Are We Ill Because We Age?

Acrobatic training prevents learning impairments and astrocyte remodeling in the hippocampus of rats undergoing chronic cerebral hypoperfusion: sex-specific benefits

Background

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) leads to memory and learning impairments associated with degeneration and gliosis in the hippocampus. Treatment with physical exercise carries different therapeutic benefits for each sex. We investigated the effects of acrobatic training on astrocyte remodeling in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus and spatial memory impairment in male and female rats at different stages of the two-vessel occlusion (2VO) model.

Methods

Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups of males and females: 2VO acrobatic, 2VO sedentary, sham acrobatic, and sham sedentary. The acrobatic training was performed for 4 weeks prior to the 2VO procedure. Brain samples were collected for morphological and biochemical analysis at 3 and 7 days after 2VO. The dorsal hippocampi were removed and prepared for Western blot quantification of Akt, p-Akt, COX IV, cleaved caspase-3, PARP, and GFAP. GFAP immunofluorescence was performed on slices of the hippocampus to count astrocytes and apply the Sholl's circle technique. The Morris water maze was run after 45 days of 2VO.

Results

Acutely, the trained female rats showed increased PARP expression, and the 2VO-trained rats of both sexes presented increased GFAP levels in Western blot. Training, mainly in males, induced an increase in the number of astrocytes in the CA1 subfield. The 2VO rats presented branched astrocytes, while acrobatic training prevented branching. However, the 2VO-induced spatial memory impairment was partially prevented by the acrobatic training.

Conclusion

Acrobatic training restricted the astrocytic remodeling caused by 2VO in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus. The improvement in spatial memory was associated with more organized glial scarring in the trained rats and better cell viability observed in females.

Is Aging a Disease? A Critical Review Within the Framework of Ageism

Ageism is a type of discrimination characterized by negative social representations of old age and aging, with prejudices and stereotypes that cause rejection and marginalization of older adults, generally considering them as fragile and unproductive. For this reason, it is recognized as one of the main enemies of healthy aging, especially when it arises from the scientific and professional fields. In this sense, the proposals promoted by some researchers regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying aging as a disease goes against the healthy aging approach. In this sense, we consider that there is no theoretical or scientific support to classify aging as a disease, so we must advocate before the WHO so that aging is eliminated within its disease classification codes. In this framework, this review proposes the concept of "hallmarks of ageism" defined as the characteristics, representations and attitudes of rejection and discrimination towards aging, old age and older people, at the political and institutional, scientific or professional, technological and digital, social, family and personal levels, which are presented in an articulated and structured manner. For this reason, it is essential to comprehensively identify and analyze the "hallmarks of ageism", in order to propose programs that include strategies and public policies that promote "anti-ageism" as a counterproposal to the "hallmarks of aging", whose biological changes related to aging are intended to be comparable to chronic non-communicable diseases.

Development and validation of a scale to assess the belief that 'age causes illness'

OBJECTIVES

Self-directed ageism is the application of stereotypic age-related beliefs to oneself, and is known to negatively impact health-related motivation (Levy, 2003;  2022). This study focused on the specific self-directed stereotype that 'age causes illness' and aimed to develop and test a multi-item measure to assess this implicit, limiting belief.

METHODS AND MEASURES

Survey data was collected from N = 347 adults in southeastern Idaho (ages 45-65 years old, 60% female). A variety of measures were used to assess the discriminant, convergent and predictive validity of the Age Causes Illness scale including: socio-demographics (age, sex, education), psychosocial resources (personality, optimism, social support, depressive symptoms), health/aging expectations, and indicators of physical health.

RESULTS

The seven-item Age Causes Illness scale is reliable and shows an expected pattern of discriminant and convergent correlations with relevant socio-demographic, psychosocial, and aging-related measures. The belief that 'age causes illness,' as assessed with this new scale, is related to both objective and subjective indicators of physical health.

CONCLUSIONS

The Age Causes Illness scale is a brief screening tool, potentially applicable in behavioral health settings as an initial step toward discussion of the implicit, and often unchallenged, belief that age alone determines the onset, progression, and offset of illness.

Lipids and the hallmarks of ageing: From pathology to interventions

Lipids are critical structural and functional architects of cellular homeostasis. Change in systemic lipid profile is a clinical indicator of underlying metabolic pathologies, and emerging evidence is now defining novel roles of lipids in modulating organismal ageing. Characteristic alterations in lipid metabolism correlate with age, and impaired systemic lipid profile can also accelerate the development of ageing phenotype. The present work provides a comprehensive review of the extent of lipids as regulators of the modern hallmarks of ageing viz., cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, telomere attrition, genome instability, proteostasis and autophagy, epigenetic alterations, and stem cells dysfunctions. Current evidence on the modulation of each of these hallmarks has been discussed with emphasis on inherent age-dependent deficiencies in lipid metabolism as well as exogenous lipid changes. There appears to be sufficient evidence to consider impaired lipid metabolism as key driver of the ageing process although much of knowledge is yet fragmented. Considering dietary lipids, the type and quantity of lipids in the diet is a significant, but often overlooked determinant that governs the effects of lipids on ageing. Further research using integrative approaches amidst the known aging hallmarks is highly desirable for understanding the therapeutics of lipids associated with ageing.

Functional fitness, lifestyle and demographic factors as predictors of perceived physical and mental health in older adults: A structural equation model

Over the past 50 years, socioeconomic development has brought a reduction in birth rates, an increase in life expectancy and consequently in the elderly population. For this reason, there has been an increasing focus on physical and mental health of the elderly, promoting the concept of healthy aging. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between perceived physical and mental health of older adults and a variety of determinants, such as demographic factors, physical functional fitness, physical activity level, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and anthropometric indices, through a structural equation modeling (SEM). A cross-sectional observational study involved 208 elderly (24 men and 184 women) over the age of 60, fully independent and autonomous. Perceived physical and mental health were assessed with the Short Form 12 questionnaire. Basic sociodemographic information was collected; anthropometric features were directly measured, functional fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Test, and physical activity level was determined through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD) was also collected through the MEDAS questionnaire. The SEM analysis revealed that functional fitness, which was a latent variable of the model described by the six administered fitness tests, was a strong predictor both of perceived physical and perceived mental health in the sample of elderly. Physical activity level was as predictor of the perceived physical component, but not of the mental health, while score of metabolic equivalent task did not result a predictor, as well as the sociodemographic factors and adherence to MD. The present findings suggest that it would be strongly recommended for elderly subjects to engage in physical activity specifically targeted to aged populations, in order to enhance their fitness abilities and enable them to improve the perception of their own health status.

Lipid rafts and human diseases: why we need to target gangliosides

Gangliosides are functional components of membrane lipid rafts that control critical functions in cell communication. Many pathologies involve raft gangliosides, which therefore represent an approach of choice for developing innovative therapeutic strategies. Beginning with a discussion of what a disease is (and is not), this review lists the major human pathologies that involve gangliosides, which includes cancer, diabetes, and infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. In most cases, the problem is due to a protein whose binding to gangliosides either creates a pathological condition or impairs a physiological function. Then, I draw up an inventory of the different molecular mechanisms of protein-ganglioside interactions. I propose to classify the ganglioside-binding domains of proteins into four categories, which I name GBD-1, GBD-2, GBD-3, and GBD-4. This structural and functional classification could help to rationalize the design of innovative molecules capable of disrupting the binding of selected proteins to gangliosides without generating undesirable effects. The biochemical specificities of gangliosides expressed in the human brain must also be taken into account to improve the reliability of animal models (or any animal-free alternative) of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Aging, cell senescence, the pathogenesis and targeted therapies of intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) refers to the aging and degenerative diseases of intervertebral disc components such as nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and cartilage endplate, and is the main cause of chronic low back pain. Over the past few years, many researchers around the world concerned that the degeneration of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells plays the main role in IVDD. The degeneration of NP cells is caused by a series of pathological processes, including oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, abnormal proliferation, and autophagy. Interestingly, many studies have found a close relationship between the senescence of NP cells and the progression of NP degeneration. The classical aging pathways also have been confirmed to be involved in the pathological process of IVDD. Moreover, several anti-aging drugs have been used to treat IVDD by inhibiting NP cells senescence, such as proanthocyanidins, resveratrol and bone morphogenetic protein 2. Therefore, this article will systematically list and discuss aging, cell senescence, the pathogenesis and targeted therapies of IVDD, in order to provide new ideas for the treatment of IVDD in the future.

Immunology of Aging: the Birth of Inflammaging

The inflammaging concept was introduced in 2000 by Prof. Franceschi. This was an evolutionary or rather a revolutionary conceptualization of the immune changes in response to a lifelong stress. This conceptualization permitted to consider the lifelong proinflammatory process as an adaptation which could eventually lead to either beneficial or detrimental consequences. This dichotomy is influenced by both the genetics and the environment. Depending on which way prevails in an individual, the outcome may be healthy longevity or pathological aging burdened with aging-related diseases. The concept of inflammaging has also revealed the complex, systemic nature of aging. Thus, this conceptualization opens the way to consider age-related processes in their complexity, meaning that not only the process but also all counter-processes should be considered. It has also opened the way to add new concepts to the original one, leading to better understanding of the nature of inflammaging and of aging itself. Finally, it showed the way towards potential multimodal interventions involving a holistic approach to optimize the aging process towards a healthy longevity.

The effect of high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure on biological aging indicators

BACKGROUND

Aging represents a serious health and socioeconomic concern for our society. However, not all people age in the same way and air pollution has been shown to largely impact this process. We explored whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), excellent fossil and wood burning tracers, accelerate biological aging detected by lymphocytes DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) and telomere length (TL), early nuclear DNA (nDNA) hallmarks of non-mitotic and mitotic cellular aging, and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn).

METHODS

The study population consisted of 49 male noncurrent-smoking coke-oven workers and 44 matched controls. Occupational and environmental sources of PAH exposures were evaluated by structured questionnaire and internal dose (urinary 1-pyrenol). We estimated Occup_PAHs, the product of 1-pyrenol and years of employment as coke-oven workers, and Environ_PAHs, from multiple items (diet, indoor and outdoor). Biological aging was determined by DNAmAge, via pyrosequencing, and by TL and mtDNAcn, via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Genomic instability markers in lymphocytes as target dose [anti-benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (anti-BPDE)-DNA adduct], genetic instability (micronuclei), gene-specific (p53, IL6 and HIC1) and global (Alu and LINE-1 repeats) DNA methylation, and genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1) were also evaluated in the latent variable nDNA_changes. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis evaluated these multifaceted relationships.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, biological aging was higher in coke-oven workers than controls as detected by higher percentage of subjects with biological age older than chronological age (AgeAcc ≥ 0, p = 0.007) and TL (p = 0.038), mtDNAcn was instead similar. Genomic instability, i.e., genotoxic and epigenetic alterations (LINE-1, p53 and Alu) and latent variable nDNA_changes were higher in workers (p < 0.001). In SEM analysis, DNAmAge and TL were positively correlated with Occup_PAHs (p < 0.0001). Instead, mtDNAcn is positively correlated with the latent variable nDNA_changes (p < 0.0001) which is in turn triggered by Occup_PAHs and Environ_PAHs.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupational PAHs exposure influences DNAmAge and TL, suggesting that PAHs target both non-mitotic and mitotic mechanisms and made coke-oven workers biologically older. Also, differences in mtDNAcn, which is modified through nDNA alterations, triggered by environmental and occupational PAH exposure, suggested a nuclear-mitochondrial core-axis of aging. By decreasing this risky gerontogenic exposure, biological aging and the consequent age-related diseases could be prevented.

Thymosin beta-4 denotes new directions towards developing prosperous anti-aging regenerative therapies

Our dream of defeating the processes of organ damage and aging remains a challenge scientists pursued for hundreds of years. Although the goal is to successfully treat the body as a whole, steps towards regenerating individual organs are even considered significant. Since initial approaches utilizing only progenitor cells appear limited, we propose interconnecting our collective knowledge regarding aging and embryonic development may lead to the discovery of molecules which provide alternatives to effectively reverse cellular damage. In this review, we introduce and summarize our results regarding Thymosin beta-4 (TB4) to support our hypothesis using the heart as model system. Accordingly, we investigated the developmental expression of TB4 in mouse embryos and determined the impact of the molecule in adult animals by systemically injecting the peptide following acute cardiac infarction or with no injury. Our results proved, TB4 is expressed in the developing heart and promotes cardiac cell migration and survival. In adults, the peptide enhances myocyte survival and improves cardiac function after coronary artery ligation. Moreover, intravenous injections of TB4 alter the morphology of the adult epicardium, and the changes resemble the characteristics of the embryo. Reactivation of the embryonic program became equally reflected by the increased number of cardiac vessels and by the alteration of the gene expression profile typical of the embryonic state. Moreover, we discovered TB4 is capable of epicardial progenitor activation, and revealed the effect is independent of hypoxic injury. By observing the above results, we believe, further discoveries and consequential postnatal administration of developmentally relevant candidate molecules such as TB4 may likely result in reversing aging processes and accelerate organ regeneration in the human body.

Effects of Culinary Spices on Liking and Consumption of Protein Rich Foods in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Insufficient protein intake is a common challenge among older adults, leading to loss of muscle mass, decreased function and reduced quality of life. A protein intake of 0.4 g/kg body weight/meal is recommended to help prevent muscle loss. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the protein intake of 0.4 g/kg body weight/meal could be achieved with typical foods and whether culinary spices could enhance protein intake. A lunch meal test was conducted in 100 community-dwelling volunteers; 50 were served a meat entrée and 50 were served a vegetarian entrée with or without added culinary spices. Food consumption, liking and perceived flavor intensity were assessed using a randomized, two-period, within subjects crossover design. Within the meat or vegetarian treatments, there were no differences in entrée or meal intakes between spiced and non-spiced meals. Participants fed meat consumed 0.41 g protein/kg body weight/meal, while the vegetarian intake was 0.25 g protein/kg body weight/meal. The addition of spice to the vegetarian entrée significantly increased liking and flavor intensity of both the entrée and the entire meal, while spice addition only increased flavor for the meat offering. Culinary spices may be a useful tool to improve the liking and flavor of high-quality protein sources among older adults, especially when used with plant-based foods, although improving liking and flavor alone are insufficient to increase protein intake.

Aging, Physical Exercise, Telomeres, and Sarcopenia: A Narrative Review

Human aging is a gradual and adaptive process characterized by a decrease in the homeostatic response, leading to biochemical and molecular changes that are driven by hallmarks of aging, such as oxidative stress (OxS), chronic inflammation, and telomere shortening. One of the diseases associated with the hallmarks of aging, which has a great impact on functionality and quality of life, is sarcopenia. However, the relationship between telomere length, sarcopenia, and age-related mortality has not been extensively studied. Moderate physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on sarcopenia, decreasing OxS and inflammation, and inducing protective effects on telomeric DNA. This results in decreased DNA strand breaks, reduced OxS and IA, and activation of repair pathways. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with an apparent increase in telomere length. This review aims to present the current state of the art of knowledge on the effect of physical exercise on telomeric maintenance and activation of repair mechanisms in sarcopenia.

Are menopause, aging and prostate cancer diseases?

There is no doubt that prostate cancer is a disease. Then, according to hyperfunction theory, menopause is also a disease. Like all age-related diseases, it is a natural process, but is also purely harmful, aimless and unintended by nature. But exactly because these diseases (menopause, prostate enlargement, obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, presbyopia and thousands of others) are partially quasi-programmed, they can be delayed by slowing aging. Is aging a disease? Aging is a quasi-programmed disease that is partially treatable by rapamycin. On the other hand, aging is an abstraction, a sum of all quasi-programmed diseases and processes. In analogy, the zoo consists of animals and does not exist without animals, but the zoo is not an animal.

Progeria and Aging-Omics Based Comparative Analysis

Since ancient times aging has also been regarded as a disease, and humankind has always strived to extend the natural lifespan. Analyzing the genes involved in aging and disease allows for finding important indicators and biological markers for pathologies and possible therapeutic targets. An example of the use of omics technologies is the research regarding aging and the rare and fatal premature aging syndrome progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, HGPS). In our study, we focused on the in silico analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in progeria and aging, using a publicly available RNA-Seq dataset (GEO dataset GSE113957) and a variety of bioinformatics tools. Despite the GSE113957 RNA-Seq dataset being well-known and frequently analyzed, the RNA-Seq data shared by Fleischer et al. is far from exhausted and reusing and repurposing the data still reveals new insights. By analyzing the literature citing the use of the dataset and subsequently conducting a comparative analysis comparing the RNA-Seq data analyses of different subsets of the dataset (healthy children, nonagenarians and progeria patients), we identified several genes involved in both natural aging and progeria (KRT8, KRT18, ACKR4, CCL2, UCP2, ADAMTS15, ACTN4P1, WNT16, IGFBP2). Further analyzing these genes and the pathways involved indicated their possible roles in aging, suggesting the need for further in vitro and in vivo research. In this paper, we (1) compare "normal aging" (nonagenarians vs. healthy children) and progeria (HGPS patients vs. healthy children), (2) enlist genes possibly involved in both the natural aging process and progeria, including the first mention of IGFBP2 in progeria, (3) predict miRNAs and interactomes for WNT16 (hsa-mir-181a-5p), UCP2 (hsa-mir-26a-5p and hsa-mir-124-3p), and IGFBP2 (hsa-mir-124-3p, hsa-mir-126-3p, and hsa-mir-27b-3p), (4) demonstrate the compatibility of well-established R packages for RNA-Seq analysis for researchers interested but not yet familiar with this kind of analysis, and (5) present comparative proteomics analyses to show an association between our RNA-Seq data analyses and corresponding changes in protein expression.

Oxidative stress, aging, antioxidant supplementation and their impact on human health: An overview

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of tissue and organ function due to genetic and environmental factors, nutrition, and lifestyle. Oxidative stress is one the most important mechanisms of cellular senescence and increased frailty, resulting in several age-linked, noncommunicable diseases. Contributing events include genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic mechanisms, reduced proteome homeostasis, altered stem-cell function, defective intercellular communication, progressive deregulation of nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic unbalance. These complex events and their interplay can be modulated by dietary habits and the ageing process, acting as potential measures of primary and secondary prevention. Promising nutritional approaches include the Mediterranean diet, the intake of dietary antioxidants, and the restriction of caloric intake. A comprehensive understanding of the ageing processes should promote new biomarkers of risk or diagnosis, but also beneficial treatments oriented to increase lifespan.

Nutritional components as mitigators of cellular senescence in organismal aging: a comprehensive review

The process of cellular senescence is rapidly emerging as a modulator of organismal aging and disease. Targeting the development and removal of senescent cells is considered a viable approach to achieving improved organismal healthspan and lifespan. Nutrition and health are intimately linked and an appropriate dietary regimen can greatly impact organismal response to stress and diseases including during aging. With a renewed focus on cellular senescence, emerging studies demonstrate that both primary and secondary nutritional elements such as carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and probiotics can influence multiple aspects of cellular senescence. The present review describes the recent molecular aspects of cellular senescence-mediated understanding of aging and then studies available evidence of the cellular senescence modulatory attributes of major and minor dietary elements. Underlying pathways and future research directions are deliberated to promote a nutrition-centric approach for targeting cellular senescence and thus improving human health and longevity.

How aging of the global population is changing oncology

Population aging is causing a demographic redistribution with implications for the future of healthcare. How will this affect oncology? First, there will be an overall rise in cancer affecting older adults, even though age-specific cancer incidences continue to fall due to better prevention. Second, there will be a wider spectrum of health functionality in this expanding cohort of older adults, with differences between “physiologically older” and “physiologically younger” patients becoming more important for optimal treatment selection. Third, greater teamwork with supportive care, geriatric, mental health and rehabilitation experts will come to enrich oncologic decision-making by making it less formulaic than it is at present. Success in this transition to a more nuanced professional mindset will depend in part on the development of user-friendly computational tools that can integrate a complex mix of quantitative and qualitative inputs from evidence-based medicine, functional and cognitive assessments, and the personal priorities of older adults.

Opportunities and Challenges in Stem Cell Aging

Studying aging, as a physiological process that can cause various pathological phenotypes, has attracted lots of attention due to its increasing burden and prevalence. Therefore, understanding its mechanism to find novel therapeutic alternatives for age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases is essential. Stem cell senescence plays an important role in aging. In the context of the underlying pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic and genetic alterations, and other mechanisms have been studied and as a consequence, several rejuvenation strategies targeting these mechanisms like pharmaceutical interventions, genetic modification, and cellular reprogramming have been proposed. On the other hand, since stem cells have great potential for disease modeling, they have been useful for representing aging and its associated disorders. Accordingly, the main mechanisms of senescence in stem cells and promising ways of rejuvenation, along with some examples of stem cell models for aging are introduced and discussed. This review aims to prepare a comprehensive summary of the findings by focusing on the most recent ones to shine a light on this area of research.

Sex-specific remodeling of T-cell compartment with aging: Implications for rat susceptibility to central nervous system autoimmune diseases

The incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and susceptibility of animals to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used experimental model of MS, decrease with aging. Generally, autoimmune diseases develop as the ultimate outcome of an imbalance between damaging immune responses against self and regulatory immune responses (keeping the former under control). Thus, in this review the age-related changes possibly underlying this balance were discussed. Specifically, considering the central role of T cells in MS/EAE, the impact of aging on overall functional capacity (reflecting both overall count and individual functional cell properties) of self-reactive conventional T cells (Tcons) and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), as the most potent immunoregulatory/suppressive cells, was analyzed, as well. The analysis encompasses three distinct compartments: thymus (the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the elimination of self-reactive T cells - negative selection and the generation of Tregs, compensating for imperfections of the negative selection), peripheral blood/lymphoid tissues ("afferent" compartment), and brain/spinal cord tissues ("target" compartment). Given that the incidence of MS and susceptibility of animals to EAE are greater in women/females than in age-matched men/males, sex as independent variable was also considered. In conclusion, with aging, sex-specific alterations in the balance of self-reactive Tcons/Tregs are likely to occur not only in the thymus/"afferent" compartment, but also in the "target" compartment, reflecting multifaceted changes in both T-cell types. Their in depth understanding is important not only for envisaging effects of aging, but also for designing interventions to slow-down aging without any adverse effect on incidence of autoimmune diseases.

A Review on Recent Advancement on Age-Related Hearing Loss: The Applications of Nanotechnology, Drug Pharmacology, and Biotechnology

Aging is considered a contributing factor to many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss, also termed presbycusis, is one of the most common sensory impairments worldwide, affecting one in five people over 50 years of age, and this prevalence is growing annually. Associations have emerged between presbycusis and detrimental health outcomes, including social isolation and mental health. It remains largely untreatable apart from hearing aids, and with no globally established prevention strategies in the clinical setting. Hence, this review aims to explore the pathophysiology of presbycusis and potential therapies, based on a recent advancement in bile acid-based bio-nanotechnologies. A comprehensive online search was carried out using the following keywords: presbycusis, drugs, hearing loss, bile acids, nanotechnology, and more than 150 publications were considered directly relevant. Evidence of the multifaceted oxidative stress and chronic inflammation involvement in cellular damage and apoptosis that is associated with a loss of hair cells, damaged and inflamed stria vascularis, and neuronal signalling loss and apoptosis continues to emerge. New robust and effective therapies require drug delivery deeper into the various layers of the cochlea. Bile acid-based nanotechnology has gained wide interest in its permeation-enhancing ability and potential for numerous applications in treating presbycusis.

Utilizing Developmentally Essential Secreted Peptides Such as Thymosin Beta-4 to Remind the Adult Organs of Their Embryonic State-New Directions in Anti-Aging Regenerative Therapies

Our dream of defeating the processes of aging has occupied the curious and has challenged scientists globally for hundreds of years. The history is long, and sadly, the solution is still elusive. Our endeavors to reverse the magnitude of damaging cellular and molecular alterations resulted in only a few, yet significant advancements. Furthermore, as our lifespan increases, physicians are facing more mind-bending questions in their routine practice than ever before. Although the ultimate goal is to successfully treat the body as a whole, steps towards regenerating individual organs are even considered significant. As our initial approach to enhance the endogenous restorative capacity by delivering exogenous progenitor cells appears limited, we propose, utilizing small molecules critical during embryonic development may prove to be a powerful tool to increase regeneration and to reverse the processes associated with aging. In this review, we introduce Thymosin beta-4, a 43aa secreted peptide fulfilling our hopes and capable of numerous regenerative achievements via systemic administration in the heart. Observing the broad capacity of this small, secreted peptide, we believe it is not the only molecule which nature conceals to our benefit. Hence, the discovery and postnatal administration of developmentally relevant agents along with other approaches may result in reversing the aging process.

Aging affects cognition and hippocampal ultrastructure in male Wistar rats

It is now well established that aging is associated with emotional and cognitive changes. Although the basis of such changes is not fully understood, ultrastructural alterations in key brain areas are likely contributing factors. Recently, we reported that aging-related anxiety in male Wistar rats is associated with ultrastructural changes in the central nucleus of amygdala, an area that plays important role in emotional regulation. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive performance of adolescent, adult, and aged male Wistar rats in multi-branch maze (MBM) as well as in Morris water maze (MWM). We also performed ultrastructural analysis of the CA1 region of the hippocampus, an area intimately involved in cognitive function. The behavioral data indicate significant impairments in few indices of cognitive functions in both tests in aged rats compared to the other two age groups. Concomitantly, a total number of presynaptic vesicles as well as vesicles in the resting pool were significantly lower, whereas postsynaptic mitochondrial area was significantly higher in aged rats compared to the other age groups. No significant differences in presynaptic terminal area or postsynaptic mitochondrial number were detected between the three age groups. These results indicate that selective ultrastructural changes in specific hippocampal region may accompany cognitive decline in aging rats.

The dual role of the immune system in the course of COVID-19. The fatal impact of the aging immune system

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Since October 2020 the second wave of the pandemic has been observed around the world, as pathogen specific herd immunity has not been built yet. Moreover, the current, more contagious pathogen carrying the D614G mutation has become the globally dominant form of SARS-CoV-2. In this article we present the current state of knowledge on the impact of ACE2 and the reninangiotensin system (RAS) and the innate immune system on different outcomes of COVID-19. Especially, we point out the dual role of the immune system and ACE2 in pathogenesis of the disease. Namely, at the initial stage of the infection anti-viral activity of innate immunity is responsible for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. On the other hand, a dysregulated immune response may cause the detrimental hyperinflammation ("cytokine storm") responsible for the severe course of the disease. Concomitantly, we analyse the roles of ACE2 in both facilitation of infection and abrogation of its effects, as the major cellular entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and an important enzyme responsible for tissue protection, respectively. Finally, we discuss the dominant impact of aging on the fatal outcome of COVID-19.

Heart Matters: Cardiac Dysfunction and Other Autonomic Changes in Parkinson's Disease

It has been more than 200 years since James Parkinson made the first descriptions of the disease that bears his name. Since then, knowledge about Parkinson's disease has been improved, and its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatments are well described in the scientific and medical literature. However, there is no way to prevent the disease from its progressive nature yet and only its symptoms can be minimized. It is known that the process of neurodegeneration begins before the onset of motor signs and symptoms of the disease, when diagnosis is usually made. Therefore, recognizing manifested non-motor symptoms can make an early diagnosis possible and lead to a better understanding of the disease. Autonomic dysfunctions are important non-motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease and affect the majority of patients. Importantly, heart failure is the third leading cause of death in people suffering from Parkinson's disease. Several evidences have shown the correlation between Parkinson's disease and the preexistence of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, cardiovascular monitoring and identification of its dysfunctions can have a prodromal role for Parkinson's disease. This review presents studies of the literature that can lead to a better understanding of Parkinson's disease with special attention to its relation to heart and cardiovascular parameters.

Insights from evolutionarily relevant models for human ageing

As the world confronts the health challenges of an ageing population, there has been dramatically increased interest in the science of ageing. This research has overwhelmingly focused on age-related disease, particularly in industrialized human populations and short-lived laboratory animal models. However, it has become clear that humans and long-lived primates age differently than many typical model organisms, and that many of the diseases causing death and disability in the developed world are greatly exacerbated by modern lifestyles. As such, research on how the human ageing process evolved is vital to understanding the origins of prolonged human lifespan and factors increasing vulnerability to degenerative disease. In this issue, we highlight emerging comparative research on primates, highlighting the physical, physiological, behavioural and cognitive processes of ageing. This work comprises data and theory on non-human primates, as well as under-represented data on humans living in small-scale societies, which help elucidate how environment shapes senescence. Component papers address (i) the critical processes that comprise senescence in long-lived primates; (ii) the social, ecological or individual characteristics that predict variation in the pace of ageing; and (iii) the complicated relationship between ageing trajectories and disease outcomes. Collectively, this work provides essential comparative, evolutionary data on ageing and demonstrates its unique potential to inform our understanding of the human ageing process. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution of the primate ageing process'.

Dietary Protein Intake Patterns and Inadequate Protein Intake in Older Adults from Four Countries

Recent interest in protein intake per meal is observed in studies that have reported the protein intake patterns in different countries; however, comparisons of these data are lacking. We aimed to compare protein intake patterns and the percentage of inadequate protein intake (IPI) per day and meal in older adults from different countries. We acquired data of protein intake in older adults from four countries (Mexico, United States of America, Germany, and United Kingdom). We compared protein intake (per day and meal), IPI per day and meal, and the number of meals with an adequate protein content among countries. The IPI per day significantly differed among countries for <0.8 and <1.0 (both p < 0.001), but not for <1.2 g/kg/d (p = 0.135). IPI per meal (<30 g/meal) did not differ among countries at breakfast (p = 0.287) and lunch (p = 0.076) but did differ at dinner (p < 0.001). Conversely, IPI per meal (<0.4 g/kg/meal) significantly differed among countries at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (all p < 0.001). The percentage of participants that ate ≥30 g/meal or ≥0.4 g/kg/meal at zero, one, and two or three meals per day significantly differed among countries (all p < 0.05). IPI at breakfast and lunch (<30 g/meal) was a common trait in the analyzed samples and might represent an opportunity for nutritional interventions in older adults in different countries.

Coprevalence of Presbycusis and Its Effect on Outcome of Voice Therapy in Patients With Presbyphonia

OBJECTIVE

To identify the coprevalence of presbycusis and presbycusis and analyze the effect of presbycusis on compliance and result of voice therapy in presbycusis patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, prospective cohort study initially screened patients aged ≥65 years who visited our hospital from February 2019 to January 2020. Unaided pure tone audiometry was performed in these subjects to determine the presence of presbycusis. Perceptual voice assessment by an examiner was conducted for screening of presbycusis, and its diagnosis was confirmed through the voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10) questionnaire and a laryngoscopic exam. Patients with presbycusis underwent voice therapy and were assessed for their compliance and outcomes of the treatment according to the coexistence of presbycusis.

RESULTS

Among the 221 patients, presbycusis and presbycusis were diagnosed in 125 (56.6%) and 110 (49.8%) patients, respectively. The copresence of these two disorders were identified in 87 (39.4%) patients, and there was a significant correlation between presbycusis and presbycusis. The effects of voice therapy were examined in the consecutive 40 patients who were diagnosed with presbycusis. There were 21 patients without presbycusis and 19 patients with presbycusis. The average pretreatment voice handicap index-10 score was significantly higher in presbycusis patients; there was no significant difference in the incidence of dropout from voice therapy between the groups. The patients without presbycusis showed a significant improvement in the functional communication measurement (FCM) level and maximum phonation time (MPT) compared with those of patients with presbycusis after voice therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Presbyphonia and presbycusis coexisted in many elderly people. The improvement in the FCM level and MPT after voice therapy was relatively low if patients with presbycusis accompanied by presbycusis. The copresence of presbycusis did not significantly affect compliance with voice therapy in the patients.

Phosphate and Kidney Healthy Aging

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The aging population is increasing rapidly, much faster than our understanding on how to promote healthy aging free of multimorbidities. The aging kidney shows a decline in its function. Whether this decline is preventable or physiological is still debated. Main risks factors for developing CKD are aging common comorbidites, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Phosphate is vital for our organism, but it is also present in a great variety of food products as food additive and preservative. Due to the higher consumption of processed food in the last century, concern has arisen if a chronic high consumption of phosphate may be toxic impacting on healthy aging. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> Several studies show an association between higher serum phosphate levels and a higher risk of overall mortality and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, higher phosphate levels also worsen CKD progression and may contribute to renal dysfunction in healthy individuals. Acute high phosphate intake is rare but can cause acute kidney injury. Yet, the question if controlling phosphate intake may modulate serum phosphate concentrations remains unanswered, as assessment of phosphate intake is still a difficult task. Phosphate consumption estimations by dietary recalls are largely underestimated, especially in populations groups consuming high amount of processed food. <b><i>Key Message:</i></b> A healthy diet with phosphate source from food may contribute to promote healthy aging and longevity.