Advances in Gerontology最新文献

Drawing on his editorial experience at relevant scientific journals and his experience in teaching the basics of scientific article formatting/design at Lomonosov Moscow State University, the author analyzes the current state of statistical analysis of results of the gerontological research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of aging and search for drugs that slow down this process and suppress the development of age-related diseases (geroprotectors, anti-aging drugs). It is emphasized that in many cases, such analysis is either not performed at all or is performed incorrectly. Specifically, authors periodically analyze data that does not follow a normal distribution using a parametric Student’s t-test. Moreover, many researchers, having failed to obtain reliable results (p > 0.05), increasingly replace the term “significance” in their articles with the term “trend,” which seems completely unacceptable. Unfortunately, this problem affects not only gerontology but all biomedical research. It is suggested that greater attention should be paid to this issue by both reviewers of relevant articles and editors of the journals in which they are published. In addition, the importance of teaching the basics of statistical processing of research results to students and PhD students of biomedical institutes and relevant university schools is emphasized.

This review systematizes contemporary data on the signaling role of mitochondrial metabolites in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, with an emphasis on their influence on cellular adaptation to stress factors, including age-related changes. Mitochondria function not only as energy sources but also as key sensors and regulators, mediating anterograde and retrograde signaling through metabolites such as citrate, succinate, lactate, and L-carnitine. Citrate and succinate participate in epigenetic modifications, including protein acetylation and succinylation, thereby influencing gene expression and metabolic adaptation, with potential applications in the therapy of oncological and age-associated diseases. Lactate, traditionally regarded as a product of anaerobic metabolism, acts as a signaling molecule that modulates receptor cascades (GPR81), histone lactylation, and oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. L-carnitine ensures metabolic flexibility by maintaining the acyl-CoA/CoA balance, removing toxic metabolites, and enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability, demonstrating its protective effects in models of hyperhomocysteinemia and NO deficiency. Understanding these mechanisms opens up prospects for the identification of biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction and the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring homeostasis in the context of aging, metabolic disorders, and gerontological syndromes.

Aim: This study aims to clarify how educational attainment influences frailty in older adults with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, older adults with CRC completed surveys on general characteristics, educational attainment, health awareness, physical activity duration, stress management, and frailty. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was employed to examine associations between variables. Mediation analyses were conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 6), with 5000 bootstrap resamples to assess the significance of indirect effects. Results: A total of 169 older adults with CRC were evaluated. Educational attainment, health awareness, physical activity duration, stress management ability, and frailty were significantly correlated (P < 0.05). Educational attainment significantly predicted health awareness (β = 0.291, P < 0.001). Both educational attainment (β = 0.294, P < 0.001) and health awareness (β = 0.297, P < 0.001) positively predicted physical activity duration. Educational attainment (β = 0.266, P < 0.001) and physical activity duration (β = 0.316, P < 0.001) positively predicted stress management ability. Physical activity duration (β = –0.209, P = 0.010) and stress management ability (β = –0.335, P < 0.001) negatively predicted frailty. Physical activity duration and stress management mediated 25.38 and 36.92% of the effect of educational attainment on frailty. Chain mediation effects of health awareness and physical activity duration (7.31%), physical activity duration and stress management (12.69%), and all three factors (13.85%) were significant. Conclusions: Both physical activity duration and stress management independently mediate the relationship between educational attainment and frailty, while also exerting a chain mediating effect in older adults with CRC. Additionally, health awareness alone does not mediate the relationship between educational attainment, stress management skills, and frailty. However, educational attainment enhances health awareness, which in turn influences physical activity duration, affecting stress management and frailty.

The hypothalamus is a key integrator of autonomic and endocrine regulation and is also involved in aging mechanisms. It is hypothesized that aging processes may be regulated by changes in microRNA expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus. The aim of the study was to determine the localization and percentage of cells in the arcuate (ARN), dorsomedial (DMN), and ventromedial (VMN) nuclei of the hypothalamus expressing let-7a microRNA in male rats aged 2 months (young), 12 months (adult), and 24 months (aged) using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results indicate that in the ARN and DMN, the percentage of let-7a microRNA-positive neurons did not differ significantly between young and adult rats, but decreased in the ARN from 51.7 ± 3.8 to 34.7 ± 4.2% and in the DMN from 35.8 ± 3.3 to 27.2 ± 3.6% in adult rats relative to old animals. The highest percentage of neurons expressing let-7a microRNA in all animals studied was observed in the VMN compared to the ARN and DMN. However, in the VMN, the percentage of neurons expressing let-7a during ontogenesis did not change significantly with aging.

It is known that hypertension may be associated with some mental disorders and cognitive impairment. The complex relationship between anxiety and hypertension results in significant inconsistency among clinical data. In this study, we investigate the relationships between hypertension, anxiety, and depression in 13-month-old male rats of three genetically related normotensive Wistar and WKY and hypertensive SHR strains. We estimate arterial pressure (AP) and behavioral indicators using the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and sucrose preference test. Higher locomotor and exploratory activity and lower anxiety are observed in the SHR rats in comparison with the normotensive Wistar- and WKY-strain rats. Correlation analysis does not reveal any relations between the indicators of anxiety in the OFT and EPM and AP values either in outbred Wistar or SHR rats. In WKY rats, moderate correlations are found between the AP value and the number of grooming episodes and entries into the center arena in the OFT. Thus, no relationships are revealed between the AP values and the indicators of anxiety and depression-like behavior.

This research was a non-experimental retrospective cross-sectional study, where the existing influence between the quality of the diet and the biopsychosocial risk factors of adults were determined. Investigation was carried out with a population sample of 696 older adults, with an age older than 60 years. The statistical analysis of the data was carried out considering the following variables: intake of all food groups, general diagnosis of the quality of the diet, economic and social support (are the variables used in the biopsychosocial factors), dependence of the older adults and the presence of diseases. Results showed that there was an influence between the presence of diseases and the diet quality of older adults. Therefore, as there is a greater presence of diseases in the elderly, attributed to changes in their diet quality.

Older adults are frequent consumers of health care services. However, reports have indicated that breakdowns in communication during provider–patient interactions may contribute to poor health outcomes in this population. The purpose of this study is to identify the pragmatic characteristics of elderly people with dementia (WED) and analyze the existing pragmatic approaches that have been used by caregivers in their daily interactions with them. A total of 40 informants, who care for elderly people with dementia, participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The study used Atlas.ti software to analyze qualitative data. The results indicated that 39 nodes of references and data sources (transcripts) are pertinent within the hierarchy. All four informant groups referenced the difficulties both directly and indirectly. The research identified four primary factors: (1) the interactive behavior of elderly dementia patients during moments of happiness or excitement, (2) the challenges associated with understanding interactions involving these patients, caregivers, or others, (3) the responses of elderly dementia patients when prompted, and (4) the ways in which these factors facilitate communication. The study indicates that WED caregivers utilize emotions, touch, and patient names. The psychological technique is said to either calm or excite the WED prior to involvement. This multimodal approach improves patient care and caregiver relationships. Caregivers can enhance therapy engagement by addressing WED needs and responses. Ensuring continuity of care and enhancing caregiver-dementia relationships necessitates a comprehension of WED relationships along with the suggested intervention and support domains. Conversely, it may impede communication and the development of relationships.

Background: Polypharmacy and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are major issues in the elderly regarding adverse drug events and poor health outcomes. This study determines the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMs in older adults in Pakistan using the Beers Criteria 2023. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2023 to April 2024 on 653 geriatric patients (≥65 years) admitted to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Mansehra, and Jinnah International Hospital, Abbottabad. The definition of polypharmacy is the use of ≥5 medications simultaneously, and PIMs were assessed using the Beers Criteria 2023. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis. Results: Among the study population, 63.9% were found to have polypharmacy, and 87.6% were given at least one PIM. The most commonly prescribed PIMs include omeprazole (16.4%), enoxaparin (13.2%), and furosemide (9.3%). Category A PIMs (medications that should be avoided in older adults) constitute 34.5% of all PIMs. Polypharmacy was significantly associated with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.007) and acute coronary syndrome (p = 0.049). Similarly, PIMs use were significantly higher among patients with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.002) and acute coronary syndrome (p = 0.003). Conclusion: The study showed that polypharmacy and PIMs use are highly prevalent in elderly Pakistani patients, and it considerably points toward the need for medication reviews and deprescribing strategies to improve medication safety. Implementing Beers Criteria-based prescribing guidelines and enhancing awareness among healthcare providers, particularly clinical pharmacists, could help optimize medication use and improve outcomes in geriatric care.

Observational studies link handgrip strength (HGS, a key sarcopenia sign) and visual impairment (VI), but their causality is unknown. We used bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR)—a genetic method to test causality—to explore if VI affects HGS, and if body mass index (BMI) plays a role. We used genetic data from large groups: FinnGen (218 792 people, VI), UK Biobank (461 089 people, HGS), and EBI/MRC-IEU (532 396 people, BMI). We focused on age-related VI (cataract, glaucoma, high eye pressure), used genetic markers linked to these traits to test causality, and did additional MR to check VI’s direct effect on HGS and BMI’s potential role as a middle factor. MR showed more severe VI tied to lower HGS: genetic predisposition to cataract reduced normal HGS chance by 48% (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.28–0.97, P = 0.04); genetic glaucoma susceptibility linked to a small but reliable HGS reduction (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.991–0.998, P < 0.001)—small per person but meaningful for older adults due to glaucoma’s high prevalence. Further analyses confirmed glaucoma’s direct harm to HGS. BMI had a weak mediating role: it explained 11% of cataract’s effect and 44% of glaucoma’s effect, but its actual impact was very small. These confirm age-related VI is a modifiable risk factor for older adults’ functional decline. Age-related VI—especially cataract and glaucoma—causes lower HGS. Vision assessment should be part of geriatric care to prevent sarcopenia and frailty, key to older adults’ health.

Natural compounds possess significant potential for pharmacological applications. This study investigates melanin derived from birch heartwood polymerized with the mycelium of fungus Fomes fomentarius and its fruiting body, for its potential geroprotective properties. The cytotoxicity and proliferative effects of the studied compound, Amelan, were evaluated using the immortalized human foreskin fibroblasts (BJ-5ta) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cell lines through the MTT assay and cell counting with a Goryaev chamber. To assess the geroprotective properties of the compound, an accelerated aging model was induced with D-galactose in primary human dermal fibroblast cultures. Senescent cell populations were identified through cytochemical staining for senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal). Amelan exhibited a dose-dependent geroprotective effect, significantly reducing senescent cell populations at optimal concentrations. Importantly, the compound did not stimulate proliferation in either immortalized BJ-5ta fibroblasts or MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, suggesting no oncogenic activation potential. In light of the demonstrated geroprotective effects of Amelan, its concentration-dependent efficacy underscores the importance of dosage optimization to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects. Further research is needed to evaluate its potential as a candidate for anti-aging therapy.