Super-agers show a resilience signature in aging brains, with changes in astrocytes and CA1 neurons that may help regulate memory and cognition in the aging hippocampus.

In super-agers aged 80 and above, there are about twice as many immature neurons in the hippocampus as in typical older adults, indicating higher neurogenesis and better cognitive performance.

The excerpt provides no specific cohort details, sample sizes, or study methodologies, making it hard to assess robustness at this time.

The findings point to potential targets for aging-related cognitive decline, though clinical applications or treatments are not specified.

The Nature study analyzed 38 brains across five groups—healthy young, healthy older, early cognitive decline, Alzheimer's patients, and super-agers—with six super-ager brains donated by Northwestern’s SuperAging Program.

The report highlights brain plasticity and neurogenesis as central to maintaining mental sharpness in advanced age, signaling a need for further research.

Practical takeaway: staying mentally and physically active, socially engaged, and generally healthy may support brain plasticity even for non–super-agers.

The coverage underscores a distinct aging phenotype, pointing to biological factors that differentiate super-agers from typical aging populations.

Earlier findings from the program show slower hippocampal shrinkage and resistance to tau tangles in super-agers, with ongoing questions about immunity and microglial activity.

The research identifies a genetic difference linked to superior cognitive aging and suggests that adult brains retain neurogenic capacity influenced by age and cognitive status.

The study notes that these individuals’ brains generate new cells at roughly double the normal rate, potentially contributing to preserved cognition.

Northwestern’s SuperAging Program notes that super-agers often describe themselves as extroverts and have more von Economo neurons, with social engagement potentially linked to healthier aging.