April 2026

What SuperAgers can teach us about aging well

Imagine taking a memory test and outscoring people thirty years younger than you. For "SuperAgers," that is not an anomaly, it's a measurable reality.

SuperAgers are individuals 80 and older whose memory and cognitive function test at the level of healthy adults in their 50s and 60s. The phenomenon of SuperAgers has been studied for more than a decade at Northwestern University's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center. There scientists’ study what makes these individuals so different and what the rest of us might learn from them.

The brain scans of SuperAgers revealed a key memory region of the brain, one of the first areas to deteriorate in Alzheimer's disease, is significantly larger than average for their age. In fact, it more closely resembles the brains of people decades younger. Researchers have also found that this group have an unusually high number of special brain cells that are fast-signaling, thought to play a role in social awareness and emotional intelligence.

SuperAgers don't all follow the same diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle. But researchers have identified several common threads. They tend to have strong and meaningful social connections with deep friendships and community ties that provide regular emotional engagement. They also tend to embrace challenges rather than avoiding difficult mental tasks.

Many SuperAgers also describe having a sense of purpose; reasons to get up each morning and contribute. They are often found volunteering, mentoring, creating art, or staying active in their communities well into their 90’s.

Right here in our community, Next offers exactly the kind of environment that science links to healthier, more resilient brains.

At Next, social connections happen every day. People stop in the halls to talk, which turns into a cup of coffee and a 40-minute conversation. There are programs daily that stimulate and enlighten, like the impromptu lecture on the war in Iran from a leading international affairs expert. Much of the information was a bit difficult to follow, yet our capacity crowd, over 80 people, intently listened for an hour and a half and continued to ask questions long after the lecture was over.

Consider the yoga class where regulars have been coming for years and genuinely look forward to seeing each other. Or the writing group where members are putting their lives into words in spite of the vulnerability it takes to share past memories. Or the eclectic group of potters who come together every Thursday morning to create, inspire, teach and support one another.

Each one of these scenarios checks multiple boxes on the SuperAger list.

The good news is that SuperAgers aren't born that way. While genetics play a role, researchers believe that lifestyle choices made throughout life can influence whether someone's brain ages gracefully or not.

Next is a hub for the kinds of activities linked to SuperAger brains: social engagement, stimulating programs, purposeful activity, and genuine human connection. Every class attended, every new friendship formed, and every challenge embraced may be slowly building the foundation for super aging.

These aren't small things. According to the research, they may be exactly the things that matter most.

Cris Braun is Executive Director of Birmingham Next