For more than two decades, researchers at Northwestern Medicine have been studying a remarkable group of people over the age of 80 whose memory performs on par with individuals 30 years younger.
These “SuperAgers” defy the long-held belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of growing older.
Through detailed testing and brain imaging, scientists have identified a combination of traits that seem to protect these individuals from age-related decline.
According to Professor Sandra Weintraub of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the most groundbreaking discoveries have come from examining their brains directly.
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The brain that resists aging
Since the program began in the early 2000s, nearly 300 SuperAgers have participated, with 77 choosing to donate their brains for analysis.
The findings published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association have surprised researchers.
Some SuperAgers show no buildup of amyloid and tau, which are proteins typically linked to Alzheimer’s disease, while others do, but without showing any cognitive impairment.
Scientists describe these two mechanisms as resistance and resilience.
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Resistant individuals simply do not develop the harmful plaques and tangles, while resilient ones seem unaffected by them.
Brain scans also reveal that SuperAgers maintain a remarkably thick cortex and an especially well-preserved anterior cingulate cortex, a region essential for decision-making, motivation and emotion.
The social factor
Despite their diverse lifestyles, SuperAgers share one consistent trait: strong social connections.
Researchers have found that their brains contain more von Economo neurons, specialized cells linked to social behavior, and larger entorhinal neurons, which are vital for memory.
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This combination may help explain their cognitive strength.
The findings suggest that exceptional memory in later life is not just luck but the result of unique biological and social factors.
According to Sandra Weintraub, this knowledge could pave the way for new interventions to preserve brain health and potentially delay or prevent dementia.
This article is based on information from Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.