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SuperAger (exceptional cognition in the elderly)

SuperAgers are humans > 80 years who show exceptional episodic memory. - superior memory capacity of SuperAgers isconsistent with individuals 20-30 years younger. [4] - the SuperAgers Initiative led by the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), Albert Einstein College of Medicine & Boston University School of Medicine aims to understand exceptional longevity [7] Genetics: - a region on chromosome 6q24 is linked to exceptional episodic memory in the elderly [5] - MOXD1 is a candidate gene [5] Pathology: - cerebral cortical atrophy occurs slower in elderly >= 80 years of age with preserved episodic memory [3] - slower gray matter atrophy over time [6] - longevity with unimpaired cognition into old age is associated with resistance to development of neurofibrillary tangles & senile plaques - normal aging is associated with isolated neurofibrillary tangles [1] - resistance to age-related neurofibrillary degeneration in the entorhinal cortex may contribute to preserved memory in SuperAgers. [2] - SuperAgers show entorhinal cortex layer II neurons substantially larger compared to individuals 20-30 years younger suggesting entorhinal cortex layer II is a biological substrate of exceptional memory in old age [4]. Laboratory: - no difference in apoE genotype - no difference in amyloid-beta42/amyloid-beta40 in plasma - no difference in total tau in plasma, ptau181 in plasma or GFAP in plasma [6] Radiology: - MRI neuroimaging - superagers have more gray matter volume in the medial temporal lobe, cholinergic forebrain, & motor thalamus than other older adults [6] - superagers have larger hippocampal volume, thicker anterior cingulate cortex than other older adults [6] Management: - exercise not a factor [6]

Related

cognitive impairment in the elderly cognitive resilience prevention of Alzheimer's disease/dementia prevention of cognitive impairment subjective memory problems in the elderly

General

cognition (intelligence) episodic memory

References

  1. Hoenig MC, Willscheid N, Bischof GN et al Assessment of Tau Tangles and Amyloid-beta Plaques Among Super Agers Using PET Imaging. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(12):e2028337. Dec 11 PMID: 33306113 Free article https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774071
  2. Gefen T, Kawles A, Makowski-Woidan B et al Paucity of Entorhinal Cortex Pathology of the Alzheimer's Type in SuperAgers with Superior Memory Performance. Cerebral Cortex. 2021. Feb 17 PMID: 33592091 https://academic.oup.com/cercor/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cercor/bhaa409/6137893
  3. Samuelson K Next step in Alzheimer's research: Brain shrinkage rates. SuperAger brains shrink more slowly than peers' brains. Northwestern Now. April 04, 2017 https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/april/alzheimers-research-superagers-brain-shrinkage/ - Cook AH, Sridhar J, Ohm D et al Rates of Cortical Atrophy in Adults 80 Years and Older With Superior vs Average Episodic Memory JAMA. 2017;317(13):1373-1375 PMID: 28384819 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2614177
  4. Nassif C, Kawles A, Ayala I et al Integrity of neuronal size in the entorhinal cortex is a biologic substrate of exceptional cognitive aging. J Neurosci. 2022. Sept 26. PMID: 36180225 https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2022/09/26/JNEUROSCI.0679-22.2022
  5. Barral S et al. Common genetic variants on 6q24 associated with exceptional episodic memory performance in the elderly. JAMA Neurol 2014 Oct 13 PMID: 25317765 http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1915580
  6. George J Why Do Superagers Have Sharper Memory? Study untangles characteristics linked with better brains in 80-year-olds. MedPage Today July 14, 2023 https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/105495 - Eckert N Which Factors Distinguish Superagers From the Rest of Us? Medscape. August 15, 2023 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/995516 - Garo-Pascual M et al Brain structure and phenotypic profile of superagers compared with age-matched older adults: a longitudinal analysis from the Vallecas Project. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 2023. July 13 PMID: 37454673 Free article https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00079-X/fulltext - Touroutoglou A, Wong B, Andreano JM What is so super about ageing? The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 2023. July 13 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00103-4/fulltext
  7. American Federation for Aging Research (afar) SuperAgers Initiave https://www.afar.org/superagers/ - afar SuperAgers Family Study Join the SuperAgers Family Study https://www.superagersstudy.org/