Super Agers: What’s their Secret?
Which Plays the Most Important Role—“Lucky Genes” or Lifestyle?
Super agers are defined as people who have retained much of their physical and mental faculties into their 80s and 90s. We are not used to seeing this phenomenon very regularly—a fully functional older person who retains a sparkle in their eye and a spring in their step. Books and programs like the Blue Zones focus on areas around the world where these kinds of lifespans and health spans are more common. And while we probably all hope to get there and live that kind of long and functional life, the necessary tools, habits, and information are not regular features of our own modern life.
Yet these people do exist in our modern world. The big question we will always be asking is: “Are they endowed with special genes that enable them to be this healthy, or do they live their lives in way that promotes a longer functional life?”
A recent article in the AARP Bulletin (November 2023), “Super Agers: How They Live Longer, Think Stronger, Enjoy Life More” by Jeanne Dorin McDowell, is a good roundup of the current state of super aging. This article presents many profiles telling how these individuals live their lives, what their attitudes are, and what they do and don’t do to maintain their health. I found it to be an informative and surprisingly inspiring article and well worth a read.
Most interesting is the fact that, despite many studies on super aging, no one can say for sure whether “lucky genes” or lifestyle is responsible for their privileged state on the longevity spectrum. The one thing that all super agers have in common is their passion for, and involvement in, life. They are interested and interesting, stay informed, and are always on the lookout for learning and new ideas. The genetics analyzed in these studies show the same percentages of good and bad genes as the rest of the population. The difference with these people is that the genes that could cause disease and decline somehow don’t get turned on as early or readily as in the general population. This seems to point to attitude and lifestyle as the ultimate factors, but scientists say it is too early to tell for sure without more study.
As someone who definitely wants to become a super ager, the takeaway for me is to pursue the path that should promote the best possible outcome: a low-inflammation diet and an active and passionate lifestyle. Luckily, the motivation to follow that lifestyle comes fairly readily from inside me in the form of daily inspiration. If my motivation needs to be refreshed, I just ask myself why I do what I do. Easy answer: to experience being alive and healthy in all aspects and continue to be a vibrant father to my two daughters. (However, it is also a path that many times has doubt, fear and wobbles to overcome, which is part of having the resilience to live long.)
According to the article, super agers have less deterioration in their brains between the ages of 65 and 85. Their brains haven’t shrunk as much as for people in that age range in the general population, and there is much less plaque and “tau tangles,” both of which have been linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There again, the jury is out as to whether this is due to genetics or lifestyle.
However, a good hint is the following list of some of the lifestyle habits that most of the super agers studied have in common:
1. Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar
2. Staying social
3. Avoiding stress and prioritizing mental health
4. Prioritizing sleep
5. Pushing themselves physically
6. Being passionate about what they do
The last one—being passionate about what you do—is the chord that struck deepest with me, partly because it inspires all the others. The Japanese have a word, ikigai, that is roughly translated as the meaning of your life. In shorthand, it is often called “the reason you get up in the morning.” The answer comes from distilling the following questions:
1. What matters to you most?
2. What inspires you?
3. What are you good at?
4. What needs doing?
Think about it. What is your reason to get up in the morning? What is your ikigai? Think deeply about these questions and your answers. Perhaps grab a piece of paper and pen and jot down some thoughts. When you can answer these questions, how to live your life every day becomes much easier and straightforward, more rewarding and fulfilling, and a lot less stressful.
The AARP article resonated with me in another way though, which is why I’m writing about it. At 74 years old, the prospect of another 10 or 20 or 30 years of healthy life on this planet is about as hopeful and optimistic an attitude toward the future as I can have. I am grateful that the super agers profiled in the article have shown me what is possible and what the future might hold.
