Join the SuperAging Research Program
At the Northwestern University Mesulam Center, we’ve coined "SuperAging" as a research term. By our definition, SuperAgers are adults over age 80 who have the memory capacity of individuals who are at least 3 decades younger. Studying SuperAgers is important to understand what is going right with aging, as opposed to what is going wrong.
What is the purpose of the study?
The SuperAging program helps us identify those protective factors that contribute to remarkable memory performance in late life including genetic, lifestyle, and brain factors (such as what’s found in the brain after death).
We do this through:
- Pen and paper surveys and questions about memory and other thinking abilities
- Collection of blood samples
- Advanced brain imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or PET scans.
- Brain donation
Who is eligible?
Adults who are:
- Aged 80+
- Cognitively healthy and actively engaged in life
- MRI-safe
- Able to attend in-person visits at our office in downtown Chicago, IL
Meet a SuperAger
"Anything to help others, I will do,” Larry Seiger said. “I am thrilled to be where I am in my health, and I hope to be here for a long, long time.”
For questions about the SuperAging study you can email agingresearch@northwestern.edu or call 312.908.9339.