Researchers investigated the relationship between familial longevity, chronological age and heart rate parameters, including heart rate variability and 24-h rhythms.
Closeup view of an ECG/EKG display
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A normal resting heart rate (HR) for adults should be anywhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A low resting heart rate has been associated with better overall health and fitness. Crosswise, a higher resting heart rate appears to have a strong correlation with mortality. Heart rate variability (HRV), the beat-to-beat changes in heart rate, is indicative of the heart’s ability to respond to changes in physical and emotional stress. Low HRV has been shown to be a risk factor for heart disease, while high HRV has been associated with good heart health. Although HR and HRV are frequently studied, these parameters are not often investigated continuously or over long periods of time in healthy, middle-aged individuals.
“Parameters of HR and HRV are often investigated during a short electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement at the study center or in the hospital, but not continuously over a longer period while individuals continue with their daily lives.”
“This is one of the first studies to look at the relationship between parameters of HR, HRV, and 24-h rhythms in HR based on continuous ambulatory ECG measurements over a period of several days with both familial longevity and chronological age in a single design.”
The majority of the recruited study participants were middle-aged and from the Leiden Longevity Study (LLS): 37 offspring of long-lived families between 52 and 83 years old, and 36 of their partners/spouses of the same age range. In addition, the researchers recruited 35 younger individuals from the Switchbox Leiden Study between 18 and 40 years old. All study participants were asked to wear a small heart rate monitor, the Equivital EQ02 life monitor (EQ02), for 24 to 90 hours. They were then instructed to carry on with their daily lives and regular routines.
Results & Conclusion
After data cleaning and statistical analyses, no association between heart rate parameters and familial longevity was found. However, middle-aged participants had lower 24-hour heart rates (average and maximum HR, not minimum HR), lower amplitudes, and earlier trough and peak times than the young participants. During long-term EQ02 recordings, middle-aged participants showed a less optimal HRV in both the sleep and awake periods. The researchers believe this might indicate that older hearts are less adaptable than those in the young.
“This could be a first indication of deteriorated cardiovascular health in middle-aged individuals.”
The researchers were forthcoming about the limitations of this study. The study sample was relatively small, there was no standardization of daily activities among the participants, and any potential medications used by the younger participants were not adjusted for (as they were for the middle-aged participants). Despite these limitations, this study provides novel insight into heart rate parameters over longer periods of time and in relation to familial longevity and chronological age.
“In our study, we can conclude that resting HR during the sleep period is not associated with familial longevity or chronological age. This study showed that continuous ambulatory ECG measurements can be used to obtain adequate information on HR, HRV and 24-h rhythms in HR, which was also showed by others [50]. However, the small sample size, due to the poor quality of a part of the data, is a limitation of this study and should be improved in future studies. Furthermore, we suggest for future research to control for exercise and day planning between groups. Lastly we suggest to include an additional group with participants of an older age than the middle-aged group, and to investigate the relation between health status and HR parameters.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
In a trending new study, researchers investigated the efficacy of an adenoviral-based COVID-19 vaccine in elderly patients.
Adenoviral COVID-19 Vaccine Elicits Robust Immunity in Elderly Cohort
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Around the world, more than 180 COVID-19 vaccines are currently in production or development. Some COVID-19 vaccines have been less effective in the elderly—a population that is already highly vulnerable to severe viral infection. Humoral immunity, or antibody-mediated immunity, is an important weapon against COVID-19. Immune responses in the elderly are often hindered by aging, an unfortunate process known as age-related immunosenescence. Vaccines that can successfully elicit a robust humoral immune response in the elderly are critical for achieving COVID-19 immunity and interrupting disease transmission in this population.
“The development of an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 targeted for an elder population is a challenge [17]. Furthermore, there is limited data describing the behavior of COVID-19 vaccines when administered to the elderly.”
Sputnik V
The two most widely available vaccines in the United States are both mRNA vaccines, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Of course, there are other vaccines that are more commonly available in other countries, such as Gam-COVID-Vac, or Sputnik V. Sputnik V is an adenoviral-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
“Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), uses a heterologous recombinant adenovirus 26 (Ad26) and adenovirus 5 (Ad5) as vectors that deliver the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, has been administered to tens of millions of volunteers worldwide, and has a good tolerability profile [14, 15].”
Adenoviral-based vaccines use a weakened form of a common cold virus (adenovirus) to deliver the genetic instructions for making the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When these instructions are delivered to human cells, they cause the cells to produce the spike protein. The body then produces antibodies against the spike protein, which provides immunity against SARS-CoV-2. In early 2021, Sputnik V was the only vaccine available to the elderly in Argentina. The ability of this particular vaccine to elicit humoral immunity in this elderly population had yet to be fully investigated.
In this study, 149 volunteers between 70 and 96 years old received two doses of the Sputnik V vaccine between December 2020 and February 2021. The researchers took blood samples from the participants before vaccination and 14, 28, 90, and 180 days post-vaccination (dpv). The researchers used the blood samples to analyze the humoral immune responses (antibodies) that were elicited by Sputnik V.
Results & Conclusion
The results showed that Sputnik V elicited robust anti-RBD immune responses in the elderly volunteers. The researchers found that the younger participants and the participants with previous COVID-19 infection had higher anti-RBD immune responses. They also found that humoral immune responses did not vary by gender at early time points. However, concentrations of antibodies were more persistent in elderly females than males at 60 dpv, and only dropped at 90 dpv.
“Our results show that Gam-COVID-Vac was able to deal with the ageing of the immune system, eliciting a robust immune response in an elderly cohort, which lasted approximately 90 dpv at high levels, and protected against COVID-19.”
Immunization with Sputnik V may be a promising vaccine for the prevention of severe COVID-19 disease in elderly patients. This suggests that adenoviral-based vaccines could be a safe and effective option for protecting elderly patients against COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases. However, additional studies are needed to further evaluate the safety profile and efficacy of this vaccine in elderly patients. If this vaccine proves to be effective in preventing COVID-19 in the elderly, it could have a profound impact on public health.
“As the aging population is increasing globally, especially in developed countries, vaccine efforts must consider age-related issues in order to ensure effectiveness. Ongoing studies will provide data regarding the best strategy to strengthen and prolong the protective immune response against COVID-19 in the elder population, challenging the immunosenescence process, to ameliorate the severity of the disease and avoid the SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
In a trending new study, researchers investigated a common chemical and its multigenerational effects on fertility and ovarian function.
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The food, beverages and products that women are exposed to before and during pregnancy can have lifelong consequences for babies in the womb. This concept is known as fetal programming. Introducing endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs; toxins) during critical moments of fetal development can significantly impact the child’s health, development and fertility. These negative impacts may even compound in future generations.
“However, our understanding of the negative effects of chemicals on health in women is less than those in men [24].”
Acrylamide
Frying, roasting or baking starchy food at high temperatures produces a Maillard reaction. A problematic result of this reaction is the formation of a chemical compound called acrylamide (ACR). Acrylamide can be found in many common foods, including french fries, chips, bread, crackers, coffee, and so on. Exposure to this chemical during pregnancy has been linked to reduced development and reproductive function.
“Based on the formation of ACR in food during high temperatures and its presence in water and cosmetics [25, 26], this potential EDC may constitute a major problem for human health and could notably affect female fertility by influencing the ovary structure and function.”
While the effects of ACR in-utero have been documented, researchers Nouf Aldawood, Maroua Jalouli, Abdulkarem Alrezaki, Saber Nahdi, Abdullah Alamri, Mohamed Alanazi, Salim Manoharadas, Saleh Alwasel, and Abdel Halim Harrath from King Saud University wondered how exposure to acrylamide impacts health, development and fertility after a second generation. In a new study, the team investigated exposure to this toxin and its effects on ovarian function over the course of two generations of rats. On September 6, 2022, their research paper was published in Aging’s Volume 14, Issue 17, and entitled, “Fetal programming: in utero exposure to acrylamide leads to intergenerational disrupted ovarian function and accelerated ovarian aging.”
The Study
“In our current study, the focus was on the effect of ACR during pregnancy on the ovarian function extended over two successive generations as the ovaries are considered one of the most sensitive organs to toxic substances and exposure during the fetal stage.”
The researchers raised 20 healthy female Wistar-Albino rats and mated them. Between gestation days six and 21 (delivery), five pregnant rats were dosed daily with distilled water (the control group; no ACR), five pregnant study rats were dosed daily with 2.5 mg/kg of ACR, five pregnant study rats were dosed with 10 mg/kg of ACR, and the last five pregnant rats were dosed with 20 mg/kg of ACR. Offspring exposed to ACR, or animals of the first generation (AF1), were collected, as were the offspring of the control group (CF1). Blood samples were collected and ovaries were assessed at four weeks of age. AF1 and CF1 rats were raised until maturity and mated again. All pregnant rats were dosed depending on what/how much their mother received. The AF1 and CF1 rats gave birth to the second generation: the AF2 and CF2 offspring. Again, blood samples were collected and ovaries were assessed at four weeks of age.
Results
The researchers found that the first generation of offspring from the rats dosed with ACR (AF1) had ovaries that weighed significantly more than those in the control group (CF1). Upon histoarchitecture examination of the ovaries, this weight increase may have been caused by ovarian cysts that were identified within the AF1 rats and indicated a disruption in ovarian function. Interestingly, the results were quite different in AF2 rats. The researchers were surprised to find that prenatal ACR exposure in the second generation decreased ovarian weights and increased estradiol levels, CYP19 mRNA levels and CYP19 protein expression in all three study groups. These findings in the AF2 rats indicated early ovarian aging.
“In this study, we found that the first generation reacted differently from the second generation. Indeed, maternal exposure to ACR caused an ovarian disruption in AF1 as evidenced by severe histopathological damage, development of cysts, and high apoptosis in the stroma cells, and decreased plasmatic estradiol levels and its corresponding CYP19 gene and protein expression. However, it has induced early ovarian aging in AF2 characterized by high estradiol and progesterone levels, upregulation of CYP19, and apoptotic cell death in the stroma.”
Conclusion
“Altogether, the present study suggests that the in utero multigenerational exposure to ACR highly reduced fertility and ovarian function in females of the first generation, while it has induced early ovarian aging in females of the second generation.”
This may be the world’s first study to examine the multigenerational impact of ACR exposure on ovarian function and fertility in female rat offspring. This study provides evidence that in-utero exposure to ACR can lead to ovarian dysfunction and accelerated ovarian aging. Ovarian aging is not only a potential barrier to fertility but also a major risk factor for ovarian cancer. Women should take fetal programming into grave consideration when pregnant. Results from this study have important implications for human health and fertility.
“Moreover, this study provides some interesting evidence for the eventual implication of the epigenetic impacts of endocrine disruptors on female reproduction across generations. Future studies, using genome wide DNA methylation approaches for some specific key biomarkers of ovarian development, such as CYP19, are fundamental to determine how prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors could drive adverse secondary phenotypic effects among the future generations in both humans and animals.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
In a cohort of pre-diagnosed, cognitively “normal” men, a recent Aging study compares expression levels of circulating miRNAs and their association with cognitive function and decline.
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Can factors in our bloodstream tell us about our cognitive abilities or predict cognitive decline later in life? Among individuals with dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), studies have identified extracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers of cognitive impairment. In cognitively normal individuals, however, this association has not yet been fully investigated.
“Understanding the functions of miRNAs in the earliest stages of cognitive decline will expand our knowledge on the biology of prodromal AD and the roles of circulating miRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases and could result in identification of therapeutic targets to guide drug development [17].”
The Normative Aging Study (NAS) is a large longitudinal study that was established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in 1963. Since this study began, researchers have been diligently following-up with a cohort of 2,280 men from Massachusetts, United States. (Most of these men served in World War II and the Korean War.) Participants in NAS have comprehensive baseline examinations every three to five years to record their aging patterns, including global cognitive function assessments using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The average age of this veteran cohort is currently 72 years old.
The Study
In the present study, blood samples were collected from 530 NAS participants between the years 1996 and 2013—totaling 1,331 in-person visits; equal to 2,471 years of follow-up. Plasma miRNAs were profiled using small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Linear regression and linear mixed models were used to assess the expression of 381 miRNAs and their association with current cognitive function and rate of change in cognitive function.
Of the 381 plasma miRNAs detected in at least 70% of the samples collected, two miRNAs were associated with higher baseline MMSE scores. Thirty-three miRNAs were associated with the rate of change in MMSE over time. KEGG enrichment analysis and repeated measures analyses were used to explore potential regulatory targets of the significant plasma miRNAs. The genes targeted by the significant miRNAs were primarily associated with prion diseases, fatty acid biosynthesis, Hippo signaling, ECM-receptor interactions, and TGF-β signaling pathways.
“Taken together, our results suggest that various plasma extracellular miRNAs are associated with global cognitive function among cognitively ‘normal’ men. If they were to play a causal role in cognitive decline, it would likely be through pathways that regulate synaptic plasticity, cell death, the response to injury, and energy homeostasis. Extracellular miRNAs may also contribute to greater rates of cognitive decline possibly through involvement in the prion-like propagation of AD lesions or in hindering their neuroprotective role of curbing AD-like pathology.”
Conclusion
These findings suggest that plasma miRNA levels are associated both with global cognition and the rate of change in global cognition among cognitively normal older men. The researchers were forthcoming about the limitations of this study, especially in regard to the study population and the MMSE scoring. Still, this study highlights the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for cognitive function and decline in older men and underscores the importance of elucidating the mechanisms by which extracellular miRNAs influence cognition.
“Additional research is needed to identify the biological pathways influenced by expression of these extracellular miRNAs, investigate relationships with CNS miRNA expression, and examine the potential impacts of circulating miRNAs on other neurological outcomes.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
Humans battle a number of biological processes with age that lead to the gradual deterioration of cells and tissues. Frailty, disability, disease, and death are all costly fates of aging. Researchers who study aging aim to change this fate, however, the mechanisms of aging are still all but fully understood.
In 2013, López-Otín and colleagues attempted to identify these biological processes and proposed the original nine hallmarks of aging: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient-sensing, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication. These hallmarks of aging have helped to provide a framework for thought about the causes and consequences of aging, as well as potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Now, nine years later, the hallmarks of aging have been updated in light of recent discoveries.
“In the nearly past 10 years, our in-depth exploration on ageing research has enabled us to formulate new hallmarks of ageing which are compromised autophagy, microbiome disturbance, altered mechanical properties, splicing dysregulation, and inflammation, among other emerging ones.”
Among the keynote speakers who presented at this symposium was Vilhelm A. Bohr, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology at The National Institute on Aging and a distinguished member of the Aging Editorial Board. Dr. Bohr presented new data on the DNA damage response enzyme poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1)-related pathways. He suggested that PARP1 might be present and functional in mitochondria. Dr. Bohr also presented on the short-term use of NAD+ supplementation in age-related hearing loss.
“Here, Professor Bohr’s group showed that the treatment of mice with NR [nicotinamide riboside] was capable of restoring NAD+ in the cochlea of aged mice to the levels found in young mice. Even more strikingly, NR treatment limited the progression of hearing loss in ageing mice while stopping the progression of hearing loss in old mice.”
The Meeting Report
The authors’ review summarized all the work presented in this symposium, consisting of some of the latest findings in the field and contextualized by the updated hallmarks of aging. Their summaries of presentations were grouped by theme, including theories of aging and cellular senescence, new insights into telomeres and cellular senescence, inflammation, NAD+ and aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, premature aging and DNA repair, and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and muscular pathologies of aging.
“The presented data showcased novel research at the forefront of the field, with a focus on a possible increase in healthspan and the amelioration of age-related diseases. Here, both the possible clearance or delay of senescent cells as well as possible interventions in the NAD+ system were discussed. While both of these approaches are promising, they are not without limitations.”
A panel discussion took place at the end of the symposium which was moderated by Eric Verdin, M.D., President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and also a distinguished member of the Aging Editorial Board. In sum, the symposium hosted several established researchers and young scientists who presented and discussed the latest findings in age-related research. They discussed new aging research in concert with how it connects to the old and new hallmarks of aging.
“Amalgamation of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ hallmarks of ageing may provide a more comprehensive explanation of ageing and age-related diseases, shedding light on interventional and therapeutic studies to achieve healthy, happy, and productive lives in the elderly.”
Conclusion
The goal of the “New Hallmarks of Ageing” symposium was to provide a platform for researchers to discuss the latest findings in aging research and to update the hallmarks of aging in light of new discoveries. While many promising discoveries have been made in the last decade, the authors cautioned that more work is needed to better understand aging and how these findings can be translated into therapies that improve human healthspan and quality of life. Discussions and research shared at this symposium have the potential to lead to new insights and breakthroughs in the field of aging research.
“At this point, tremendous progress has occurred, but a unified theory of ageing that can fully explain the process is still missing, and many open questions remain, both on a cellular and organismal level. Whether it is possible to target the ageing process at its core, or whether a combination of approaches is needed to target the aspects encompassing ageing, remains to be solved in the future.”
Click here to read the full review paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
In a trending new research paper published in Aging, researchers investigated the effects of microglial activity on post-stroke inflammation and outcomes.
The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by Medline/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.
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When the blood supply in and around the brain becomes interrupted, a stroke can occur. A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel bursts in or near the brain. An ischemic stroke is caused when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is obstructed—usually by a clot. The most common type of stroke is ischemic, which accounts for approximately 87% of all strokes in humans. A major risk factor for an ischemic stroke is aging.
Inflammation (a chronic condition among the elderly) is a key contributing factor to strokes, and microglia are the primary immune cells in the brain. Researchers recently identified a role for the microglial IRF5-IRF4 regulatory axis in mediating responses after stroke. However, whether or not aged microglia also undergo the same regulatory mechanisms after a stroke had previously not been determined.
“Microglial activation plays a central role in initiating and perpetuating the post-stroke inflammation, and acts as a ‘double-edged’ sword to confer both detrimental and beneficial effects [9].”
“We have previously found IRF4 signaling is anti-inflammatory and IRF5 is pro-inflammatory in young ischemic microglia [11]. In the present study, we hypothesized IRF4 CKO [conditional knockout] worsens while IRF5 CKO improves stroke outcomes.”
To better understand how microglia responds to stroke in aged individuals, the researchers first investigated microglial IRF5 and IRF4 expression in young and aged mice. A well-established mouse model of ischemic stroke was used in this study. Next, the researchers performed conditional knockout (CKO) of IRF5 or IRF4 in young and aged mice. The study arm mice underwent a 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Stroke outcomes were quantified three days after MCAO.
To evaluate microglial activation and immune responses (surface and intracellular inflammatory markers) post-stroke, the researchers performed flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IRF5 CKO aged microglia had significantly lower levels of IL-1β and CD68 compared to controls. IRF4 CKO had significantly higher levels of IL-1β and TNF-α compared to control microglia. Levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were higher in IRF5 CKO, and lower in IRF4 CKO aged mice.
“Plasma levels of TNF-α and MIP-1α were decreased in IRF5 CKO vs. flox aged mice, and IL-1β/IL-6 levels were increased in IRF4 CKO vs. controls.”
Results & Conclusion
Since IRF5 signaling drives microglial pro-inflammatory responses, the researchers hypothesized that microglial IRF5 is detrimental for aged mice in stroke. They also suggested that IRF4 signaling drives anti-inflammatory responses and its expression is protective in aged mice in stroke. Indeed, IRF5 CKO aged mice demonstrated improved stroke outcomes; whereas worse outcomes were seen in IRF4 CKO mice compared to their control counterparts. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrated that aged microglia express higher levels of IRF5 and lower levels of IRF4 compared to young microglia after stroke.
This study provides valuable insights into how microglial activation is regulated post-stroke, and highlights the importance of the IRF5-IRF4 axis in stroke outcomes. The researchers conclude that the IRF5-IRF4 axis is a promising target for developing novel strategies to treat ischemic stroke. Further research is warranted to determine how these findings can be translated into clinical practice to improve stroke outcomes in the elderly.
“By using the aged IRF4/IRF5 microglial CKO mouse models, the study aimed to selectively suppress microglial pro-inflammatory activation and promote its anti-inflammatory response, and will potentially help develop new, effective therapeutic strategies against stroke.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
In Aging’s Volume 14, Issue 15, cover paper, researchers hypothesized that multidimensional well-being may prolong mobility-limitation-free survival and longevity among older adults.
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The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by Medline/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.
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The word “well-being” is commonly used in workplace environments, therapy sessions, doctor’s offices, books, online, and elsewhere. However, the definition of this word seems to differ across varying contexts, cultures, traditions, values, and even biological sexes. Below are four definitions of well-being:
“noun: [Well-being is] the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.” — Oxford English Dictionary
“The meaning of WELL-BEING is the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous : welfare.” — Merriam-Webster Dictionary
“Well-being, or wellbeing, also known as wellness, prudential value or quality of life, refers to what is intrinsically valuable relative to someone. So the well-being of a person is what is ultimately good for this person, what is in the self-interest of this person.” — Wikipedia
Based on these definitions, one could argue the root meaning of well-being may be distilled down to individual happiness and prosperity that contributes to healthy aging. However, this prosperity and happiness is not anchored to only one domain of well-being. There are three domains of being well, which include behavioral, social and psychological well-being.
Aging & Well-Being
“Successful aging is a multidimensional construct covering behavioral, social, and psychological domains of well-being, all amenable to individual actions and public health interventions [1–4].”
“Despite the rising evidence supporting a multidimensional construct of successful aging, most longitudinal studies still fail to cover well-being indicators belonging to different domains, as shown by the disproportionate amount of literature focusing exclusively on lifestyle factors [45–48].”
Three Domains of Well-Being: 10 Indicators
In their current study, the researchers selected 10 indicators of behavioral, social and psychological well-being: 1) Behavioral: Mediterranean diet, smoking, physical leisure activities, and mental leisure activities; 2) Social: Social leisure activities (i.e., social participation), social connections and socialsupport; 3) Psychological: life satisfaction, negative affect and positive affect.
“Blue zones” are areas around the world with high concentrations of centenarians, or people who live to be over 100 years old. A prevalent diet among people living in blue zones is the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts/seeds, lean poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, eggs, and extra virgin olive oil. This diet has been closely studied as a protective factor of healthy aging.
The psychological well-being indicator listed as “negative affect” refers to the degree to which a person feels guilt, anger and fear, and the following features are considered: distressed, upset, scared, nervous, and afraid. “Positive affect” considers the extent to which a person is active, inspired, determined, alert, and enthusiastic. For additional explanations, the remaining indicators of well-being used in this study are expounded in thorough detail within the research paper itself.
Aging & Mobility
“Mobility decline precedes disability and premature death, and is therefore considered an optimal early indicator of physical function decay among older adults [34].”
The simple ability to exercise, complete day-to-day chores and maintain personal hygiene all rely on a minimum range of physical mobility. A sedentary lifestyle is a well-recognized risk factor for chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. Furthermore, mobility limitations are associated with social isolation, depression and cognitive decline. The researchers in this study aimed to identify well-being profiles and their association with mobility-limitation-free survival.
“The specific aims of this study were: 1) to identify distinct well-being profiles among men and women separately, by using latent class analysis; 2) to determine which of these profiles are associated with the greatest benefit in terms of mobility-limitation-free survival; and 3) to quantify these potential benefits in absolute terms by calculating differences in median age at onset of mobility limitation or death across profiles.”
The Study
The study population consisted of 1488 functionally healthy individuals (after all exclusion criteria were applied to the ongoing Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K) population-based study). In addition to collecting self-reported data on the 10 indicators of behavioral, social and psychological well-being listed above, the researchers included data on the participants’ covariates. Covariates included age, education, number of chronic diseases, mini-Mental State Examination score (MMSE), and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire. At the beginning of the study (baseline), the average age in the cohort was 69 years old (with a standard deviation of +/- 8.3 years). Ninety-one percent of participants had at least a high-school-level of education. Females (59%) composed the majority of the cohort.
“In this study, we used latent class analysis to detect data-driven subgroups of people with similar well-being profiles according to behavioral (diet, smoking, and physical and mental leisure activities), social (social participation, connections, and support) and psychological (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect) well-being indicators, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [25].”
Since men and women tend to behave differently when it comes to multiple factors of well-being, the researchers stratified their analyses by sex. They scheduled regular followed-ups with these participants over the course of 15 years. Well-being profiles were derived from the 10 well-being indicators using latent class analysis. Endpoints were defined as mobility-limitation-free survival, limited mobility or death. Limited mobility was defined as having a walking speed below 0.8 meters per second.
“A composite endpoint, considered to be an indicator of mobility-limitation-free survival, was operationalized by taking into account the time from study entry until the development of mobility limitation (i.e., walking speed <0.8m/s) or death, whichever occurred first.”
Results
At baseline, the researchers identified three well-being profiles among both men and women that followed a clear gradient in all behavioral, social and psychological indicators throughout the study. Participants categorized in the best well-being profile had high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the lowest proportion of current smokers, high engagement with leisure activities, and the highest levels of social and psychological well-being. Those in the intermediate well-being profile had low/moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a higher proportion of former/never smokers, and moderate levels of social and psychological well-being. (Men in the intermediate well-being profile had a low/moderate engagement in leisure activities, while women had moderate/high engagement levels.) Participants in the worst well-being profile had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a higher proportion of former/never smokers, the lowest levels of leisure activity engagement, and the lowest levels of social and psychological well-being.
To examine the association between these well-being profiles and the incidence of mobility limitation or death, the researchers used Cox and Laplace regression models and applied sensitivity analyses to the data.
“In agreement with the Cox regressions, results from Laplace regressions showed that men in the intermediate and best profiles survived 1 and 3 years longer without mobility limitations, respectively, compared to those in the worst profile after adjustment for potential confounders (Figure 2). Women in the intermediate and best profiles lived 2 and 3 years longer without mobility limitations, respectively, compared to those in the worst profile.”
Conclusion
The well-being profiles of older adults are associated with their risk of developing mobility limitations and death. Those in the best well-being profile had the lowest risk, while those in the worst well-being profile had the highest risk. These findings suggest that interventions to improve multi-domain well-being in older adults may improve longevity and help reduce the incidence of mobility limitations in old age. Although this study has many strengths, the researchers were forthcoming about its limitations. Future studies are recommended to confirm these findings.
“While theoretical insights into different models of successful aging are on the rise, empirical evidence from population-based longitudinal data on the complex interplay among the distinct well-being domains and their association with person-centered outcomes, such as mobility-limitation-free survival, is currently lacking. This study addresses such an important gap and provides further evidence to better understand and promote functional independence in community-dwelling older adults through primary prevention multi-domain interventions.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.
Agingis an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
Researchers published a new editorial paper on restoring the circadian rhythm to minimize the risk of aging-related osteoporotic fractures.
The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by Medline/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.
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The circadian rhythm is a daily cycle (24 hours) of biological activity that is driven by an internal biologicalclock. A regular circadian rhythm is important for maintaining numerous facets of human life. Aging-related changes to this delicate rhythm have demonstrated negative consequences in many aspects of health, including bone health.
“Among the many risk factors for osteoporosis, a new kid on the block is disruption of the biological clock.”
On July 19, 2022, an editorial paper was published in Aging‘sVolume 14, Issue 14, entitled, “Restoring rhythm to prevent age-related fractures.” In this editorial, Annelies E. Smit, Maaike Schilperoort and Elizabeth M. Winter from Leiden University Medical Center discuss the treatment of osteoporosis by way of restoring circadian rhythm. The researchers review the use of both medical and lifestyle interventions that aim to restore circadian rhythm to minimize the risk of aging-related osteoporotic fractures.
Osteoporosis & Cortisol
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by decreased bone mass and an increased risk of bone fracture. Age-related osteoporosis is a major public health concern, particularly in postmenopausal women. Cortisol, a stress hormone and the most important endogenous glucocorticoid (GC), plays a key role in the regulation of circadian rhythm. Circulating cortisol levels are naturally highest in the morning and gradually decline throughout the day. (This high peak in cortisol is responsible for initiating the waking cycle each morning.)
“Rhythm in circulating cortisol levels is regulated by the ‘master clock’, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus.”
Unfortunately, as humans age, SCN rhythmicity frequently becomes decoupled from environmental rhythms. Changes in circadian rhythm can result from aging-related lifestyle changes, such as changes in light exposure (which can occur from decreasing visual capabilities), the sleep-wake cycle, eating habits, and exercise patterns. Over time, cortisol begins to peak earlier in the morning, and average circulating cortisol levels increase. The researchers argue that circadian rhythm-related changes in cortisol secretion result in a loss of bone mass and age-related osteoporosis.
“Since both SCN [5] and cortisol [6] rhythm amplitude decline with age, and because we demonstrated in a preclinical model that flat endogenous GC levels result in osteoporosis, we argue that flattened circadian rhythmicity in the elderly population is causally related to the high incidence of osteoporosis at older age [4].”
Restoring Circadian Rhythm
Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is a common treatment for osteoporosis. Unfortunately, administering glucocorticoids at an improper time can disrupt the natural circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion, leading to an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. The researchers suggest that restoring the circadian rhythm is critical for restoring healthy patterns of cortisol secretion, especially in patients receiving glucocorticoid therapy.
“In elderly, physical inactivity and irregular eating patterns are common, and both have been demonstrated to dysregulate bone rhythm [8].”
In addition to lifestyle changes, such as timed exercise and timed feeding, the researchers note that chronotherapy may contribute to reinforcing circadian rhythmicity. Chronotherapy is a promising new field of circadian medicine that aims to optimize the timing of drug administration to match the natural circadian rhythm. The researchers suggest glucocorticoids, and any other bone formation-promoting therapeutic, should be administered in the morning (to mimic the behavior of a healthy circadian rhythm). Chronotherapy can also incorporate lifestyle interventions, such as changes in sleeping patterns, sleep hygiene and light exposure therapy.
“Thus, restoring normal sleep/wake cycles by psychological and behavioural measures, such as strict bedtime routines, may strengthen SCN rhythm.”
Conclusion
Circadian rhythms are important for bone health and preventing age-related osteoporosis. Glucocorticoid therapy can disrupt circadian rhythms, but this disruption can be minimized by administering glucocorticoids in the morning. In addition, lifestyle changes and chronotherapy can help reinforce circadian rhythms.
“In conclusion, the multifaceted origin of age-related fractures asks for a full toolbox of intervention strategies, to which restoring circadian rhythm may provide a valuable addition. Lifestyle and medical interventions may improve sleep quality and decrease risk for osteoporotic fractures (Figure 1). Furthermore, respecting circadian timing through chronotherapy could optimize current and new therapeutic outcomes.”
Figure 1. Bone health depends on diurnal variation in bone turnover, which is regulated by the circadian timing system
Click here to read the full editorial paper published by Aging.
Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
In the cover paperpublished inAging-US Volume 14, Issue 10, researchers investigated a potential therapeutic intervention to reduce chronic inflammation in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.
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One of the leading causes of vision loss among aging populations in the United States, and worldwide, is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The progression of this disease is known to be driven by inflammatory processes. However, the exact inflammation-associated proteins and the mechanisms that drive them have not yet been fully elucidated.
“Inflammation plays a crucial role in the etiology and pathogenesis of AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration).”
“Our discovery is novel and may contribute to the development of therapeutics/ tools for reducing inflammation to alleviate AMD disease pathology.”
The Study
Humanin G (HNG) is a naturally produced peptide that may play a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and normal functioning throughout the body—including the eyes. Previous studies have shown that high-intensity exercise and resistance training positively correlate with protein levels of Humanin G in human plasma and skeletal muscle. Studies have also shown that Humanin G protein levels negatively correlate with aging. In this study, researchers investigated the impact of exogenous Humanin G on markers of inflammation in AMD cells.
“Moreover, treatment with exogenous Humanin G is known to reduce the expression of markers associated with aging-related disorders [32]. Therefore, we tested the effects of Humanin G on inflammatory markers in this study.”
First, the researchers measured levels of inflammation-associated proteins (including cell adhesion molecules, cytokines and chemokines) among samples of AMD plasma and normal (control) plasma. AMD plasma showed higher protein levels of inflammation markers compared to control plasma samples. Next, the researchers used the ELISA assay to measure Humanin G protein levels in the plasma of both AMD patients and normal subjects. They found that, in AMD patients, protein plasma levels of Humanin G were significantly lower compared to normal subjects.
“In the current study, we found that the plasma levels of endogenous Humanin protein were significantly lower by 36.58 % in AMD patients compared to that in age-matched normal subjects.”
Exogenous Humanin G was then added to AMD and normal (control) cybrids derived from clinically characterized AMD patients and normal (control) subjects. Cell lysates were extracted from untreated and Humanin G-treated AMD and normal cybrids. Levels of inflammatory proteins were measured using the Luminex XMAP multiplex assay. The researchers observed that protein levels of inflammation markers previously elevated in AMD cells were reduced after Humanin G treatment.
“To our knowledge, this is the first report that confirms the protective role of Humanin G against inflammation in AMD RPE transmitochondrial cybrid cells and it is significant because reducing ocular inflammation could alleviate its damaging effects observed in the RPE cells that eventually lead to retinal degeneration in AMD pathogenesis.”
Conclusion
“In conclusion, we present novel findings that: A) show reduced Humanin protein levels in AMD plasma vs. normal plasma; B) suggest the role of inflammatory markers in AMD pathogenesis, and C) highlight the positive effects of Humanin G in reducing inflammation in AMD.”
Results in this study are significant because treatment with exogenous Humanin G may be able to revert the abnormal levels of inflammatory proteins that are found in AMD patients back to (or near) normal ranges. These findings may lead to novel therapeutics that can improve AMD disease trajectory.
“Further studies are required to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying Humanin G-mediated suppression of inflammation in AMD and to establish Humanin G’s therapeutic potential as an inhibitor of AMD-associated inflammation. Furthermore, in addition to administration of Humanin G, knockdown or knock-out of the studied inflammatory markers using siRNA or CRISPR editing, may present a new line of treatment for AMD.”
Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).
Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
Dr. Fabrizio Vecchio wrote about the potential synergistic effects of neuromodulation combined with cognitive training to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.
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Many neurodegenerative disorders among elderly populations share some common characteristics. In dementias, for example, neurons and glial cells undergo a progressive loss of structure or function in the brain and spinal cord. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the main cause of cognitive impairment. Studies have confirmed that cognitive treatments, such as cognitive stimulation, training and rehabilitation, can improve brain function by increasing brain plasticity.
“Neuromodulation techniques are having a growing consensus as a therapeutic approach of incipient and mild to moderate dementia because of their capability to be modulated both in space, i.e. in different cortical and subcortical areas of the brain, and time.”
Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation is a considerably recent development in the medical field. This promising treatment option therapeutically alters nerve activity within specific neurological sites of the body using the targeted delivery of electrical stimulation or chemical agents. Neuromodulation can be used not only for patients with dementia but also for those with a number of other disorders, including chronic pain, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. However, the demonstrated value of cognitive treatments has not been discounted by Dr. Vecchio. In his editorial paper, he discussed the potential synergistic effects of neuromodulation combined with cognitive training (COG).
“Together with cognitive treatments one of the possible innovative strategies to be undertaken is the neuromodulation that involves non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).”
Dr. Vecchio described his recent study on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with cognitive training. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, researchers evaluated the efficacy of rTMS-COG treatment in Alzheimer’s patients. Before, immediately after and 40 weeks after rTMS-COG treatment, patients were assessed using neuropsychological and electroencephalography (EEG) examinations. The researchers evaluated six regions of the brain and analyzed neuropsychological and neurophysiological data derived from EEG. After six weeks of intensive daily treatment, immediate results showed an improvement in cognitive scales. At the 40-week follow-up evaluation, improvements in brain connectivity emerged.
“Based on these assumptions and promising results, particularly of rTMS and COG, some researchers hypothesized that a treatment combining rTMS and COG may result in synergic effects more effective [in] respect to applying the two therapies separately.”
Conclusion
Although more research must be conducted to confirm the clinical efficacy of neuromodulation for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, initial results are promising. Cognitive treatments should not be discounted either, as they have been shown to improve brain function. Dr. Vecchio suggests a potentially efficacious combination of neuromodulation and cognitive training that may offer significant benefits for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
“In conclusion, rTMS combined with cognitive training, can be regarded as a potentially useful treatment for AD, not modifying the neuropathological changes, but slowing down their effects on brain networks and providing important groundwork for future studies to build upon. Derived EEG parameters can be awarded the role of diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of AD progression.”
Click here to read the full editorial paper published by Aging (Aging-US).
Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.
