Current Aging Science - Volume 16, Issue 3, 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD or AMD) is a progressive, sight-threatening disease. The pathogenesis of ARMD is complex, involving many factors, such as metabolic, functional, genetic, and environmental factors. Recently, long interspersed nuclear element-1 (L1)– mediated reverse transcription (RT) of Alu RNA into cytoplasmic Alu complementary DNA (cDNA) has been associated with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) destruction. These findings provide a strong input for a new direction in the management of ARMD, as certain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drugs, such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), were found to suppress inflammation and protect cells of the retina.

Background: Parkinson's disease is a complicated, gradually progressive neurological illness characterized by locomotor and non-motor symptomatology that impedes daily activities. Despite significant advances in symptomatic therapies with various extents of negative effects, there are currently no disease-modifying medicinal alternatives. Symptoms worsen, creating an additional strain that reduces living quality and creates the perception that prescription drugs are no longer productive. Objective: Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help patients feel more empowered, promote wellness, relieve symptoms, and potentially slow neurodegeneration. Nutrition, intellectual stimulation, physical exercise, and stress reduction are all examples of lifestyle habits that improve cognitive health and life satisfaction. We discuss how changes in lifestyle, nutrition, yoga, exercise, and acupuncture can help with managing the disease's symptoms. Methods: We searched Google Scholar for various research papers and review articles from publishers, such as Bentham Science, Elsevier, Taylor and Francis, Springer Nature, and others for gathering the data for the study. Results: Pesticide exposure, environmental hazards, dietary choices, stress, and anxiety all have an indirect or immediate influence on the commencement of Parkinson's disease. Naturopathic remedies, such as nutraceuticals, yoga, exercise, and acupuncture, have been shown to help with Parkinson's disease management. Conclusion: Various preclinical and clinical studies have shown that the various factors mentioned are beneficial in the management of the disease, but more research is needed to validate the extent to which such factors are beneficial.

Populations are ageing at varying rates of development. Countries with developed economies have experienced such changes to their population structures. Examinations have been conducted with regard to how respective societies can accommodate the said changes in their health and social systems, but this research mostly focuses on more developed regions rather than lowerincome countries. This paper discussed the experience of ageing populations in developing economies, which comprise the majority of the global older population. They display a vastly different experience from high-income countries, especially when viewed within the level of world regions. The cases presented here were from Southeast Asian countries in order to have a wide range of examples in terms of differences in country-income categories. In lower and middle-income countries, there are older adults who: continue working as their primary income source, are nonmembers of pension systems, and provide intergenerational support rather than only receiving it. The COVID-19 pandemic situation was also included here, as policies were reformed to address current needs that highlighted the challenging situation of older adults. The populations of countries that have yet to age substantially, especially those in the least-developed regions, can utilise this paper’s recommendations in order to prepare for changes in the age structures of their societies.

The presence of sarcopenia and obesity is a feature of sarcopenic obesity (SO). In this condition, the fat-to-lean body mass ratio is incorrect. Excess visceral fat, the percentage of body fat, subcutaneous fat, and body mass index causes poor health and premature death and has been linked to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer. In addition, control, autonomy, self-actualization, and enjoyment are all components of quality of life; factors that reduce these aspects are likely to reduce the quality of life in older adults. This reviews paper aims to examine the available evidence regarding the prevalence of quality of life in other conditions, which helps medical professionals and physical therapists by providing abundant knowledge and suggesting the best ways to improve the same.

Background: Self-defining future projections (SDFP) are mental representations of plausible and highly significant future events that provide core information of one’s understanding of self. Objective: We explored SDFPs in a large sample of older adults and aimed to target the interrelations between the main dimensions of SDFPs. Moreover, correlations between these dimensions and clinical and cognitive variables were examined. Methods: We recruited 87 young-old adults (60-75 years) with normal cognitive functioning who were asked to generate three SDFPs. Results: We found integrative meaning as a salient dimension and older individuals preferentially generated projections containing leisure or relationship events. Anxiety and self-esteem were correlated with integrative meaning and high executive functioning was found to be protective towards the simulation of future events containing dependence and death or end-of-life events. Conclusion: This study will contribute to the understanding of personal goals and identity in normal ageing.

Background: The relationship between environmental diversity and the health status of older adults has been less considered in studies. This study seeks to investigate the causal relationship among the environment, falling, fear of falling, and the imbalance of older adults in southern Iran in 2021. Objective: The investigation into the relationship between environmental pollution to the imbalance and fear of falling, especially in comparing urban and rural aging societies is the aim of current study. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 489 older samples from rural and urban areas were chosen randomly and their experience of falling, fear of falling, imbalance, and IADL were examined. The ordinal and nominal logistic regression and ANOVA were performed using IBM-SPSS. Results: With a mean age of 71.8 (SD = 8.3), older participants have long time chronic disease (69.6%) and falling experience twice a year (42.7%). The values of effect size indicated the high effectiveness of settlement in explaining IADL, health situation, experience and fear of falling, and imbalance (Eta squared > 30). The odds ratio for being in the urban settlement was 5.51, indicating the imbalance score increased by approximately 5.52 times. Conclusion: Imbalance in older people leads to the fear and experience of falling. This imbalance is strongly influenced by the environment. Urban pollution can contribute to this problem. Future studies on aging need to focus on environmental pollution and diversity in the experience of falling and imbalance.

Introduction: The time spent in different physical activity (PA) intensities is associated with sarcopenia risk for community-dwelling older women. Aim: To evaluate the role of sitting time and physical activity (PA) level as predictors of sarcopenia odds. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, physically independent older women (n = 67) performed the six-minute walk test to identify functional limitation (≤ 400 m). Sedentary time (as sitting time) and PA (light, moderate and vigorous) were obtained with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Sarcopenia was diagnosed as recommended by the Society of Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders (SCWD). Sarcopenia odds (low muscle mass and functional limitation) was predicted by binary logistic regression, considering the weekly sitting time and PA as independent variables. Results: Sarcopenia prevalence was 7.5% (n = 5), with functional limitation present in 38.8% (n = 26), and low muscle mass in 22.4% (n = 15). The predictive model (p = 0.014) involved moderate PA as the only significant predictor (OR = 0.999; p = 0.005; 95% CI: 0.998-1.000) of functional limitation. Moderate PA prevents sarcopenia odds. Each weekly hour of moderate PA decreased sarcopenia odds by 6%. Conclusion: Time spent in moderate PA can prevent sarcopenia.

Background: With age, there is a tendency for the health of law enforcement officers to deteriorate. This especially applies to instructor officers, whose professional activity is characterized by a significant decrease in the volume of motor activity, overloading of the intellectual sphere, and high neuro-emotional stress. Objective: The aim of the research is to investigate the influence of recreational and healthpromoting training sessions with physical exercise on the health, physical development, and functional status of instructor officers of older age groups. Methods: 62 instructor officers (aged 40-45) of various academic disciplines took part in the research. The instructors of the experimental group (EG, n = 30) were engaged in physical exercises in accordance with the authors’ program of recreational and health-promoting training sessions; the instructors of the control group (CG, n = 32) attended the training sessions according to the existing physical training program. Results: It was found that at the end of the experiment, the studied indicators of the EG instructor officers were significantly better than those of the CG ones, according to the indicators of body weight, Quetelet index, the vital capacity of lungs, vital index, strength index, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, Robinson index, and level of physical health. Conclusion: It was established that systematic recreational and health-promoting training sessions have a positive effect on the health level of the instructor officers of older age groups. This will allow them to carry out instructional activities at a high professional level and ensure resistance to adverse factors of professional activities.

Background: MLC601 and MLC901 showed neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties and positive results in the treatment of dementia and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the long-term benefits of monotherapy with MLC601 and MLC901 in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: In this study, patients with AD, diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, were enrolled. Patients have received MLC601 for four years, and their regimen has changed to MLC901 for another four years. Recruited patients were followed to assess the efficacy and safety first of MLC601 and MLC901. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale- Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) were used to assess cognitive function. Safety was evaluated by monitoring adverse events (AEs) and abnormal findings in physical examinations or lab tests. Results: At the end of the trial, the changes in the mean (±SD) MMSE and ADAS-Cog scores were 5.1 (3.09) and 12.5 (10.89), respectively. Both scores showed a significant change in repeated measure analysis, with the ADAS-Cog score indicating a higher change than the MMSE score (P < 0.001). Conclusion: For more than eight years, we studied monotherapy with NeuroAid (MLC601, MLC901) in patients with AD. The study contributes further to the long-term safety and efficacy data of MLC in patients with AD.

Background: Increasing age and the added disadvantage of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) put the individual at a higher risk of falls and reduced functional fitness. However, there is a dearth of literature on multifactorial balance intervention, especially targeting the needs of older adults with DPN. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the effect of a multifactorial balance rehabilitation program on fall risk and functional fitness in older adults with DPN. Methods: In this pre-post experimental study, 30 independently ambulating older adults (71.2 ± 4.70 years) with DPN, who were at risk of falling (timed up and go score ≥ 9.4 seconds), were recruited. Along with the standard care, all the participants received 12 weeks of the multifactorial balance rehabilitation program. Results: Fall risk using the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale and functional fitness using the Senior Fitness Test were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of the intervention. The intervention reduced the risk of falling score significantly (MD = 6.17, p < .001). All six parameters of functional fitness improved after 12 weeks of intervention. The improvement in lower limb strength (MD = 1.53 times), upper limb strength (MD = 2.48 times), endurance (MD = 16.07 seconds), lower limb flexibility (MD = 2.02 inches), upper limb flexibility (MD = 1.47 inches), and dynamic balance (MD = 1.53 seconds) was statistically significant at p < 0.05. Conclusion: This study provided encouraging evidence about the potential of multifactorial balance rehabilitation to reduce the risk of falling and improve functional fitness in older adults with DPN.