Superagers' Over 80 Have the Memory and Brain Connectivity of Twenty-Somethings

A study published in Cerebral Cortex demonstrates that stronger functional connectivity is associated with youthful memory in older adults, and this connectivity is strongest in so-called "superagers" older than 80, reports Medical Xpress . This research follows up an earlier study, which found that superagers' brains are larger in regions vital for processes that contribute to memory, including learning, storing, and retrieving information, in comparison with typical older adults. These regions also form networks that communicate to one another to allow for complex behaviors. The researchers applied functional magnetic resonance imaging to define the synchronization of brain waves in the default mode network and salience network of participants in a resting state. The examination confirmed that typical older adults exhibited less efficient networks, while superagers had networks that matched their younger counterparts in terms of efficiency. Massachusetts General Hospital's Bradford C. Dickerson said he hopes a later study will "identify things we can prescribe for people that would help them be more like a superager. It's not as likely to be a pill as more likely to be recommendations for lifestyle, diet, and exercise."