2023-07-24 11:00:58
For an analysis whose results published magazine The Lancet Healthy Longevityexperts used data from a multi-year study Vallecas Project. It was carried out in Madrid with the participation of people aged 70-85 years without neurological and psychiatric disorders. Of these, 64 centenarians were chosen – participants aged 80 and older, whose memory did not deteriorate even with age. In particular, their episodic memory was preserved as well as in healthy people 20-30 years younger.
Centenarians were compared with a control group of 55 normal elderly people with a mean age of 82.4 years and typical memory work for this period of life.
The scientists performed neuropsychological and clinical examinations, MRI scans, blood sampling for dementia biomarkers and genetic analysis. Plus, the authors of the work collected demographic data and information about the lifestyle of the participants.
Comparison of gray matter volume in centenarians and normal elderly / ©The Lancet Healthy Longevity (2023)
It turned out that factors such as physical activity, education and socioeconomic status are associated with longevity. They are also usually mentioned when talking about the prevention of age-related dementia.
Among centenarians, more often than in the control subgroup, there were people with a musical education (official or not), as well as those who divorced or broke up with the second half. A common feature for centenarians was a higher independence in everyday life. In addition, they scored high on the Adult Reading Test (National Adult Reading Test).
From a physiological point of view, centenarians showed a larger hippocampus (shrinking is one of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease), a thicker anterior cingulate cortex, and less cortical atrophy than ordinary older people. In addition, centenarians were characterized by the preservation of gray matter in the areas of the brain associated with memory and cholinergic nuclei, which indicates resistance to the typical weakening of memory with age.
Compared with people in the control subgroup, centenarians showed better results in questionnaires to assess mental health and greater speed of movement during walking and finger tapping test.
It is well known from medical statistics that in some people, aging and loss of brain function with age occur more slowly than usual. It is believed that the study of the features that cause this will allow us to develop useful recommendations for other people who are not normally distinguished by special longevity.
Until now, scientists are arguing what is the main thing in this case: genes or lifestyle? The new work showed a number of such differences in lifestyle among centenarians, which were not known before, and therefore makes a significant contribution to the study of the problem.
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