A recent study from Northwestern University has shed light on how some individuals aged 80 and above, termed “SuperAgers,” manage to retain memory capabilities comparable to those of people in their 50s. This research aims to uncover the unique brain characteristics that may protect them against cognitive decline and conditions like Alzheimer”s disease.
SuperAgers are defined as individuals aged 80 and older who perform on memory tests similarly to those 30 years younger. According to a press release from the university, participants in this category scored at least nine out of fifteen on a delayed word recall test.
The term “SuperAger” was introduced by Dr. M. Marsel Mesulam, who established the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer”s Disease at Northwestern in the late 1990s. Over the past 25 years, researchers have studied nearly 300 SuperAgers and identified several common traits, including strong social connections and outgoing personalities.
Co-author Dr. Sandra Weintraub, a professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences, and neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, stated, “What we found in their brains has been revolutionary for us.” The research team examined the brains of 77 deceased SuperAgers and discovered that many exhibited no accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins—substances typically associated with Alzheimer”s disease.
While some of the examined brains did contain these proteins, they did not appear to negatively impact cognitive abilities. Weintraub explained that two mechanisms contribute to the SuperAger phenomenon: resistance, where individuals do not produce the harmful plaques and tangles, and resilience, where the presence of these proteins does not affect cognitive function.
In contrast to typical aging brains, which often show significant thinning of the cortex, SuperAgers maintained a thicker anterior cingulate cortex, an area linked to decision-making, emotion, and motivation. Additionally, they possessed a greater number of specialized cells known as “von Economo neurons,” which are associated with social behavior, as well as larger entorhinal neurons vital for memory retention.
The findings, published in Alzheimer”s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer”s Association, emphasize that exceptional memory in older adults is achievable and linked to a unique neurobiological profile. The researchers aim to leverage these insights to develop interventions to enhance cognitive resilience and potentially delay or prevent Alzheimer”s and other forms of dementia.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News, commented on the study, highlighting that a combination of genetic factors and ongoing cognitive engagement—both socially and intellectually—play crucial roles in sustaining mental acuity. He noted that even with the presence of senile plaques, those who maintained active social lives and intellectual pursuits performed well in cognitive assessments.
In conclusion, the research underscores the importance of both genetic predisposition and active brain engagement in promoting cognitive health in older age. The study received funding from the Northwestern Alzheimer”s Disease Research Center (ADRC) and the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.
