"Most people say they want to live to a ripe old age. But that isn't really true. What people really want is to live to a ripe, old age in good mental and physical health. Some of us actually get to live this dream. These folks are known as super-agers and they make it well into their 80s not just in decent physical shape, but also with minds at least as sharp as people 30 years younger."
"As you'd expect, a quarter century of data shows it really helps to be born with lucky biology. The neuroscientists found a number of physical differences between the brains of super-agers and the average person. There isn't much non-scientists can do with that information. We have to make the most of the brains bequeathed to us by our DNA. Luckily, the researchers also discovered one big difference in behavior that sets apart super-agers who are still going strong into their 80s and beyond."
"When you scan or posthumously autopsy the brains of super-agers, they look different than average brains, according to Sandra Weintraub, a Northwestern psychology professor involved in the study. Normal brains generally show some accumulation of the plaques and protein tangles that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Super-agers' brains are largely free of them. The study also revealed that while the outer layer of the brain, known as the cortex, tends to thin out as we age, it stays thick in super-agers."
A 25-year study tracked almost 300 super-agers, people in their 80s with memory comparable to individuals 30 years younger. Super-agers show distinct neurobiology: minimal Alzheimer’s plaques and tangles, a thicker cerebral cortex, and a different mix of brain cell types. Genetic or biological advantages contribute to these differences. Researchers also identified a major behavioral difference that correlates with sustained cognitive health and that can be adopted by others. Exceptional memory in later life aligns with a distinct neurobiological profile, suggesting potential interventions to preserve brain health into advanced decades.
Read at Fast Company
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