scholarly journals Mammalian models of extended healthy lifespan

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1561) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Selman ◽  
Dominic J. Withers
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Ageing Process ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Genetic Mutants ◽  
Genetic Mouse Models

Over the last two centuries, there has been a significant increase in average lifespan expectancy in the developed world. One unambiguous clinical implication of getting older is the risk of experiencing age-related diseases including various cancers, dementia, type-2 diabetes, cataracts and osteoporosis. Historically, the ageing process and its consequences were thought to be intractable. However, over the last two decades or so, a wealth of empirical data has been generated which demonstrates that longevity in model organisms can be extended through the manipulation of individual genes. In particular, many pathological conditions associated with the ageing process in model organisms, and importantly conserved from nematodes to humans, are attenuated in long-lived genetic mutants. For example, several long-lived genetic mouse models show attenuation in age-related cognitive decline, adiposity, cancer and glucose intolerance. Therefore, these long-lived mice enjoy a longer period without suffering the various sequelae of ageing. The greatest challenge in the biology of ageing is to now identify the mechanisms underlying increased healthy lifespan in these model organisms. Given that the elderly are making up an increasingly greater proportion of society, this focused approach in model organisms should help identify tractable interventions that can ultimately be translated to humans.

scholarly journals A Narrative Review on Sarcopenia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Anna Izzo ◽  
Elena Massimino ◽  
Gabriele Riccardi ◽  
Giuseppe Della Pepa
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Macrovascular Complications ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Age Related

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major health burden for the elderly population, affecting approximately 25% of people over the age of 65 years. This percentage is expected to increase dramatically in the next decades in relation to the increased longevity of the population observed in recent years. Beyond microvascular and macrovascular complications, sarcopenia has been described as a new diabetes complication in the elderly population. Increasing attention has been paid by researchers and clinicians to this age-related condition—characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass together with the loss of muscle power and function—in individuals with T2DM; this is due to the heavy impact that sarcopenia may have on physical and psychosocial health of diabetic patients, thus affecting their quality of life. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update on: (1) the risk of sarcopenia in individuals with T2DM, and (2) its association with relevant features of patients with T2DM such as age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, glycemic control, presence of microvascular or macrovascular complications, nutritional status, and glucose-lowering drugs. From a clinical point of view, it is necessary to improve the ability of physicians and dietitians to recognize early sarcopenia and its risk factors in patients with T2DM in order to make appropriate therapeutic approaches able to prevent and treat this condition.

scholarly journals Impact of nutrition on the ageing process

2014 ◽  
Vol 113 (S1) ◽  
pp. S18-S22 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Mathers
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Energy Restriction ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
Ageing Process ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Nutritional Interventions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Reduced Risk

Human life expectancy has been increasing steadily for almost two centuries and is now approximately double what it was at the beginning of the Victorian era. This remarkable demographic change has been accompanied by a shift in disease prevalence so that age is now the major determinant of most common diseases. The challenge is to enhance healthy ageing and to reduce the financial and social burdens associated with chronic ill health in later life. Studies in model organisms have demonstrated that the ageing phenotype arises because of the accumulation of macromolecular damage within the cell and that the ageing process is plastic. Nutritional interventions that reduce such damage, or which enhance the organism's capacity to repair damage, lead to greater longevity and to reduced risk of age-related diseases. Dietary (energy) restriction increases lifespan in several model organisms, but it is uncertain whether it is effective in primates, including humans. However, excess energy storage leading to increased adiposity is a risk factor for premature mortality and for age-related diseases so that obesity prevention is likely to be a major public health route to healthy ageing. In addition, adherence to healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean dietary pattern, is associated with longevity and reduced risk of age-related diseases.

scholarly journals Zpráva o grantovém projektu Emoční kreativita a kognitivní deficity u seniorů

E-psychologie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-95
Author(s):  
Radek Trnka ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Emotional Life ◽  
Psychosocial Studies ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽  
The Relationship

This report summarizes the main outputs of the finished grant project „Emotional creativity and cognitive decline in the elderly“ (GA ČR 18–26094S), conducted at the Prague College of Psychosocial Studies between the years 2018 and 2020. The main goal of this project was to explore the relationship between emotional creativity, defined as a set of cognitive abilities and personality traits related to the originality of emotional experience, and age-related cognitive impairments in older adults. The results of this project showed that age and age-related cognitive decline influence how people creatively think about their own, as well as other peoples’, emotions. This project produced empirical evidence showing that cognitive decline reduces not only creativity in problem solving, but also reduces the creativity that is closely related to the emotional life of older people. More importantly, the published preliminary study on patients in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease also indicates that emotional creativity could become another diagnostic tool for unveiling the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly.

scholarly journals Finding Ponce de Leon’s Pill: Challenges in Screening for Anti-Aging Molecules

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surinder Kumar ◽  
David B. Lombard
Keyword(s):  
Model Organisms ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Pharmacological Interventions ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Genetic Manipulations ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Probability Of Death ◽  
Invertebrate Models ◽  
Progressive Accumulation

Aging is characterized by the progressive accumulation of degenerative changes, culminating in impaired function and increased probability of death. It is the major risk factor for many human pathologies – including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases – and consequently exerts an enormous social and economic toll. The major goal of aging research is to develop interventions that can delay the onset of multiple age-related diseases and prolong healthy lifespan (healthspan). The observation that enhanced longevity and health can be achieved in model organisms by dietary restriction or simple genetic manipulations has prompted the hunt for chemical compounds that can increase lifespan. Most of the pathways that modulate the rate of aging in mammals have homologs in yeast, flies, and worms, suggesting that initial screening to identify such pharmacological interventions may be possible using invertebrate models. In recent years, several compounds have been identified that can extend lifespan in invertebrates, and even in rodents. Here, we summarize the strategies employed, and the progress made, in identifying compounds capable of extending lifespan in organisms ranging from invertebrates to mice and discuss the formidable challenges in translating this work to human therapies.

Non-Nutritional Medical Treatments in Dry-Form (Non-Neovascular) Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2017 ◽  
pp. 145-148
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Geographic Atrophy ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Dry Amd ◽  
Disease Study ◽  
Developed World

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of blindness for the elderly population in the developed world. Although vision loss is mainly due to the neovascular form, dry AMD remains a challenge for ophthalmologists because of the lack of effective therapies. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) demonstrated the protective effect of dietary supplementation of antioxidants to slow down the progression of dry AMD. On the other hand, there has been no proven drug treatment for dry AMD to date. This review is aimed to discuss recent non-nutritional treatments for dry AMD and geographic atrophy.

scholarly journals Curcumin and Its Derivatives as Theranostic Agents in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Implication of Nanotechnology

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Umair Shabbir ◽  
Momna Rubab ◽  
Akanksha Tyagi ◽  
Deog-Hwan Oh
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Theranostic Agents ◽  
Nutritional Compounds ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽  
Effective Drugs

Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound with diverse and attractive biological properties, which may prevent or ameliorate pathological processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia, or mode disorders. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is known as one of the rapidly growing diseases, especially in the elderly population. Moreover, being the eminent cause of dementia, posing problems for families, societies as well a severe burden on the economy. There are no effective drugs to cure AD. Although curcumin and its derivatives have shown properties that can be considered useful in inhibiting the hallmarks of AD, however, they have low bioavailability. Furthermore, to combat diagnostic and therapeutic limitations, various nanoformulations have also been recognized as theranostic agents that can also enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of curcumin and other bioactive compounds. Nanocarriers have shown beneficial properties to deliver curcumin and other nutritional compounds against the blood-brain barrier to efficiently distribute them in the brain. This review spotlights the role and effectiveness of curcumin and its derivatives in AD. Besides, the gut metabolism of curcumin and the effects of nanoparticles and their possible activity as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in AD also discussed.

scholarly journals New Methods, Old Brains—A Systematic Review on the Effects of tDCS on the Cognition of Elderly People

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Siegert ◽  
Lukas Diedrich ◽  
Andrea Antal
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Brain State ◽  
Novel Treatments ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline

The world's population is aging. With this comes an increase in the prevalence of age-associated diseases, which amplifies the need for novel treatments to counteract cognitive decline in the elderly. One of the recently discussed non-pharmacological approaches is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). TDCS delivers weak electric currents to the brain, thereby modulating cortical excitability and activity. Recent evidence suggests that tDCS, mainly with anodal currents, can be a powerful means to non-invasively enhance cognitive functions in elderly people with age-related cognitive decline. Here, we screened a recently developed tDCS database (http://tdcsdatabase.com) that is an open access source of published tDCS papers and reviewed 16 studies that applied tDCS to healthy older subjects or patients suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or pre-stages. Evaluating potential changes in cognitive abilities we focus on declarative and working memory. Aiming for more standardized protocols, repeated tDCS applications (2 mA, 30 min) over the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) of elderly people seem to be one of the most efficient non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) approaches to slow progressive cognitive deterioration. However, inter-subject variability and brain state differences in health and disease restrict the possibility to generalize stimulation methodology and increase the necessity of personalized protocol adjustment by means of improved neuroimaging techniques and electrical field modeling.

scholarly journals HbA1c target achievement in the elderly: results of the Titration and Optimization trial for initiation of insulin glargine 100 U/mL in patients with type 2 diabetes poorly controlled on oral antidiabetic drugs

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000668
Author(s):  
Andreas Fritsche ◽  
Helmut Anderten ◽  
Martin Pfohl ◽  
Stefan Pscherer ◽  
Anja Borck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Insulin Glargine ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Basal Supported Oral Therapy ◽  
Hba1c Target

ObjectivesTo identify real-world, age-related trends in the use of insulin glargine 100 U/mL (Gla-100) as part of basal-supported oral therapy (BOT).Research design and methodsThe prospective, observational Titration and Optimization registry enrolled patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus initiated on Gla-100 BOT. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with capillary fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≤110 mg/dL on ≥2 occasions and/or who met their individual HbA1c target within 12 months.Results2462 patients were analyzed (<65 years: n=1122; 65–74 years: n=771; ≥75 years: n=569). Diabetes duration (6.8, 8.9, and 11.2 years, p<0.0001) and proportion of women (40.7%, 47.9%, and 55.7%, p<0.0001) increased with age. Baseline HbA1c was highest in <65-year-olds (8.6% vs 8.4% and 8.5%, p<0.0001). Gla-100 up-titration until 12 months was highest in <65-year-olds (+11.6 U/day), compared with 65–74 (+10.2 U/day) and ≥75 years (+8.8; p<0.0001) but similar by units per kilogram, as was the decrease in FBG (<65: −64.1 mg/dL; 65–74: −56.1 mg/dL; ≥75: −53.4 mg/dL) and HbA1c (<65: −1.47%; 65–74: −1.31%; ≥75: −1.22%, p<0.0001). At 12 months, 65.9% of participants met the primary endpoint, with no significant difference between age groups. The proportion achieving their individual HbA1c target was lower for <65-year-olds (46.0% vs 54.3% and 54.7%; p<0.02). Symptomatic hypoglycemia incidence was more common in the ≥75-year-old group (3.4% vs 1.4% and 1.4%; p=0.0126).ConclusionsBOT with Gla-100 results in similar improvements of glycemic values with low risk of hypoglycemia across age groups. Given the link between HbA1c and long-term cardiovascular risk, ensuring appropriately stringent target-setting, intensification of basal insulin and making sure hypoglycemia is avoided is of paramount importance.Trial registration numberDatabase:https://awbdb.bfarm.de; Identifier: 1641; Date of registration: September 23, 2013

scholarly journals Vascular Aging in the Invertebrate Chordate, Botryllus schlosseri

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delany Rodriguez ◽  
Daryl A. Taketa ◽  
Roopa Madhu ◽  
Susannah Kassmer ◽  
Dinah Loerke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Botryllus Schlosseri ◽  
Vascular Cells ◽  
Vascular Aging ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Invertebrate Chordate

Vascular diseases affect over 1 billion people worldwide and are highly prevalent among the elderly, due to a progressive deterioration of the structure of vascular cells. Most of our understanding of these age-related cellular changes comes from in vitro studies on human cell lines. Further studies of the mechanisms underlying vascular aging in vivo are needed to provide insight into the pathobiology of age-associated vascular diseases, but are difficult to carry out on vertebrate model organisms. We are studying the effects of aging on the vasculature of the invertebrate chordate, Botryllus schlosseri. This extracorporeal vascular network of Botryllus is transparent and particularly amenable to imaging and manipulation. Here we use a combination of transcriptomics, immunostaining and live-imaging, as well as in vivo pharmacological treatments and regeneration assays to show that morphological, transcriptional, and functional age-associated changes within vascular cells are key hallmarks of aging in B. schlosseri, and occur independent of genotype. We show that age-associated changes in the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix reshape vascular cells into a flattened and elongated form and there are major changes in the structure of the basement membrane over time. The vessels narrow, reducing blood flow, and become less responsive to stimuli inducing vascular regression. The extracorporeal vasculature is highly regenerative following injury, and while age does not affect the regeneration potential, newly regenerated vascular cells maintain the same aged phenotype, suggesting that aging of the vasculature is a result of heritable epigenetic changes.

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