Growing old is a natural part of life that is accompanied with declining physical and mental abilities. Although certain changes differ in intensity from individual to individual, a common decline within a majority of aging people is memory capacity. Certain proof of this is when grandparents might forget where they have placed keys, watches, or even their glasses. These observed characteristics of old age are upsetting, however they have become an expected part of growing old. With this in mind, are there any people within our society that define these odds? To full surprise, there are people living right among us that exhibit little to no memory deterioration when compared to others their age of 80 and those a few decades younger. This group is identified by the scientific community as SuperAgers! How is this possible? What allows them this superior ability over others? Can you work on becoming a SuperAger? With questions similar to this, Tamar Gefen and her fellow research team at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine began studies to figure out how SuperAgers come to be.
On March 22, 2016, Tamer Gefen presented her research and paper, “Morphometric and Histologic Substrates of Cingulate Integrity in Elders with Exceptional Memory Capacity,” to the students of Loyola University Chicago. During the presentation, she explains that SuperAgers, 80 years of age or older, have “episodic memory function at a level equal to, or better than, individuals 20 –30 years younger” (Gefen). The basis of her team's research was to understand how this level of memory was possible in these “types” of individuals. The research involved obtaining sample groups of SuperAgers, Middle-aged Controls and Elderly Controls. MRIs were then used to measure the mean size difference in cortical thickness among the three groups. According to the article, “cortical thickness estimates were calculated by measuring the distance between representations of the white-gray and pial–CSF boundaries across each point of the cortical surface” (Gefen). From these scans, they were able to identify that SuperAger individuals had a thicker region, known as the anterior cingulate cortex, when compared to the other individuals from the other groups. The thicker regions of the anterior cingulate cortex also contained “the least density of neurofibrillary degeneration, and that it contained the highest number of VENS” (Gefen).These differences in the brain are what is believed to give the SuperAgers the ability to retain memory for a longer amount of time. Nonetheless, the thicker development of the cingulate cortex is due to biological aspects. It is not understood why certain individuals are SuperAgers and why others are not. Although some information is unknown to the scientific community at the moment, further studies are being conducted to understand if genetics might play a role in individuals becoming SuperAgers.
Furthermore, the article “Memory Changes in Older Adults” by the American Psychological Association supports the study of Tamar Gefen. It explains that as “people start to notice subtle changes in their ability to remember new names or do more than one thing at a time, the cortex starts to shrink” (APA). From comparing both of these articles and information, it is evidently seen that the size of the cortex is directly related to memory capacity. Along with this, the idea that certain individual do not lose their memory capacity as they age challenges the notion that memory decreases with age. By the use of neuroimaging and sensitive psychological tests, psychologists are working on “developing a model of specific deficits that show very different rates of decline and also vary widely among individuals” (APA). Memory and age are not as strongly correlated as we once interpreted. Certain individuals will show strong decline in memory, while others will show slow, gradual decline. Others, such as SuperAgers, surprise with strong, stable memory will increasing age.Moreover, the idea of sustaining memory capacity is something that all individuals hope to acquire. Changing biological aspects is not a possibility for humans, as we cannot initiate the growth of the cingulate cortex or stop the cortex from shrinking; however there are possible ways for individuals to improve their memory as they age. The psychologist Michael Marsiske conducted research to see what can be done to keep the minds of older people fit. He found that “challenging oneself by learning a new language or playing a new musical instrument may be a solution to preventing memory problems or the development of dementia or Alzheimer's” (APA). He continued his research on this topic with the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE). This research found “that short mental workouts improved performance and was sustained even five years later” (APA). Even though we might not be able to gain the memory capacity like those of SuperAgers, there are things that can be done to strengthen memory with age.
All in all, memory is an interesting aspect of human abilities as it differs from person to person. There are so many factors that can affect a person’s ability to memorize things, ranging from biological changes that are out of our hands to consciously making life changes in an effort to improve memory. Nonetheless, the ability of SuperAgers is truly remarkable and who knows, maybe putting the effort in to improve memory is what initiates the development of the thickness of the anterior cingulate cortex! The possibilities of improving memories are endless.
Work Cited
"Memory Changes in Older Adults." American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, 2016. Web. 02 May 2016.
Gefen, Tamar. "Morphometric and Histologic Substrates of Cingulate Integrity in Elders with Exceptional Memory Capacity".
Pictures
https://www.google.com/search?q=thicker+cingulate+in+SuperAgers&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiomMXt3sDMAhVrs4MKHWmACB8Q_AUIBygB&biw=1366&bih=604#tbm=isch&q=memory+SuperAgers&imgrc=B4POQITAta_5rM%3A
https://www.google.com/search?q=SuperAgers&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwihqoPG47_MAhUKtYMKHR7ZDR0Q_AUIDSgA&biw=681&bih=599#tbm=isch&q=improving+memory+&imgrc=bGzd_VZWCEzuiM%3A
No comments:
Post a Comment