This study aims to study that the superagers, defined as older adults with memory performance abilities equal to or better than those 20-30 years younger, would have more preserved intrinsic brain networks, than the individuals with normal aging.

Previous research has demonstrated that the superagers showed thicker cortical thickness on the anterior cingulate cortex compared to other adults with normal aging. Given that dysfunctions of intrinsic brain network are known to be associated with normal aging as well as a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases including dementia, we hypothesized that the superagers would have more preserved intrinsic brain networks including the default mode network, the salience network, and the central executive network, compared to those in the individuals with normal aging.

We enrolled a total of 100 elderly(60years old or older) with normal cognitive functions who agreed to participate in this study and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Cognitive functions were assessed in all participants using Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery. The normal cognitive function was defined when participants scored above 1.5 SD of population norm on the tests of memory, language, attention, visuospatial and executive functions. We defined the superagers based on their performance compared to middle-aged adults(45year old) on the delayed recall scores in both the Seoul Verbal Learning Test and the Rey Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. The MELODIC software was used to analyze independent component analysis for detecting intrinsic brain network.

A total of 39 elderly were classified as the superagers. Compared to typical older adults with normal cognitive functions, Superagers showed increased functional activity in Default mode network(DMN), Central executive network(CEN) and Salience network(SN).

These results indicate superagers, who had youthful memory abilities, preserved intrinsic brain network activities including DMN, CEN and SN that are known to be involved in cognitive process subserving memory function.