A study published recently in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society has shed light over a newly discovered fact that it is the thickness of the cortex in one’s brain that helps him retain his memory till old ages of life.

The research was conducted by a team from the Northwestern University in Chicago, which says that the secret behind the sharp minds of only particular elderly people has been found. Brain scans of people above or of 80 years of age were taken, which revealed that the main factor was their thicker cortical layers.

The layers are present in that part of the brain that is responsible for memory and cognitive performance. It was also discovered that cerebral cortex and left anterior cingulate cortex were thicker in participants with high cognitive function. However, the same difference was not seen in adults.

"It seems there are some unique biologic factors that contribute to super aging, and we looked at one example, the cortex of the brain. There's more to look at”, Emily Rogalski, PhD, affirmed.

It is being said that there is still the need to find out if the so-called SuperAgers are born with greater cortical volume or grow the same with age.