The human brain is always on—trillions of electric currents and transmissions from neuron to neuron flicker constantly. Surprising new research, from the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, suggests the secret to living longer may lie in this neural activity, which speeds up and slows down as we age.

Over-excitation, or too much activity in the brain, was linked to shorter life spans, a study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature has found. Meanwhile, suppressing neural over-excitation actually extends life. The study, based on data from humans brains, mice, and worms, is the first showing that the nervous system influences longevity.