SuperAgers Keep 40-Year-Old Memory
A report highlights 'SuperAgers'—individuals aged 80+ who maintain memory as sharp as those in their 40s. Scientists attribute this to ongoing neurogenesis, sparking optimism for brain health strategies that could help more people maintain cognitive function into their 80s and beyond.
The term "SuperAger" was coined by researchers at Northwestern University to describe individuals over 80 with the memory performance of people 20 to 30 years younger. The ongoing SuperAging Research Program has studied this unique group for over two decades to uncover the biological and behavioral factors that protect against age-related cognitive decline. Neuroimaging studies reveal that SuperAgers' brains are physically different. They exhibit a significantly slower rate of brain volume loss compared to their peers; while an average 80-year-old's brain shrinks by about 2.24% annually, a SuperAger's brain shrinks by only 1.06%. Notably, the cortex—the outer layer of the brain crucial for memory and thinking—is thicker in SuperAgers, resembling that of middle-aged adults. A key finding is the abundance of specific cells called von Economo neurons in the brains of SuperAgers—four to five times more than in their cognitively average peers. These large, spindle-shaped neurons are linked to social processing and awareness, which may explain why strong social relationships are a commonly reported trait among this group. Interestingly, a universally healthy lifestyle is not a guaranteed ticket to becoming a SuperAger. Research has shown that while some follow all health recommendations, others have histories of smoking, drinking, and poor sleep habits. This suggests that lifestyle alone doesn't explain their remarkable cognitive preservation. Scientists have identified two primary pathways to becoming a SuperAger: resistance and resilience. Some SuperAgers' brains show a natural resistance to the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the hallmark proteins of Alzheimer's disease. Others are resilient, meaning these proteins are present in their brains, but they somehow avoid the associated memory decline. The anterior cingulate, a brain region vital for attention and integrating emotions, is another area where SuperAgers stand out. In this group, this region is even thicker than that of adults in their 50s and 60s, which is thought to support their exceptional memory capabilities.
