Super-agers brains stay young into old age. New research brings us closer to understanding why

My grandmother Leontina, who recently turned 100, still lives independently and remembers the birthday of everybody in her village. She is enviably healthy, has a remarkably sharp memory, and is likely a prime example of what scientists call a “super-ager”: someone over 80 with the memory of a 50 year old. These gifted seniors have attracted the attention of scientists for decades, but a recent study has revealed new details about their exceptional brains. Old brains in rude health As we age, our brains begin to show signs of wear and tear. The first signs can appear at age 30 and become more evident between ages 40 and 50, by which time the cerebral cortex has usually shrunk by up to 5%. Deterioration progresses gradually, but it accelerates after the age of 70, becoming more pronounced in the regions involved in memory. However, some people defy the statistics and seem immune to this process. The term “super-ager” was coined in the 1990s, when Chicago’s Northwestern University carried out memory tests on dozens of volunteers. Much to the researchers’ surprise, a small percentage of the volunteers were able to recall lists of words, dates and detailed accounts with the accuracy of someone 30 or 40 years younger. Later, in 2013, images of these people’s brains revealed something quite unexpected: their cerebral cortices were extremely well-preserved, and seemed resistant to damage. Additionally, their cingulate cortices – a belt-shaped area that plays a role in memory, attention and motivation – were much thicker than those of young adults. Their brains were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, anatomically exceptional. Super-agers aren’t more intelligent than average, nor did they typically excel at school. However, they do seem to be energetic and curious, enjoy challenges, and have a clear sense of purpose in life. They share other common traits, in that they are active and mobile, have good mental health, and maintain strong social bonds that provide connection, support and wellbeing. Nevertheless, many of us have a grandparent who staunchly refuses to quit smoking, and spends their days on the sofa watching TV, but still retains an impressive level of memory. And this is because lifestyle isn’t everything – genetics also matter. Super-agers and Alzheimer’s Over time, some proteins naturally become intertwined within our neurons, forming what are known as “neurofibrillary tangles” that can cause them to die off. When researchers from the Superagers Programme in Chicago examined their first brain in 2017, they were stunned to find just one tangle in the entorhinal cortex, an area essential for memory. What’s more, its neurons were larger and healthier than normal. Could that be the key? Could the secret to super-agers consist solely of not forming neurofibrillary tangles? Their euphoria was short-lived. Upon analysing more brains, they discovered that some contained as many tangles as those of people with Alzheimer’s, who typically have a very high number. However, the super-agers’ memories were in top form. So what was protecting them? The researchers widened their focus to look at genetics, specifically, the APOE gene, known for its link to Alzheimer’s disease. They found revealing data: super-centenarians rarely carry the APOE4 variant, the same one carried by actor Chris Hemsworth that increases the risk of developing the disease. Instead, they are very likely to carry APOE2, a variant associated with longevity that offers natural protection against Alzheimer’s. If we can fully understand the genetics behind super-agers, we may also be able to find new ways of looking after our brains, and keeping our memories young for longer. The brain renews itself In late February 2026, a new study revealed another astonishing fact: super-agers’ brains don’t just keep generating neurons, they produce more than people their own age, and almost double that of much younger adults. According to this new study, their hippocampuses – a seahorse-shaped brain structure essential for memory and learning – are both larger and more widely and efficiently connected. In the brain, size alone does not account for everything. What really matters is the quality and organisation of its connections. Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of modern neuroscience, claimed that the brain stopped forming neurons after childhood. No one questioned this until the 1990s, when it was discovered that this organ contains stem cells capable of generating new neurons. Today, thanks to genetic analysis and artificial intelligence, we have conclusive data to back this up, and super-agers are living proof of it. We also know that not all neurons are created equal. Each one carries epigenetic markers that function as an instruction manual for adapting to changes in the environment. In super-agers, these markers are unique and give nerve cells a special resistance to the passage of time. Exercise, diet and mental activity directly influence these signals, so lifestyle can help keep our brains agile, strong and healthy. Discovering the secrets of brains that resist the passage of time could help us protect our memories. And with the help of science, they could also help us to enjoy the same sharpness and vitality as my grandmother Leontina when we ourselves grow older. A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!