New research has highlighted a single personality characteristic that may be linked to sharper brain health and a longer life.
Most people are familiar with the usual advice for staying well: eat a nutritious diet, limit ultra-processed foods, keep moving, and cut back on alcohol and smoking.
But personality isn’t typically considered part of the longevity equation. Now, scientists are drawing attention to a potential connection between a more outward, socially engaged temperament and healthier ageing.
The findings suggest that people with more extroverted tendencies—or who regularly maintain meaningful social connection—may be more likely to preserve cognitive function as they get older, and could even live longer.
This work is being explored in the long-running Superager study, led since the early 2000s by neurologist Professor Emily Rogalski, which investigates why some people age with unusually strong memory and thinking skills.
“There’s something special about being able to live to 80 and still have the cognitive performance of a 60-year-old,” Rogalski explained to Science Focus.
In the study, a “superager” is defined as someone aged 80 or above whose memory abilities resemble those of a person 20 to 30 years younger.
Researchers have examined a broad set of influences—ranging from lifestyle and genetics to brain anatomy and function—and they’re now also tracking day-to-day behavior using sensors to learn more about sleep, movement, and especially social connection.
“We’ve looked at lifestyle factors. We’ve looked at genetic factors. We’ve looked at brain structure, brain function. We now have superagers wearing sensors in their daily life so that we can get a better understanding of sleep, of activity, but also of social connection.
“We see that superagers are often engaged. To me, though, it’s more than extroversion. It’s curiosity, resilience and, for many, the tie that binds them is that they enjoy that connection with others.”
For people who identify as introverted, the message isn’t that you need a huge circle of acquaintances. In this context, “extroverted” qualities can simply mean having consistent interaction and engagement—something that can happen within a small, close-knit group just as easily as in a large social network.
On the other hand, researchers have repeatedly associated loneliness and prolonged isolation with poorer brain outcomes, including increased dementia risk.
Although estimates differ between studies, the Alzheimer’s Society notes that social isolation may raise a person’s dementia risk by around 60 percent.
Rogalski also pointed to another reason social interaction may matter: it forces the brain to stay flexible and responsive in real time.
“Our brains love to be challenged. And if you think about what it takes to be socially connected, it’s actually a lot of work. I’m talking with you right now. I know you’re going to ask me another question, but I don’t know exactly what that question is going to be. And my brain gets to do a lot of mental gymnastics deciding how to answer. That’s really good for my brain,” said Rogalski.
Beyond behavior, the team has also found physical differences in the brains of superagers. Rogalski said one standout feature is a thicker anterior cingulate cortex, alongside a higher number of Economo neurons—cells thought to play a role in complex social and emotional processing.
“Our oldest superager is 111,” Rogalski added.
To illustrate what that kind of ageing can look like, she shared an example that challenges common assumptions about extreme old age.
“I’m sure you’re conjuring in your mind what it looks like to be 111. But I’ll tell you, we celebrated her birthday and she was yelling at her daughter for not bringing the correct ingredients for her banana bread and the chocolate-covered strawberries she wanted to make for her friends. She made us homemade wine.
“So this isn’t a 111-year-old who’s sitting around doing nothing. She’s quite active.”