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Brain structure offers clues on how some elderly people retain ‘remarkable’ cognitive abilities - a ‘mind-blowing study’
As we age, a variety of factors such as physical and mental health, levels of stress, and exposure to external toxins, can take a toll on our minds and bodies.
The bad news is that by the time we reach our senior years, we're more prone to developing conditions like dementia, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Yet, not everyone succumbs to this natural deterioration at the same rate, and some are more fortunate than others to retain supernatural levels of intelligence, memory, awareness, and presence of mind.
It turns out, certain elderly people have an impressive knack for being cognitively matched with individuals roughly half their age.
These individuals with ‘remarkable’ cognitive abilities are known as super-agers and currently, scientists believe they may be closer to figuring out why.
Why do some people remain so 'with it' into old age? Science may be getting closer to figuring it out. Source: OpenAI
You read that right. An international team of scientists from Northwestern University are investigating why certain people appear to defy the ageing process, retaining comparable levels of mental capacity to people decades younger.
Deepening our understanding of what we already know about ageing could potentially help in uncovering innovative new ways of fighting dementia – at the end of the day, we all want to avoid this debilitating disease.
Northwestern University's Super-Ageing Brain Research Program, which has been ongoing for over a decade, maintains a large database of examinations and brain scans from test subjects.
Super-agers are defined as people whose memory abilities are ‘superior’ to what normally would be expected at their age and who are mostly disease-free and healthy.
These individuals, who have now been monitored for more than a decade, have given their consent to be observed and have also opted to have their brain tissue donated to the program after they pass away.
So what distinguishes them from everyone else?
The latest analysis, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, found that the super-agers have larger nerve cells in brain regions related to memory.
However, this isn't to say that every senior with larger-than-average neurons will retain their mental cognition.
The researchers think that super-agers may have been born that way or their neurons might just have shrunk less with age than average people.
Dr Rosa Sancho, the head of research at Alzheimer's UK, said that programmes like super-ageing could provide a gateway to discovering and manufacturing new methods of fighting dementia.
‘Further research will require pinpointing exactly what determines super-ager brain cells to be larger and more protected,’ Dr Sancho said.
‘For example, is it a genetic feature that super-agers are born with and if so, what features?’
After all, brain cells staying as big and strong as they possibly can is just scratching the surface. We actually still have a lot to learn about ageing, which is why we need to support research that pushes scientific boundaries.
The study’s lead researcher, Prof Tamar Gefen, said: ‘We need to investigate their genetics, lifestyle factors and educational attainment. We also need to gather their history and personal narratives. I have had the honour of knowing these remarkable people intimately in life and in death.’
Although there's no way to prevent the natural human decline associated with ageing, you can do your best to fight back against some of the common causes of dementia in order to remain sharp for as long as possible.
Some approaches to consider include:
- Exercising regularly. At this point, there have been so many studies that show the benefits of exercise – both mental and physical – that there's really no excuse not to do it.
- Eating a healthy diet. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Eating lots of vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, and avoiding processed foods will do wonders for your body and mind.
- Challenging your brain. To keep your mind sharp, try learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby.
- Socialising regularly. Spending time with friends, family, and loved ones is not only enjoyable, but it's also good for your mental health.
These are just a few things you can do to keep your mind sharp as you age. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start living your best life!
