SuperAgers Keep 40-Year-Old Memory at 80+
Adults aged 80+ known as "SuperAgers" are maintaining memory and cognitive abilities comparable to people in their 40s through neurogenesis — the brain's lifelong ability to grow new neurons. The secret appears to be continuous learning, complex problem solving, social interaction, and aerobic fitness.
The term "SuperAger" was coined by neurologist Marsel Mesulam at Northwestern University's Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease. The research initiative defines these individuals as being 80 years or older with memory performance equivalent to or better than that of people in their 50s and 60s. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies reveal that SuperAgers' brains shrink at a much slower rate than their peers. While a typical older adult's brain cortex loses volume at an average rate of 2.24% per year, the brains of SuperAgers show a loss of only 1.06%. A key brain region that appears different in SuperAgers is the anterior cingulate cortex, which is crucial for attention and memory. In SuperAgers, this area is not only thicker than in their cognitively average peers but is sometimes even thicker than in middle-aged adults. On a cellular level, SuperAgers' brains show a higher density of specific neurons called von Economo neurons, which are linked to social intelligence. Their brains also exhibit fewer tau tangles, a primary marker of Alzheimer's disease, in this same region. Recent research has also uncovered that SuperAgers generate new neurons at a higher rate than their cognitively average counterparts. Studies indicate they produce twice as many new neurons as healthy older adults and two and a half times as many as those with Alzheimer's. While some studies suggest SuperAgers are more likely to have strong social connections, others have found no single consistent lifestyle pattern. Some maintain very healthy habits, while others do not. This has led researchers to believe that a combination of biological resistance and resilience factors may be at play. Researchers have identified at least 15 blood biomarkers related to metabolic stability, inflammation, and lipid processing that may help predict SuperAger status. Ongoing studies are further exploring the interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and brain biology to unlock the secrets of these remarkable individuals.
