Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Do Super Agers' Brains Work Differently? Here's What The Study Says

As we grow older, it is almost expected that memory will fade. Names slip. Dates blur. Thoughts take longer to form. Inside the aging brain, proteins can misfold and clump together, damaging cells and gradually eroding cognition. But not everyone follows this script.

Some people reach their 80s with memory and mental sharpness that rival those decades younger. Scientists call them “super-agers.” Now, new research published in Nature offers a possible explanation for why some brains hold up so remarkably well.

At the heart of the findings lies one of neuroscience’s most contested questions: can adult human brains grow new neurons?

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/a-longevity-expert-who-studies-super-agers-eats-all-this-in-a-day-article-153390062" data-type="tilCustomLink">A Longevity Expert Who Studies 'Super Agers' Eats All THIS In A Day</a>

<h2>Can The Aging Brain Grow New Cells?</h2>

For years, scientists have debated whether neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons, continues into adulthood. While it is well established in babies and young children, and in many animal species, evidence in adult humans has been mixed.

This new study adds weight to the idea that it does continue, even into advanced age.

Researchers examined brain tissue donated after death from several groups: younger adults with normal cognition, older adults with typical memory for their age, people with mild cognitive impairment, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and super-agers over 80 whose memory functioned like someone about 30 years younger.

They focused on the hippocampus, the brain’s memory hub and a region long suspected to be a birthplace for new neurons.

To detect neurogenesis, scientists looked for three types of cells: neural stem cells, neuroblasts, and immature neurons. In simple terms, stem cells are like infants, neuroblasts are adolescents, and immature neurons are on the brink of adulthood.

“We identified genetic markers for three key types of cells,” the researchers explained, tracing the pathway from stem cell to developing neuron.

<h2>What Makes Super-Agers Different</h2>

All groups showed signs of these cell types. The difference lay in the numbers.

Super-agers had roughly twice as many new neurons as older adults with typical memory, and about two and a half times more than those with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, their hippocampi contained even more immature neurons than the brains of younger adults.

“This paper shows biological proof that the aging brain is plastic,” Tamar Gefen told <em>The New York Times</em>. She added that this adaptability appears to persist “even into a person’s 80s.”

The immature neurons in super-agers also carried distinctive genetic and epigenetic signatures. According to Gefen, as quoted by <em>The New York Times</em>, “Super-aging happens not only because there’s more of these young cells, but because there is a type of genetic programming” that allows them to survive and resist age-related decline.

In other words, it is not just about quantity. It may also be about resilience.

<h2>A Clue For Alzheimer’s Disease?</h2>

The Alzheimer’s findings were equally intriguing.

People with Alzheimer’s actually had more neural stem cells than other older adults. But they had far fewer neuroblasts and immature neurons. This suggests that while the starting material was present, the developmental process stalled.

One interpretation is that neurogenesis becomes disrupted in Alzheimer’s. Stem cells may remain dormant, unable to mature into functioning neurons.

“If that’s true, that’s really opened up a new direction for the field,” Hongjun Song told <em>The New York Times</em>, suggesting that reactivating these dormant cells could one day become a therapeutic strategy.

It is an exciting possibility. Instead of only trying to prevent damage, scientists might be able to encourage regeneration.

The neurogenesis debate is far from settled.

Some researchers argue that methodological differences have led to conflicting conclusions over the years. Shawn Sorrells, who studies neurogenesis, told <em>The New York Times</em> that mapping how the hippocampus changes in people who age differently is “fantastically interesting and important,” but he cautioned that the findings should be validated using additional techniques.

Skepticism remains because detecting new neurons in adult human brains is technically difficult. Results often hinge on the markers and imaging tools used.

Even if this study does not end the debate, it opens new doors. If certain people naturally maintain robust neurogenesis into their 80s, researchers want to understand why. Is it genetics? Lifestyle? A combination of both?

Scientists are now exploring whether the special properties seen in super-agers’ immature neurons can be replicated or supported through medication or other interventions.

The bigger takeaway is hopeful. Aging does not necessarily mean inevitable cognitive collapse. The brain may retain more capacity for renewal than once believed.

If neurogenesis truly persists across the lifespan, the story of brain aging may need rewriting. Instead of focusing only on decline, researchers may increasingly look toward regeneration and resilience.

And for anyone worried about forgetting where they left their keys, that possibility feels quietly revolutionary.

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As we grow older, it is almost expected that memory will fade. Names slip. Dates blur. Thoughts take longer to form. Inside the aging brain, proteins can misfold and clump together, damaging cells and gradually eroding cognition. But not everyone follows this script.Some people reach their 80s with memory and mental sharpness that rival those decades younger. Scientists call them “super-agers.” Now, new research published in Nature offers a possible explanation for why some brains hold up so remarkably well.At the heart of the findings lies one of neuroscience’s most contested questions: can adult human brains grow new neurons?Read: A Longevity Expert Who Studies 'Super Agers' Eats All THIS In A DayCan The Aging Brain Grow New Cells?For years, scientists have debated whether neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons, continues into adulthood. While it is well established in babies and young children, and in many animal species, evidence in adult humans has been mixed.This new study adds weight to the idea that it does continue, even into advanced age.Researchers examined brain tissue donated after death from several groups: younger adults with normal cognition, older adults with typical memory for their age, people with mild cognitive impairment, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and super-agers over 80 whose memory functioned like someone about 30 years younger.They focused on the hippocampus, the brain’s memory hub and a region long suspected to be a birthplace for new neurons.To detect neurogenesis, scientists looked for three types of cells: neural stem cells, neuroblasts, and immature neurons. In simple terms, stem cells are like infants, neuroblasts are adolescents, and immature neurons are on the brink of adulthood.“We identified genetic markers for three key types of cells,” the researchers explained, tracing the pathway from stem cell to developing neuron.What Makes Super-Agers DifferentAll groups showed signs of these cell types. The difference lay in the numbers.Super-agers had roughly twice as many new neurons as older adults with typical memory, and about two and a half times more than those with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, their hippocampi contained even more immature neurons than the brains of younger adults.“This paper shows biological proof that the aging brain is plastic,” Tamar Gefen told The New York Times. She added that this adaptability appears to persist “even into a person’s 80s.”The immature neurons in super-agers also carried distinctive genetic and epigenetic signatures. According to Gefen, as quoted by The New York Times, “Super-aging happens not only because there’s more of these young cells, but because there is a type of genetic programming” that allows them to survive and resist age-related decline.In other words, it is not just about quantity. It may also be about resilience.A Clue For Alzheimer’s Disease?The Alzheimer’s findings were equally intriguing.People with Alzheimer’s actually had more neural stem cells than other older adults. But they had far fewer neuroblasts and immature neurons. This suggests that while the starting material was present, the developmental process stalled.One interpretation is that neurogenesis becomes disrupted in Alzheimer’s. Stem cells may remain dormant, unable to mature into functioning neurons.“If that’s true, that’s really opened up a new direction for the field,” Hongjun Song told The New York Times, suggesting that reactivating these dormant cells could one day become a therapeutic strategy.It is an exciting possibility. Instead of only trying to prevent damage, scientists might be able to encourage regeneration.Not Everyone Is ConvincedThe neurogenesis debate is far from settled.Some researchers argue that methodological differences have led to conflicting conclusions over the years. Shawn Sorrells, who studies neurogenesis, told The New York Times that mapping how the hippocampus changes in people who age differently is “fantastically interesting and important,” but he cautioned that the findings should be validated using additional techniques.Skepticism remains because detecting new neurons in adult human brains is technically difficult. Results often hinge on the markers and imaging tools used.What This Means For The FutureEven if this study does not end the debate, it opens new doors. If certain people naturally maintain robust neurogenesis into their 80s, researchers want to understand why. Is it genetics? Lifestyle? A combination of both?Scientists are now exploring whether the special properties seen in super-agers’ immature neurons can be replicated or supported through medication or other interventions.The bigger takeaway is hopeful. Aging does not necessarily mean inevitable cognitive collapse. The brain may retain more capacity for renewal than once believed.If neurogenesis truly persists across the lifespan, the story of brain aging may need rewriting. Instead of focusing only on decline, researchers may increasingly look toward regeneration and resilience.And for anyone worried about forgetting where they left their keys, that possibility feels quietly revolutionary.