A neurologist has uncovered a common trait among elderly individuals who possess remarkably sharp mental faculties. This expert suggests that a specific lifestyle habit can help keep the brain youthful and protect cognitive abilities.

In a video shared on TikTok, Dr. Baibing Chen offered insights into how one can promote brain health as they age.

Known online as Dr. Bing, Dr. Chen stated, “Research indicates that those with the most agile minds in their 80s and 90s share a common lifestyle habit.”

“You might be familiar with the term ‘brain super agers.’ It refers to people in their 80s or 90s who have the cognitive abilities of someone decades younger,” he explained.

“As a neurologist, I occasionally encounter these super agers in my practice,” he added.

Dr. Chen revealed that maintaining social connections is a key component of their lifestyle, contributing significantly to their cognitive vitality.

Dr Bing added: “And while exercising and having a good diet are very important, the one thing that super agers have in common is that they stay social. Recent research has looked at super agers and found that they had a thicker part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is a region that’s linked to emotion, to attention, and to social connection.

“And when the researchers compare their lifestyles, the the biggest difference wasn’t their diet or supplements. It was that the super agers had stronger and more meaningful relationships and stayed deeply engaged with others.”

He likened social interaction to a “full body workout” for the brain.

“Every time you connect with someone, you activate brain networks for memory, empathy, attention, and language,” he said.

“When you have deep connections with members of your community, it helps lower stress hormones like cortisol and boost protective brain chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine, and may even help preserve your brain structure.”

Dr Bing added: “So if you want to keep your brain young, don’t just do crosswords and sudoku every day. But call your friends, join a group, talk, laugh, and stay connected because that is one of the strongest predictors of staying sharp as you get older.”

His guidance is supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, which maintains that social isolation can raise a person’s dementia risk by approximately 60%.

It observed: “Studies disagree to the amount, as some studies had short follow-up time. This makes it hard to separate out whether social isolation was a risk factor or consequence of dementia.”

Additionally, the charity stated that social engagement can help reduce the risk of dementia. “It is thought that social contact helps with resilience against the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain – known as cognitive reserve,” it said.

“It can also help promote healthy behaviours like exercise, and reduced stress and inflammation.

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“Engaging in social activities may help to build up your brain’s ability to cope with disease, relieve stress and improve your mood.”

It therefore recommended trying:

• Adult education or learning
• Arts and crafts (especially in groups)
• Playing a musical instrument or singing
• Volunteering

On the NHS website, it listed the following as risk factors for dementia:

• Hearing loss
• Untreated depression
• Loneliness or social isolation
• Sitting for most of the day

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of dementia, you should speak to a GP.