1
|
Klopack ET, Crimmins EM. Epigenetic Aging Helps Explain Differential Resilience in Older Adults. Demography 2024; 61:1023-1041. [PMID: 39012228 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11466635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Past research suggests that resilience to health hazards increases with age, potentially because less resilient individuals die at earlier ages, leaving behind their more resilient peers. Using lifetime cigarette smoking as a model health hazard, we examined whether accelerated epigenetic aging (indicating differences in the speed of individuals' underlying aging process) helps explain age-related resilience in a nationally representative sample of 3,783 older U.S. adults from the Health and Retirement Study. Results of mediation moderation analyses indicated that participants aged 86 or older showed a weaker association between lifetime cigarette smoking and mortality relative to participants aged 76-85 and a weaker association between smoking and multimorbidity relative to all younger cohorts. This moderation effect was mediated by a reduced association between smoking pack-years and epigenetic aging. This research helps identify subpopulations of particularly resilient individuals and identifies epigenetic aging as a potential mechanism explaining this process. Interventions in younger adults could utilize epigenetic aging estimates to identify the most vulnerable individuals and intervene before adverse health outcomes, such as chronic disease morbidity or mortality, manifest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Klopack
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eileen M Crimmins
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin WY. Gene-Environment Interactions and Gene-Gene Interactions on Two Biological Age Measures: Evidence from Taiwan Biobank Participants. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2400149. [PMID: 38684452 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202400149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
PhenoAge and BioAge are two commonly used biological age (BA) measures. The author here searched for gene-environment interactions (GxE) and gene-gene interactions (GxG) on PhenoAgeAccel (age-adjusted PhenoAge) and BioAgeAccel (age-adjusted BioAge) of 111,996 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants, including a discovery set of 86,536 TWB2 individuals and a replication set of 25,460 TWB1 individuals. Searching for variance quantitative trait loci (vQTLs) provides a convenient way to evaluate GxE and GxG. A total of 4 nearly independent (linkage disequilibrium measure r2 < 0.01) PhenoAgeAccel-vQTLs are identified from 5,303,039 autosomal TWB2 SNPs (p < 5E-8), whereas no vQTLs are found from BioAgeAccel. These 4 PhenoAgeAccel-vQTLs (rs35276921, rs141927875, rs10903013, and rs76038336) are further replicated by TWB1 (p < 5E-8). They are located in the OR51B5, FAM234A, and AXIN1 genes. All 4 PhenoAgeAccel-vQTLs are significantly associated with PhenoAgeAccel (p < 5E-8). A phylogenetic heat map of the GxE analyses showed that smoking exacerbated the PhenoAgeAccel-vQTLs' aging effects, while higher educational attainment attenuated the PhenoAgeAccel-vQTLs' aging effects. Body mass index, chronological age, alcohol consumption, and sex do not prominently modulate PhenoAgeAccel-vQTLs' aging effects. Based on these vQTL results, rs141927875-rs35276921 interaction (p = 4.7E-61) and rs76038336-rs10903013 interaction (p = 3.3E-116) on PhenoAgeAccel are detected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Lin
- Institute of Health Data Analytics and Statistics, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
- Master of Public Health Degree Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xie D, Wang J. The Association Between Grandchild Care and Biological Aging Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China. Innov Aging 2024; 8:igae059. [PMID: 39036790 PMCID: PMC11258899 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igae059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Substantial evidence documents grandchild care is associated with self-reported health, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. However, little is known about the relationship between grandchild care and biological aging, especially in China, which emphasizes the unique cultural value of family. The current study sheds light on the biological consequence of grandchild care by examining the link between grandchild care and biological aging among middle-aged and older adults in China, and how gender and spousal involvement in caregiving affect this link. Research Design and Methods In a representative sample of Chinese adults aged 45-80 from the third wave of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015 (n = 3,384), we calculate biological age using Klemera-Doubal Method, and Ordinary Least Square models are used to examine the correlation between grandchild care and biological aging. Results High intensity of involvement in grandchild care is related to biological aging, and caring for grandchildren alone predicts greater biological aging. Compared with grandfathers, grandmothers lose more from grandchild care regardless of whether their husbands are involved in the care. Discussion and Implications Providing grandchild care should be a way to cope with age-related role discontinuity or loss, rather result in extra stress or burden for grandparents. Reducing the intensity of caregiving or increasing family support may attenuate the extent of biological aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donghong Xie
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Centre for Quality of Life and Public Policy Research, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiwen Wang
- Institute of Population and Social Development, Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Farina MP, Klopack ET, Umberson D, Crimmins EM. The embodiment of parental death in early life through accelerated epigenetic aging: Implications for understanding how parental death before 18 shapes age-related health risk among older adults. SSM Popul Health 2024; 26:101648. [PMID: 38596364 PMCID: PMC11002886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Parental death in early life has been linked to various adverse health outcomes in older adulthood. This study extends prior research to evaluate how parental death in early life is tied to accelerated epigenetic aging, a potentially important biological mechanism from which social and environmental exposures impact age-related health. We used data from the 2016 Venous Blood Study (VBS), a component of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), to examine the association between parental death in early life and accelerated epigenetic aging as measured by three widely used epigenetic clocks (PCPhenoAge, PCGrimAge, and DunedinPACE). We also assessed whether some of the association is explained by differences in educational attainment, depressive symptoms, and smoking behavior. Methods included a series of linear regression models and formal mediation analysis. Findings indicated that parental death in early life is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging for PCPhenoAge and DunedinPACE. The inclusion of educational attainment, depressive symptoms, and smoking behavior attenuated this association, with formal mediation analysis providing additional support for these observations. Parental death in early life may be one of the most difficult experiences an individual may face. The elevated biological risk associated with parental death in early life may operate through immediate changes but also through more downstream risk factors. This study highlights how early life adversity can set in motion biological changes that have lifelong consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mateo P. Farina
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Eric T. Klopack
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Debra Umberson
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, United States
- Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Eileen M. Crimmins
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Furuya S, Fletcher JM. Retirement Makes You Old? Causal Effect of Retirement on Biological Age. Demography 2024; 61:901-931. [PMID: 38779956 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11380637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Retirement is a critical life event for older people. Health scholars have scrutinized the health effects of retirement, but its consequences on age-related diseases and mortality are unclear. We extend this body of research by integrating measurements of biological age, representing the physiological decline preceding disease onset. Using data from the UK Biobank and a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we estimated the effects of retirement on two biomarker-based biological age measures. Results showed that retirement significantly increases biological age for those induced to retire by the State Pension eligibility by 0.871-2.503 years, depending on sex and specific biological age measurement. Given the emerging scientific discussion about direct interventions to biological age to achieve additional improvements in population health, the positive effect of retirement on biological age has important implications for an increase in the State Pension eligibility age and its potential consequences on population health, public health care policy, and older people's labor force participation. Overall, this study provides novel empirical evidence contributing to the question of what social factors make people old.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Furuya
- Department of Sociology, Center for Demography and Ecology, and Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jason M Fletcher
- Center for Demography and Ecology, La Follette School of Public Affairs, Department of Population Health Science, and Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Guida JL, Hyun G, Belsky DW, Armstrong GT, Ehrhardt MJ, Hudson MM, Green PA, Robison LL, Streck BP, Tonorezos ES, Yasui Y, Wilson CL, Wang Z, Ness KK. Associations of seven measures of biological age acceleration with frailty and all-cause mortality among adult survivors of childhood cancer in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:731-741. [PMID: 38553617 PMCID: PMC11139608 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00745-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Survivors of childhood cancer may experience accelerated biological aging, resulting in premature frailty and death. We used seven measures of biological age in the St. Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) Cohort to compare biological age acceleration between the SJLIFE Cohort and the third United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey controls, explore trajectories of biological age according to cancer treatment and type, and test associations of biological age acceleration with frailty and death (mean follow-up of 26.5 years) among survivors. Survivors of cancer aged 5% faster per year and measured, on average, 0.6-6.44 years biologically older compared to controls and 5-16 years biologically older compared to age-matched individuals at the population level. Survivors treated with hematopoietic cell transplant and vinca alkaloid chemotherapy evidenced the fastest trajectories of biological aging. Biologically, older and faster-aging survivors consistently and robustly had a higher risk of frailty and died earlier than those with slower biological aging, suggesting a potential opportunity to intervene on excess aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Guida
- Division of Cancer Control and Populations Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Geehong Hyun
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology and Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory T Armstrong
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Matthew J Ehrhardt
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Melissa M Hudson
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Paige A Green
- Division of Cancer Control and Populations Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Leslie L Robison
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brennan P Streck
- Division of Cancer Control and Populations Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Emily S Tonorezos
- Office of Cancer Survivorship, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yutaka Yasui
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Carmen L Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Zhaoming Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Kirsten K Ness
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
He Y, Li Z, Niu Y, Duan Y, Wang Q, Liu X, Dong Z, Zheng Y, Chen Y, Wang Y, Zhao D, Sun X, Cai G, Feng Z, Zhang W, Chen X. Progress in the study of aging marker criteria in human populations. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1305303. [PMID: 38327568 PMCID: PMC10847233 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1305303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of human aging markers, which are physiological, biochemical and molecular indicators of structural or functional degeneration associated with aging, is the fundamental basis of individualized aging assessments. Identifying methods for selecting markers has become a primary and vital aspect of aging research. However, there is no clear consensus or uniform principle on the criteria for screening aging markers. Therefore, we combine previous research from our center and summarize the criteria for screening aging markers in previous population studies, which are discussed in three aspects: functional perspective, operational implementation perspective and methodological perspective. Finally, an evaluation framework has been established, and the criteria are categorized into three levels based on their importance, which can help assess the extent to which a candidate biomarker may be feasible, valid, and useful for a specific use context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan He
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yue Niu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yuting Duan
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomin Liu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zheyi Dong
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yizhi Chen
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
- Department of Nephrology, Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Hainan Province Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Delong Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xuefeng Sun
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Guangyan Cai
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Feng
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Weiguang Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases Research, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
He H, Chen X, Ding Y, Chen X, He X. Composite dietary antioxidant index associated with delayed biological aging: a population-based study. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:15-27. [PMID: 38170244 PMCID: PMC10817368 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to explore the potential correlation between the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and biological aging, addressing the insufficient epidemiological evidence in this area. METHODS Participants meeting eligibility criteria were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2018. CDAI was determined based on dietary antioxidants obtained from 24-hour dietary recalls. Biological age was determined using PhenoAge algorithms incorporating various clinical features. Weighted multiple models were employed to investigate and assess the association between CDAI and biological age. RESULTS Analysis of the CDAI quartile revealed disparities in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status, poverty, dietary calories intakes, smoking, drinking status, BMI, physical activity, and PhenoAge. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a significant inverse relationship was found between CDAI and Phenotypic Age, with each standard deviation increase in CDAI score correlating with a 0.18-year decrease in Phenotypic Age. These negative correlations between CDAI and PhenoAge advancement were observed regardless of age, gender, physical activity status, smoking status, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate a positive relationship between higher CDAI scores and delayed biological aging. These results have significant implications for public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging through dietary interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huiqin He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Yiming Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Xingkang He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou 310016, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Boen CE, Yang YC, Aiello AE, Dennis AC, Harris KM, Kwon D, Belsky DW. Patterns and Life Course Determinants of Black-White Disparities in Biological Age Acceleration: A Decomposition Analysis. Demography 2023; 60:1815-1841. [PMID: 37982570 PMCID: PMC10842850 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11057546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite the prominence of the weathering hypothesis as a mechanism underlying racialized inequities in morbidity and mortality, the life course social and economic determinants of Black-White disparities in biological aging remain inadequately understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,782), multivariable regression, and Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to assess Black-White disparities across three measures of biological aging: PhenoAge, Klemera-Doubal biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation. It also examines the contributions of racial differences in life course socioeconomic and stress exposures and vulnerability to those exposures to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Across the outcomes, Black individuals exhibited accelerated biological aging relative to White individuals. Decomposition analyses showed that racial differences in life course socioeconomic exposures accounted for roughly 27% to 55% of the racial disparities across the biological aging measures, and racial disparities in psychosocial stress exposure explained 7% to 11%. We found less evidence that heterogeneity in the associations between social exposures and biological aging by race contributed substantially to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Our findings offer new evidence of the role of life course social exposures in generating disparities in biological aging, with implications for understanding age patterns of morbidity and mortality risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney E Boen
- Department of Sociology and Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Y Claire Yang
- Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis C Dennis
- Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kathleen Mullan Harris
- Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dayoon Kwon
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Longitudinal associations between allostatic load, pet ownership, and socioeconomic position among U.S. adults aged 50. SSM Popul Health 2023; 21:101344. [PMID: 36684398 PMCID: PMC9853381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is hypothesized that pets provide benefits to human health by buffering the deleterious effects of stress, but varying exposure to chronic stress via social position is rarely considered in these conceptual and empirical models. Allostatic load is an index of biological and physical measures that represents cumulative wear and tear on the body via chronic stress exposure. In this study, we use the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal panel survey of adults aged 50+ in the United States, to test whether and to what extent pet ownership has an impact on allostatic load, and whether pet ownership moderates the effects of socioeconomic position on allostatic load. Linear mixed effects regression models revealed that pet owners had significantly lower allostatic load scores than those who do not own pets; however, after adjusting for socioeconomic position (i.e., wealth, education, race, ethnicity, gender, marital status), the effect of pet ownership was no longer significant. We estimated a series of models stratified by sociodemographic groups to test moderation effects. Among those who had a high school education, pet owners had lower allostatic load scores, whereas among those who had attended some college, pet owners had higher scores. Among those who were aged 80+, pet owners had higher scores than those who did not own pets. These findings suggest that the magnitude of the effect of pet ownership on allostatic load may not be sufficient to counteract experiences of high chronic stress as experienced by lower-status groups. Supporting the human-animal bond may contribute to improving older adult population health if paired with efforts to address the underlying causes of population health disparities.
Collapse
|
11
|
Sauerberg M, Canudas-Romo V. Comparing Cohort Survival in Good Health: A Research Note on Decomposing Sex Differentials in the United States. Demography 2022; 59:2013-2024. [PMID: 36378075 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-10349971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We introduce a method for decomposing differences in healthy cross-sectional average length of life (HCAL). HCAL provides an alternative to the health expectancy (HE) indicator by including the health and mortality history of all cohorts present at a given time. While decompositions of HE differences account for contributions made by health and mortality, differences in HCAL are further disentangled into cohort-specific contributions. In this research note we illustrate the technique by analyzing the sex gap in health and mortality for the United States. We use the harmonized version of the Health and Retirement Survey data and define the health status in terms of activities of daily living. Our results suggest that the female advantage in cohort survival is partly compensated by women's lower cohort-specific health levels. At older ages, however, the sex differences in health are not large enough to compensate men's disadvantage in cohort survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimir Canudas-Romo
- School of Demography, CASS, RSSS, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hand MD, Lee MY, Dabelko-Schoeny H, Kaiser M, Mengo C. Societal, Organizational, Relational, and Individual Perceptions of Sexual Violence Against Older Adults and Its Prevention: A Systematic Scoping Review. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2022; 62:e597-e613. [PMID: 34606600 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnab144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Older adults are not regarded as sexual and are widely excluded from sexual violence (SV) research, policies, and practice; little is known about SV against older adults and its prevention. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS An 8-database scoping review explored perceptions of SV against older adults, barriers to prevention, and solutions for prevention. Included were peer-reviewed and gray sources published since 2010, supported by primary research, on perceptions of SV in later life and prevention. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore key themes. RESULTS Of 148 potentially relevant sources returned, 95 were fully read after screening titles and abstracts; 19 were critically appraised and 18 were assessed for analysis. Seven overarching themes emerged, surrounding (a) knowledge and awareness, (b) research, (c) policy changes and development, (d) intersectional prejudice, (e) SV being taboo, (f) sociocultural differences, and (g) confusion regarding the definition and nature of SV. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS These findings offer relevant considerations for practice, policy, and research, which will be further discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle D Hand
- Department of Social Work, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Mo Yee Lee
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Michelle Kaiser
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Cecilia Mengo
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Beltrán-Sánchez H, Palloni A, Huangfu Y, McEniry MC. Modeling biological age and its link with the aging process. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac135. [PMID: 36741436 PMCID: PMC9896935 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Differences in health status at older ages are a result of genetic predispositions and physiological responses to exposure accumulation over the lifespan. These vary across individuals and lead to health status heterogeneity as people age. Chronological age (CA) is a standard indicator that reflects overall risks of morbidity and mortality. However, CA is only a crude proxy for individuals' latent physiological deterioration. An alternative to CA is biological age (BA), an indicator of accumulated age-related biological change reflected in markers of major physiological systems. We propose and validate two BA estimators that improve upon existing ones. These estimators (i) are based on a structural equation model (SEM) that represents the relation between BA and CA, (ii) circumvent the need to impose arbitrary assumptions about the relation between CA and BA, and (iii) provide tools to empirically test the validity of assumptions the researcher may wish to invoke. We use the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994 and compare results with three commonly used methods to compute BA (principal components-PCA, multiple regression-MLR, and Klemera-Doubal's method-KD). We show that SEM-based estimates of BA differ significantly from those generated by PCA and MLR and are comparable to, but have better predictive power than KD's. The proposed estimators are flexible, allow testing of assumptions about functional forms relating BA and CA, and admit a rich interpretation as indicators of accelerated aging.
Collapse
|
14
|
The longevity society. THE LANCET. HEALTHY LONGEVITY 2021; 2:e820-e827. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(21)00247-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
15
|
A toolkit for quantification of biological age from blood chemistry and organ function test data: BioAge. GeroScience 2021; 43:2795-2808. [PMID: 34725754 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00480-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods to quantify biological aging are emerging as new measurement tools for epidemiology and population science and have been proposed as surrogate measures for healthy lifespan extension in geroscience clinical trials. Publicly available software packages to compute biological aging measurements from DNA methylation data have accelerated dissemination of these measures and generated rapid gains in knowledge about how different measures perform in a range of datasets. Biological age measures derived from blood chemistry data were introduced at the same time as the DNA methylation measures and, in multiple studies, demonstrate superior performance to these measures in prediction of healthy lifespan. However, their dissemination has been slow by comparison, resulting in a significant gap in knowledge. We developed a software package to help address this knowledge gap. The BioAge R package, available for download at GitHub ( http://github.com/dayoonkwon/BioAge ), implements three published methods to quantify biological aging based on analysis of chronological age and mortality risk: Klemera-Doubal biological age, PhenoAge, and homeostatic dysregulation. The package allows users to parametrize measurement algorithms using custom sets of biomarkers, to compare the resulting measurements to published versions of the Klemera-Doubal method and PhenoAge algorithms, and to score the measurements in new datasets. We applied BioAge to safety lab data from the CALERIE™ randomized controlled trial, the first-ever human trial of long-term calorie restriction in healthy, non-obese adults, to test effects of intervention on biological aging. Results contribute evidence that CALERIE intervention slowed biological aging. BioAge is a toolkit to facilitate measurement of biological age for geroscience.
Collapse
|
16
|
Lin WY. Lifestyle factors and genetic variants on two biological age measures: evidence from 94,443 Taiwan Biobank participants. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 77:1189-1198. [PMID: 34427645 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological age (BA) can be estimated by phenotypes and is useful for predicting lifespan and healthspan. Levine et al. proposed a PhenoAge and a BioAge to measure BA. Although there have been studies investigating the genetic predisposition to BA acceleration in Europeans, little has been known regarding this topic in Asians. METHODS I here estimated PhenoAgeAccel (age-adjusted PhenoAge) and BioAgeAccel (age-adjusted BioAge) of 94,443 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants, wherein 25,460 TWB1 subjects formed a discovery cohort and 68,983 TWB2 individuals constructed a replication cohort. Lifestyle factors and genetic variants associated with PhenoAgeAccel and BioAgeAccel were investigated through regression analysis and a genome-wide association study (GWAS). RESULTS A unit (kg/m 2) increase of BMI was associated with a 0.177-year PhenoAgeAccel (95% C.I. = 0.163~0.191, p = 6.0×) and 0.171-year BioAgeAccel (95% C.I. = 0.165~0.177, p = 0). Smokers on average had a 1.134-year PhenoAgeAccel (95% C.I. = 0.966~1.303, p = 1.3×) compared with non-smokers. Drinkers on average had a 0.640-year PhenoAgeAccel (95% C.I. = 0.433~0.847, p = 1.3×) and 0.193-year BioAgeAccel (95% C.I. = 0.107~0.279, p = 1.1×) relative to non-drinkers. A total of 11 and 4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with PhenoAgeAccel and BioAgeAccel (p<5× in both TWB1 and TWB2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS A PhenoAgeAccel-associated SNP (rs1260326 in GCKR) and two BioAgeAccel-associated SNPs (rs7412 in APOE; rs16998073 near FGF5) were consistent with the finding from the UK Biobank. The lifestyle analysis shows that prevention from obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption is associated with a slower rate of biological aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Lin
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Master of Public Health Degree Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Buch A, Marcus Y, Shefer G, Zimmet P, Stern N. Approach to Obesity in the Older Population. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:2788-2805. [PMID: 34406394 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Until recently, weight loss in older obese people was feared because of ensuing muscle loss and frailty. Facing overall increasing longevity, high rates of obesity in older individuals (age ≥ 65 years) and a growing recognition of the health and functional cost of the number of obesity years, abetted by evidence that intentional weight loss in older obese people is safe, this approach is gradually, but not unanimously, being replaced by more active principles. Lifestyle interventions that include reduced but sufficient energy intake, age-adequate protein and micronutrient intake, coupled with aerobic and resistance exercise tailored to personal limitations, can induce weight loss with improvement in frailty indices. Sustained weight loss at this age can prevent or ameliorate diabetes. More active steps are controversial. The use of weight loss medications, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs (liraglutide as the first example), provides an additional treatment tier. Its safety and cardiovascular health benefits have been convincingly shown in older obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In our opinion, this option should not be denied to obese individuals with prediabetes or other obesity-related comorbidities based on age. Finally, many reports now provide evidence that bariatric surgery can be safely performed in older people as the last treatment tier. Risk-benefit issues should be considered with extreme care and disclosed to candidates. The selection process requires good presurgical functional status, individualized consideration of the sequels of obesity, and reliance on centers that are highly experienced in the surgical procedure as well as short-term and long-term subsequent comprehensive care and support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Assaf Buch
- The Sagol Center for Epigenetics of Aging and Metabolism, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- The Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Yonit Marcus
- The Sagol Center for Epigenetics of Aging and Metabolism, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- The Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Gabi Shefer
- The Sagol Center for Epigenetics of Aging and Metabolism, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- The Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Paul Zimmet
- The Sagol Center for Epigenetics of Aging and Metabolism, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Naftali Stern
- The Sagol Center for Epigenetics of Aging and Metabolism, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- The Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Erlandsson H, Qureshi AR, Scholz T, Lundgren T, Bruchfeld A, Stenvinkel P, Wennberg L, Lindnér P. Observational study of risk factors associated with clinical outcome among elderly kidney transplant recipients in Sweden - a decade of follow-up. Transpl Int 2021; 34:2363-2370. [PMID: 34346109 DOI: 10.1111/tri.14004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation (Ktx) in elderly has become increasingly accepted worldwide despite their higher burden of comorbidities. We investigated important risk factors affecting long-term patient and graft survival. METHODS We included all (n=747) Ktx patients >60 years from 2000 to 2012 in Sweden. Patients were age-stratified; 60-64, 65-69 and >70 years. Follow-up time was up to 10 years (median 7.9 years, 75% percentile >10 years). Primary outcome was 10-year patient survival in age-stratified groups. Secondary outcomes were 5- year patient and graft-survival in age-stratified groups and the impact of risk factors including Charlson comorbidity index on patient and graft-survival. RESULTS Mortality was higher in patients >70 years, after 10 years (HR 1.94; 95% CI 1.24-3.04; p=0.004). Males had a higher 10-year risk of death (HR 1.39; CI 95% 1.04-1.86; p=0.024). Five-year patient survival did not differ between age-groups. In multivariate Cox analysis (n=500) hazard ratio for 10-year mortality was 4.6 in patients with Charlson comorbidity index ≥7 vs <4 (95% CI 2.42-8.62; p=0.0001) CONCLUSION: Higher Charlson comorbidity index identified ESKD patients with 4.6 times higher risk of death after Ktx. We suggest that this index should be used as a part of the pre-operative evaluation in elderly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Erlandsson
- Division of Transplantation Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abdul Rashid Qureshi
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tim Scholz
- Department of Transplantation, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Lundgren
- Division of Transplantation Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annette Bruchfeld
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Stenvinkel
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Wennberg
- Division of Transplantation Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Lindnér
- The Transplant Institute, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Scott AJ. Achieving a three-dimensional longevity dividend. NATURE AGING 2021; 1:500-505. [PMID: 37117832 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00074-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Improvements in life expectancy among high-income countries are increasingly occurring in later years. Efforts to exploit the malleability of age and the additional time longevity brings are already underway, but important roadblocks remain. This article discusses the socioeconomic concept of the longevity dividend, in which healthy and productive aging is achieved through a positive correlation between three dimensions: life expectancy, health and the economy. Investing in a longevity dividend is needed to offset the economic challenges of an aging society and embrace a new life course, but this requires deep-seated changes in individual behavior and corporate and government policies. Focusing on treatments that target delayed aging, supporting employment beyond 50 years of age and tackling ageism are key priorities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Scott
- Department of Economics, London Business School, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rueda-Salazar S, Spijker J, Devolder D, Albala C. The contribution of social participation to differences in life expectancy and healthy years among the older population: A comparison between Chile, Costa Rica and Spain. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248179. [PMID: 33711063 PMCID: PMC7954322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We study the health trajectories of the population aged over 60, comparing between one European and two Latin American countries (Spain, Chile and Costa Rica) which have similar longevity patterns. Our focus is on functional limitation and mortality risks, considering differences by gender, education and social participation. Data come from national panel surveys (EPS, CRELES, SHARE). Multistate modelling is used to estimate transition probabilities between two health states: healthy to unhealthy, unhealthy to healthy as well as the transition to death from healthy or unhealthy states, to estimate the duration of stay in a specific state (computing healthy and unhealthy life expectancies) and the effect of the selected covariates. Results show that older Costa Ricans have the smallest gender gap in life expectancy but women have a lower healthy life expectancy compared to those in Chile and Spain. Participation in social activities leads to higher healthy life expectancy among the elderly in Costa Rica and Spain, whilst there were no relevant educational differences observed in longevity in the analysed countries. To conclude: despite the different patterns observed in health transitions and survival across the three countries, social participation is associated with greater health and longevity among people of old age, with little effect coming from educational attainment. Public policies should therefore be aimed at reducing unhealthy life years and dependency at advanced ages by promoting more engagement in social activities, especially among vulnerable groups who are more likely to experience impairment from a younger age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarahí Rueda-Salazar
- Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jeroen Spijker
- Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Devolder
- Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cecilia Albala
- Unidad de Nutrición Pública, Instituto de la Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Maung HH. What's my age again? Age categories as interactive kinds. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 43:36. [PMID: 33694016 PMCID: PMC7946666 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-021-00388-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This paper addresses a philosophical problem concerning the ontological status of age classification. For various purposes, people are commonly classified into categories such as "young adulthood", "middle adulthood", and "older adulthood", which are defined chronologically. These age categories prima facie seem to qualify as natural kinds under a homeostatic property cluster account of natural kindhood, insofar as they capture certain biological, psychological, and social properties of people that tend to cluster together due to causal processes. However, this is challenged by the observation that age categories are historically unstable. The properties that age categories are supposed to capture are affected by healthcare and cultural developments, such that people are staying biologically, psychologically, and socially young for longer. Furthermore, the act of classifying people into age categories can bring about changes in their behaviors, which in turn alter the biological, psychological, and social properties that the categories are supposed to capture. Accordingly, I propose that age categories are best understood as interactive kinds that are influenced in dynamic ways by looping effects. I consider some implications of these looping effects for our classificatory practices concerning age, including how different disciplines may need to review the ways they define and use age categories in their inductive inferences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hane Htut Maung
- Department of Philosophy, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Humanities Bridgeford Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, England.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Mengel-From J, Lindahl-Jacobsen R, Nygaard M, Soerensen M, Ørstavik KH, Hertz JM, Andersen-Ranberg K, Tan Q, Christensen K. Skewness of X-chromosome inactivation increases with age and varies across birth cohorts in elderly Danish women. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4326. [PMID: 33619309 PMCID: PMC7900237 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83702-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosaicism in blood varies with age, and cross-sectional studies indicate that for women, skewness of X-chromosomal mosaicism increases with age. This pattern could, however, also be due to less X-inactivation in more recent birth cohorts. Skewed X-chromosome inactivation was here measured longitudinally by the HUMARA assay in 67 septuagenarian and octogenarian women assessed at 2 time points, 10 years apart, and in 10 centenarian women assessed at 2 time points, 2–7 years apart. Skewed X-chromosome inactivation was also compared in 293 age-matched septuagenarian twins born in 1917–1923 and 1931–1937, and 212 centenarians born in 1895, 1905 and 1915. The longitudinal study of septuagenarians and octogenarians revealed that 16% (95% CI 7–29%) of the women developed skewed X-inactivation over a 10-year period. In the cross-sectional across-birth cohort study, the earlier-born septuagenarian (1917–1923) and centenarian women (1895) had a higher degree of skewness than the respective recent age-matched birth cohorts, which indicates that the women in the more recent cohorts, after the age of 70, had not only changed degree of skewness with age, they had also undergone less age-related hematopoietic sub-clone expansion. This may be a result of improved living conditions and better medical treatment in the more recent birth cohorts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Mengel-From
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. .,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mette Soerensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Jens Michael Hertz
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Karen Andersen-Ranberg
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Geriatric Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Qihua Tan
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, the Danish Twin Registry, and the Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Nguyen LM, Chon JJ, Kim EE, Cheng JC, Ebersole JL. Biological Aging and Periodontal Disease: Analysis of NHANES (2001-2002). JDR Clin Trans Res 2021; 7:145-153. [PMID: 33605165 DOI: 10.1177/2380084421995812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by multiple potential contributing factors such as bacterial biofilm infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth and environmental determinants and a dysregulated host response for modifying and resolving the inflammation. Because periodontal disease is a major public health concern with substantial increases in the prevalence and severity in aging populations, previous studies of periodontitis tended to approach the disease as an age-associated outcome across the life span. However, few investigations have considered that, as a chronic noncommunicable disease, periodontitis may not simply be a disease that increases with age but may contribute to more rapid biologic aging. OBJECTIVES Increasing population data supports the potential disconnect between chronological aging and biologic aging, which would contribute to the heterogeneity of aging phenotypes within chronologic ages across populations. Thus, our aim was to test whether periodontal disease affects biological aging across the life span. METHODS The prevalence of periodontitis in the adult US population is a portion of the assessment of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which has been ongoing since 1971 through 2-y cycles sampling populations across the country. We used NHANES 2001-2002 to test the hypothesis that the presence/severity of periodontal disease as an exposure variable would negatively affect telomere length, a measure of biological aging, and that this relationship is modified by factors that also affect the progression of periodontitis, such as sex, race/ethnicity, and smoking. RESULTS The data demonstrated a significant impact of periodontitis on decreasing telomere lengths across the life span. These differences were modulated by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and smoking within the population. CONCLUSION The findings lay the groundwork for future studies documenting broader effects on biological aging parameters as well as potential intervention strategies for periodontitis in driving unhealthy aging processes. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease and dysregulated host response. Shortening of telomeres is a reflection of biologic aging. Decreased telomere lengths with periodontitis are seemingly related to chronic infection and persistent local and systemic inflammation. These findings suggest that periodontitis is not simply a disease of aging but may also transmit chronic systemic signals that could affect more rapid biological aging. Clinicians can use this outcome to recognize the role of periodontitis in driving unhealthy aging processes in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L M Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas-School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - J J Chon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas-School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - E E Kim
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas-School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - J C Cheng
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas-School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - J L Ebersole
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas-School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gaydosh L, Belsky DW, Glei DA, Goldman N. Testing Proposed Quantifications of Biological Aging in Taiwanese Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 75:1680-1685. [PMID: 31566204 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantification of biological aging is of interest in gerontology as a means to surveil aging rates in the population and to evaluate the effects of interventions to increase healthy life span. Analysis of proposed methods to quantify biological aging has focused on samples of midlife or mixed-age adults in the West. Research is needed to test whether quantifications of biological aging can differentiate aging rates among older adults and if quantifications of biological aging developed in Western samples can differentiate aging rates in non-Western populations. We conducted analysis of Klemera-Doubal method (KDM) Biological Age and homeostatic dysregulation measures of biological aging developed in the U.S. NHANES and tested in a sample of older Taiwanese adults in the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study. We conducted analysis of physical and cognitive function and mortality, comparing quantifications of biological aging to a biomarker index based on norms within our analysis sample and to participants' ratings of their own health. Results showed that quantifications of biological aging (a) predicted differences in physical and cognitive function and in mortality risk among Taiwanese older adults and (b) performed as well as a traditional biomarker index and participant self-rated health for prediction of these outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Gaydosh
- Center for Medicine, Health, and Society and Public Policy Studies, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology & Butler Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Dana A Glei
- Center for Population and Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Noreen Goldman
- Office of Population Research, Princeton University, New Jersey
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Fletcher JR. Anti-aging technoscience & the biologization of cumulative inequality: Affinities in the biopolitics of successful aging. J Aging Stud 2020; 55:100899. [PMID: 33272453 PMCID: PMC7576313 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2020.100899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper charts the emergence of under-remarked affinities between contemporary anti-aging technoscience and some social scientific work on biological aging. Both have recently sought to develop increasingly sophisticated operationalizations of age, aging and agedness as biological phenomena, in response to traditional notions of normal and chronological aging. Rather than being an interesting coincidence, these affinities indicate the influence of a biopolitics of successful aging on government, industry and social science. This biopolitics construes aging as a personal project that is mastered through specific forms of entrepreneurial individual action, especially consumption practices. Social scientists must remain alert to this biopolitics and its influence on their own work, because the individualization of cumulative inequalities provides intellectual and moral justifications for anti-aging interventions that exploit those inequalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Rupert Fletcher
- Institute of Gerontology, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Shirazi TN, Hastings WJ, Rosinger AY, Ryan CP. Parity predicts biological age acceleration in post-menopausal, but not pre-menopausal, women. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20522. [PMID: 33239686 PMCID: PMC7689483 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77082-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding factors contributing to variation in ‘biological age’ is essential to understanding variation in susceptibility to disease and functional decline. One factor that could accelerate biological aging in women is reproduction. Pregnancy is characterized by extensive, energetically-costly changes across numerous physiological systems. These ‘costs of reproduction’ may accumulate with each pregnancy, accelerating biological aging. Despite evidence for costs of reproduction using molecular and demographic measures, it is unknown whether parity is linked to commonly-used clinical measures of biological aging. We use data collected between 1999 and 2010 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 4418) to test whether parity (number of live births) predicted four previously-validated composite measures of biological age and system integrity: Levine Method, homeostatic dysregulation, Klemera–Doubal method biological age, and allostatic load. Parity exhibited a U-shaped relationship with accelerated biological aging when controlling for chronological age, lifestyle, health-related, and demographic factors in post-menopausal, but not pre-menopausal, women, with biological age acceleration being lowest among post-menopausal women reporting between three and four live births. Our findings suggest a link between reproductive function and physiological dysregulation, and allude to possible compensatory mechanisms that buffer the effects of reproductive function on physiological dysregulation during a woman’s reproductive lifespan. Future work should continue to investigate links between parity, menopausal status, and biological age using targeted physiological measures and longitudinal studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Talia N Shirazi
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, 421 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Asher Y Rosinger
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, 421 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Calen P Ryan
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
The barriers and enablers to service access for older women living alone in Australia. AGEING & SOCIETY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x20001245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractOlder women living alone are at risk of being socially and financially disadvantaged, which impacts their wellbeing. Currently there is a significant gap in knowledge relating to older women living alone. This study aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to service access in this group. We undertook a qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was conducted to elucidate key themes. Thirty-seven women were interviewed between May and August 2017. Six key themes were identified: financial; mental and emotional health; mobility and ability; transport; social connections; and knowledge. Access issues for older women living alone are multifaceted and interconnected. Barriers and enablers to service access, as well as their intersections with gender and living situation, should be considered in service design and re-design.
Collapse
|
28
|
Parker DC, Bartlett BN, Cohen HJ, Fillenbaum G, Huebner JL, Kraus VB, Pieper C, Belsky DW. Association of Blood Chemistry Quantifications of Biological Aging With Disability and Mortality in Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75:1671-1679. [PMID: 31693736 PMCID: PMC7494046 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantification of biological aging has been proposed for population surveillance of age-related decline in system integrity and evaluation of geroprotective therapies. However, methods of quantifying biological aging have been little studied in geriatric populations. We analyzed three clinical-biomarker-algorithm methods to quantify biological aging. Klemera-Doubal method Biological Age and homeostatic dysregulation algorithms were parameterized from analysis of U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) data (N = 36,207) based on published methods. Levine method Biological Age was adapted from published analysis of NHANES data. Algorithms were applied to biomarker data from the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (Duke-EPESE) cohort of older adults (N = 1,374, aged 71-102 years, 35% male, 52% African American). We tested associations of biological aging measures with participant reported Activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependencies, and mortality. We evaluated the sensitivity of results to the demographic composition of reference samples and biomarker sets used to develop biological aging algorithms. African American and white Duke-EPESE participants with more advanced biological aging reported dependence in more ADLs and IADLs and were at increased risk of death over follow-up through 2017. Effect sizes were similar across algorithms, but were strongest for Levine method Biological Age (per-quintile increase in ADL incidence rate ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [1.17-1.37], IADL incidence rate ratio = 1.23 [1.15-1.32], mortality hazard ratio = 1.12 [1.08-1.16]). Results were insensitive to demographic composition of reference samples, but modestly sensitive to the biomarker sets used to develop biological aging algorithms. Blood-chemistry-based quantifications of biological aging show promise for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to extend healthy life span in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Parker
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Bryce N Bartlett
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Harvey J Cohen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Gerda Fillenbaum
- Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Janet L Huebner
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Virginia Byers Kraus
- Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Carl Pieper
- Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Biostatistics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York
- Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kogan's Attitude toward Old People scale revisited: Psychometric properties and recommendations. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2020; 90:104159. [PMID: 32629373 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Population ageing is one of the present and future challenges in the European context. In addition to age-related changes, negative and judicious attitudes by society are also prevalent. Therefore, there is a need for reliable instruments to evaluate attitudes toward ageing. In this vein, the present research aims to provide a reliable version of the Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People scale adapted to the Spanish context. In a sample from the academic community (N = 163), we evaluated the reliability, the psychometric properties, and the internal consistency of a version of Kogan's scale translated into Spanish. The results showed a reliable short version of the scale with adequate psychometric properties and two factors: positive and negative. Moreover, the correlates with similar measures of attitude toward older people proved external validity measures by the short scale. The implications and contributions to the geriatric population are discussed.
Collapse
|
30
|
Biohorology and biomarkers of aging: Current state-of-the-art, challenges and opportunities. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 60:101050. [PMID: 32272169 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The aging process results in multiple traceable footprints, which can be quantified and used to estimate an organism's age. Examples of such aging biomarkers include epigenetic changes, telomere attrition, and alterations in gene expression and metabolite concentrations. More than a dozen aging clocks use molecular features to predict an organism's age, each of them utilizing different data types and training procedures. Here, we offer a detailed comparison of existing mouse and human aging clocks, discuss their technological limitations and the underlying machine learning algorithms. We also discuss promising future directions of research in biohorology - the science of measuring the passage of time in living systems. Overall, we expect deep learning, deep neural networks and generative approaches to be the next power tools in this timely and actively developing field.
Collapse
|
31
|
Thomeer MB, Umberson D, Reczek C. The Gender-as-Relational Approach for Theorizing About Romantic Relationships of Sexual and Gender Minority Mid- to Later-Life Adults. JOURNAL OF FAMILY THEORY & REVIEW 2020; 12:220-237. [PMID: 33312231 PMCID: PMC7731939 DOI: 10.1111/jftr.12368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We deploy the "gender-as-relational" (GAR) approach to enhance the study of the long-term romantic relationships of sexual and gender minority mid- to later-life adults. The GAR approach states that gender within relationships is shaped by three key factors: own gender, partner's gender, and the gendered relational context. This approach highlights that the relationship dynamics of men, women, and gender nonconforming people are highly diverse, reflecting that gender is a social construct formed within interactions and institutions. We explicate how GAR can reorganize the study of sexual and gender diversity in three research areas related to aging and relationships-caregiving, marital health benefits, and intimacy-and discuss theory-driven methods appropriate for a GAR research agenda. A GAR framework reorients research by complicating taken-for-granted assumptions about how gender operates within mid- to later-life romantic relationships and queering understandings of aging and romantic relationships to include experiences outside of heteronormative and cisnormative categories.
Collapse
|
32
|
Short-term outcome following significant trauma: increasing age per se has only a relatively low impact. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2020; 47:1979-1992. [PMID: 32300851 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-020-01357-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ongoing demographic changes go hand in hand with an increasing number of elderly injured. Given the conflicting literature we wanted to know how much age per se, apart from other factors, actually explains the outcome for elderly trauma patients. METHODS Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on all significantly injured (new injury severity score, NISS ≥ 8) adult patients treated at a Swiss trauma center between 01.01.2010 and 31.12.2017. The association of age and other demographic, trauma or treatment-related variables on parameters of short-term outcome was examined using uni- and multivariate analyses (mean ± SD; R2; p < 0.05). RESULTS 2692 consecutive patients (33.4% female; mean age 58.1 ± 21.7; hospital mortality 10.1%) were studied. Detailed analysis of quinquennial age groups demonstrated a significant decline in outcome with regard to mortality or return-to-home rate following hospital discharge after the age of 60 years (p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, age explained 4.6% and the number of years ≥ 60 5.9% of hospital mortality. In multivariate analysis, the investigated demographic, trauma or treatment-related parameters contributed at 36.5% to prediction of mortality, age added another 1.5% and number of years ≥ 60 another 2.1% (R2). CONCLUSION This monocenter evaluation showed a significant decline in short-term outcome and an increase in hospital resource requirements by the trauma patients investigated after the age of 60 years. Even so, after controlling for demographic, injury and treatment variables, age per se only added less than 2% to the prediction of hospital mortality.
Collapse
|
33
|
Robinette JW, Beam CR. A Genetically Informed Study of Neighborhoods and Health: Results From the MIDUS Twin Sample. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2020; 75:1072-1081. [PMID: 30597101 PMCID: PMC7161367 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gby157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine whether neighborhood income and neighborhood safety concerns influence multisystem physiological risk after adjusting for genetic and environmental selection effects that may have biased previous tests of this association. METHODS We used structural equation modeling with a genetically informed sample of 686 male and female twin pairs in the Midlife in the United States Study II (2004). RESULTS Controlling for additive genetic and shared environmental processes that may have biased neighborhood-health links in previous examinations, higher neighborhood safety concerns were associated with less physiological risk among women but not men. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest a possible causal role of neighborhood features for a measure of physiological risk that is associated with the development of disease. Efforts to increase neighborhood safety, perhaps through increased street lighting or neighborhood watch programs, may improve community-level health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher R Beam
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Steiner UK, Larsen LA, Christensen K. Parallel Progress in Perceived Age and Life Expectancy. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75:333-339. [PMID: 30982845 PMCID: PMC7530473 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human life expectancy continues to rise in most populations. This rise not only leads to longer lives but also is accompanied by improved health at a given age, that is, recent cohorts show a reduction of biological age for a given chronological age. Despite or even because of the diversity of biomarkers of aging, an accurate quantification of a general shift in biological age across time has been challenging. METHODS Here, we compared age perception of facial images taken in 2001 over a decade and related these changes in age perception to changes in life expectancy. RESULTS We show that age perception changes substantially across time and parallels the progress in life expectancy. In 2012, people aged more than 70 years needed to look 2.3 years younger to be rated the same age as in 2002. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that age perception reflects the past life events better than predicts future length of life, that is, it is written in your face how much you have aged so far. We draw this conclusion as age perception among elderly individuals paralleled changes in life expectancy at birth but not changes in remaining life expectancies. We suggest that changes in age perception should be explored for younger age classes to inform on aging processes, including whether aging is delayed or slowed with increasing life expectancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich K Steiner
- Department of Biology, Center on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth A Larsen
- Institute of Public Health, The Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Institute of Public Health, The Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone: a mixed-methods systematic review of effectiveness and accessibility. AGEING & SOCIETY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x19001818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe global population is ageing and the likelihood of living alone increases with age. Services are necessary to help older people living alone to optimise health and wellbeing. This systematic review aimed to summarise the effectiveness and accessibility of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone. Relevant electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus) were searched for all years up to August 2018. Studies were included if they involved older people (aged ⩾55 years) living alone, and an intervention with measured health and wellbeing outcomes. All study types were included. The Theory of Access was used to assess interventions across dimensions of accessibility, availability, acceptability, affordability, adequacy and awareness. Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria; 17 studies focused on ageing safely in place and 11 on psychological and social wellbeing. Studies comprised quantitative (N = 19), qualitative (N = 4) and mixed-methods (N = 5) approaches. Dimensions from the Theory of Access were poorly addressed in the studies, particularly those of higher-quality methodology. Studies were heterogeneous, preliminary in scope and lacked consistent study design, methodology or measurement. Services that do not address user accessibility in design or evaluation may be limited in their uptake and impact. It is recommended that dimensions of access and co-creation principles be integrated into service design processes and be evaluated alongside clinical effectiveness.
Collapse
|
36
|
Coelho-Junior HJ, Picca A, Calvani R, Uchida MC, Marzetti E. If my muscle could talk: Myokines as a biomarker of frailty. Exp Gerontol 2019; 127:110715. [PMID: 31473199 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Frailty is a potentially reversible state of increased vulnerability to negative health-related outcomes that occurs as a result of multisystem biological impairment and environmental aspects. Given the relevance of this condition in both clinics and research, biomarkers of frailty have been actively sought after. Although several candidate biomarkers of frailty have been identified, none of them has yet been incorporated in the assessment or monitoring of the condition. Over the last years, increasing research interest has been focused on myokines, a set of cytokines, small proteins and proteoglycan peptides that are synthetized, expressed and released by skeletal myocytes in response to muscular contractions. Myokines may act in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine manner and regulate several processes associated with physical frailty, including muscle wasting, dynapenia, and slowness. This review discusses the rationale to support the use of myokines as biomarkers of frailty in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hélio J Coelho-Junior
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Applied Kinesiology Laboratory-LCA, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Anna Picca
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Calvani
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco C Uchida
- Applied Kinesiology Laboratory-LCA, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Emanuele Marzetti
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Hastings WJ, Shalev I, Belsky DW. Comparability of biological aging measures in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, 1999-2002. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 106:171-178. [PMID: 30999227 PMCID: PMC6599717 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological processes of aging are thought to be modifiable causes of many different chronic diseases. Measures of biological aging could provide sensitive endpoints for studies of risk factors hypothesized to shorten healthy lifespan and/or interventions that extend it. But uncertainty remains about how to measure biological aging and if proposed measures assess the same thing. METHOD We tested four proposed measures of biological aging that could be quantified with available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), Klemera-Doubal method (KDM) Biological Age, homeostatic dysregulation, Levine Method (LM) Biological Age, and leukocyte telomere length. RESULTS We analyzed data collected during 1999-2002, when all four biological aging meausres could be taken. Participants' KDM biological ages, homeostatic dysregulation levels, LM biological ages, and telomere length were all correlated with their chronological ages. KDM Biological Age, homeostatic dysregulation, and LM Biological Age were all correlated with one another, but these measures were uncorrelated with telomere length. Participants' with more advanced biological aging performed worse on tests of physical, cognitive, and perceptual functioning and reported more limitations to their daily activities and more pain, and rated themselves as being in worse health. In parallel, participants with risk factors for shorter healthy lifespan exhibited more advanced biological aging. In both sets of analyses, effect-sizes tended to be larger for KDM Biological Age, homeostatic dysregulation, and LM Biological Age as compared to telomere length. DISCUSSION The cellular-level aging biomarker telomere length may measure different aspects of the aging process as compared to the patient-level physiological composite measures KDM Biological Age, homeostatic dysregulation, and LM Biological Age. Studies aiming to test if risk factors accelerate aging or if interventions may slow aging should not treat proposed measures of aging as interchangeable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, United States; Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Developments in molecular epidemiology of aging. Emerg Top Life Sci 2019; 3:411-421. [PMID: 33523205 PMCID: PMC7289014 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The field of molecular epidemiology of aging involves the application of molecular methods to measure aging processes and their genetic determinants in human cohorts. Over the last decade, the field has undergone rapid progress with a dramatic increase in the number of papers published. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the research field, with a specific focus on new developments, opportunities, and challenges. Aging occurs at multiple hierarchical levels. There is increasing consensus that aging-related changes at the molecular level cause declines in physiological integrity, functional capacity, and ultimately lifespan. Molecular epidemiology studies seek to quantify this process. Telomere length, composite scores integrating clinical biomarkers, and omics clocks are among the most well-studied metrics in molecular epidemiology studies. New developments in the field include bigger data and hypothesis-free analysis together with new modes of collaborations in interdisciplinary teams and open access norms around data sharing. Key challenges facing the field are the lack of a gold standard by which to evaluate molecular measures of aging, inconsistency in which metrics of aging are measured and analyzed across studies, and a need for more longitudinal data necessary to observe change over time.
Collapse
|
39
|
Liu Z, Chen X, Gill TM, Ma C, Crimmins EM, Levine ME. Associations of genetics, behaviors, and life course circumstances with a novel aging and healthspan measure: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study. PLoS Med 2019; 16:e1002827. [PMID: 31211779 PMCID: PMC6581243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An individual's rate of aging directly influences his/her susceptibility to morbidity and mortality. Thus, quantifying aging and disentangling how various factors coalesce to produce between-person differences in the rate of aging, have important implications for potential interventions. We recently developed and validated a novel multi-system-based aging measure, Phenotypic Age (PhenoAge), which has been shown to capture mortality and morbidity risk in the full US population and diverse subpopulations. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between PhenoAge and a comprehensive set of factors, including genetic scores, childhood and adulthood circumstances, and health behaviors, to determine the relative contributions of these factors to variance in this aging measure. METHODS AND FINDINGS Based on data from 2,339 adults (aged 51+ years, mean age 69.4 years, 56% female, and 93.9% non-Hispanic white) from the US Health and Retirement Study, we calculated PhenoAge and evaluated the multivariable associations for a comprehensive set of factors using 2 innovative approaches-Shapley value decomposition (the Shapley approach hereafter) and hierarchical clustering. The Shapley approach revealed that together all 11 study domains (4 childhood and adulthood circumstances domains, 5 polygenic score [PGS] domains, and 1 behavior domain, and 1 demographic domain) accounted for 29.2% (bootstrap standard error = 0.003) of variance in PhenoAge after adjustment for chronological age. Behaviors exhibited the greatest contribution to PhenoAge (9.2%), closely followed by adulthood adversity, which was suggested to contribute 9.0% of the variance in PhenoAge. Collectively, the PGSs contributed 3.8% of the variance in PhenoAge (after accounting for chronological age). Next, using hierarchical clustering, we identified 6 distinct subpopulations based on the 4 childhood and adulthood circumstances domains. Two of these subpopulations stood out as disadvantaged, exhibiting significantly higher PhenoAges on average. Finally, we observed a significant gene-by-environment interaction between a previously validated PGS for coronary artery disease and the seemingly most disadvantaged subpopulation, suggesting a multiplicative effect of adverse life course circumstances coupled with genetic risk on phenotypic aging. The main limitations of this study were the retrospective nature of self-reported circumstances, leading to possible recall biases, and the unrepresentative racial/ethnic makeup of the population. CONCLUSIONS In a sample of US older adults, genetic, behavioral, and socioenvironmental circumstances during childhood and adulthood account for about 30% of differences in phenotypic aging. Our results also suggest that the detrimental effects of disadvantaged life course circumstances for health and aging may be further exacerbated among persons with genetic predisposition to coronary artery disease. Finally, our finding that behaviors had the largest contribution to PhenoAge highlights a potential policy target. Nevertheless, further validation of these findings and identification of causal links are greatly needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuyun Liu
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Economics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Thomas M. Gill
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Eileen M. Crimmins
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Morgan E. Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ebersole JL, Dawson DA, Emecen Huja P, Pandruvada S, Basu A, Nguyen L, Zhang Y, Gonzalez OA. Age and Periodontal Health - Immunological View. CURRENT ORAL HEALTH REPORTS 2018; 5:229-241. [PMID: 30555774 PMCID: PMC6291006 DOI: 10.1007/s40496-018-0202-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Aging clearly impacts a wide array of systems, in particular the breadth of the immune system leading to immunosenescence, altered immunoactivation, and coincident inflammaging processes. The net result of these changes leads to increased susceptibility to infections, increased neoplastic occurrences, and elevated frequency of autoimmune diseases with aging. However, as the bacteria in the oral microbiome that contribute to the chronic infection of periodontitis is acquired earlier in life, the characteristics of the innate and adaptive immune systems to regulate these members of the autochthonous microbiota across the lifespan remains ill defined. RECENT FINDINGS Clear data demonstrate that both cells and molecules of the innate and adaptive immune response are adversely impacted by aging, including in the oral cavity, yielding a reasonable tenet that the increased periodontitis noted in aging populations is reflective of the age-associated immune dysregulation. Additionally, this facet of host-microbe interactions and disease needs to accommodate the population variation in disease onset and progression, which may also reflect an accumulation of environmental stressors and/or decreased protective nutrients that could function at the gene level (ie. epigenetic) or translational level for production and secretion of immune system molecules. SUMMARY Finally, the majority of studies of aging and periodontitis have emphasized the increased prevalence/severity of disease with aging, all based upon chronological age. However, evolving areas of study focusing on "biological aging" to help account for population variation in disease expression, may suggest that chronic periodontitis represents a co-morbidity that contributes to "gerovulnerability" within the population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J L Ebersole
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
| | - D A Dawson
- Division of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| | - P Emecen Huja
- Department of Periodontics, JBE College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - S Pandruvada
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, JBE College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - A Basu
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
| | - L Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
| | - Y Zhang
- Southern Nevada Health District, Las Vegas, NV
| | - O A Gonzalez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
- Center for Oral Health Research, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Crimmins EM, Shim H, Zhang YS, Kim JK. Differences between Men and Women in Mortality and the Health Dimensions of the Morbidity Process. Clin Chem 2018; 65:135-145. [PMID: 30478135 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2018.288332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Do men have worse health than women? This question is addressed by examining sex differences in mortality and the health dimensions of the morbidity process that characterize health change with age. We also discuss health differences across historical time and between countries. CONTENT Results from national-level surveys and data systems are used to identify male/female differences in mortality rates, prevalence of diseases, physical functioning, and indicators of physiological status. Male/female differences in health outcomes depend on epidemiological and social circumstances and behaviors, and many are not consistent across historical time and between countries. In all countries, male life expectancy is now lower than female life expectancy, but this was not true in the past. In most countries, women have more problems performing instrumental activities of daily living, and men do better in measured performance of functioning. Men tend to have more cardiovascular diseases; women, more inflammatory-related diseases. Sex differences in major cardiovascular risk factors vary between countries-men tend to have more hypertension; women, more raised lipids. Indicators of physiological dysregulation indicate greater inflammatory activity for women and generally higher cardiovascular risk for men, although women have higher or similar cardiovascular risk in some markers depending on the historical time and country. SUMMARY In some aspects of health, men do worse; in others, women do worse. The lack of consistency across historical times and between countries in sex differences in health points to the complexity and the substantial challenges in extrapolating future trends in sex differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Crimmins
- USC Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
| | - Hyunju Shim
- USC Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yuan S Zhang
- USC Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jung Ki Kim
- USC Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| |
Collapse
|