What's the secret to ‘SuperAgers’ avoiding Alzheimer's? Discover the difference now!
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As we all get older, it’s only natural to experience some changes to our cognition, with memory and brain function potentially declining due to age. There’s also an increased chance of developing issues such as Alzheimer's, Lewy body disease, and related dementias.
Although there’s still much research to be done, there are some older adults who exhibit superior cognition compared to their peers.
According to reports, these brain changes occur in those aged 90 and above who maintain excellent cognitive abilities despite their age.
The term ‘Super Ager’ is someone who lives well into their 80s and beyond and with superior cognitive abilities that seem to defy age-related decline.
A fascinating new study led by researchers from the University of California, Irvine revealed that Super Agers have similar levels of Alzheimer's pathology in their brains as regular Alzheimer's patients.
Yet, they are less vulnerable to other types of neurodegenerative changes, such as Lewy body disease.
This begs the question: if the Alzheimer's pathology in Super Ager brains is so similar, what's protecting them?
The intriguing research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, utilised cognitive test scores and autopsy data from 102 cognitively normal individuals who passed away at an average age of 97.6 years.
The study focused on a group of individuals who were old and had excellent cognitive abilities because they wanted to see the changes in their brains that could explain this. Specifically, the study looked at the connection between Alzheimer’s disease and other brain changes not related to the disease.
The team found that participants with superior cognitive abilities were able to withstand the negative effects of Alzheimer's-related brain changes and low levels of vascular damage.
Additionally, these individuals were also resistant to other types of brain changes not related to Alzheimer's and multiple brain health issues.
Co-author of the study, Dr Roshni Biswas, from the Department of Neurology at the University of California, stated that 'individuals who live to be 90 and older with an excellent memory and thinking abilities tend to have similar levels of Alzheimer's disease pathology in their brains but have lower levels of pathologies from other diseases that cause memory and thinking problems’.
Dr Biswas stressed the importance of understanding the factors that promote quantity and quality of life for those who reach their 90s, which is a rapidly growing demographic.
‘However, further research into the factors that enable these individuals to maintain intact cognitive abilities could provide insights into how to preserve cognitive health despite advanced age,’ explained Dr Biswas.
Dr Biswas also highlighted that the research provides evidence that it is ‘possible to maintain excellent memory and thinking abilities even after the age of 90, and in the presence of age-related abnormal brain changes’.
Dr Ari D. Kalechstein, President and CEO of Executive Mental Health, not involved in the research, noted that there are 'several important takeaways' from the study.
One of them is that we should refrain from using sweeping generalisations regarding age and functional capacity, as these can be misleading.
He also emphasised the potential of this study in catalysing future investigations seeking to identify the factors that protect cognition in the ‘oldest-old’ people.
While more research is needed to pinpoint the exact elements in the brain that ensure cognitive health despite advancing age, it's inspiring to know that maintaining great cognitive abilities after age 90 is not just a myth.
It's very much possible, and it offers hope for us all as we age.
With this information, it's crucial that we continue striving to preserve our cognitive health by maintaining an active lifestyle and engaging in mentally stimulating activities whenever possible. Also, consult with your doctor if you’re trying any new diets or changes to your daily activities to ensure a safe and healthy transition.
Share with us your tips for preserving good physical and mental health in the comments!
Although there’s still much research to be done, there are some older adults who exhibit superior cognition compared to their peers.
According to reports, these brain changes occur in those aged 90 and above who maintain excellent cognitive abilities despite their age.
The term ‘Super Ager’ is someone who lives well into their 80s and beyond and with superior cognitive abilities that seem to defy age-related decline.
A fascinating new study led by researchers from the University of California, Irvine revealed that Super Agers have similar levels of Alzheimer's pathology in their brains as regular Alzheimer's patients.
A study revealed that older adults who exhibit superior cognitive abilities display brain pathology similar to that of Alzheimer’s patients. Credit: Matthias Zomer/Pexels
Yet, they are less vulnerable to other types of neurodegenerative changes, such as Lewy body disease.
This begs the question: if the Alzheimer's pathology in Super Ager brains is so similar, what's protecting them?
The intriguing research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, utilised cognitive test scores and autopsy data from 102 cognitively normal individuals who passed away at an average age of 97.6 years.
The study focused on a group of individuals who were old and had excellent cognitive abilities because they wanted to see the changes in their brains that could explain this. Specifically, the study looked at the connection between Alzheimer’s disease and other brain changes not related to the disease.
Research suggests that these individuals are less vulnerable to neurodegenerative changes. Credit: Brett Sayles/Pexels
The team found that participants with superior cognitive abilities were able to withstand the negative effects of Alzheimer's-related brain changes and low levels of vascular damage.
Additionally, these individuals were also resistant to other types of brain changes not related to Alzheimer's and multiple brain health issues.
Co-author of the study, Dr Roshni Biswas, from the Department of Neurology at the University of California, stated that 'individuals who live to be 90 and older with an excellent memory and thinking abilities tend to have similar levels of Alzheimer's disease pathology in their brains but have lower levels of pathologies from other diseases that cause memory and thinking problems’.
Dr Biswas stressed the importance of understanding the factors that promote quantity and quality of life for those who reach their 90s, which is a rapidly growing demographic.
‘However, further research into the factors that enable these individuals to maintain intact cognitive abilities could provide insights into how to preserve cognitive health despite advanced age,’ explained Dr Biswas.
Dr Biswas also highlighted that the research provides evidence that it is ‘possible to maintain excellent memory and thinking abilities even after the age of 90, and in the presence of age-related abnormal brain changes’.
Dr Ari D. Kalechstein, President and CEO of Executive Mental Health, not involved in the research, noted that there are 'several important takeaways' from the study.
One of them is that we should refrain from using sweeping generalisations regarding age and functional capacity, as these can be misleading.
He also emphasised the potential of this study in catalysing future investigations seeking to identify the factors that protect cognition in the ‘oldest-old’ people.
While more research is needed to pinpoint the exact elements in the brain that ensure cognitive health despite advancing age, it's inspiring to know that maintaining great cognitive abilities after age 90 is not just a myth.
It's very much possible, and it offers hope for us all as we age.
With this information, it's crucial that we continue striving to preserve our cognitive health by maintaining an active lifestyle and engaging in mentally stimulating activities whenever possible. Also, consult with your doctor if you’re trying any new diets or changes to your daily activities to ensure a safe and healthy transition.
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