Although they are already 80 years old, they excel with their exceptional memory and show mental agility, mobility and mental health that are much stronger than their normal peers. We call them the elderly or “superancianos”, as Spanish scientists recently discovered in a study published in 2023 in ‘Healthy longevity in the Lancet’.
This research joins several previous studies seeking to understand more about these “eternally young” seniors, individuals who play a critical role in understanding the foundations of brain health and healthy aging. What makes them so special? They are octogenarians who have the physical and cognitive characteristics of someone 20 to 30 years younger.
The latest Spanish study highlights two key new characteristics of this puzzling demographic: They move faster and have better mental health than their peers, with less anxiety and depression. And their memory doesn’t seem to deteriorate over time, either.
The study evaluated a total of 64 older adults (59% women) and 55 older adults (64% women), all over the age of 79.5. They were selected from the Valikas project, designed to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. They participated in six annual visits during which MRI scans were performed, clinical tests were administered, and demographic and lifestyle data were recorded.
Using a machine learning-based computer model, the researchers found that faster movement speed and better mental health were the most common factors associated with older age.
Super Senior Show specific feature In their brains, including increased amounts of gray matter in vital areas associated with memory function — which deteriorated more slowly over the next five years — and in a part of the brain responsible for movement. Finally, on intelligence tests, the older adults also scored higher and showed more independence in their daily activities.
In general, these seniors lived more active lives during middle age, something that science has already shown to enhance cognitive skills later in life. In addition, a healthy brain ensures greater speed of movement.
