Neuroscientist Emily Rogalski examines why certain people over 80 keep memories as sharp as those decades younger. Most individuals notice declining recall with age, yet a small group known as superagers maintains strong memory function. Rogalski leads an ongoing study at the University of Chicago to identify what protects their cognitive abilities, even when brain scans show Alzheimer’s markers.
Superagers are defined as adults over 80 whose memory matches that of people in their 50s or 60s, while other mental skills remain at least average for their age. Rogalski notes that many people can name someone in their circle who seems far younger than their actual age.
Memory loss ranks as the top complaint among older adults and serves as the main sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Rogalski focuses on superagers because they have overcome the greatest risk factor for the condition—advanced age—by avoiding typical memory decline.
Researchers recruit participants at community events such as farmers’ markets and retirement homes, as well as through referrals. The study now spans five sites across the United States and Canada to improve geographic and demographic diversity.
Candidates undergo cognitive testing, surveys, clinical interviews, neurological exams, MRI scans, and blood collection for genetic analysis. Those who qualify return every two years for follow-up visits, receive phone check-ins twice a year, and are asked to donate their brains after death for detailed post-mortem study.
Autopsy findings often reveal lower levels of tau protein linked to Alzheimer’s, although some superagers show substantial disease-related changes without corresponding symptoms. Others display far less pathology than expected for their age. Genetic comparisons indicate these individuals are not simply low-risk for the disease.
