Eric Porges, Ph.D., presented research showing that cortical GABA levels remain stable in cognitively intact adults within the oldest-old age group.
This finding is significant because it challenges previous assumptions about how brain chemistry declines with extreme age. Understanding why some individuals maintain cognitive health into their late 80s and beyond could lead to new strategies for preventing age-related cognitive decline.
During a seminar series at Johns Hopkins Medicine on April 22, 2026 [1], Porges said his findings are titled "Evidence for Cortical GABA Stabilization in Cognitively Intact Oldest-Old Adults" [1]. The research focused specifically on the oldest-old demographic, typically those aged 85 and older, who have not experienced cognitive impairment.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human brain. It plays a critical role in regulating neuronal excitability and maintaining the balance of electrical activity across the cortex. In many aging populations, these levels are expected to fluctuate or decline, a process often linked to the onset of dementia or other cognitive disorders.
However, the evidence presented by Porges suggests a stabilization effect in those who remain cognitively healthy. This implies that the maintenance of GABA levels may be a biological marker of cognitive resilience in the oldest-old population [1]. By identifying the mechanisms that allow these levels to stabilize, researchers may better understand the difference between normal aging and pathological decline.
The seminar provided a platform for discussing how these chemical markers correlate with behavioral outcomes in the elderly. Porges said the evidence supports this stabilization, suggesting that the brain's ability to preserve inhibitory control is key to sustaining mental acuity during the final stages of life [1].
“Cortical GABA levels remain stable in cognitively intact adults within the oldest-old age group.”
The stabilization of GABA in the oldest-old population suggests that cognitive longevity is not merely the absence of disease, but the presence of specific neurochemical maintenance. If the stability of this inhibitory neurotransmitter is a prerequisite for cognitive health in adults over 85, it provides a concrete biological target for future pharmacological interventions aimed at preserving brain function in the elderly.
