Superagers keep youthful memories but their DNA does not explain why
A study of 'SuperAgers'—older adults with exceptional memory—found that their cognitive abilities cannot be explained solely by a low genetic risk for Alzheimer's. The findings emphasize the need to look beyond DNA to understand protective factors for brain health.
Why it matters
This research shifts the focus of Alzheimer's prevention from purely genetic screening to identifying other biological and lifestyle protective mechanisms.
Many people expect memory to fade as a normal part of aging. Yet some older adults, called SuperAgers, reach their 80s and 90s with memory abilities that match or even exceed those of people in their 50s and 60s.
Scientists have spent nearly 20 years identifying the biological, neurological, and psychosocial traits linked to SuperAgers. One major question, however, has remained unresolved: Are SuperAgers simply people who inherited unusually low genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease?
"If that were true, identifying SuperAgers might be as simple as performing genetic testing rather than the comprehensive cognitive evaluations we currently use," said Emily Rogalski, PhD, director of the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer's Research Care (HAARC) Center at the University of Chicago, who established the definition of SuperAging in 2008 and has been studying this remarkable population ever since.
Testing the Genetic Explanation for SuperAging
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in