Be a Cognitive Superager

The younger you are when you start living a healthy lifestyle, the better – but it is never too late to make changes to help you stay healthy and active as the years unfold.

One of the most common concerns associated with aging is forgetfulness and other aspects of cognitive decline affecting memory.

Brain aging is inevitable to some extent, but it affects everyone differently, and memory loss is NOT an inevitable part of the aging process. About 30–40% of people aged 65 and older have age-associated mild memory impairment, which can be frustrating. But only about one-third of these will progress to more substantial cognitive impairment.

Given the right environment and nutritional factors, the brain can produce new cells at any age. Lifestyle habits and daily activities have very important roles to play in the brain’s health.

Throughout a lifetime, the brain changes more than any other body part. Some of the causes for these changes include decreased blood flow, ineffective connection between nerve cells, dehydration and shrinkage, increased inflammation, and gut microbiome changes.

Inflammaging of the brain

Most older individuals develop inflammaging, a condition characterized by elevated levels of blood inflammatory markers. Several possible factors that initiate an inflammatory response include stress, environmental toxins, poor diet, bad fats, gut microbiome imbalance, oxidative stress, and immune compromise. Studies show that healthy centenarians exhibit low levels of these inflammatory biomarkers.

How to become a “Cognitive Superager”

“Cognitive superagers” are a rare group of individuals over age 80 with memories as sharp as those of healthy people decades younger.

Key nutrients for brain health through the years

Supplements providing foundational support for brain health include:

• Grapeseed extract for antioxidant support
• Curcumin for anti-inflammatory support
• Phosphatidylserine for memory support
• Omega-3s to support cardiovascular health
• Probiotics to support the health of the gut microbiome

The importance of sleep

Sleep quality is viewed as critical in promoting successful, resilient aging. Sleep regulates inflammatory pathways, and good sleep quality is essential for overall health, and for reducing inflammation and promoting successful, resilient aging.

In summary

When considering the changes that can occur with aging, the process seems rather daunting, and you might wonder where the term “golden years” even came from. However, keep in mind that preventive programs of diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements that support cellular function and metabolic homeostasis can help your effort to delay or reverse some of the changes that occur with normal aging.