Differences in genome-wide gene expression response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells between young and old men upon caloric restriction

Background

Caloric restriction (CR) is considered to increase lifespan and to prevent various age-related diseases in different nonhuman organisms. Only a limited number of CR studies have been performed on humans, and results put CR as a beneficial tool to decrease risk factors in several age-related diseases. The question remains at what age CR should be implemented to be most effective with respect to healthy aging. The aim of our study was to elucidate the role of age in the transcriptional response to a completely controlled 30 % CR diet on immune cells, as immune response is affected during aging. Ten healthy young men, aged 20–28, and nine healthy old men, aged 64–85, were subjected to a 2-week weight maintenance diet, followed by 3 weeks of 30 % CR. Before and after 30 % CR, the whole genome gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was assessed.

Results

Expression of 554 genes showed a different response between young and old men upon CR. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed a downregulation of gene sets involved in the immune response in young but not in old men. At baseline, immune response-related genes were higher expressed in old compared to young men. Upstream regulator analyses revealed that most potential regulators were controlling the immune response.

Conclusions

Based on the gene expression data, we theorise that a short period of CR is not effective in old men regarding immune-related pathways while it is effective in young men.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00561145

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12263-016-0528-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Day care at green care farms: a novel way to stimulate dietary intake of community-dwelling older people with dementia?

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare dietary intake of older people with dementia receiving day care at regular day care facilities (RDCFs) or at so-called green care farms (GCFs).

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A comparative cross-sectional study was performed at 10 GCFs and 10 RDCFs in the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

30 subjects from GCFs and 23 subjects from RDCFs, aged 65 years or over, were included in the study. Subjects from GCFs were mostly married males who were aged younger than the subjects from RDCFs who were mostly widowed females.

MEASUREMENTS

Dietary intake of the subjects was observed and/or recorded both at home and during their time at the day care facility.

RESULTS

In the GCF group, average total energy intake was significantly higher than in the RDCF group (8.8 MJ/d vs. 7.2 MJ/d). Also total carbohydrates and protein intakes were higher in the GCF group than in the RDCF group (with 257 g/d vs. 204 g/d, and 76 g/d vs. 65 g/d respectively). In addition, average total fluid intake was significantly higher in the GCF group than in the RDCF group (2577 g/d vs. 1973 g/d). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that after taking possible confounders into account, day care type was still significantly related to the intake of energy, carbohydrates and fluids.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests beneficial effects of this new type of day care on dietary intake by community-dwelling older people with dementia.

Characterization of different groups of elderly according to social engagement activity patterns

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to segment older people in subgroups with similar social engagement activity patterns in order to better target public health interventions.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional data, collected in 2005 by Dutch community health services (response 79%), from 22026 independently living elderly aged 65 or older were used. Cluster analysis was performed to derive subgroups with common social engagement activity patterns, which were compared for their self-perceived health, mental health, physical health, and loneliness.

RESULTS

Among the independently living older people, five subgroups were identified with different patterns of social engagement activities: less social engaged elderly, less social engaged caregivers, social engaged caregivers, leisure engaged elderly, and productive engaged elderly. The subgroups differed significantly in social engagement activities, socio-demographics, and health (p < 0.001). The groups with the highest relative numbers of older people who were frequently engaged in leisure and productive-related activities, also included relatively more elderly with a good self-perceived health (85.8% versus 58.8%), mental health (91.3% versus 74.6%), physical health (97.7% versus 73.0%), and elderly who were not lonely (70.0% versus 52.0%) when compared to the least healthy subgroup.

CONCLUSION

Older people could be segmented in subgroups based on similar social engagement patterns. Groups with elderly who were less socially engaged demonstrate to be possible target groups for public health interventions, given the relatively high shares of unhealthy older people among them.

Preventing and treating dehydration in the elderly during periods of illness and warm weather

OBJECTIVE

Translate the available knowledge on ageing and dehydration into main messages for clinical practice.

MAIN POINTS

Older people are more susceptible to dehydration than younger people. This is partly due to lack of thirst sensation and changes in the water and sodium balance that naturally occur as people age. It is also, to some degree, attributable to the fact that elderly people, both those living at home and those living in institutions, often have various impairments, disabilities and/or handicaps (comorbidity). They also tend to use numerous drugs and medication for these illnesses (polypharmacy). Multimorbidity and polypharmacy often overstress the normal age-related physiological changes in the water and sodium balance and therefore increase elderly people's risk of dehydration,especially during intercurrent infections or warm weather. Elderly people, whether they are living on their own or in an institution, and especially elderly people that can no longer take care of themselves because of cognitive, sensory, motor and/or ADL impairments, need extra help to stay hydrated. The most important strategy is simply a matter of ensuring that elderly people consume a sufficient amount of fluids (at least 1.7 liters every 24 hours). Additional strategies include making healthy drinks and water easily available and accessible at all times and reminding and encouraging the elderly to consume these fluids. Elderly people should not be encouraged to consume large amounts of fluids at once but rather small amounts throughout the day. When the recommended fluid intake cannot, for whatever reason, be realized, fluids can be administered via catheter or by hypodermoclysis. In more specific and severe cases, fluids can be administered intravenously.

CONCLUSION

The prevention, signaling and treatment of dehydration in the elderly is an important multidisciplinary endeavor. Formal and informal care providers need to continuously be aware of the risk factors and signs of dehydration in the elderly, especially during periods of very warm weather and when older people are ill. Standard professional care for high risk patients is imperative.

Nutritional intake and daily functioning of psychogeriatric nursing home residents

BACKGROUND

The level of observed daily functioning in psychogeriatric nursing home patients may be related to nutrient intake and body weight.

OBJECTIVE

Relationships between nutrient intake, weight and daily functioning were assessed in nursing home residents.

DESIGN

A descriptive, correlational design added by a experimental (repeated measurements) model was used to compare 3-day food records of 90 elderly psycho-geriatric residents filled in by the caretakers every 8 weeks during a period of 6 months. Nutrient intakes and cognitive scores were averaged over the total investigation period and studied separately at week 0, 8, 16 and 24. High and a low nutrient intake groups were compared with respect to daily functioning, which was measured by a Dutch geriatric nursing scale, the Zorg Index geriatrie (ZIG).

RESULTS

Body weight was higher in the high niacin, high vitamin B-6 and high vitamin C intake groups. Unexpectedly, higher vitamin intakes were associated with a worse daily functioning. Results are explained by the fact that patients with a lower cognitive level are more dependent on their caregivers, thereby receiving more help with eating. Consequently, more severely demented patients have a higher intake of energy and nutrients.

CONCLUSION

In order to optimize the effect of dietary vitamin supplementation in the total severity range of psycho-geriatric residents, caregivers should also pay attention to the eating habits of less dependent patients.

Energy balance and malnutrition in institutionalized elderly people

Screening tools and more extensive assessment methods have signaled that malnutrition is common in institutionalized elderly. There are multiple factors - physiologic and non-physiologic - which hereby increase the risk of negative energy balance leading to weight loss and subsequent undesirable outcomes. Addressing this problem a number of controlled intervention studies have shown positive effects of 'simple' nutrition interventions in institutionalized older persons.