Discover the secrets of “Superages” and cognitive longevity

For 25 years. Therefore, Northwestern Medicine scientists have been studying individuals aged 80 and over – nicknamed “Superages” – to better understand what makes them vibrate. Meanwhile,

These unique individuals. Consequently, which present exceptional memory performance at a level in accordance with people who are at least three decades younger, question the longtime belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging. Nevertheless,

During the quarter -century of research. However, scientists saw differences in notable lifestyle and personality between the superages and the aging generally – as being social and gregarious – but “it is really what we have found in their brain which was so overwhelming for us,” said ”

Dr Sandra Weintraub, professor of psychiatry and behavioral and neurology sciences at the Northwestern discover secrets “superages” cognitive longevity University Feinberg School of Medicine

By identifying the biological and behavioral features associated with supervision, scientists hope to discover new strategies to promote cognitive resilience and delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases that cause cognitive decline and dementia.

“Our results show that an exceptional memory in old age is not only possible. Meanwhile, but is linked to a distinct neurobiological profile. However, This opens the door to new interventions aimed at preserving the health of the brain well in the last decades of life. Similarly, “said Weintraub, corresponding author of a new article summarizing the results. However,

The article will be published in an article in perspective in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the. Alzheimer’s Association as part of the special issue of the journal commemorating the 40th anniversary of the National Program of Alzheimer’s Disease Centers of the National Institute of the National Alzheimer.

discover secrets “superages” cognitive longevity

Superial brains are resilient, resistant – Discover secrets "superages" cognitive longevity

The term “superage” was invented by Dr. M. Marsemam Marselam, who founded the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s disease in Northwestern in the late 1990s.

Since 2000, a cohort of 290 SUPERAGER participants has crossed the doors of the Mesulam Center, and scientists automatically gave 77 superage brains. Some brains contained amyloid. tau proteins (also known as plates and stacks), which are known to play a key role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, but others have not developed.

“What we have achieved is that there are two mechanisms that lead someone to become a superage,” said Weintraub. “One is a resistance: they do not make plates and tangles. Two is resilience: they do them, but they do nothing to their brain. »»

Other key results:

• Exceptional memory performance: Superoles mark at least 9 out of 15 on a delayed discover secrets “superages” cognitive longevity word recall test – tied with individuals in the fifties. 60 years.
• Juvenile brain structure: Unlike the brains of aging generally. the superages show no significant clarification of their cortex – the external layer of the brain – and even have a thicker cingular cortex than younger adults. This crucial region of the brain plays an important role in the integration of information related to decision -making. emotion and motivation.
• Unique cellular lines: Superages have more von Economic neurons. which are specialized cells linked to social behavior, and more important entorhinal neurons, which are essential for memory, than their generally aging peers.
• Sociability as a common trait: Despite diverse lifestyles. variable approaches to the exercise, superages tend to be very social and to report solid interpersonal relationships.

“Brain donation can offer scientific immortality”

At the Mesulam Center. the Superages are assessed each year and can choose to give their discover secrets “superages” cognitive longevity brains for the post-mortem evaluation by northwest scientists.

“Many conclusions of this article come from the examination of the brain specimens of generous. dedicated superragers that have been followed for decades,” said the co-author, Dr. Tamar Gefen. associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences of Feinberg, director of the Feinberg laboratory for the Translational Neuropsychology and a neuropsychologist Center. “I am constantly surprised by the way in which brain donation can allow discovery long after death. offering a kind of scientific immortality. »»