Reduced Frontal White Matter Hyperintensities in Superagers: Evidence of Resistance to Age-Related Structural Brain Changes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Superagers are older adults who maintain exceptional memory performance despite their age. This study aimed to investigate whether local differences in white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and microstructural integrity of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) could help explain the superager phenotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS: test. RESULTS: > .05), with similar median FA and MD values. CONCLUSIONS: Using a novel regional mapping approach, we found that superagers exhibited a lower burden of frontal WMH, particularly in the juxtacortical and mid-white matter layers, which may contribute to their preserved cognitive performance. This is the first study to apply a detailed topographical analysis of WMH in superagers, reporting that reduced WMH in specific strategic brain areas could serve as a potential neuroimaging marker of the superager-resistant phenotype.

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Publication Details

Journal
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.a9084
Primary Topic
Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Reduced Frontal White Matter Hyperintensities in Superagers: Evidence of Resistance to Age-Related Structural Brain Changes

Natália Cristina Moraes, Laiz Laura de Godoy, Hans Rolf Jäger, Sotirios Bisdas et al.
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
article

Reduced Frontal White Matter Hyperintensities in Superagers: Evidence of Resistance to Age-Related Structural Brain Changes

Natália Cristina Moraes, Laiz Laura de Godoy, Hans Rolf Jäger, Sotirios Bisdas, Bruno Pastorello, Francesco Carletti, Cláudia da Costa Leite, Adalberto Studart-Neto, Ricardo Nitrini, Mônica Sanches Yassuda, Carole H Sudre
article en

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Superagers are older adults who maintain exceptional memory performance despite their age. This study aimed to investigate whether local differences in white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and microstructural integrity of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) could help explain the superager phenotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS: test. RESULTS: > .05), with similar median FA and MD values. CONCLUSIONS: Using a novel regional mapping approach, we found that superagers exhibited a lower burden of frontal WMH, particularly in the juxtacortical and mid-white matter layers, which may contribute to their preserved cognitive performance. This is the first study to apply a detailed topographical analysis of WMH in superagers, reporting that reduced WMH in specific strategic brain areas could serve as a potential neuroimaging marker of the superager-resistant phenotype.

American Journal of NeuroradiologyVol. 47(4)
Queen Mary University of London (GB), King's College London (GB), European University Cyprus (CY), King's College School (GB), UK Dementia Research Institute (GB), MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing (GB), Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie (DE), National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (GB), Hospital São Paulo (BR), University College London (GB), University of Pennsylvania (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 27%
Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
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