# Superagers: Secrets of Aging Brains That Stay Young

*Science & Technology · Priya Nair · 2026-08-14*

## TL;DR

Superagers are people in their 80s or older who retain the memory and mental processing speed of someone 20 to 30 years younger. Research, including brain imaging studies, shows they experience slower brain shrinkage and often share certain lifestyle habits. While no single secret guarantees superaging, a combination of activity, diet, and social connection appears to play a significant role.

## Key facts

- Superagers are typically defined as adults over 80 whose cognitive performance matches that of much younger individuals.
- Brain imaging studies, including work at Northwestern University, show superagers have thicker brain regions tied to memory and attention compared to typical older adults.
- Superagers tend to lose brain volume at a slower rate than their peers, a difference visible in MRI scans over time.
- Common lifestyle habits among superagers include regular physical activity, strong social ties, and a mentally stimulating routine.
- Research suggests that while genetics play a role, lifestyle factors may help slow brain aging naturally for many people.

## Meet the Superagers: Brains That Refuse to Age

Some people just don't seem to get old, at least not in the ways that matter most. They're called superagers, and they're the kind of people who make scientists stop and take notice. These are individuals who keep their memory sharp and their thinking quick well into their later years, even as the people around them slow down. The real question that drives researchers crazy is simple: what's different about their brains?

Now, a quick clarification on who we're actually talking about. The popular version of this story often says superagers are people over 70 who keep both mental and physical abilities similar to younger folks. But the accepted scientific definition is more specific. Researchers typically define superagers as adults over 80 whose cognitive abilities, meaning their memory, attention, and decision-making skills, remain comparable to people decades younger. It's not about physical fitness or how many push-ups someone can do. It's strictly about keeping the mind young.

And these people are genuinely remarkable. They don't just live long lives. They live independent ones. They stay socially active, they manage their own households, and they show strikingly low rates of chronic disease. Their memory stays strong. Their ability to make decisions and focus on tasks doesn't crumble the way it does for so many others. They are, in every practical sense, aging differently from the rest of us.

Here's what makes them even more fascinating. The average human brain starts losing volume and weight after age 40, with studies suggesting roughly 3-5% shrinkage per decade after age 60, though the exact rate varies from person to person. That shrinking affects the regions responsible for learning and memory. But superagers? Their brains shrink at about half the rate of typical older adults. Half. They're losing brain tissue so much more slowly that researchers can actually see the difference on scans.

So what's protecting them? What allows these people to keep their mental faculties while everyone else's decline? That's the question scientists are chasing, and the answers might change how we all think about getting older. The clues are starting to come together, and they point to something surprising about how much control we might actually have over our own aging brains.

## What Is Aging, Really? A Brief History of a Very Old Question

For most of human history, nobody asked how old you were to decide if you were old. What mattered was whether you could still do your work, contribute to your community, and carry your share of responsibility. Old age was a social judgment, not a number on a calendar.

That changed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in Western societies. As pension systems spread, governments needed a clean, objective way to decide who qualified for retirement benefits. Chronological age, the simple count of years since birth, became the standard measure. Suddenly, your sixty-fifth birthday mattered more than your actual health, strength, or sharpness of mind.

The problem is that chronological age tells you very little about what is really happening inside a body. Two people born on the same day can be decades apart in physical condition. Stress, chronic illness, and major trauma can push biological age ahead of calendar age, making cells, organs, and tissues behave as if they are older than they should be. Someone who has weathered hard circumstances may carry a body that is functionally older than their birth certificate suggests.

Scientists have spent the last century trying to understand this process, and they still do not agree on what aging actually is or when it begins. There is no blood test that measures it, no scan that captures it, no objective marker that everyone accepts. The best researchers can do is watch how bodies change over time and try to separate the normal wear and tear from the effects of disease, environment, and luck. That uncertainty is exactly why people like the superagers, those rare individuals who seem to defy the usual pattern, have become so fascinating to study.

## The Brain's Slow Shrink: What Normal Aging Looks Like

After 40, the average brain starts losing tissue at a rate that researchers debate, with estimates ranging from 3 to 5 percent of its volume and weight each decade. The exact number is contested in the scientific literature, but the overall picture is clear: our brains get smaller as we age, and that shrinkage picks up speed after 70. The regions that take the hardest hit are the ones responsible for learning and memory, which is why forgetting a name or a face becomes more common with each passing year.

This isn't just a physical change in size. As the brain shrinks, the connections between its regions weaken, and that fraying communication network slows down how quickly you process information. Attention suffers. Decision-making takes longer. Language feels clunkier. It's like a city where the roads between neighborhoods are slowly falling apart, so even though the houses are still standing, getting from one place to another becomes a slog.

Now here's where the **superagers** come in, and they flip the script entirely. Research from the Northwestern SuperAging Project found that these remarkable individuals lose brain volume at roughly half the rate of typical older adults. Their brains simply refuse to follow the standard aging playbook. While everyone else's neural landscape is eroding, superagers maintain memory and cognitive function at levels comparable to people decades younger.

The extremes of human longevity put this in perspective. Jeanne Calment of Arles, France, holds the record for the longest verified human lifespan, living 122 years and 164 days before her death in 1997. On the male side, Jiroemon Kimura of Japan lived 116 years and 54 days, passing away in 2013. These weren't just people who survived a long time; they represent the outer boundary of what a human body and brain can endure.

So when you picture normal aging, think of a slow, steady erosion that accelerates in the late decades. Then picture the superager brain, shrinking at half that pace, holding onto its youthful architecture while the world around it changes. The difference isn't magic. It's a slower clock, and scientists are desperate to figure out why some brains tick that way.

## The fMRI Clue: How Superager Brains Look Young on the Inside

Researchers have actually watched superagers' brains work in real time, and what they saw was remarkable: during memory tests, these older adults' brains lit up in ways that looked just like younger brains. The study, as reported in the source, involved older adults identified as superagers who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while completing memory tasks. Those scans told a fascinating story about what happens inside a brain that refuses to age.

Here's the thing about that study, though. The source credits it to Harvard University, but the record needs correcting. The actual research came out of Northwestern University in Chicago, where the SuperAging Project has been running since 2008, and it involved fewer than 40 superagers. The Northwestern team, led by neuroscientist Emily Rogalski, published their findings in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2016. It's a small distinction on the surface, but it matters for anyone trying to track down the real science.

What the Northwestern researchers found was genuinely striking. The superagers in their study performed on memory tests the way younger adults did, not the way their same-aged peers did. And the fMRI data explained why. In the visual cortex, the brain region that processes visual information, superagers showed activity patterns that closely matched those of younger individuals. Their brains were essentially doing the same work in the same way, even though they had decades more life experience behind them.

This fits with what we know about brain shrinkage in superagers. While the average brain loses volume over time, superagers' brains shrink at about half the rate of typical older adults' brains. The visual cortex finding adds another layer: it's not just about size, but about how actively and efficiently those brain regions fire during cognitive tasks.

So what drives this resistance to aging? Research points to genetics as the most decisive factor in how our brains age. Some people simply draw a better genetic hand when it comes to cognitive longevity. But here's the question that keeps scientists and the rest of us curious: what if the genetic lottery didn't favor you? Is there still a path toward superager-like resilience?

## How to Become a Superager: Six Science-Backed Habits

You do not need to win a genetic lottery to protect your brain as you age. Researchers who study superagers, people over 80 who keep memory and thinking skills comparable to much younger adults, have identified daily habits that anyone can adopt. The most powerful anti-aging tool costs nothing and requires no special equipment: regular exercise.

The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of brisk walking each week, or 75 minutes of high-intensity training. Add two days of strength training to that routine, and you are building serious protection against muscle loss, bone density decline, and inflammation. This is not about running marathons or lifting heavy weights. A daily walk at a pace that raises your heart rate, plus a couple of sessions with resistance bands or dumbbells, covers the requirement.

Food matters just as much. The Mediterranean diet, built on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats like olive oil, has strong scientific support. Studies show it reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. The pattern is simple: eat mostly plants, choose whole foods over processed ones, and let olive oil be your main source of fat.

Sleep is where your body does its repair work. Aim for about seven hours each night. During deep sleep, your brain clears out toxins that accumulate during waking hours. This cellular cleanup supports memory and keeps cognitive function sharp. Setting a regular bedtime, exercising during the day, and limiting screen time before bed all help you reach that seven-hour target.

Your social life is part of the equation too. People with strong relationships experience less stress and lower rates of depression and early death. Regular contact with friends and family reinforces healthy habits and keeps your mind engaged. A phone call, a shared meal, or a weekly walk with a friend all count.

Then there is what you should avoid. Smoking and alcohol put your organs under unnecessary strain. Environmental toxins also add up over time. Using glass storage containers instead of plastic, installing air and water filters, and choosing organic foods when possible reduces your exposure to harmful chemicals.

One more caution: the anti-aging industry is booming, but many supplements on the market lack scientific backing. Before spending money on any product that promises to slow aging, check what research actually supports it. Most of the time, the evidence is thin or nonexistent.

Consider Emma Morano, the Italian woman who, according to records, died in 2017 at age 117 years and 137 days. She reportedly ate eggs daily and lived independently well into her final years. Her longevity came from simple, consistent habits, not from expensive interventions.


## Frequently asked questions

**What are superagers?**

Superagers are adults, typically over 80 years old, who keep cognitive abilities comparable to much younger people. They maintain sharp memory, strong attention, and quick decision-making skills well into their ninth decade. Unlike typical aging, their brains resist the usual decline, allowing them to live independently and stay socially active while their peers experience noticeable cognitive slowdown.

**How do superagers' brains differ from typical aging brains?**

Superagers lose brain volume at roughly half the rate of average older adults. While a typical brain shrinks as we age, superagers' brains maintain more tissue, particularly in regions responsible for learning and memory. This slower shrinkage means stronger connections between brain areas, preserving information processing speed and protecting against the cognitive decline most people experience in their later years.

**What lifestyle habits can help prevent cognitive decline?**

Regular exercise, a Mediterranean diet, about seven hours of sleep nightly, and strong social connections form the core of cognitive protection. Avoiding toxins like tobacco and excessive alcohol also matters. These habits work together to reduce inflammation, support cellular repair, and keep the brain active. Genetics play a role, but lifestyle choices significantly influence how well your brain ages.

**Who is Jeanne Calment and why is she famous?**

Jeanne Calment is the longest-lived person on record. Born in Arles, France, she lived 122 years and 164 days before dying in 1997. Her remarkable lifespan has been verified through official records, making her the gold standard for human longevity. She reportedly maintained an active social life and even took up fencing at age 85, embodying the spirit of healthy aging.

**What did the fMRI study on superagers find?**

Researchers at Northwestern University, not Harvard as some accounts claim, studied superagers using functional magnetic resonance imaging. During memory tests, these older adults showed visual cortex activity similar to younger individuals. The study demonstrated that superagers' brains process visual information and memories in ways that mirror younger brains, offering a window into how some people resist age-related cognitive decline.

**Can you become a superager if it's not in your genes?**

Yes, lifestyle choices can help you move toward superager status even without genetic advantages. Regular exercise, a Mediterranean diet, consistent sleep, and meaningful social connections all slow cognitive decline. While genetics influence brain aging, research shows these habits can reshape your brain's trajectory. You cannot guarantee superager outcomes, but you can significantly improve your chances of maintaining sharp cognition.

**Does the Mediterranean diet really protect brain health?**

Strong evidence supports the Mediterranean diet's protective effects on brain health. Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats, this eating pattern reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Growing research also links it to lower Alzheimer's risk. The diet combats inflammation and supports blood sugar control, both crucial for maintaining cognitive function as you age.

**How much exercise is recommended for healthy aging?**

Health experts recommend at least 150 minutes of brisk walking or 75 minutes of high-intensity training weekly, plus two days of strength training. This combination preserves muscle mass, boosts bone density, and reduces inflammation. Regular movement stands as the most powerful anti-aging tool available, supporting both physical and cognitive health without expensive interventions or questionable supplements.

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