For the last 25 years, scientists at Northwestern Medicine have been studying a unique group of older adults called “SuperAgers.”
These are people aged 80 or older who have memory abilities just as strong as people 30 years younger. Their sharp minds are changing how we think about aging, showing that memory loss is not always an inevitable part of getting older.
The research team has been tracking these SuperAgers over the years to understand what makes their brains different. While many of them share certain traits—like being friendly and outgoing—the biggest surprises have come from looking inside their brains.
Dr. Sandra Weintraub, a professor at Northwestern University, says the brain findings have been the most exciting of all. “It’s really what we’ve found in their brains that’s been so earth-shattering for us,” she said.
The goal of this research is to discover how SuperAgers keep their minds so strong. By understanding the biology and behaviors that support healthy brain aging, doctors hope to find new ways to prevent or slow down diseases like Alzheimer’s.
The findings were shared in a new article published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. This paper marks 25 years of the Northwestern SuperAging Program and 40 years of Alzheimer’s disease research supported by the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
The term “SuperAger” was first used in the late 1990s by Dr. M. Marsel Mesulam at Northwestern. Since 2000, 290 SuperAgers have taken part in the study.
After some participants passed away, 77 of their brains were donated and carefully studied. Some of these brains had the harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer’s—called amyloid and tau—but others had none.
What shocked the scientists was that even when these damaging proteins were present, they didn’t seem to harm the SuperAgers’ brains. Dr. Weintraub explained that there are two ways someone can be a SuperAger: some resist getting the harmful proteins at all, and others are resilient—they have the proteins, but their brains don’t get damaged by them.
Other key discoveries include the fact that SuperAgers do very well on memory tests, scoring as high as people in their 50s and 60s. Their brains also look different on scans. While most people’s brains thin with age, SuperAgers don’t show this pattern.
In fact, one important part of their brain, the anterior cingulate cortex, is even thicker than in younger adults. This brain region helps with decision-making, emotions, and motivation.
SuperAgers also have unique brain cells. They have more of a special type of neuron called von Economo cells, which are linked to social skills. They also have larger memory-related neurons in another brain area called the entorhinal cortex.
Another common trait among SuperAgers is their strong social lives. While they don’t all follow the same exercise routines or diets, most are very socially active and maintain close relationships.
At Northwestern, SuperAgers are invited to take part in yearly check-ups and can choose to donate their brains after death. Dr. Tamar Gefen, another researcher on the project, said brain donation helps science move forward. “It offers a kind of scientific immortality,” she said.
The article, called “The First 25 Years of the Northwestern SuperAging Program,” was co-authored by Dr. Mesulam, Dr. Weintraub, Dr. Gefen, and Dr. Changiz Geula. Their work continues to shed light on how some people keep their minds sharp even in their 80s and beyond—and what we can learn from them to help others age well.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about foods that reduce Alzheimer’s risk, and oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
