Reaching the 80s and 90s with sharp memory is common only for so-called ‘SuperAgers,’ prompting curiosity about their secrets. Researchers ponder whether these individuals owe their cognitive abilities to genetics or other factors. A recent study aimed to find answers.
Researchers Analyze Alzheimer’s Genes
The study led by the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care Center at the University of Chicago and the Translational Genomics Research Institute assessed 231 adults aged 80 or older. This group included 142 SuperAgers and 89 individuals with average memory for their age. The study focused on the APOE gene, associated with Alzheimer’s risk, and three polygenic risk scores comprising numerous genetic variants.
Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider explained that the genetic make-up was similar in both groups. Alzheimer’s-related APOE variants appeared at comparable rates, showing no predictive power for identifying SuperAgers. Even genetic ancestry analysis, targeting rare variants protective against Alzheimer’s, found no significant differences.
Genes Alone Don’t Define Exceptional Memory
The study highlights that low genetic risk for Alzheimer’s doesn’t fully explain sharp memory in old age. Genes influencing disease risk differ from those contributing to outstanding memory. As Ana Capuano, co-first author and director of the biostatistics core at the HAARC Center, stated, maintaining cognitive health involves more than mitigating Alzheimer’s risks alone.
Research suggests that understanding biological, behavioral, and social factors promoting cognitive aging can complement traditional approaches. This could lead to more tailored strategies for brain health throughout life.
Beyond Genetics: Other Contributing Factors
Dr. Ungerleider pointed to differences in brain structure and tau protein levels as potential factors. Lifestyle aspects like education, exercise, mental engagement, and social interaction may contribute, even when genetic risks exist.
The study’s limitations include a small sample size for genetic research, a single-time assessment, and lack of consideration for lifestyle, behavior, or vascular health. Genetic effects may have been undetected.
Despite these limitations, current Alzheimer’s genetic risk scores fail to identify SuperAgers. These scores aim to indicate disease risk rather than exceptional cognitive longevity. Genetics plays a part, but not the sole or largest role.
Future Research Directions
Future research will integrate cognitive testing with brain imaging, blood biomarkers, genetics, immune profiling, sleep tracking, and social metrics to understand memory preservation better. Researchers hope to reinforce a positive outlook—memory decline is not inevitable, and maintaining youthful memory into old age is possible.
For further information, Newsweek contacted the study’s authors at the University of Chicago Medical Center via email.
Reference: Piras, I. S., Capuano, W. A., et al. (2026). SuperAging is not the inverse of common-variant Alzheimer’s risk: evidence across genetic ancestries. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-026-02124-2.