Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: SuperAgers are individuals over age 80 with superior episodic memory, at a level consistent with individuals 20 to 30 years their junior and who seem to show resistance to age-related neurofibrillary degeneration. Here we examine whether low genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) contributes to SuperAgers' unusually high episodic memory performance in advanced age. Methods: The AD polygenic hazard score (PHS) was calculated for each SuperAger and cognitively normal participant and compared between groups. Results: A total of 37 SuperAgers (73% female, mean [standard deviation] 82.7 [2.8] years old) and 35 controls (54% female, 83.7 [4.3] years old) were included. There was no significant difference in the AD PHS between SuperAgers and cognitively normal controls. Discussion: Unusually successful cognitive aging cannot be simply explained by low polygenic risk for AD as assessed by common genetic variants. However, rare variants and common protective genetic factors may contribute to resistance or resilience. Highlights: SuperAging cannot be simply explained by low polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease.Rare variants and common protective genetic factors may contribute to SuperAging.A protective factors polygenic score may uncover mechanisms for SuperAging.
DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12321
Institutions: University of California San Diego, Northwestern University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,200
Awards: G1017046091, G1053905225, G1075639496, G1171648585, G1173778324, G117713310, G1228824270, Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, G1602633198, G1614502467, G1711016037, G1719844825, G1753564228, G1859882300, G219693323, G2515091901, G2769554943, G2917739495, G2984989008, G3236130214, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, G36881302, G384347443, G3919444319, G3946457848, G40706755, G4076092645, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, G4318823550, Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of California, Irvine, Exceptional Cognitive Aging: Neuropsychologic, Anatomic and Pathologic Correlates, G4417220376, Oregon Alzheimer's Disease Center, G4968636904, G506964936, G556672640, G5977822913, G603598372, University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Core Centers, G6750444795, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Alzheimer Disease Research Center, G700851236, Yale Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, University of Florida - Mt. Sinai Medical Center AD Research Center, G816726602, G828200374, G9000003466, G9000010277, G9000030076, G9000043956, G9000074900, G9000113569, G9000132673, G9000227779, G9000252716, G9000274623, G9000332211, G9000354213, UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center P30, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (MADRC), G981245454
OpenAlex ID: W4289535557