25/7 Scientists Reveal the Secrets of ‘Superagers’

Chicago, July 10, 2025 (Yonhap) — Wouldn’t it be remarkable to remain mentally sharp well into your 80s? Although slowing down and becoming forgetful is often considered a normal part of aging, new research from Northwestern University suggests it may not be inevitable.

For the past 25 years, scientists at the university have studied people over the age of 80 who have maintained unusually strong cognitive abilities. They call them “superagers.”

Testing Memory in the Elderly

To identify superagers, researchers used a simple 30-minute memory test requiring participants to recall 15 words. Those who remembered nine or more qualified as superagers. While such performance might be expected from someone in their 50s or 60s, it is exceptionally rare among people over 80.

Neuroimaging revealed that the outer layer of the brain, the cortex, thins at a much slower rate in superagers compared to their peers. Over an 18-month period, the cortex of superagers shrank by just 1.06%, less than half the 2.24% observed in the control group.

The Brain and Personality

The study also found that superagers had a thicker anterior cingulate cortex — a brain region associated with motivation and sociability — compared to the average person over 50. Autopsies later revealed that superagers possessed more of a special type of neuron linked to social behavior, suggesting they may be born with higher numbers of these neurons.

Consistently, researchers noted that many superagers share personality traits such as being highly sociable, active, and outgoing. These traits may play a role in maintaining cognitive health.

Resisting Degeneration

The team further discovered that the brains of superagers showed greater resilience to age-related degeneration. Even when degeneration occurred, it progressed more slowly, helping preserve mental function.

By understanding the biology and behavior of superagers, scientists hope to unlock strategies that could help more people keep their brains healthier and sharper as they grow older.

발행일 2025-07-10

reporter : Martin Seo