A harmonized framework for studying exceptional cognitive aging in Latin America

INTRODUCTION: Biological, genetic, and sociocultural factors underlying cognitive resilience and resistance to pathology remain unexplored in Latin America. The Life-Course Epidemiology of Aging, Resilience, and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease (LEARN-AD) study and Latin American SuperAgers Study (LASAS) establish the first harmonized frameworks to characterize resilience and exceptional cognitive aging phenotypes in the region. METHODS: The shared protocol integrates cognitive, neurological, psychosocial, and genetic data. SuperAgers are deeply phenotyped, while successful cognitive agers are identified through harmonized criteria applied to existing cohorts, ensuring regional adaptation and international comparability. Centralized training and shared procedures ensure cross-site consistency. RESULTS: We define eligibility criteria and standardized assessments to classify successful cognitive agers and SuperAgers in Latin America and examine biological and psychosocial profiles supporting better-than-expected cognition. DISCUSSION: LEARN-AD and LASAS represent the first Latin American infrastructure for studying cognitive resilience, resistance, and exceptional cognitive aging, which will generate unprecedented regional databases and grow into larger networks, providing foundations for research, prevention strategies, and precision approaches to promote brain health in Latin America.

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Publication Details

Journal
Alzheimer s & Dementia
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71373
Primary Topic
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A harmonized framework for studying exceptional cognitive aging in Latin America

Nicolás Corvalán, Paulo Caramelli, Lucía Crivelli, Ana Charamelo et al.
Alzheimer s & Dementia
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
article

A harmonized framework for studying exceptional cognitive aging in Latin America

Nicolás Corvalán, Paulo Caramelli, Lucía Crivelli, Ana Charamelo, Emily Rogalskı, Lissette Duque Peñailillo, Daisy M Acosta, Andrés Damián, Giulia Agnoletti, Ana Luisa Sosa, Juan J. Llibre‐Rodriguez, Ricardo Allegri, Rodrigo Fernandez, David Aguillón, Ezequiel Surace, Jorge J. Llibre‐Guerra, Issac Acosta, Laura Ibañez, Javiera Leniz Martelli, Nilton Custodio, Mathew Prina
article en

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Biological, genetic, and sociocultural factors underlying cognitive resilience and resistance to pathology remain unexplored in Latin America. The Life-Course Epidemiology of Aging, Resilience, and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease (LEARN-AD) study and Latin American SuperAgers Study (LASAS) establish the first harmonized frameworks to characterize resilience and exceptional cognitive aging phenotypes in the region. METHODS: The shared protocol integrates cognitive, neurological, psychosocial, and genetic data. SuperAgers are deeply phenotyped, while successful cognitive agers are identified through harmonized criteria applied to existing cohorts, ensuring regional adaptation and international comparability. Centralized training and shared procedures ensure cross-site consistency. RESULTS: We define eligibility criteria and standardized assessments to classify successful cognitive agers and SuperAgers in Latin America and examine biological and psychosocial profiles supporting better-than-expected cognition. DISCUSSION: LEARN-AD and LASAS represent the first Latin American infrastructure for studying cognitive resilience, resistance, and exceptional cognitive aging, which will generate unprecedented regional databases and grow into larger networks, providing foundations for research, prevention strategies, and precision approaches to promote brain health in Latin America.

Alzheimer s & DementiaVol. 22(4)
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR), Alzheimer's Association (US), Hospital Británico (UY), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CL), Washington University in St. Louis (US), Universidad de Buenos Aires (AR), University of Havana (CU), Universidad de Antioquia (CO), Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (AR), Universidad de Las Américas (EC), University of the Coast (CO), Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (DO), Instituto de Neurología Cognitiva (AR), Institute of Peruvian Studies (PE), Instituto de Neurología de Buenos Aires (AR), Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía (MX), Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (UY), Fundación Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (AR), Newcastle University (GB)
Alzheimer's Association
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Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
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