other parts of the brain. Importantly they are “positive” messages since they result in stress reduction as well as mood enhancement. Both contribute to better brain health and even protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
Social Engagement and Brain Structure
Studies show that loneliness is associated with abnormal brain structure in both the white and gray matter, together with abnormal brain activity in several regions, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, two regions involved in emotional regulation and memory. By contrast, similar studies in individuals who are on a regular basis socially engaged are protected from the changes in these brain regions.
Social Engagement and Cognitive Reserve
Another important facet of the benefits of social engagement is the effect on cognition. In fact, studies have shown that social engagement favors cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to maintain normal cognitive function despite age-related changes, damage or decline.
In summary, the impact of social engagement on brain health is profound since it seems to be at the basis of being a “Superager”, an individuals who defies the “standard” rules of the biology of aging.
The effect of social engagement on brain health is also multifaceted from a biologic point of view from the surge in endogenous neurotransmitters to an increase in neuronal activity.
Importantly, when we nurture strong social connections with others and foster an environment that promotes more interactions and sense of community, we achieve two major goals: enhance our cognitive abilities and at the same time build brain resilience against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative insults that otherwise could culminate into diseases like Alzheimer's and other dementia.
If you are interested in reading more of my blogs:
Domenico Praticò, MD, holds the Scott Richards North Star Charitable Foundation Chair for Alzheimer’s Research and serves as a Professor and Founding Director of the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple, as well as a Professor of Neural Sciences at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
For more information on the research conducted by Dr. Domenico Pratico, please visit this link.
Connect with Dr. Domenico Pratico through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Medium.
Stay updated with the work happening at Dr. Domenico Pratico's lab by visiting the Pratico Lab website.