A neurologist has shared “one thing” that older people with the “sharpest brains” have in common. According to the expert, this lifestyle choice can help keep your brain young and even “preserve” it.

In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, Dr Baibing Chen explained how to look after your brain as you get older. Dr Chen, who is better known online as Dr Bing, said: “Science shows that the people with the sharpest brains in their 80s and 90s often have one thing in common.

“If you have heard of the term ‘brain super agers’. This is a term that's used to describe people in their 80s or 90s who can think and remember things like someone in their 30s or 40s.

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“As a neurologist, I sometimes see super agers in my clinic.” He revealed that staying social is a key element of their lives.

Dr Bing continued: “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 compared 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 advice is backed by the Alzheimer’s Society, which claims that social isolation can increase a person’s risk of dementia by about 60 per ecnt. It noted: “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.” On top of this, the charity said that social interaction can help lower th 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.

“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.