UNLOCKING THE MYSTERY OF MEMORY RETENTION - THE STORY OF SUPERAGERS

It's normal for our memory to decline as we age. At least that's the case for most people. An exception to this are the so-called SuperAgers. By definition, the memory performance of these seniors matches that of people 30 years younger. So, an 80-year-old SuperAger is as mentally sharp as an average 50-year-old.

What's their secret? Bryan Strange, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and his research team have been investigating this for several years.

SuperAger versus normal ager

For this, they analyze data from 64 SuperAgers and 55 comparison individuals. The participants regularly undergo tests where their memory, motor, and verbal skills are tested.

They undergo brain scans and blood tests and answer questions about lifestyle and behavior. The research team has already published two studies, one last year (as reported by FOCUS online) and one in April of this year.

Differences in brains

In summary, the researchers found that the SuperAgers had more volume in brain regions important for memory, especially in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex. Also, the connectivity between regions in the front part of the brain, which are important for perception, was better preserved.

Interestingly, both SuperAgers and the control group showed minimal signs of Alzheimer's in their brains. An important finding, because: "When we have two groups, both with low levels of Alzheimer's markers, but with notable cognitive differences and noticeable differences in their brains, then we are really talking about a resistance to age-related decay," Strange explained to the "New York Times".

Differences in lifestyle and health

How this resistance in the brains occurs is still unclear. However, the researchers were also able to identify differences in health and lifestyle factors.

SuperAgers significantly outperformed in two areas:

•          Mobility/Motor skills

•          Mental health

Interestingly, the advantage in mobility and motor skills existed even though the SuperAgers were not physically more active than the control group. A closer look at the first study, however, shows that they were in their middle years. The foundation for later mobility is thus laid earlier.

In surveys or tests on mental health, the SuperAgers also scored better than the control group. They had fewer depressions and anxieties which can play a role as mental illnesses like depression are considered a risk factor for developing dementia.

A difference was notable in other areas as well

In addition, other variables that could "optimize memory function into the ninth decade of life" were identified, the researchers wrote.

SuperAgers

•          were more interested in music (both actively and passively),

•          had better reading skills,

•          complained less about sleep deprivation (although they had the same average sleep duration as the control group),

•          had a more active lifestyle in their middle years, and

•          rarely had elevated blood sugar or high blood pressure.

Interestingly, SuperAgers also often lived separately or were divorced which is in contrast to previous studies. The researchers attribute this to cultural differences among the respective study subjects.

Important: this is a so-called observational study. The researchers themselves write that therefore "a causal link between the factors reported here and SuperAgers cannot be concluded."

You can't become a SuperAger easily, but you have these factors in hand

"In an ideal world, you'd find out that all SuperAgers eat six tomatoes every day and that would be the key," the New York Times quotes Tessa Harrison. She herself has already participated in studies on SuperAgers.

However, SuperAgers have "probably some kind of lucky predisposition or a resistance mechanism in the brain on a molecular level, which we don't yet understand - probably in connection with their genes."

Conclusion: while there is no recipe for becoming a SuperAger, science agrees that certain protective factors can help our brain age healthily. The most important are

•          healthy diet,

•          physical activity,

•          sufficient sleep, and

•          social contacts.

2024-05-08T08:29:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd