SuperAgers have twice as many new hippocampal neurons, study finds

A study published in Nature reports that people aged 80 and older classified as SuperAgers produce at least twice as many new neurons in the hippocampus compared with typical older adults, based on post-mortem analysis of nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University reported that older adults known as SuperAgers generate substantially more new neurons in the hippocampus than typical peers. Northwestern defines SuperAgers as people aged 80 and above whose memory performance rivals that of much younger adults. The team analyzed nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei from post-mortem hippocampal tissue and compared several groups. The results were published in the journal Nature. Key findings: - SuperAgers had at least twice as many immature neurons and neuroblasts in the hippocampus compared with cognitively normal older adults and those with Alzheimer’s pathology. - The study compared tissue from SuperAgers, typical older adults, older adults with early dementia or Alzheimer’s, and younger healthy adults. - Researchers reported differences in astrocytes and CA1 neurons, and distinct gene expression patterns tied to preserved cognitive ability in SuperAgers. - The analysis was based on nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei taken from post-mortem samples. - The study relied on tissue collected at a single time point and involved fewer cases than many animal studies; it was funded by the National Institute on Aging. Summary: The research provides biological evidence that stronger hippocampal neurogenesis and related cellular differences are associated with exceptional memory performance in some people over 80. Undetermined at this time.