What Is a Super Ager—and Could You Be One?

What if getting older didn’t have to mean slowing down, losing memory, or feeling like your best days are behind you? What if, instead, you could stay just as sharp, active, and vibrant as you were in your 40s or 50s—even into your 70s, 80s, and beyond? That’s the reality for a unique group of people scientists call super agers.

Super agers are older adults whose brains and bodies function as if they were much younger. In fact, research out of Northwestern University’s Super Aging Study shows that people in their 70s and 80s can have memory and attention skills on par with folks 20–30 years younger. Their brain scans even reveal more robust brain thickness in areas linked to memory, something that usually thins out with age.

So what’s their secret? Genetics plays a role, sure, but lifestyle and daily choices matter more than you might think. Super agers often share some powerful habits: they move their bodies regularly, eat nutrient-rich diets, stay socially engaged, challenge their minds, manage stress well, and live with a sense of purpose. Watch this short video for my mother’s advice on the topic.

It’s not about being perfect, but about consistently making choices that fuel both body and brain. For those of us in our 50s, 60s, and 70s, that’s encouraging news. It means there are things we can start today to age not just longer, but better.

In this blog series, we’ll take a closer look at the pillars of the super ager lifestyle. We’ll explore why strong social connections protect your brain, how exercise keeps both muscles and memory firing, what foods truly feed your brain, how learning something new can literally rewire your neurons, and why having a sense of purpose may be the most powerful longevity tool of all.

Think of it as a roadmap to becoming your own version of a super ager. Aging is inevitable, but how we age? That’s something we can shape.

📝 Try This Week
Take five minutes to jot down one healthy habit you already practice and one you’d like to add. Small steps build momentum toward becoming a Super Ager.

Stay tuned for the next post where we’ll dive into the first ingredient in the super ager recipe: the magic of social connection.