- SuperAgers, individuals over 80, have cognitive capabilities comparable to those 30 years younger, illustrating that robust mental health can persist well into old age.
- They often maintain strong social connections and active lifestyles, and their brains seem to resist the formation of Alzheimer’s-related plaques and tangles that usually lead to memory decline.
- Continued research is uncovering valuable insights that may help develop new strategies to delay or perhaps even prevent dementia associated with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal degeneration.
For 25 years, researchers at Northwestern Medicine have studied individuals aged 80 and above, referred to as “SuperAgers,” to understand why their cognitive abilities remain sharp.
These remarkable people perform as well on memory tests as those who are three decades younger, challenging the long-standing belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging.
Over the years, scientists have observed that SuperAgers typically exhibit certain lifestyle and personality characteristics, such as being notably social and outgoing. Dr. Sandra Weintraub, a professor in psychiatry, behavioral sciences, and neurology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, noted that the most groundbreaking findings have emerged from direct examinations of their brains. “What we’ve uncovered about their brain structures has been incredibly revealing,” she commented.
By identifying the biological and behavioral traits associated with SuperAging, researchers hope to create new methods to enhance cognitive resilience and potentially slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
“Our research indicates that remarkable memory retention in older age is not just possible but is associated with a unique neurobiological profile. This could lead to innovative interventions focused on maintaining brain health well into later life,” Weintraub explained, as she summarized findings in a recent paper.
The paper appeared as a perspective piece in a special issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the National Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program and the 25th anniversary of the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center.
Resilience in SuperAger brains
The term “SuperAger” was introduced in the late 1990s by Dr. M. Marsel Mesulam, who founded the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern.
Since 2000, 290 SuperAgers have been involved in the study, and researchers have analyzed 77 donated SuperAger brains post-mortem. Some exhibited amyloid and tau proteins, which are indicative of Alzheimer’s disease, while others housed none.
“We’ve come to understand that there are two key mechanisms that contribute to a person becoming a SuperAger,” Weintraub stated. “One is resistance: they don’t accumulate plaques and tangles. The other is resilience: they may produce these proteins, but their brains remain unaffected.”
Additional key observations:
- Outstanding memory capabilities: SuperAgers score a minimum of 9 out of 15 on delayed word recall tests, comparable to individuals in their 50s and 60s.
- Healthy brain structure: Unlike typical aging brains, SuperAgers show minimal thinning of the cortex—the brain’s outer layer—and possess a thicker anterior cingulate cortex compared to younger adults. This area plays a vital role in processing information related to decision-making, emotion, and motivation.
- Distinct cellular features: SuperAgers have a higher number of von economo neurons, linked to social behavior, and larger entorhinal neurons, which are essential for memory, compared to their typically aging counterparts.
- Sociability: Despite their varying lifestyles and fitness approaches, SuperAgers are generally highly social and report strong interpersonal relationships.
‘Brain donation provides scientific immortality’
At the Mesulam Center, SuperAgers undergo annual evaluations and have the option to donate their brains for post-mortem analysis by Northwestern researchers.
“Much of what we’ve discovered in this paper comes from analyzing brain specimens of incredibly generous and devoted SuperAgers who have been studied over many years,” remarked Dr. Tamar Gefen, a co-author and associate professor at Feinberg, as well as director of the Laboratory for Translational Neuropsychology. “I continually find it astonishing how brain donation enables ongoing discoveries beyond one’s lifetime, granting a form of scientific immortality.”
This perspective piece is titled “The First 25 Years of the Northwestern SuperAging Program.” Other authors from Northwestern include Dr. Mesulam and Changiz Geula, a research professor and a member of the Mesulam Center.
