Super Agers' Brain Cells Stay Young
Scientists discovered that 'super agers' in their 80s and 90s with exceptional memory possess more youthful brain cells than their peers. The findings suggest some people resist typical age-related memory loss due to biological factors supporting brain cell longevity, potentially linking lifestyle and genetics to cognitive resilience.
The term "SuperAger" was coined by researchers at Northwestern University's Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease to describe individuals over the age of 80 who exhibit the memory performance of people 20 to 30 years younger. The Northwestern SuperAging Program has been studying these unique individuals for 25 years to uncover the biological and behavioral factors behind their cognitive resilience. A key discovery lies in the hippocampus, the brain's memory center, where super agers produce new neurons at a rate two times higher than their cognitively average peers. This process, called adult neurogenesis, was once debated in humans but is now seen as a "resilience signature" in these elite memorizers. In stark contrast, individuals with Alzheimer's disease show almost no growth of new neurons. Beyond new cell growth, the brains of super agers have other unique features. They possess a higher concentration of specialized cells called Von Economo neurons, which are linked to social and emotional processing. These cells are located in a brain region called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is surprisingly thicker in super agers than in adults who are 20 to 30 years younger. Genetics also play a significant role in this cognitive longevity. Super agers are 68% less likely to carry the APOE-ε4 gene variant, a primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Conversely, they are more than twice as likely to possess the protective APOE-ε2 gene variant compared to those with Alzheimer's. While diet and exercise habits vary among super agers, one common trait is a high level of social engagement. Researchers note that this tendency toward strong interpersonal relationships correlates with the abundance of Von Economo neurons found in their brains. The next phase of research will focus on how environmental and lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, might influence the epigenetic signatures that program cells to respond to the environment. Scientists hope that understanding these mechanisms could lead to new therapies that delay or prevent age-related cognitive decline in the broader population.
