Unlocking the Mystery of the Ever-Sharp Minds of 'Superagers'
Ever heard of "superagers"? These are special individuals who, even in their 80s and beyond, maintain a mind as sharp as those decades younger. They defy the general belief that one's cognitive abilities are bound to decline with age. After a quarter-century long study, we're beginning to understand what makes their brains unique.
"The revelations we've uncovered about their brains have been truly groundbreaking," a leading clinical neuropsychologist from a popular university shares.
Distinct Features of the Superager Brain
Researchers have discovered that these superagers' brains have an unusual resistance to the buildup of protein clumps and tangles commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, they have a higher concentration of a specific type of neuron in a critical area of their brain and exhibit less inflammatory activity in their white matter compared to the average aging population.
Although these results still need to be confirmed in other groups, having identified a distinct neurobiological profile in superagers paves the way to new interventions aimed at preserving brain health well into the later decades of life.
Impressive Memory Functioning
Superagers possess memories that can rival those of individuals in their 50s. The study defines superagers as those capable of recalling at least 9 words out of a list of 15 when tested, a feat typical of people at least two to three decades younger. Some studies have found that less than five percent of the population can achieve a superager classification.
Characteristics of Superagers
One common trait among superagers is their high extroversion. Interestingly, not all superagers lead healthier lifestyles, with some even indulging in smoking and drinking alcohol regularly. This suggests that a significant part of their age-defying abilities is biologically driven.
Researchers monitored 290 individuals aged 80 and older since 2000 to compare those who would become superagers with those who age typically. Thanks to generous donations of 79 superager brains, they identified some key biological differences.
Resistance and Resilience
"We discovered two mechanisms that lead to someone becoming a superager," the clinical neuropsychologist explains. "First is resistance: they don't develop the plaques and tangles usually associated with Alzheimer's disease. Second is resilience: they develop them, but their brains remain unaffected."
Cells known as entorhinal neurons, which deliver information to the hippocampus, were found to be larger in superagers, possibly contributing to this resistance or resilience.
Unique Brain Structures
Typically, aging individuals show thinning in the outer brain layer, but this is not the case with superagers. This area of the brain, which controls our conscious thoughts, memory, and language, remains thick in superagers.
Superagers also have more of a specific type of neuron, called von Economo neurons, and a thicker anterior cingulate gyrus, where these neurons are found, even compared to much younger individuals. This part of the brain is involved in managing attention, emotion, and decision-making.
The research team suspects that superagers are born with a higher density of von Economo neurons. Together, these unique characteristics seem to maintain the stability of superager brains compared to others over time.
Future Research and Potential Treatments
"Many of the findings from this paper stem from the examination of brain specimens of generous, dedicated superagers who were followed for decades," says a clinical neuropsychologist from the same university.
The team also noted a list of genes highlighted by prior research that could be further investigated for more insights. Understanding the genes that affect cognition as we age may allow us to create medicines that promote superager brain settings and resistance to Alzheimer's disease.