{"id":6490,"date":"2026-02-27T12:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=6490"},"modified":"2026-02-27T12:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:52:00","slug":"scientists-discover-why-superagers-have-extraordinary-memory-and-cognitive-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=6490","title":{"rendered":"Scientists discover why &#8216;SuperAgers&#8217; have extraordinary memory and cognitive resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft wp-block-nypost-editor-partner-article-links\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Older adults classified as <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/05\/26\/health\/i-study-super-agers-which-habit-has-exceptional-evidence-for-aging-well\/\">\u201cSuperAgers\u201d<\/a> generate at least twice as many neurons in the hippocampus than their typical <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/02\/health\/the-age-our-bodies-reach-a-tipping-point-and-stop-bouncing-back\/\">aging<\/a> peers, a new study has revealed.<\/p>\n<p>These findings, released on Wednesday by the University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University, could help explain why SuperAgers have exceptional <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/02\/health\/eating-less-than-1-2-a-cup-of-this-snack-daily-boosts-memory\/\">memory<\/a> and\u00a0cognitive resilience\u00a0even well past 80 years old.<\/p>\n<p>Northwestern has been studying SuperAgers for decades, defining them as \u201cextraordinary individuals aged 80 and above whose memory performance rivals that of people three decades younger.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The researchers use special memory recall tests to make this determination.<\/p>\n<p>In this study, they analyzed post-mortem <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/24\/health\/popular-diet-staple-may-speed-up-brain-aging-by-over-a-year\/\">brain<\/a> tissue \u2014 nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei \u2014 with a focus on the hippocampus, which is essential for forming new memories and supporting learning and spatial navigation.<\/p>\n<p>They compared tissue from SuperAgers, typical older adults,\u00a0older adults\u00a0with <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/17\/health\/5-early-dementia-signs-people-often-miss\/\">early dementia\/Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> and younger healthy adults.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Tamar Gefen, left, observes as Allegra Kawles points to an image of neurons and neuropathology while incoming doctoral student Antonia Zouridakis looks on. <span class=\"credit\">Shane Collins, Northwestern University<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>SuperAger Ralph Rehbock sits with his wife in his home. <span class=\"credit\">Shane Collins, Northwestern University<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The researchers found that SuperAgers produced at least twice as many new neurons compared to \u201ccognitively normal\u201d older adults and those with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/25\/health\/alzheimers-symptoms-could-be-predicted-years-in-advance-through-one-simple-test\/\">Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> pathology.<\/p>\n<p>They also found that changes in certain brain support cells (astrocytes) and key memory cells (CA1 neurons) are linked to preserved cognitive ability, helping to keep the brain sharp with age.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The SuperAgers also had different\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/scientists-uncover-how-some-80-year-olds-have-memory-50-year-olds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">genetic activity patterns<\/a>\u00a0in their brains compared to those in <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/20\/health\/this-hidden-risk-is-increasing-alzheimers-in-older-americans\/\">Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSuperAgers have more immature neurons and neuroblasts in the hippocampus, which is an indication of stronger neurogenesis when compared with other groups,\u201d study co-author Changiz Geula, research professor of cell and developmental biology and neuroscience at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Dr. Tamar Gefen examines a slide of a SuperAger brain. <span class=\"credit\">Shane Collins, Northwestern University<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe study also showed that specific cells in the hippocampus show unique gene expression profiles that relate to neuronal function and transmission and are associated with\u00a0superior cognitive function.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The findings were published in the journal Nature.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve always said that SuperAgers show that the aging brain can be biologically active, adaptable and flexible, but we didn\u2019t know why,\u201d said co-author Tamar Gefen, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a neuropsychologist at Northwestern\u2019s Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer\u2019s Disease, in the release.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Northwestern University study co-author Ivan Ayala examines a SuperAger brain sample on a slide. <span class=\"credit\">Shane Collins, Northwestern University<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis is biological proof that their brains are more plastic, and a real discovery that shows that neurogenesis of young neurons in the hippocampus may be a contributing factor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, commented that the study discovered signs of plasticity and regeneration in SuperAgers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt confirmed not only preservation of brain tissue in the hippocampus, which is crucial for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/scientists-uncover-how-some-80-year-olds-have-memory-50-year-olds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">memory and cognition<\/a>, but also regeneration and increased development of brain cells in that area,\u201d Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A SuperAger takes a cognitive test in the lab. <span class=\"credit\">Shane Collins, Northwestern University<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis is an\u00a0important study\u00a0because it may lead to certain cell gene treatments that could lead to more SuperAgers,\u201d the doctor said. \u201cIt may also lead to more advanced testing to determine who will be a SuperAger and guide clinical treatment and management.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study did have some limitations, primarily that the research relied on tissue samples taken at one specific point, instead of tracking changes over time.<\/p>\n<p>Geula noted that studies using human brain tissue typically involve fewer cases than animal research, which can be a limitation. However, he emphasized that each case in this study was analyzed thoroughly.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Brain samples are stored and examined in a variety of ways. <span class=\"credit\">Shane Collins, Northwestern University<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhile these findings are not directly translatable to changes in everyday life and activities, they suggest that cognitive resilience is associated with greater integrity of many brain systems,\u201d he told Fox News Digital. \u201cThis implies that attending to <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/23\/health\/diet-beat-out-5-others-as-the-best-for-bolstering-brain-health\/\">brain health<\/a> is crucial for maintaining cognitive function in old age.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThus, maintaining good overall health by keeping systemic diseases in check, maintaining a\u00a0healthy diet\u00a0and exercise, and ensuring the elderly remain mentally active assume more importance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/26\/health\/scientists-discover-why-superagers-have-extraordinary-memory-and-cognitive-resilience\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Older adults classified as \u201cSuperAgers\u201d generate at least twice as many neurons in the hippocampus than their typical aging peers, a new study has revealed. These&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}