Why some octogenarians stay sharp: brain biology and social life unlock memory resilience

Northwestern researchers highlight 'SuperAgers'—people over 80 who score memory tests like those decades younger—whose brains either resist Alzheimer’s pathology (plaques/t tangles) or tolerate it without cognitive decline. Key traits include high social engagement, preserved cortical thickness (even thicker anterior cingulate in some), and distinctive cells like von Economo neurons and larger entorhinal neurons. Brain donations enable long-term study, and findings could guide new strategies to delay or prevent dementia.