Abstract Details

to identify environmental aspects in an unstudied cohort of Latin America superagers as possible causes of successful aging.

Age-related cognitive decline is widely considered to be a “normal” consequence of aging. Despite this, there are individuals in whom cognitive performance  is as good as at least the age group 20 years younger, superagers.

Forty volunteers > 80 years with normal neuropsychological evaluation were classified according to the criteria of the Northwestern University SuperAging Program as superagers (SA n=20) and normal aging (NA n=20). Patients were evaluated in environmental aspects such as work in advanced age, education, bilingualism, cognitive reserve, physical activity and social interaction. Clinical comorbidities and aspects related to the genetic load such as longevity of parents and siblings were inquired.

No differences in gender or age were found (mean age=82,8±2,49, 36% females). Both groups were highly educated (NA=16,3±3 years; SA 15,5±2,6 p=0,6), 11,8% of the sample was still working and 60% continued working over the standard retirement age, w/o differences between groups.  High frequency of bilingualism was found (NA=86,7%, SA=80% p=0,6) and 30% of NA and 33% of SA dominated more than 3 languages, there were no differences in cognitive reserve inventory (p=0,7). 75% of NA and 95% of SA currently engaged in physical activity (p=0,085). There were no differences in social network index (network diversity p=0,36 network size p=0,73). 48,6% of the sample lacked clinical comorbidities and 40% had only one (p=0,52). Regarding longevity,  44% of the siblings lived longer than 80yo (p=0,432) and mother longevity was linked to SA (NA=46,7% SA=80% p=0,045). 

Ambiental factors related to successful aging seem not to differentiate the superaging from normal aging for subjects over 80 years. This factors can be enough to overcome the 80 years without cognitive deterioration but superaging depends on variables to be identified.