Some brains have superpowers, at least when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease. These brains can resist or overcome brain changes that often lead to the disease. By studying these seemingly superhuman abilities, scientists hope to harness these powers to shield all brains.

The Backstory

Alzheimer’s is a disease of aging. In 95% of Alzheimer’s cases, cognitive symptoms emerge after the age of 65. By age 85, one in three people will have developed the disease. There is something about growing older that makes our brains vulnerable to Alzheimer’s.

As we age, most people develop some degree of brain changes, including the amyloid plaques and tau tangles associated with Alzheimer’s. Much like how joints stiffen or eyesight changes with age, this can be a normal part of aging. For most people, this buildup doesn’t reach a level that triggers dementia.

In people with Alzheimer’s, plaques and tangles accumulate and spread, causing inflammation and brain cell death, which eventually leads to memory loss and cognitive decline.

But there are people who don’t follow either path, and this is where the superpowers of resistance and resilience come in.

Resistant Brains

People with resistant brains show little to no Alzheimer’s pathology (plaques and tangles). They somehow avoid brain changes no matter how long they live. Unlocking the secrets of these brains could reveal how to prevent Alzheimer’s before it starts.

There is evidence that lifestyle factors, such as regular exercise, a Mediterranean diet, and lifelong learning, can strengthen brain resistance. If you’d like to learn more about how to protect your brain, check out resources like CureAlz’s Better Your Brain and the SHIELD plan from Dr. Rudy Tanzi.

Resilient Brains

While resistant brains avoid the disease, resilient brains cope with it.

Resilient brains accumulate extensive plaques and tangles yet remain cognitively healthy. These brains prove that having disease pathology doesn’t guarantee dementia.

When scientists look at resilient brains, they find less inflammation and a preservation of the communication points between brain cells that matter most for memory and cognition. The good news is that the same lifestyle factors that promote resistance also strengthen resilience.

Superpowers for All?

There is still a lot that scientists don’t understand about what makes a brain resistant or resilient to Alzheimer’s disease, which is why it continues to be an important area of research focus. What we do know is that lifestyle choices can meaningfully strengthen both resistance and resilience. So while scientists explore other ways to avoid or withstand Alzheimer’s, the first step in equipping our brains with superpowers and reducing our disease risk is under our own control.