Brains of ‘super agers’ are still strong producers of new neurons

Nature

by Mariana Lenharo

February 26, 2026

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The brains of "super agers"—older individuals with exceptional memory—show surprising levels of neurogenesis, or the production of new neurons, according to a study published in *Nature*. Researchers examined brain samples from deceased donors, including super agers over 80 and those experiencing cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease. They found that while both young and healthy older adults generated neurons at high levels for their age, super agers had even higher numbers of immature neurons compared to other groups. These findings suggest a link between robust neurogenesis and strong cognitive function in old age. The study highlights the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory, as a key area where new neurons are produced. In healthy individuals, these new neurons make up about 0.01% of the hippocampus’s neurons. However, in people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive decline, fewer immature neurons were observed, indicating that neurogenesis may falter in such cases. This could explain why super agers retain their memory and cognitive abilities despite advancing age. While the study provides compelling evidence for the role of neurogenesis in maintaining mental sharpness, its small sample sizes—each group had ten or fewer individuals—limit its statistical significance. Maura Boldrini Dupont, a neuroscientist at Columbia University, cautions that more research is needed to fully understand these results. Still, the findings could pave the way for future treatments aimed at boosting neurogenesis in people with cognitive decline. The study also adds to an ongoing debate in neuroscience about whether the human brain continues producing neurons throughout adulthood. While earlier theories suggested that neurogenesis ceases after birth, recent evidence has shown it occurs in adults, particularly in the hippocampus. This study supports that idea and emphasizes its potential importance for maintaining mental health and cognitive function as we age. Overall, the research offers a promising glimpse into how the brain adapts to aging and highlights the potential for new therapies to enhance neurogenesis in those with memory loss or dementia. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to innovative approaches to combating Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive disorders.

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Originally published on Nature on 2/26/2026