Please describe your research.■ Northwestern University’s Super Ager Study was developed 25 years ago. The goal is to test people over 80 who have memory abilities comparable to those 30 or 40 years younger. This aims to identify the factors that contribute to good memory despite aging and protect people from diseases that target memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease.We are currently accumulating our own database. A new discovery published this week looked at the hippocampus in the brains of superagers. This is the main area of ​​the brain responsible for learning and memory. They also experience memory loss because they are first hit by the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease. We worked on this with a team led by Professor Orly Lazarus (see right) at the University of Illinois.Neurogenesis is the ability of new neurons to develop in the brain. For many years, it was not even known whether this actually happens to humans. Orly’s team provided biological evidence that neurogenesis actually exists in our bodies and that it occurs in the region of the hippocampus. This is interesting in terms of how we humans code, learn, and remember.

Neurogenesis itself occurs in stages. Consider human development. It begins in the womb and progresses through birth, childhood, adolescence, adolescence, mature adulthood, and aging. Neurons follow a similar trajectory. Neurons begin as stem cells, develop into neuroblasts and progenitor cells, become immature neurons, and then mature adult neurons. Olley found that superagers had up to 2.5 times the amount of immature neurons in their hippocampi compared to their normal peers. This is surprising because this stage of neurogenesis specifically reflects plasticity. This means that the brain is flexible. So here is biological evidence that human brain plasticity is possible. And it’s still going on in the 80s and 90s.What factors shape such neurogenesis?■ This study suggests that cell genetics are absolutely critical to neurogenesis. Ollie even showed that the genetic program for Alzheimer’s disease is all in the opposite pattern compared to the genetic code of superagers. It’s not genetics here, it’s the DNA that tells each cell what to do.Epigenetics and lifestyle choices may play a role. These may potentially be involved in the regulation and regulation of genes embedded in the genetic code. But we haven’t confirmed it yet. Although it is generally true that proper diet, stress reduction, exercise, and smoking cessation can help prevent dementia, it is unclear whether these have a direct effect on neurogenesis. This is the next step in our research. Animal models show that in addition to all these factors, “enrichment” (socialization) causes differences in neurogenesis.What are the other distinguishing characteristics of superagers?■ They have good memories, but they are also better in other cognitive areas such as attention, planning, and organization. Additionally, we find that some domains perform better than others. For example, the ability to look up words and use language during conversations tends to be faster. Second, they are highly extroverted and tend to form very close social relationships, which is related not only to the number of bonds but also to their quality.

They also tend to score lower on neuroticism. Many of us are feeling very nervous and anxious right now, but these people aren’t. Importantly, superagers do not necessarily have higher IQs than their peers, nor do they necessarily have better education or come from more affluent backgrounds. Therefore, everyone has an equal chance of becoming a super-ager and living a long, healthy and prosperous life.Does neurogenesis influence their positive approach to life or vice versa?■ I don’t know. I’m still hesitant to give an answer to that. Data is correlated. These people are open and more connected. Is it due to neurogenesis? Maybe so, but still, it’s just one element of a larger tapestry.Ollie used a very beautiful biologically based phrase in his paper. She said these people have “characteristics of resilience.” I want to extend it beyond biology to emotional, psychological, physical and social resilience. Some of these superagers have been to hell and back. Some are Holocaust survivors. Some have experienced abuse and trauma, while others have suffered incarceration and poverty. Although they are an incredibly diverse group of people, they have never had an easy life and have lived well into old age.Therefore, could the future bring medicine specifically to improve neurogenesis?■ Yes, that is possible. Ollie uncovered gene expression patterns of neurogenesis and, in a sense, the resilience of neurons. For example, developing gene-editing tools that mimic or change the code of resilience in people who are genetically at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease could be a therapeutic avenue.There is also a type of inflammatory cell known as astrocytes. This study shows that this is also part of the hippocampal environment, allowing a richer atmosphere for neurogenesis to occur. These cells are part of the brain’s immune system. Therefore, another approach could be to rely on enriching the hippocampal environment to improve neurogenesis, manipulating this in a very targeted way, for example using astrocyte markers. This will take some time, but it’s a great starting point.What does this very hopeful study mean?■ Plasticity, novelty, and usefulness in a biological sense are possible even with increasing age. We now have physical evidence of this. In the future, it will be possible to actively prescribe treatments aimed at this. Until then, we must proceed with our research very carefully and methodically. The views expressed are personal