00:00 Scientists have come closer to understanding why super-agers, those in their 80s, have
00:05 brains as sharp as 30-year-olds.
00:07 The study published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity Journal found key differences in
00:12 lifestyle that might contribute to these groups' razor-sharp minds.
00:16 Compared to older adults, scientists found that super-agers have more gray matter in
00:21 parts of the brain related to movement, scoring higher on agility, balance and mobility tests.
00:26 Senior author Brian Strange said that super-agers report similar activity levels to typical
00:32 older people, but that it's possible they do more physically demanding activities like
00:36 gardening or stair climbing.
00:38 But super-agers seem to have had a more active lifestyle in midlife.
00:43 They also reported being satisfied with the amount of sleep they got and were independent
00:47 in their daily life.
00:50 Super-agers also scored lower than typical older adults in levels of depression and anxiety,
00:55 which is relevant considering mental health issues are known risk factors for developing
00:59 dementia.
01:00 So people in their 30s and 40s have a high chance to be super-agers if they make healthy
01:05 decisions today.
01:06 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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