SuperAger Research Shows How They Keep Memories Sharp

Over two decades of research reveals how SuperAgers defy the odds and succeed in maintaining memory performance on par with those at least three decades younger.

A long-running Northwestern University study just marked 25 years of researching SuperAgers, so the scientists are sharing some of the common threads that have helped these individuals - all age 80 or older - maintain mental sharpness well into their later years. They challenge the long-held belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of ageing.​

Via brain scans, the researchers found that many SuperAgers either do not develop Alzheimer’s-related plaques and tangles or form these protein accumulations but show none of the associated cognitive impairment. Their brains were also shown to have a thicker anterior cingulate cortex (a region linked to motivation, emotion, and decision-making) and higher numbers of von Economo neurons (associated with socialization).

The brain scans only reveal part of the equation, as SuperAgers also shared common lifestyle traits focused around being highly social and enjoying strong interpersonal relationships. However, study co-author Tamar Gefen told NBC News: “I don’t know if it’s necessarily social connections, it’s just connections in general. There are people who are connected to the land, there are people who are connected to their ancestry, people who are connected to their grandchildren, who are connected to their art.”

The researchers hope that by deepening our understanding of the biological and behavioural traits linked to SuperAging, we can improve cognitive resilience and ultimately delay or even prevent Alzheimer’s and other conditions that cause cognitive decline.