Unique Brain Features Found in Cognitive SuperAgers

Most of us have some decline in our memory and learning abilities as we age. But certain older adults can remember past events better than most people 25 to 30 years younger. Researchers recently found that exceptional recall and memory is linked to the ability to create new brain cells.

An NIH-funded research team analyzed more than 350,000 individual brain cells from younger and older adults, including cognitive SuperAgers. Cognitive SuperAgers are people at least 80 years old with memory test scores as good as or better than people in their 50s and 60s. The cells were from donated postmortem brains.

The team looked for newly formed brain cells. They found that the molecular make up of new brain cells differed depending on the donor’s cognitive abilities. SuperAgers’ brain cells had a unique molecular make-up. SuperAgers also had more newly created brain cells than other groups.

Certain cell processes in the SuperAgers’ brains appeared to be better maintained, too. These processes serve important functions. Some are involved in communication between brain cells. Others help with cell survival.

“Determining why some brains age more healthily than others can help researchers make therapeutics that will boost memory in aging and prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias,” says Dr. Orly Lazarov at the University of Illinois, Chicago, who co-led the study.