# SuperAgers Have Brains Decades Younger

> Scientists find SuperAgers' brains show twice the neurogenesis of older adults, boosting memory.
- Title: SuperAgers Have Brains Decades Younger · Men's Health
- Summary: Scientists find SuperAgers' brains show twice the neurogenesis of older adults, boosting memory. SuperAgers, adults 80+, have twice the neurogenesis in the…
- Keywords: superagers, hippocampus, neurogenesis, alzheimer's, memory, brain health, cognitive resilience, Brains, Decades, Younger, Men's Health
- Source: Men's Health — https://menshealth.com/health/a73609314/superager-brain-cognition-study
- Author: Jocelyn Solis-Moreira
- Published: 2026-10-02T14:18:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: superagers, hippocampus, neurogenesis, alzheimer's, memory, brain health, cognitive resilience
## What Are SuperAgers?
SuperAgers are adults 80 and over who have mental abilities similar to those of someone 20 to 30 years younger.
## Study Reveals Brain Changes
Scientists found SuperAgers have twice as many brain cells in the hippocampus compared to cognitively healthy adults.
## Neurogenesis Boost
SuperAgers show greater proportions of neuroblasts and immature neurons close to becoming functional.
## Key Brain Cells
Genes involved in neuronal function and survival stayed active in SuperAgers but turned off in Alzheimer's brains.
## Study Author Insights
Orly Lazarov, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Training Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, says hippocampal neurogenesis is the secret ingredient.
## How to Become a SuperAger
Activities that keep the hippocampus active and adaptable, like exercise and social engagement, could help preserve cognitive health as you age.
## What Happens Next
Understanding how SuperAgers maintain neurogenesis may lead to strategies for more adults to preserve memory and cognitive health as they age.
## Key takeaway

SuperAgers, adults 80+, have twice the neurogenesis in the hippocampus compared to healthy older adults, improving memory.