Gerontology最新文献

Introduction: The aging process of the incarcerated population is a growing concern, yet there are few data on older adults in this demographic group. Hence, this study sought to examine the health status of older adults who are incarcerated in Mexican prisons and its association with the duration of their imprisonment.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the 2021 Mexico National Prisons Survey. We analyzed 50-year-old and older prisoners and performed a descriptive analysis of the sample's age, sex, sociodemographic variables, and chronic conditions. Multivariate analysis stratified by age was performed to assess the effect of the time spent in prison on older prisoners' health.

Results: The mean age was 56.95 (±6.4 SD), and the mean duration of imprisonment was 8.93 years (±6.94 SD). Regarding health conditions, 17.80% had diabetes, 29.62% had hypertension, 10.33% had suicidal ideation, and 40.87% were visually impaired, 17.01% had hearing impairment, and 17.64% had mobility impairment. Multivariate analysis revealed that among categories of imprisonment duration, longer time imprisoned was associated with an increased risk of diabetes and hypertension for all groups but was not associated with mobility impairment or suicidal ideation except in the younger group.

Conclusion: Longer periods of incarceration appear to be associated with a greater occurrence of diabetes and hypertension in older prisoners. Sensory impairments and suicidal ideation are mainly identified in younger prisoners, while mobility impairments do not appear to be influenced by the time spent in prison. Further research needs to be done in prisons, where the addition of physical performance tests and cognitive tests could help further study geriatric conditions in older prisoners.

Introduction: Age-related alterations in muscle tissue morphology and function, as well as chronic pro-inflammatory conditions, contribute to the development of sarcopenia. To elucidate the multidimensional pathogenesis of sarcopenia, we performed a comprehensive genetic analysis, including common variants, rare variants, and human leukemia antigen (HLA).

Methods: A total of 129 older adults were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), including 67 sarcopenia patients and 62 normal controls. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus. WGS data and associated clinical data were obtained from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Biobank in Japan. We performed logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index for common variant (minor allele frequency [MAF] ≧0.01), rare variant (MAF <0.01), and HLA analyses. For the functional analysis, we performed RNA interference using human myoblasts and estimated gene expressions (MYOG, MYMK, MYMG) by quantitative PCR.

Results: Rare variant analysis identified five rare coding variants of genes - SLC41A3, SYNRG, CLUAP1, CCHCR1, and ALDH2 - expressed in skeletal muscle. Of these, a deleterious frameshift deletion in SLC41A3 was associated with the pathogenesis of sarcopenia (p = 0.0012, odds ratio [OR] = 11.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.62-50.69). This deletion significantly reduced expression of myogenin (MYOG), a factor involved in myoblast differentiation (p = 0.0094), but did not affect the fusion of myogenic cells. We also discovered a new protective allele, HLA-DPB1*02:01 associated with sarcopenia (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.060-0.51, p = 0.0015), which has a high occurrence rate in the Northeast Asian population.

Conclusion: Rare variant analysis identified a deleterious frameshift deletion in SLC41A3 as a risk factor for sarcopenia. Our findings suggest that the suppression of MYOG could play a role in myogenesis or muscle maintenance, although this mutation did not impact the terminal differentiation of human myoblasts. Additionally, HLA analysis revealed that HLA-DPB1*02:01 has a protective effect, especially in Northeast Asian populations. Our study enhances the understanding of the etiology of sarcopenia and provides new insights into the mechanisms of its pathogenesis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify fall-risk groups among community-dwelling older adults in South Korea and build a classification model to investigate risk-associated factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data of 9,231 older adults from the 2020 Korea Elderly Survey. We used latent class analysis to identify fall-risk groups based on fall indicators. Thereafter, classification models were developed with these identified groups as outcome variables.

Results: Latent class analysis results indicated that a three-class model was more interpretable and fit the data better than other models. Among the models, the XGBoost algorithm displayed superior performance (accuracy = 0.70, precision = 0.69, recall = 0.70, F1-score = 0.68). Key variables associated with fall-risk groups included self-rated health, cognitive function, recent healthcare use, and assistance needed in instrumental activities of daily living.

Conclusion: The study adopted a preventive approach by differentiating among low-, moderate-, and high-fall-risk groups, thus providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals. Identifying these risk factors can support the development of customized fall prevention programs for older adults.

Introduction: Aging is a key risk factor for progressive kidney disease, yet the mechanisms underlying age-related renal dysfunction remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the transition from healthy renal aging to dysfunction, focusing on its involvement in cellular senescence, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Methods: Male Swiss mice aged 3 (young), 12 (middle-aged), and 18 (old) months were analyzed to assess renal function via blood and 24-h urine collection. Protein expression was evaluated by Western blot, and renal collagenase and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) activities were assessed by immunofluorescence. Neutrophil accumulation was measured by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cytokine levels were measured by ELISA, and oxidative stress was assessed by fluorescence.

Results: Old mice showed elevated expression of senescence markers (p53, p21, and p16), COX-2, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1), along with increased MPO activity. Collagenase and MMP-2 activities were also enhanced, particularly in glomerular and tubular regions. Furthermore, upregulation of NADPH oxidase subunits and decreased antioxidant enzyme expression resulted in heightened renal ROS production. These molecular changes were accompanied by significant renal dysfunction, as indicated by reduced creatinine clearance and increased albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Notably, COX-2 expression positively correlated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and renal dysfunction. In contrast, middle-aged mice exhibited early signs of senescence and oxidative stress without overt inflammation or functional impairment.

Conclusion: These findings highlight a critical transitional phase in kidney aging, where early senescence and oxidative stress emerge before functional decline. COX-2 may serve as a central mediator in this process, offering a potential therapeutic target for mitigating age-related renal dysfunction.

Introduction: The presence of depressive symptoms in older people has become increasingly relevant in the context of global population aging. Although not a natural consequence of aging, such symptoms may be influenced by chronic conditions, functional limitations, and environmental factors. This study sought to assess the occurrence of depressive symptoms in older people from a region of Brazil and to investigate the related factors using a multilevel perspective.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study among individuals aged ≥60 years. Depressive symptoms (outcome) were measured using the GDS-15, with a score of five points or higher indicating the presence of depressive symptoms. Diseases were assessed through self-reports. Functional capacity was evaluated using (i) the Katz index; (ii) handgrip strength; and (iii) walking speed. The surrounding environment for physical activity was assessed based on participants' perceptions. Multilevel logistic regression models examined the odds of having depressive symptoms according to the variables analyzed.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among older people was 36.6%, with a higher proportion among women (41.2%). Individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.63; CI: 1.06-2.49), cataracts (OR = 1.76; CI: 1.17-2.66), those considered dependent for performing basic activities of daily living (OR = 6.70; CI: 1.21-37.14), with low handgrip strength (OR = 2.44; CI: 1.50-3.97), and those who reported heavy vehicle traffic as a barrier to physical activity (OR = 1.71; CI: 1.14-2.56) had higher chances of presenting depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Regardless of individual and municipal characteristics, the presence of depressive symptoms in older people was associated with chronic/degenerative diseases, functional capacity impairment, and the perception of the environment (heavy vehicle traffic) as a hindrance to physical activity around the home.

Introduction: Osteosarcopenia (OS) is a common geriatric condition, which seriously impairs the quality of life of the elderly, but there is a lack of research on its mechanism and treatment. This study explores the efficacy of whole-body vibration (WBV) training plus vitamin D in OS intervention and its correlation with irisin and myostatin (MSTN).

Methods: Subjects meeting the enrollment criteria were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Forty-eight volunteers were enrolled and divided into a control group and a WBVT group, with 24 in each. The control group takes 0.25 μg of calcitriol orally half an hour after breakfast daily. The WBVT group received WBV training 3 times a week in addition to the control treatment for 3 months, followed by a 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were lumbar, hip, and forearm bone mineral density (BMD), appendicular skeletal muscle mass measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and handgrip strength. Secondary outcomes included serum MSTN, irisin, bone turnover markers, physical performance (assessed by 5-time chair stand test, 6-m walk, and SPPB), and adverse events in the trial.

Results: Baseline indicators were comparable between the two groups. WBV training with oral vitamin D improved OS patients' BMD, muscle mass, strength, and physical function. It increased serum vitamin D, N-MID, tPINP levels and decreased β-CTX levels. Also, it raised irisin and lowered MSTN levels.

Conclusion: WBV training in conjunction with oral vitamin D administration is conducive to increasing BMD, augmenting muscle mass and strength, as well as improving body function in subjects with OS. The underlying mechanism might be associated with the modulation of myokines such as irisin and MSTN.

Objectives: Negative wealth shocks can pose a serious threat to health; however, there has been no research exploring the potential link between negative wealth shocks and epigenetic aging. This study aimed to explore the relationship between negative wealth shocks and epigenetic aging in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: This study conducted an analysis using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The analytical sample was reduced by excluding 36 participants who lacked BMI or tobacco data, resulting in a final sample size of 3,982 individuals. A negative wealth shock is characterized by a decline of 75% or more in total wealth between two consecutive waves, representing a significant decline in wealth. Various epigenetic clocks - including Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DunedinPoAm, epiTOC, Zhang, and Skin&Blood - were employed to assess biological age by analyzing DNA methylation patterns. OLS linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between wealth status and the epigenetic clocks.

Results: Among the participants, 6.98% experienced a negative wealth shock, 6.93% were classified as baseline asset poor, and 86.09% belonged to the positive wealth group. No significant relationship was found between negative wealth shock and the first-generation epigenetic clocks. However, a correlation was observed between negative wealth shock and accelerated epigenetic aging when assessed using the second-generation clocks (epiTOC, Zhang, GrimAge) and the third-generation clock (DunedinPoAm), with the exception of PhenoAge. After adjusting for demographic factors and socioeconomic factors, the significant association between negative wealth shock and accelerated aging in DunedinPoAm, Zhang, and GrimAge persisted. Effects are net of chronological age (model 1), largely attenuated when accounting for SES (model 2), and no longer statistically significant net of lifestyle factors (model 3).

Conclusions: Our study identifies a significant relationship between negative wealth shocks and biological aging in middle-aged and older adults. This suggests that socioeconomic factors, particularly sudden economic losses and fluctuations, should be considered in strategies for promoting healthy longevity and aging interventions. Additionally, there is a need for unemployment protection policies or measures to help stabilize medical and food consumption for households or individuals during times of economic instability, addressing the negative impacts of wealth shocks on accelerated aging.