“Why Some ‘Super Ager’ Folks Keep Their Minds Dementia-Free,” by Amy Norton, HealthDay

 

Quote:

“Researchers may have uncovered a key reason some people remain sharp as a tack into their 80s and 90s: Their brains resist the buildup of certain proteins that mark Alzheimer’s disease. The study focused on what scientists have dubbed ‘super agers’ — a select group of older folks who have the memory performance of people decades younger. Compared with older people who had average brain power, super agers showed far less evidence of ‘tau tangles’ in their brains, the researchers found.”

 

LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:

So, how can we avoid tau entanglements? The article says: “It’s likely super agers have genetics to thank … it’s a mix of good genes, lifestyle factors and exposures over a lifetime, from physical activity, to social engagement, to mentally stimulating experiences. In fact, previous research at Northwestern has shown those are common habits of super agers.”