SuperAging Research Initiative

sa_research_initiative_880x300.jpg

Study to Uncover Pathways to Exceptional Cognitive Resilience in Aging

The SuperAging Research Initiative is designed as a “Master Observational Trial.” This project is a non-randomized, natural history, non-treatment study. The University of Chicago serves as the lead site and has primary responsibility and oversight of the study.

All Cores for this project are led by faculty located at the University of Chicago, including:

  • Administrative/Data and Biostatistics Core
  • Clinical and Imaging Core
  • Neuropath and Biospecimens Core

Collected data from the SuperAging Research Initiative will be used in analysis to identify behavioural, health, biologic, genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, psychosocial anatomic and neuropathologic factors associated with the SuperAging phenotype.

Study Highlights

SuperAgers are defined by chronologic age and neuropsychologic performance: they are individuals who are at least 80-years-old who have episodic memory performance that is at least as good as average normative scores for 50–60-year-old adults.

At biennial visits, participants are asked to:

  • Complete questionnaires
  • Undergo cognitive testing (including paper and pencil and computerized measures)
  • Provide blood samples
  • Complete magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sessions

At the time of death:

  • Brain autopsy will be obtained  from participants who agree to brain donation