If you come from a family where people routinely live well into old age, you will likely have better cognitive function – the ability to clearly think, learn and remember – than those from families where people die younger, says research from the Boston University School of Medicine. Says researcher Stacy Andersen, “People with familial longevity demonstrate resilience to cognitive ageing. By studying long-life families, we can learn about the genetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle habits that are essential in optimising cognitive health throughout the lifespan.”