Omega-3 Supplementation for the Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Does It Depend on Homocysteine Levels?

High-dose Agomelatine Combined with Haloperidol Decanoate Improves Cognition, Downregulates MT2, Upregulates D5, and Maintains Krüppel-like Factor 9 But Alters Cardiac Electrophysiology

Haloperidol decanoate (HD) has been implicated in cognitive impairment. Agomelatine (AGO) has been claimed to improve cognition. We aimed at investigating the effects of HD + low- or high-dose AGO on cognition, verifying the melatonergic/dopaminergic to the cholinergic hypothesis of cognition and exploring relevant cardiovascular issues in adult male Wistar albino rats. HD + high-dose AGO prolonged the step-through latency by +61.47% (P < 0.0001), increased the time spent in bright light by +439.49% (P < 0.0001), reduced the time spent in dim light by -66.25% (P < 0.0001), and increased the percent of alternations by +71.25% (P < 0.0001), despite the reductions in brain acetylcholine level by -10.67% (P < 0.0001). Neurodegeneration was minimal, while the mean power frequency of the source wave was reduced by -23.39% (P < 0.05). Concurrently, the relative expression of brain melatonin type 2 receptors was reduced by -18.75% (P < 0.05), against increased expressions of dopamine type 5 receptors by +22.22% (P < 0.0001) and angiopoietin-like 4 by +119.18% (P < 0.0001). Meanwhile, electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated inverted P wave, reduced P wave duration by -36.15% (P < 0.0001) and PR interval by -19.91% (P < 0.0001), prolonged RR interval by +27.97% (P < 0.05), increased R wave amplitude by +523.15% (P < 0.0001), and a depressed ST segment and inverted T wave. In rats administered AGO, HD, or HD+ low-dose AGO, Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like neuropathologic features were more evident, accompanied by extensive ECG and neurochemical alterations. HD + high-dose AGO enhances cognition but alters cardiac electrophysiology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Given the issue of cognitive impairment associated with HD and the claimed cognitive-enhancing activity of AGO, combined high-dose AGO with HD improved cognition of adult male rats, who exhibited minimal neurodegenerative changes. HD+ high-dose AGO was relatively safe regarding triggering epileptogenesis, while it altered cardiac electrophysiology. In the presence of low acetylcholine, the melatonergic/dopaminergic hypothesis, added to angiopoietin-like 4 and Krüppel-like factor 9, could offer some clue, thus offering novel targets for pharmacologic manipulation of cognition.

Cross-sectional and prospective associations between homocysteine and a frailty index: A post-hoc analysis of the multidomain Alzheimer's prevention trial (MAPT)

BACKGROUND

Homocysteine (Hcy) has been associated with several health problems, including reduced physical capacity. No study appears to have looked at the role of Hcy values longitudinally on physical capacity deterioration in older adults. The objective is to examine cross-sectional and prospective associations between Hcy values and frailty in the elderly and investigate Hcy potential association with the onset of frailty.

METHODS

769 community-dwelling older adults from the MAPT study were recruited for this study. Total Hcy was measured at baseline. Frailty was evaluated at 5 different collection timepoints: baseline, 6-month, 1-, 2-, and 3-year using a frailty index (FI) composed of 19 items. Linear regressions adjusted for all the confounders (age, gender, educational level, MAPT group allocation and Omega-3) were performed to examine the cross-sectional associations of homocysteine values with the FI. A cox model was used to test the association of Hcy with the onset of frailty.

RESULTS

Mean Hcy values (15.9 ± 5.6 μmol\L) were obtained from 769 community-dwelling adults (75.7 ± 4.6 years old). After adjustments, a significant (β = 0.002, (00002-0.003)) and positive association between baseline Hcy values and FI was found (ß = 0.002). Additionally, higher values of Hcy were associated with a worsening of FI after 3 years (ß = 0.002, p = 0.003). A significant association between baseline Hcy values and the likelihood of developing frailty was discovered by incident event analysis (HR: 1.04 (1.01-1.06), p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

High levels of Hcy are associated with the fragility process in community-dwelling older adults.

Natural Compounds and Products from an Anti-Aging Perspective

Aging is a very complex process that is accompanied by a degenerative impairment in many of the major functions of the human body over time. This inevitable process is influenced by hereditary factors, lifestyle, and environmental influences such as xenobiotic pollution, infectious agents, UV radiation, diet-borne toxins, and so on. Many external and internal signs and symptoms are related with the aging process and senescence, including skin dryness and wrinkles, atherosclerosis, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, etc. Oxidative stress, a consequence of the imbalance between pro- and antioxidants, is one of the main provoking factors causing aging-related damages and concerns, due to the generation of highly reactive byproducts such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during the metabolism, which result in cellular damage and apoptosis. Antioxidants can prevent these processes and extend healthy longevity due to the ability to inhibit the formation of free radicals or interrupt their propagation, thereby lowering the level of oxidative stress. This review focuses on supporting the antioxidant system of the organism by balancing the diet through the consumption of the necessary amount of natural ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential amino acids, probiotics, plants’ fibers, nutritional supplements, polyphenols, some phytoextracts, and drinking water.