Current Aging Science - Volume 11, Issue 2, 2018

Background: A growing body of epidemiologic evidence suggests that neurodegenerative diseases occur less frequently in cancer survivors, and vice versa. While unusual, this inverse comorbidity is biologically plausible and could be explained, in part, by the evolutionary tradeoffs made by neurons and cycling cells to optimize the performance of their very different functions. The two cell types utilize the same proteins and Read More

Background: Dementias due to neurodegenerative disorders and more specifically, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are the most frequent of all diseases within the industrialized world. Besides this alarming fact, it is noted too that almost three-quarter of people with AD reside in low or middle- income nations. In recent years, cognitive and behavioral neuroscientists have focused on a possible correlation between environmental agents Read More

Humans have long sought means to extend longevity and counteract the effects of aging on physical and mental functioning. Exercise is a highly effective way of treating and preventing the main causes of morbidity and mortality, most of which are associated with aging. Interestingly, the Klotho gene is involved in the aging process. Indeed, overexpression of the Klotho gene is associated with longevity, and experimental a Read More

Background: Deterioration in vestibular function occurs with ageing and is linked to age-related falls. Sensory hair cells located in the inner ear vestibular labyrinth are critical to vestibular function. Vestibular hair cells rely predominantly on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for energy production and contain numerous mitochondria. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and perturbed energy production are associated Read More

Background: Immunosenescence is a remodeling of the immune system, caused by aging, with changes in the function of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and Treg cells. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the expression of molecules CD11b, CD16 and CD64 (neutrophils), CD154 (T lymphocytes), CD40 (B lymphocytes), and to quantitatively analyze the Treg cell subpopulation. Methods: 49 elderlies (≥60 years) and 49 Read More

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an important precursor of active steroid hormone, produced abundantly by the adrenal cortex with an age-dependent pattern. Objective: We investigated whether chronic DHEA administration impacts on redox status and on Akt protein activation in skeletal muscle during the aging process (3 and 24 months-old rats). Methods: Rats received one weekly dose/5 weeks of DHEA (10 m Read More

Background: Acute Systemic Diseases (ASD) impact on extended leukoaraiosis (ExLA) have been seldom described. We study the deterioration in daily life activities (DLA) and cognition associated with ASD events compared with the well-described impacts of stroke in patients with leukoaraiosis (L-A). Methods: Cross-sectional surveys of aged adults from the emergency room after an acute event of ASD or stroke, hospitalized or r Read More

Background: This paper describes a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a novel intervention to improve the management of hypertension among older people in rural South Africa. Older South Africans have the highest rates of uncontrolled hypertension recorded for any country. Notably, South Africa has a widely-available old age grant (pension), which is delivered on a monthly basis to citizens living in rural villages. Metho Read More