[Biology of aging: theories, mechanisms, and perspectives]

The neurobiological effects of senescence on dopaminergic system: A comprehensive review

Over time, the body undergoes a natural, multifactorial, and ongoing process named senescence, which induces changes at the molecular, cellular, and micro-anatomical levels in many body systems. The brain, being a highly complex organ, is particularly affected by this process, potentially impairing its numerous functions. The brain relies on chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters to function properly, with dopamine being one of the most crucial. This catecholamine is responsible for a broad range of critical roles in the central nervous system, including movement, learning, cognition, motivation, emotion, reward, hormonal release, memory consolidation, visual performance, sexual drive, modulation of circadian rhythms, and brain development. In the present review, we thoroughly examine the impact of senescence on the dopaminergic system, with a primary focus on the classic delimitations of the dopaminergic nuclei from A8 to A17. We provide in-depth information about their anatomy and function, particularly addressing how senescence affects each of these nuclei.

The Overview of Cognitive Aging Models

To understand the cause of the age-related decline in cognitive function and its underlying mechanism, the cognitive aging model can provide us with important insights. In this section, we will introduce behavioral and neural models about age-related cognitive changes. Among behavioral models, several aging theories were discussed from the perspectives of educational, biological, and sociological factors, which could explain parts of the aging process. With the development of imaging technology, many studies have discussed the neural mechanism of aging and successively proposed neural models to explain the aging phenomenon. Behavioral models and neural mechanism models supplement each other, gradually unveiling the mystery of cognitive aging.

Comparação dos aspectos da autoimagem e domínios da qualidade de vida em idosos praticantes e não praticantes de pilates em Curitiba, Paraná

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os aspectos da autoimagem e domínios da qualidade de vida em idosos praticantes e não praticantes de pilates na cidade de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. O estudo foi quantitativo, descritivo, comparativo e com delineamento transversal. A população da pesquisa foi formada por 93 idosos, após cálculo amostral com tamanho de efeito f (0,43). A amostra foi intencional e os participantes foram divididos em três grupos: grupo pilates, grupo hidroginástica e grupo não praticante. A pesquisa foi realizada por aplicação de questionário sociodemográfico, econômico, autoimagem, WHOQOL-BREF e OLD. A análise estatística foi feita por meio de avaliação comparativa com Anova, teste qui-quadrado e post hoc de Bonferroni. A comparação da autoimagem entre os grupos não mostrou nenhuma diferença significativa (X2=3,72, p=0,15), apesar de o número de participantes com baixa autoimagem ter sido alto. Nos domínios da qualidade de vidal, os grupos pilates e hidroginástica apresentaram maiores valores de média, em geral. No WHOQOL-OLD, foram identificadas diferenças significativas no domínio autonomia (F(2,90)= 7,46, p=0,001) entre os grupos pilates e hidroginástica, quando comparados ao grupo não praticantes. No domínio morte e morrer (F(2,90)=4,46, p=0,01), os maiores valores foram no grupo não praticantes em relação ao grupo pilates. Os resultados sugerem que a prática de atividade física pode beneficiar os idosos na questão da qualidade de vida, porém não isoladamente.

Tailoring digital apps to support active ageing in a low income community

Despite physical activity being one of the determinants of healthy aging, older people tend to become less active over the years. Maintaining physical activity levels during the life course is a motivational challenge. Digital tools have been used to change this pattern, such as smartphone applications to support physical activity; but there is a lack of in-depth research on the diversity of user's experiences, especially considering older users or non-users of information and communication technologies.

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to identify requirements for designing a mobile app to encourage physical activity in a low-income community population of older people in Brazil (i.e. over 40 years old).

METHOD

We conducted a qualitative focus group study, involving by co-design of a physical activity application (Pacer)®. Seventeen volunteers were divided into 2 focus groups of physical active and insufficiently active, and 2 further 4 subgroups in each characterised by digital engagement. The following procedures were performed: (i) baseline assessments; (ii) a focus group with physically active older people and a focus group with insufficiently active older people (iii) design activities with both groups to re-design Pacer.

RESULTS

Developing physical activity apps for older people should consider the following features: free application, simple interface, motivational messages using audio and visual information, sharing information among users, multimedia input and sharing and user customisation. In particular, we recommend that exercise apps in low-income communities be tailored to our four categories of users differing in baseline physical activity and digital engagement, to match the social and behavioural preferences we discovered.

Ascorbic acid and retinol palmitate modulatory effect on omeprazole-induced oxidative damage, and the cytogenetic changes in S. cerevisiae and S180 cells

Omeprazole (OM), a prototype proton pump inhibitor, oxidizes thiol groups and induces DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative effects of omeprazole and its interactions with ascorbic acid (AA, 50 μM) and retinol palmitate (RP) in proficient and deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, as well as levels of cytogenetic damage in Sarcoma 180 (S180) cells. Omeprazole was tested at concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 μg/mL, whereas H₂O₂ (10 mM), cyclophosphamide (20 mg/mL), and saline (0.9% NaCl solution) were employed as stressor, positive control, and negative control, respectively. Results revealed that omeprazole concentration-dependently induces oxidative effects in S. cerevisiae strains. However, omeprazole co-treated with ascorbic acid (50 μM) and retinol palmitate (100 IU) significantly modulated the oxidative damage inflected on the S. cerevisiae strains. Furthermore, omeprazole did not produce micronucleus formation and chromosomal bridges in S180 cells, but induced shoots. Significant increase in karyolysis and karyorrhexis were also observed with the omeprazole treated groups, which was modulated by co-treatment with ascorbic acid and retinol palmitate. Taken all together, it is suggested that ascorbic acid and retinol palmitate can substantially modulate the oxidative damage caused by omeprazole on the S. cerevisiae strains, however, much precaution is recommended with omeprazole and antioxidant co-treatment.

Falls and associated factors among elderly persons residing in the community

Abstract Objective: to identify the prevalence of falls among elderly persons and analyze fall-related factors. Method: a cross-sectional, population-based study conducted by household survey of 400 elderly subjects (aged 60 years or older) living in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil was carried out. The occurrence of falls in the last 12 months, sociodemographic factors, health profile and geriatric syndromes were observed. The crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were obtained using Poisson regression. A three-model hierarchical approach was applied in the multivariate analysis. In all the multivariate models, gender and age were defined as confounding variables. Variables which reached a level of p<0.05 in the first model were retained in the subsequent models. For all models the significance threshold was set at 0.05 and the variables which remained associated with the occurrence of falls in the 3rd model were retained in the final analysis. Result: the prevalence of falls was 35.3% (CI 95% = 30.7;40.0). Among the elderly persons who reported falls, 44% reported that they had fallen more than once. The majority of falls occurred at home (69.2%) and in the morning (46.7%). Age a reported difficulty walking remained significantly associated with the outcome after adjustments (3rd model). Conclusion: falls are frequent and are associated with increasing age and difficulty walking. The recognition of these factors is important for strategies to reduce falls and the promotion of a healthy aging by means of preventive and rehabilitation actions that target more vulnerable groups.

Quality of life of elderly patients with leg ulcers

Abstract Objectives: To identify compromised domains of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) for elderly individuals with leg ulcers and correlate their clinical and sociodemographic variables with the SF-36's components. Method: Exploratory and cross-sectional study conducted with 50 elderly individuals with leg ulcers. The instruments were the sociodemographic and clinical form and the SF-36. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used to analyze data. Results: Most were married, retired, and received one times the minimum wage, were Caucasians or of mixed race, and had hypertension. In regard to the SF-36, the most compromised domain was physical limitations, while social aspects and general health status were the less compromised domains. The SF-36 domains were not correlated with age, income, duration or size of the lesion or pain. Conclusion: The ulcer-related biopsychosocial aspects need to be considered in order to devise more effective nursing interventions.

AGING AND INDIVIDUAL VULNERABILITY: A PANORAMA OF OLDER ADULTS ATTENDED BY THE FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY

ABSTRACT Objective: identifying conditions of individual vulnerability in older adults and investigating the relationship with health indicators through a household survey. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 368 older adults attended by the Family Health Strategy. Data collection was performed through a structured interview, supported by instruments that include sociodemographic characterization, health indicators and the Vulnerable Elders Survey. A descriptive data analysis and Person's chi-square test were also performed. Results: a prevalence of 52.2% individual vulnerability was found among older adults, in addition to an association with health problems, negative self-perception of health, difficulty with mobility and in performing activities of daily living. Conclusion: identifying vulnerability among the aged population is a relevant initiative for the adequacy of health policies and programs that prioritize the promotion of aging with the maintenance of functional capacity.

Interaction between diabetes mellitus and hypertension on hearing of elderly

INTRODUCTION

Chronic diseases and metabolic changes may act as accelerating factor in the degeneration of the auditory system due to age. However, studies involving an association between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HA) in the elderly have shown controversial conclusions. Thus, further studies on this topic are needed in order to elucidate the effect of these chronic diseases on the auditory system.

AIM

To compare the hearing thresholds of elderly patients with DM, HA and DM + HA with a control group (CG).

METHODS

Retrospective study was conducted through survey charts of 80 elderly people with full hearing assessment, between 2008 and 2012. Subjects were divided into four groups: DM, HA, DM + HA and without chronic diseases known (CG). The ANOVA, Tukey and Mauchly tests, with a significance level of 0.05, were used.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the ears, which are grouped. Comparisons between the means of hearing thresholds of CG and DM or HA showed no statistically significant differences. However, a statistically significant difference in the comparison between these three groups and DM + HA group for several of the frequencies evaluated was observed.

CONCLUSION

It was found that older adults with DM and hypertension associated showed greater hearing impairment in comparison with the other groups, suggesting a synergistic effect of the two chronic diseases on hearing.

Structure and composition of arytenoid cartilage of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) during maturation and aging

The aging process induces progressive and irreversible changes in the structural and functional organization of animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aging on the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix of the arytenoid cartilage found in the larynx of male bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) kept in captivity for commercial purposes. Animals at 7, 180 and 1080 days post-metamorphosis (n=10/age) were euthanized and the cartilage was removed and processed for structural and biochemical analysis. For the structural analyses, cartilage sections were stained with picrosirius, toluidine blue, Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin and Von Kossa stain. The sections were also submitted to immunohistochemistry for detection of collagen types I and II. Other samples were processed for the ultrastructural and cytochemical analysis of proteoglycans. Histological sections were used to chondrocyte count. The number of positive stainings for proteoglycans was quantified by ultrastructural analysis. For quantification and analysis of glycosaminoglycans were used the dimethyl methylene blue and agarose gel electrophoresis methods. The chloramine T method was used for hydroxyproline quantification. At 7 days, basophilia was observed in the pericellular and territorial matrix, which decreased in the latter over the period studied. Collagen fibers were arranged perpendicular to the major axis of the cartilaginous plate and were thicker in older animals. Few calcification areas were observed at the periphery of the cartilage specimens in 1080-day-old animals. Type II collagen was present throughout the stroma at the different ages. Elastic fibers were found in the stroma and perichondrium and increased with age in the two regions. Proteoglycan staining significantly increased from 7 to 180 days and reduced at 1080 days. The amount of total glycosaminoglycans was higher in 180-day-old animals compared to the other ages, with marked presence of chondroitin- and dermatan-sulfate especially in this age. The content of hydroxyproline, which infers the total collagen concentration, was higher in 1080-day-old animals compared to the other ages. The results demonstrated the elastic nature of the arytenoid cartilage of L. catesbeianus and the occurrence of age-related changes in the structural organization and composition of the extracellular matrix. These changes may contribute to alter the function of the larynx in the animal during aging.