Researchers say super-agers tend to be more extroverted and share more social skills, and their brains reflect it|CC0 1.0

Scientists have been studying why some people in their 80s and 90s stay mentally sharp, and a new review of Northwestern University’s 25 years of research highlights what sets these “super-agers” apart.

Take 91-year-old Holocaust survivor Ralph Rehbock, who sings every Friday with his club’s group, or 82-year-old Cubs fan Leigh Steinman, who still walks to Wrigley Field several times a week.

Researchers have found that super-agers tend to be more extroverted and possess greater social skills, and their brains reflect this.

MRI scans reveal that their brain volume appears more similar to that of people in their 50s or 60s. They also have more von Economo neurons, a rare cell type associated with humans and highly social mammals, such as apes, whales, and elephants.

While most 80-year-olds show signs of Alzheimer’s in their brains, some super-agers have little to no signs, and key brain chemicals for memory remain better preserved.

Researchers note that genetics and biology also play a significant role, but older people’s social lives may be just as important.