Over-80s, whose memory performance is equivalent to that of people 30 years younger, owe their mental fitness primarily to their resistance to age-related changes in the brain. Compensation and coping strategies for signs of ageing play a subordinate role. This is the result of a recent study, which also confirms that these people, known as super-agers, are in much better physical and mental health than their older counterparts.
The Press Release "Geistig fit im hohen Alter: Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen Abbauprozesse im Hirn" describes a study that shows how lifelong learning, social activities, a more active lifestyle and maintaining independence in daily life can help to slow down brain ageing.