Some octogenarians have exceptionally sharp memories, even sharper than people who are decades younger. A new analysis of their brains could help explain why.

Researchers autopsied the brains of superagers — individuals over 80 who have exceptional memories — and detailed their findings in a paper published Thursday. They found distinct anatomical differences between superagers and their neurotypical counterparts, including resistance to plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

“This is a really unique population that we should be studying,” said Sofiya Milman, a geneticist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who was not involved in the work. “These are the people who may actually hold the key for us to understand what protects people from Alzheimer’s.”

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