3 Myths About Super-Agers that Need to be Busted

When it comes to super-aging, people are quick to believe it’s like winning the lottery. That super-agers have super-human powers that help them defy time. 

The average lifespan in the US is 78 years. Each year, the elderly population grows. The number of people over the age of 65 is set to double between now and 2060 from 52 million to over 90 million. 

As these numbers rise, so do the numbers of elderly people living with diseases like

and more.

For example, Alzheimer’s currently affects just over 5 million elderly people. By 2050, it is expected that nearly 14 million people will be living with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a radical increase and is based on current trends, habits, environmental factors and lifestyle choices of American people.

Most people believe it’s normal to decline and be ravaged by some sort of disease as we age. Since it feels inevitable to succumb to chronic disease or illness, many people don’t take charge of their lives. Rather, they look at super-agers as oddities or exceptions to the rule.

It's time to bust some of the myths about super-agers to prove aging well can be a normalized and easier experience than many people think.

Here are three myths about super-agers that need to be busted.

Let’s bust myth #1. Not all super-agers have won the genetic lottery. 

Statistics show that 20-25% of longevity is determined by genes. Children of men and women living past their 100th birthday do have an advantage over peers whose parents died in their 70’s and 80’s but super-aging is much more than that. Aging with your health and mind intact is more influenced by lifestyle and environment than genes.

Let’s bust myth #2. Not all super-agers are Olympians or geniuses. 

Physical fitness and problem solving are both important parts of living a long and healthy life, but you don’t have to be an elite athlete or have a high IQ to be a super-ager. Rather, the key is to adopt a lifestyle where physical activity as well as mental stimulation are part of your everyday routine.

Let’s bust myth #3. Not all super-agers have personal trainers or chefs. 

You may look at celebrities who seem ageless and imagine it takes a six-figure income to defy time. While many people do have access to medical care or procedures that average people do not, it doesn’t mean they will live longer than someone with median income making smart health choices. Money can buy a lot of things, but not super-ager status.

The good news is, anyone has the possibility to live a long time. Making smart health choices throughout life will improve the likelihood that you and those you love stay fit and sound no matter how your genetics, athleticism, and bank account compare.