Superagers are an excellent example of what constitutes active and healthy aging, as these octogenarians can easily recall everyday events and experiences in a similar way to people who are 20 or 30 years younger. For this reason, analyzing these great grandparents to understand how they have continued to maintain their physical and mental capacities as they grew older can help to find the keys to prevent diseases associated with aging such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Memory functions generally deteriorate progressively over time, yet superagers aged 80 and over retain memories of individuals who are decades younger—that is, they seem to avoid such memory-related decline. age, according to a new study by Spanish researchers that has just been published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.
Their results indicate that these superelderly are more likely to be more agile and have faster movement speeds, as well as lower rates of anxiety and depression than the rest of the elderly. “Our findings suggest that superagers are resistant to these processes, although the precise reasons remain unclear. By further examining the links between superaging and movement speed, we may be able to gain important insights into the mechanisms that allow preservation of memory function well into old age.” Marta Garo-Pascualfrom the Alzheimer’s Center of the Queen Sofia Foundation and main author of the work.
Good cognitive ability, greater agility and less anxiety
The new study was designed to help identify early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease. It is the cohort of the Vallecas Project in Madrid that is made up of people from 69 to 86 years of age without severe neurological or psychiatric disorders. Among the 1,213 cohort participants recruited between 2011 and 2014, 64 superagers and 55 typical older adults were identified as capable of correctly performing various cognitive tasks, but who did not exhibit the memory capacity of superagers.
The superagers performed at least as well as the average person with the same educational level and about 30 years younger.
All typical superagers and seniors were 79.5 years or older. The majority of superagers were women (38/64, 59%), as were the majority of typical older adults (35/55, 64%). Both groups were analyzed using a test used to assess people’s memory function: Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT).
The results showed that the performance of the superagers was at least as good as that of the average person with the same level of education and about 30 years younger, while the performance of the other octogenarians was within a normal range for their age. and education. Throughout the study, participants were followed up at six visits per year, during which demographic and lifestyle factors were recorded.
Participants also underwent MRI tests to measure gray matter volume, in addition to other clinical tests. Blood samples were also collected to analyze biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases and a genetic risk factor –ApoE4– related to Alzheimer’s. A computerized machine learning model with 89 demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables was also included to identify factors associated with superagers.
MRI scans revealed that superagers have more gray matter – a key tissue for normal brain function – in areas of the brain involved in memory and movement. The researchers found that the level of gray matter in these superelders in key brain areas also degenerated more slowly over five years compared to the other elders. Using the machine learning model, they found that the factors most associated with superagers were faster movement speed and better mental health.
The superagers scored lower on tests measuring levels of anxiety and depression, and blood tests revealed that they also have lower levels of neurodegeneration biomarkers than typical older adults.
The study has some limitations, as its authors have recognized, and that is that, as it is an observational study, it is not possible to affirm whether the factors reported have any direct effect on superaging. Although the machine learning model used 89 variables, it was only able to distinguish superagers from typical older adults about 66% of the time, meaning that other factors – possibly genetics – are linked to superaging.
What should you do if you want to be a superager?
The test results suggest that the super-elderly are resistant to the processes associated with aging that lead to memory impairment. In terms of their personal assessment, they reported that their midlife lifestyle was generally quite active, that they enjoyed quality sleep, and that they were also more likely to have musical training than other people their age.
- Controls cardiovascular risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels must be monitored so that they do not rise above what is recommended.
- Stay active: Regular physical exercise favors bones and joints, helps maintain muscle mass and prevents overweight.
- Challenge your brain: Intellectual activities, such as learning a language, playing chess, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles, taking different routes, or doing any task that challenges your brain, keep it fit.
- Take care of your diet: a balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients is essential for healthy aging.
- Socialize with other people: in addition to benefiting your brain, social relationships prevent loneliness and isolation and promote emotional well-being.
- Rest: sleeping well is essential for physical and mental recovery.
