Key points
- Only 10pc qualify after rigorous cognitive testing
- Brains show fewer Alzheimer’s-related tau tangles
- Larger, healthier neurons found in memory centres
ISLAMABAD: As the human brain ages, it typically shrinks, leading to a decline in memory — a normal part of life. But a rare group known as “SuperAgers” appears to resist this decline, retaining memory as sharp as people 30 years their junior.
Carol Siegler, from Palatine near Chicago, is one such SuperAger. At 82, she won her age group at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament — an entry she made “as a gag.” Now 88, Siegler remains mentally active and is nearing 90, says Dr Tamar Gefen, associate professor at Northwestern University’s Mesulam Institute, according to CNN.
These special traits may shield ‘SuperAgers’ from dementia — how they could lead to new Alzheimer’s tools https://t.co/fsMq1wbItE pic.twitter.com/MmQcxgabQb
— New York Post (@nypost) August 7, 2025
Gefen leads research at the university’s SuperAging Program, which has studied around 300 SuperAgers over the past 25 years. Despite thousands of applicants, fewer than 10 per cent meet the programme’s strict criteria. To qualify, individuals must be over 80 and show memory performance equal to or better than people in their 50s and 60s.
High levels of sociability
Common traits among SuperAgers include high levels of sociability, independence, and engagement with life. Interestingly, their lifestyles vary widely. Some have chronic illnesses, drink alcohol regularly, or live quite ordinary lives — suggesting no strict formula for success.
The human brain shrinks as it ages, affecting the ability to remember — it’s part of life. Yet there are a lucky few, called “SuperAgers,” who have a brain that fights back. For them, memories stay as sharp as they were 30 or more years in the past. https://t.co/haEe2NfIJr
— WKOW 27 News (@WKOW) August 7, 2025
One major focus of the research is on brain structure. Autopsies of SuperAgers’ donated brains reveal key differences. Their cingulate cortex — linked to attention and motivation — is thicker than in younger adults.
In the hippocampus, they have far fewer tau tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Their cholinergic system, which supports focus and attention, also appears stronger.
Striking discovery
Perhaps the most striking discovery involves the entorhinal cortex, crucial for memory and learning. SuperAgers have unusually large, healthy neurons here — even bigger than those found in much younger people. These findings point to a structural resilience in the brains of SuperAgers.
Researchers are also exploring how SuperAgers’ brains handle stress and disease. Compared with their peers, SuperAgers show fewer activated microglia — immune cells that can cause damaging inflammation if overactive.
Their microglia behave more like those of people decades younger, suggesting a more adaptive and efficient immune response in the brain.
Personalised treatments
Genetics may play a role, but it’s not the whole story. Gefen says it is not just whether someone carries a gene, but how that gene is expressed — influenced by both internal biology and external environment. The field of epigenetics is becoming central to understanding how some people age so successfully.
While there is no single fix for Alzheimer’s, researchers are hopeful. Advances in technology may lead to targeted, personalised treatments — a kind of “cocktail” approach — combining genetic, structural, and behavioural strategies.
Gefen concludes: “It’s not about one magic solution. It will take time, collaboration, and science to build a path forward — but we’re getting there.”
