Exploring the secrets of super-aging: a UK Biobank study on brain health and cognitive function

Klinedinst, Brandon S.; Kharate, Mihir; Mohammadiarvejeh, Parvin; Fili, Mohammad; Pollpeter, Amy; Larsen, Brittany; Moody, Shannin N.; Wang, Qian; Allenspach, Karin; Mochel, Jonathan P.; Willette, Auriel A.

doi:10.1007/s11357-023-00765-x

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Chen et al used latent mixture modelling to identify different classes of cognitive performance with ‘successful agers’ demonstrating superior cognitive performance and better preserved performance over time across four domains (episodic memory, inductive reasoning, working memory, speed of processing). 61 Klinedinst et al used cluster analysis to identify ‘super‐agers’ aged 45–76 with either slightly positive or stable fluid intelligence trajectories over 10 years 62 and Lin et al had previously used a latent class analysis to identify a subgroup of ‘successful cognitive agers’ who exhibited high stable episodic memory and executive function over 5 years of follow‐up. 63 While this approach was noteworthy, these studies were not included in this review as they did not provide a specific a priori definition of super‐ageing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 Individuals aged 75 and above have been selected in low-and middle-income countries. Klinedinst et al 62 and others have employed statistical modelling to identify subgroups of older individuals within longitudinal ageing studies who demonstrate both superior cognitive performance and maintenance of cognitive abilities. This data-driven approach represents an attractive solution to the arbitrary nature of using predefined cut-offs for cognitive performance and provides further insights into the cognitive profiles of those maintaining high cognitive performance.…”

Section: Methodological Quality Of the Included Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Defining exceptional cognition in older adults: A systematic review of cognitive super‐ageing

Powell,

Page,

et al. 2023

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

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ObjectiveA consistent approach to defining cognitive super‐ageing is needed to increase the value of research insights that may be gained from studying this population including ageing well and preventing and treating neurodegenerative conditions. This review aims to evaluate the existing definitions of ‘super‐ageing’ with a focus on cognition.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and Google Scholar from inception to 24 July 2023.ResultsOf 44 English language studies that defined super‐ageing from a cognitive perspective in older adults (60–97 years), most (n = 33) were based on preserved verbal episodic memory performance comparable to that of younger adult in age range 16–65 years. Eleven studies defined super‐agers as the top cognitive performers for their age group based upon standard deviations or percentiles above the population mean. Only nine studies included longitudinal cognitive performance in their definitions.ConclusionsEquivalent cognitive abilities to younger adults, exceptional cognition for age and a lack of cognitive deterioration over time are all meaningful constructs and may provide different insights into cognitive ageing. Using these criteria in combination or individually to define super‐agers, with a clear rationale for which elements have been selected, could be fit for purpose depending on the research question. However, major discrepancies including the age range of super‐agers and comparator groups and the choice of cognitive domains assessed should be addressed to reach some consensus in the field.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodological Quality Of the Included Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining exceptional cognition in older adults: A systematic review of cognitive super‐ageing

Powell,

Page,

et al. 2023

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, many other brain regions contribute to high memory function, and it is possible that some of these would show age-variant relationships to cognition. Finally, the employed definition of SuperAgers yielded a small sample with limited power to detect modest effects, such as the expected associations with cross-sectional volumetric measures and hippocampal microstructure (Klinedinst et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What underlies exceptional memory function in older age? No evidence for aging-specific relationships to hippocampal atrophy and retrieval activity

Fjell,

Sneve,

Amlien

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Some older adults show superior memory performance compared to same-age peers, even performing on par with young participants. These are often referred to as SuperAgers. It is not known whether their superior memory function is caused by special features of their brains in aging, or whether superior memory has the same brain foundation throughout adult life. To address this, we measured hippocampal volume and atrophy, microstructural integrity by diffusion tensor imaging, and activity during an episodic memory encoding and retrieval task, in 277 cognitively healthy adults (age 20.1-81.5 years at baseline, mean 49.2 years). For quantification of hippocampal atrophy, all participants had repeated MRIs, from two to seven examinations, covering a mean of 9.3 years between first and last scan (2.5-17.3 years). 15.7% of the participants above 60 years had episodic memory scores above the mean of the young and middle-aged participants and were classified as SuperAgers. We found that superior memory in older adults was associated with higher retrieval activity in the anterior hippocampus and less hippocampal atrophy. However, there were no significant age-interactions, suggesting that the relationships reflected stable correlates of superior memory function. Although SuperAgers had superior memory compared to their same-age peers, they still performed worse than the best-performing young participants. Further, age-memory performance curves across the full age-range were similar for participants with superior memory performance compared to those with normal and low performance. These trajectories were based on cross-sectional data, but do not indicate preserved memory among the superior functioning older adults. In conclusion, the current results confirm that aspects of hippocampal structure and function are related to superior memory across age, without evidence to suggest that SuperAgers have special features compared to their younger counterparts.

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Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults

Sato,

Shah,

Fettrow

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Older adults exhibit larger individual differences in walking ability and cognitive function than young adults. Characterizing intrinsic brain connectivity differences in older adults across a wide walking performance spectrum may provide insight into the mechanisms of functional decline in some older adults and resilience in others. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) determine whether young adults and high- and low-functioning older adults show group differences in brain network segregation, and (2) determine whether network segregation is associated with working memory and walking function in these groups. The analysis included 21 young adults and 81 older adults. Older adults were further categorized according to their physical function using a standardized assessment; 54 older adults had low physical function while 27 were considered high functioning. Structural and functional resting state magnetic resonance images were collected using a Siemens Prisma 3T scanner. Working memory was assessed with the NIH Toolbox list sorting test. Walking speed was assessed with a 400 m-walk test at participants' self-selected speed. We found that network segregation in mobility-related networks (sensorimotor, vestibular, and visual networks) was higher in younger adults compared to older adults. There were no group differences in laterality effects on network segregation. We found multivariate associations between working memory and walking speed with network segregation scores. Higher right anterior cingulate cortex network segregation was associated with higher working memory function. Higher right sensorimotor, right vestibular, right anterior cingulate cortex, and lower left anterior cingulate cortex network segregation was associated with faster walking speed. These results are unique and significant because they demonstrate higher network segregation is largely related to higher physical function and not age alone.

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Exploring the secrets of super-aging: a UK Biobank study on brain health and cognitive function

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

Defining exceptional cognition in older adults: A systematic review of cognitive super‐ageing

Defining exceptional cognition in older adults: A systematic review of cognitive super‐ageing

What underlies exceptional memory function in older age? No evidence for aging-specific relationships to hippocampal atrophy and retrieval activity

Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults

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