Superagers' Brains Keep Growing Neurons

- The study, published in the journal *Nature*, found the neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus, the brain's memory center. - Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University found that superagers produce new neurons at twice the rate of other healthy octogenarians and at a higher rate than even adults in their 30s and 40s. - In stark contrast, brain samples from individuals with Alzheimer's disease showed negligible to zero new neuron production, directly linking the loss of neurogenesis to cognitive failure. - The analysis involved examining nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei from donated postmortem brains using an advanced technique called multiomic single-cell sequencing. - Beyond neuron growth, superagers' brains also exhibit other unique features, including a thicker cortex in areas related to attention and significantly more von Economo neurons, which are tied to social awareness. - The lead author of the study, Orly Lazarov, noted that the new neurons in superagers have distinct "epigenetic signatures," suggesting that lifestyle factors like diet and exercise could potentially stimulate this protective cell growth. - Other research into superagers has identified additional differentiating factors, including a lower incidence of depression and higher levels of social activity for men, and more engagement in investigative activities like reading scientific books or solving puzzles for women. - Prior studies on superagers have also revealed they have larger, healthier neurons in the entorhinal cortex, one of the first brain regions to be affected by Alzheimer's disease.