The Super Elderly: Inexplicable Phenomenon

Super seniors are special beings who challenge what until recently was considered brain aging. These are people who reach the age of 80 or 90 maintaining the same cognitive functions – if not of a higher level – of younger people.

There is no organ in the human body more subject to change than the brain. Between the ages of 0 and 6, it grows up to four times its initial size. From birth to adult life, he multiplies his abilities and functions exponentially. Finally, get older.

In the case of the super-elderly this does not happen. These people keep their memory intact and in full function. Why does this happen? How do some people’s brains defy time and keep themselves young?

The normal aging process of the brain

The natural aging process of the brain depends on several factors, which is why there is no fixed age from which these processes develop. Usually at the age of 60 some changes come into play, but it also affects lifestyle: aging can start even earlier.

In any case, from the age of 40, the brain begins to “shrink” at a rate of 5% every year. From the age of 70, this process accelerates. The main changes that take place in parallel with brain aging are the following:

• Reduction of brain volume. It occurs with a contraction of the frontal lobe and hippocampus. This usually happens at the age of 60 or 70.

• Thinning of the convolutions. This causes brain function to slow down.

• Reduction of myelin. The effect is a slowing of cognitive abilities.

• Less activity of neurotransmitters. Memory and learning difficulties ensue. On top of that, it predisposes to depression.

All these are natural processes that, combined with the reduced acuity of the senses, hinder learning, information processing and memory.

The phenomenon of the super elderly

Based on several research studies on older people, it was concluded that some older people retain a younger brain than their peers. However, science does not yet know why.

What we do know, however, is that these people respond to memory and cognitive tests on a par with a 20-year-old. It has been possible to observe that their brains somehow age at a much slower rate than usual.

According to scientific studies, in the super elderly the reduction in brain volume is equal to 1% for each year and remains so after the age of 70. The recorded images reveal that the brain is very thick and has few signs of aging even in old age.

Genetics and lifestyle

It is currently thought that in the super-elderly there is a genetic factor that is decisive for the slowing of the pace of cerebral aging. They are not necessarily smarter than their peers nor have they led a particularly healthy lifestyle.

Indeed, a study is underway that aims to determine the presence of a substance in the plasma that could make this phenomenon possible. Leading this research is the Chilean geriatrician Felipe Salech, who hypothesizes the possibility that a substance associated with lymphocytes is responsible for a slowdown in the aging process of the brain.

Studies also indicate that, in any case, a good number of these super seniors share a similar lifestyle. In general, many of them regularly exercise, participate in intellectually stimulating activities, live an active life and sleep well.

Most of them followed a healthy diet. In fact, it seems that foods rich in Omega 3 affect the youth of the brain. Everything suggests that this substance has a positive influence on the neuronal network. A similar thing applies to the Mediterranean diet. For now, the super seniors are still an extraordinary unknown that, once solved, will certainly be beneficial for all of us.