SuperAging is being studied worldwide and talked about in the leading medical journals. SuperAgers are carrying forward the vitality of earlier adulthood into their seventies, eighties, nineties and for a few, even older. If you are over 65, do you think of yourself as a SuperAger? Do you want to?
CNN recently reported on current studies about SuperAging, the Vallecas Project from Madrid , Spain which was initiated in 2011, and subsequent research out of universities in the US, Australia and Canada. This lead-in attracted a big audience: “…SuperAgers” — people in their 80s who have brains as sharp as those 30 years younger...”
The studies have focused on cognitive ability, particularly dementia and how it impacts, and is impacted by, aging. But there is so much more to being a SuperAger. Comparing this cohort to a control group considered to be representative of the general Senior population, SuperAgers were found to have…
- Better mobility, with greater speed of movement observed in the majority.
- Better mental health including less anxiety and a lower incidence of depression.
- Better quality sleep patterns despite having about the same number of hours of sleep per night.
- A more physically active lifestyle.
- Higher quality social relationships and a busier social life.
Is it too late for a Senior or Boomer today to become a SuperAger?
Not surprisingly, we can all get on the SuperAging path by following the advice we have been hearing for years:
- Adopt healthy eating habits.
- Exercise regularly – make that both physical and mental exercise.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Manage stress effectively.
- Embrace and build social connections.
Easy to say. Not so easy to do. But if the reward is heading into old age as a SuperAger, maybe it’s worth the effort.
