Frequency of cognitive "super-aging" in three Australian samples using different diagnostic criteria

To investigate the frequency of exceptional cognition (cognitive super-aging) in Australian older adults using different published definitions, agreement between definitions, and the relationship of super-aging status with function, brain imaging markers, and incident dementia.

Three longitudinal cohort studies.

Participants recruited from the electoral roll, Australian Twins Registry, and community advertisements.

Older adults (aged 65-106) without dementia from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (n = 1037; median age 78), Older Australian Twins Study (n = 361; median age 68), and Sydney Centenarian Study (n = 217; median age 97).

Frequency of super-aging was assessed using nine super-aging definitions based on performance on neuropsychological testing. Levels of agreement between definitions were calculated, and associations between super-aging status for each definition and functioning (Bayer ADL score), structural brain imaging measures, and incident dementia were explored.

Frequency of super-aging varied between 2.9 and 43.4 percent with more stringent definitions associated with lower frequency. Agreement between different criteria varied from poor (K = 0.04, AC1 = .24) to very good (K = 0.83, AC1 = .91) with better agreement between definitions using similar tests and cutoffs. Super-aging was associated with better functional performance (4.7-11%) and lower rates of incident dementia (hazard ratios 0.08-0.48) for most definitions. Super-aging status was associated with a lower burden of white matter hyperintensities (3.8-33.2%) for all definitions.

The frequency of super-aging is strongly affected by the demographic and neuropsychological testing parameters used. Greater consistency in defining super-aging would enable better characterization of this exceptional minority.