A new and rare age group of people is on the rise - "Super Agers," as what scientists would like to call them, are elderly people having the brains, body, and strength of someone far younger than they really are.
Researchers are now examining this unique age group of people on their 80s and 90s, as they are perceived to be the key to finding an antidote for Alzheimer's and even to age-driven memory loss.
Scientists have revealed that the imaging tests on these super agers surprisingly showed their brains not suffering from severe age-related brain plaques that normal people are bound to encounter as they grow older. Their brain mass is well maintained, giving them enough room to think clearly, be attentive, and remember details long-term.
"We're living long but we're not necessarily living well in our older years and so we hope that the SuperAging study can find factors that are modifiable and that we'll be able to use those to help people live long and live well," Emily Rogalski, the leader of the study said.
Rogalski, a neuroscientist at Northwestern University's cognitive neurology and Alzheimer's disease center, shared that the research, which started with 400 people test participants, had to really go over their people and retained only 40 after certain study criteria have proven the 40 eligible for the study.
The select super agers included an 81-year-old heavy smoker and martini-lover, a 96-year-old retired neuroscientist, and a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor, among others.
Emily also shared that only ten percent or even less than the said figure have met the criteria of the scientific study. "It really represents a rare portion of the population."
The approved participants of the study will be undergoing several medical test examinations as well as regular imaging scans. They are also expected to donate their brains after reaching their demise.
One of the tests involves making super agers recall a list of 15 words presented to them in a timed period. Rogalski maintained that average elderly people tend to forget almost every word from the list; however, the rare age group was able to remember at least nine words from the list of 15.
MRI scans presented remarkable results as well. Rogalski explained that while many old people suffer from attention issues because their anterior cingulate, a part of their brain, has diminished in size, super agers were proven to have much bigger and well-formed cingulate.
Aside from being mentally young, super agers also displayed more energy and a high sense of inquisitiveness compared to their average contemporaries. Rogalski expressed that the research team is still looking for a good explanation how this rare age group maintains such level of energy and positive outlook.
On the other hand, Director of medical and Scientific Operations for the Alzheimer's Association Heather Snyder opined that other recorded studies showed people who are "cognitively active and socially engaged" have lower chances of developing Alzheimer's.
Snyder added that this SuperAging study could perhaps generate a more efficient solution to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.
Two of the participants shared to the public what made them so special from the rest.
"I am young - inside. And I think that's the difference," super ager Edith Stern, who is already 92 years of age, said.
"When you get old, people are mainly interested in themselves. They talk about the doctor, what hurts," Stern added. "You are not so important that you just concentrate on yourself. You have to think about other people."
Another study participant, Don Tenbrunsel, who is currently 85-years-old, explained why he thinks he is special.
"From the time I was born. My mother used to say, 'Donald, come sing with me - not because I had a good voice, but because I always knew the words," he uttered. "I think I'm just lucky, not only with respect to my memory, but I'm able to get around very well; I walk a lot and I have a pretty good attitude toward life itself."
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