The Science of Super-Agers: Secrets to Brain Health and Longevity

New research reveals super-agers' brains generate twice as many new neurons as typical older adults.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:41am

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A study published in Nature found that individuals known as 'super-agers' - adults aged 80 and older who possess the memory capacity of someone decades younger - have a unique ability to generate new neurons in the hippocampus, the brain region critical for learning and memory. This discovery highlights the role of neurogenesis and brain plasticity in maintaining cognitive function into old age.

Why it matters

Understanding the biological mechanisms that allow some older adults to retain exceptional cognitive abilities could lead to new therapies and lifestyle interventions to promote healthy brain aging for the broader population. The study of super-agers provides valuable insights into the brain's capacity for regeneration and adaptation.

The details

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, compared brain samples across five groups: healthy younger adults, healthy older adults, those with early cognitive decline, Alzheimer's patients, and super-agers. They found that super-agers produced twice as many new neurons in the hippocampus as cognitively healthy older adults, and 2.5 times as many as those with Alzheimer's. The researchers also discovered that super-agers' brains contained more robust support systems to nurture these youthful neurons, creating a cellular environment conducive to ongoing neurogenesis.

  • The study was published in the journal Nature in 2026.

The players

University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago

The institution where the research on super-agers was conducted and published.

Dr. Tamar Gefen

An associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who provided expert commentary on the role of new neurons in brain plasticity.

Orly Lazarov

The director of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Training Program at the University of Illinois, who discussed the molecular capabilities that allow super-agers to have higher cognitive performance.

Dr. M. Marsel Mesulam

The founder of the Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease at Northwestern University, who coined the term 'super-ager'.

Dr. Andrew Budson

A lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School, who suggested that super-aging is partly the result of consistent behaviors and lifestyle choices that promote optimal brain health.

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What they’re saying

“This discovery means that the super-agers have a molecular capability that allows them to have higher [cognitive] performance, and that includes more neurogenesis.”

— Orly Lazarov, director of UIC's Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Training Program

“Young neurons are the most adaptable and plastic type of brain cells. They possess an enhanced ability to grow, integrate, and wire themselves into the brain.”

— Dr. Tamar Gefen, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue studying the brains of super-agers to further understand the biological mechanisms behind their exceptional cognitive abilities, with the goal of developing new therapies and lifestyle interventions to promote healthy brain aging for the broader population.

The takeaway

The discovery of super-agers' heightened neurogenesis and brain plasticity provides hope that the aging brain can maintain its regenerative capacity, challenging the notion of inevitable cognitive decline. By studying these exceptional individuals, scientists hope to uncover new ways to support brain health and prevent dementia for people of all ages.