Current Aging Science - Volume 15, Issue 2, 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases are a diverse group of diseases that are now one of the leading causes of morbidity in the elderly population. These diseases include Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), etc. Although these diseases have a common characteristic feature of progressive neuronal loss from various parts of the brain, they differ in the clinical symptoms and risk factors, leading to the development and progression of the diseases. AD is a neurological condition that leads to dementia and cognitive decline due to neuronal cell death in the brain, whereas PD is a movement disorder affecting neuro-motor function and develops due to the death of the dopaminergic neurons in the brain, resulting in decreased dopamine levels. Currently, the only treatment available for these neurodegenerative diseases involves reducing the rate of progression of neuronal loss. This necessitates the development of efficient early biomarkers and effective therapies for these diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) belong to a large family of non-coding transcripts with a minimum length of 200 nucleotides. They are implied to be involved in the development of the brain, a variety of diseases, and epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels of gene regulation. Aberrant expression of lncRNAs in the CNS is considered to play a major role in the development and progression of AD and PD, two of the most leading causes of morbidity among elderly populations. In this mini-review, we discuss the role of various long non-coding RNAs in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which can further be studied for the development of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various neurodegenerative diseases.

Transport of materials and information across cellular boundaries, such as plasma, mitochondrial and nuclear membranes, happens mainly through varieties of ion channels and pumps. Various biophysical and biochemical processes play vital roles. The underlying mechanisms and associated phenomenological lipid membrane transports are linked directly or indirectly to the cell health condition. Mitochondrial membranes (mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) and mitochondrial inner membrane (MIM)) host crucial cellular processes. Their malfunction is often found responsible for the rise of cell-originated diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, neurodegenerative disease, etc. A large number of ion channels active across MOM and MIM are known to belong to vital cell-based structures found to be linked directly to cellular signaling. Hence, their malfunctions are often found to contribute to abnormalities in intracellular communication, which may even be associated with the rise of various diseases. This article aims to pinpoint ion channels that are directly or indirectly linked to especially aging and related abnormalities in health conditions. An attempt has been made to address the natural structures of these channels, their mutated conditions, and the ways we may cause interventions in their malfunctioning. The malfunction of ion channel subunits, especially various proteins, involved directly in channel formation and/or indirectly in channel stabilization leads to the rise of various channel-specific diseases, which are known as channelopathies. Channelopathies in aging will be discussed briefly. This mini-review may be found as an important reference for drug discovery scientists dealing with aging-related diseases.

In vitro and animal model studies have shown that vitamin B (VB) deficiency has negative consequences on bone as a result of direct or mediated activity of hyperhomocysteinemia. However, there are still no precise indications regarding a possible VB role in order to maintain bone health. So, the aim of this narrative review was to consider state of the art correlation between VB dietary intake, blood levels and supplementation and bone health (bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers and fractures risk) in humans. This review includes 29 eligible studies. Considering VB blood levels, the 14 studies considered have shown that low serum folate can be a risk factor for reduced BMD and fractures in the elderly, particularly women; no independent association was found for other VB. Studies that evaluate the relationship between VB dietary intake and BMD are only 2; one, conducted on 1869 women, demonstrated a positive effect of folate intake on BMD. Another demonstrated a dose-dependent inverse relationship between vitamin B6 dietary intake and risk of hip fracture, but only for 35298 female participants. Regarding the relationship between BV supplementation and bone health (9 studies with only VB and 4 with other nutrients), all studies that considered patients with hyperhomocysteinemia or with low folate blood levels, are in agreement in demonstrating that folate supplementation (500mcg- 5mg) is useful in improving BMD. In conclusion, a request for folate and homocysteine blood levels in elderly patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis is mandatory. For patients with hyperhomocysteinemia or with low folate blood levels, folate supplementation (500mcg-5mg) is crucial.

Aging is an inevitable process of nature. The age of living organisms contributes to the appearance of chronic diseases, which not only reduce the quality of life but also significantly damage it. Modern medicines can successfully fight multiple diseases and prolong life. At the same time, medications have a large number of side effects. New research indicates that bioactive phytochemicals have great potential for treating even the most severe diseases and can become an alternative to medicines. Despite many studies in this area, the effects of many plant ingredients on living organisms are poorly understood. Analysis of the mechanisms through which herbal preparations influence the aging process helps to select the right active substances and determine the optimal doses to obtain the maximum positive effect. It is preferable to check the effectiveness of plant extracts and biologically active components with geroprotective properties in vivo. For these purposes, live model systems, such as Rattusrattus, Musmusculus, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans are used. These models help to comprehensively study the impact of the developed new drugs on the aging process. The model organism C. elegans is gaining increasing popularity in these studies because of its many advantages. This review article discusses the advantages of the nematode C. elegans as a model organism for studying the processes associated with aging. The influence of various BAS and plant extracts on the increase in the life span of the nematode, its stress resistance, and other markers of aging is also considered. The review shows that the nematode C.elegans has a number of advantages over other organisms and is a promising model system for studying the geroprotective properties of BAS.

Introduction: Within the adult population, it is not uncommon to meet older athletes who challenge the negative stereotypes associated with aging. Although their physical performance is superior to their sedentary counterparts, they are not immune to impaired neuromuscular function, leading to a decreased physical capacity and an increased risk of injuries. Despite the abundant information about the benefits of strength/power training in advanced ages, there are no methodological proposals that guide physical activity professionals to program this type of training. Objective: This study aimed to review the factors related to the decrease in sports performance within older athletes and the benefits of a strength/power program in order to provide a methodological proposal to organize training in this population. Methods: This is a review article. First, databases from PubMed, Science Direct, and SPORTSDiscus and search engines, namely Google Scholar and Scielo, were reviewed, using standard keywords such as strength and power training, evaluation of physical performance, neuromuscular function, and risk of injury in the elderly athlete. All related articles published during the period 1963 to 2020 were considered. A total of 1837 documents were found. By removing 1715 unrelated documents, 122 articles were included in the study after revision control. Results: Strength/power training is key to alleviating the loss of performance in older athletes and the benefits in neuromuscular function, which helps reduce the rate of serious injuries, maintaining sports practice for a longer period of time. In order to design an appropriate program, a prior evaluation of the individual’s physical-technical level must be carried out, respecting the biologicalpedagogical principles and safety regulations. Conclusion: The methodological proposal delivered in this review can serve as a technical guide for physical activity professionals, which will be able to structure the strength/power training and thus preserve the sports practice in older athletes for a longer time.

Background: Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is an age-related chronic optic neuropathy causing progressive constriction of visual field, which compromised quality of life (QoL) of older adults. Objective: The study aims to determine the QoL according to the severity of visual field using Bahasa Malaysia version of the Glaucoma Quality of Life- 36 (Glau-QoL 36) in older adults with POAG in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Malaysia: Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, and Hospital Selayang, Selangor. POAG patients who were ≥ 60 years old at the time of recruitment had minimal cataract, underwent cataract or trabeculectomy surgery at least 3 months prior and were on medical and surgical treatment. The severity of POAG was based on the modified Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) score on two reliable reproducible Humphrey visual field SITA program 24-2 analysis. Face to face, one-on-one interview was conducted using validated Bahasa Malaysia version of GlauQol 36. Results: A total of 360 older adults with POAG were recruited. Majority were between ages 60-67 (38.3%) with 64 (17.8%) mild, 93 (25.8%) moderate, 115 (31.9%) severe POAG and 88 (24.4%) end-stage severity of POAG. The majority of the recruited patients were not working (88.9%) and live with their families (68.1%). There was a significant association between GlauQoL 36 score of all domains: daily living, driving, physiological well-being, self-image, anxiety, burden of treatment and confidence in healthcare with the severity of POAG (p<0.001). Increased severity of POAG was associated with decreased QoL in all GlauQoL 36 domains except confidence in healthcare. There was also a significant increase in dependency, with a majority of the end-stage were living with their families (p<0.001). Conclusion: QoL and independency of older adults with POAG decrease with worsening of visual field defect. Addressing the problem of visual-related activities in older adults with POAG may reduce their dependency and improve QoL. Happy living is important to lead to healthy living among older adults with POAG.

Background: Psychological stress may be a risk factor for dementia, but the association between exposure to stressful life events and the development of cognitive dysfunction has not been conclusively demonstrated. We hypothesize that if a stressful event has an impact on the subjects, its effects would be different in the three diseases. Objective: This study aims to assess the effects of stressful events in senior patients who later developed ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson's disease. Material and Methods: Together with demographic variables (age, sex, race, socioeconomic and cultural levels), five types of past stressful events, such as death or serious illness of close relatives, job dismissal, change of financial status, retirement, and change of residence, were recorded in 1024 patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic stroke. Time-todiagnosis (months from the event to the first symptoms: retrospective study) and evolution time (years of follow-up of each patient: prospective study) were recorded. The variance and nonparametric methods were analyzed to the variables time-to-diagnosis and evolution time to analyze differences between these diseases. Results: The demographic variables, such as age, sex, race, economic and cultural levels, were found to be statistically non-significant; differences in the economic level were significant (P<0.05). Significant differences (P<0.001) were found in the mean time-to-diagnosis between diseases (Alzheimer’s disease>Parkinson’s disease >Stroke), and minor differences (P<0.05) in evolution time. Conclusion: Differences in time-to-diagnosis between the diseases indicate that the stressful effect of having experienced the death or serious illness of a close relative has an impact on their emergence. The measurement of time-to-diagnosis and evolution time proves useful in detecting differences between diseases.

Background: Older adults are prone to falls, and identifying fallers and non-fallers from a set of fall-related variables is essential while establishing effective preventive programs. Aims: This study aimed to analyze if a set of parameters (i.e., strength, functional status, dynamic balance, gait, and obesity-related anthropometric measures) differ between older adults able and unable to recover from an induced trip. Objective: To analyze predictors among older adults able and unable to identify fallers and nonfallers. Methods: Thirty healthy old adults were tripped once during the mid-swing phase of the gait. The trip outcome was used as a criterion to assign participants to a recovery (REC; n=21; 71.2±5.7 years; 70.9±12.8 kg; 1.60±0.09 m) or a non-recovery group (NREC; n=9; 69.4±6.8 years; 85.7±11.8 kg; 1.59±0.08 m). The spatiotemporal gait parameters, functional mobility, dynamic balance, and isokinetic muscular function were measured. Results: The NREC presented larger BMI (33.6±2.7 vs. 27.5±3.4 kg.m^-2; p<0.05); greater time for the initiation phase on the voluntary step execution test (197.0±27.9 vs. 171.7±31.3s; p<0.05); lower plantarflexor (0.41±0.15 vs. 0.59±0.18 N.m; p<0.05), dorsiflexor (0.18±0.05 vs. 0.24±0.07 N.m; p<0.05), knee extensor (1.03±0.28 vs. 1.33±0.24 N.m; p<0.05) and knee flexor peak torques (0.50±0.15 vs. 0.64±0.13 N.m; p<0.05); and greater time up and go (8.0±0.8 vs. 7.4±0.7 s). Conclusion: The results showed that it is possible to identify fall risk components based on several fall-related parameters using a laboratory-induced trip as the outcome variable.

Background: The protein klotho protects cellular function during various physiological stressors, such as exercise, however it is unknown how the age-related decline in klotho production affects responses during exercise, especially in the heat. Objective: Our objective was to determine the effect of exercise in temperate and hot environmental conditions on serum klotho concentrations in young and older men. Methods: 12 young (mean ± SD: 22 ± 3 years) and 12 older (59 ± 4 years) men performed 180 minutes of moderate-intensity treadmill walking (metabolic rate: 200 W/m²) in a temperate (wetbulb globe temperature [WBGT] 16°C, achieved with 21.9°C, 35% relative humidity [RH]) and hot (WBGT 32°C, achieved with 41.4°C, 35% RH) environment. Serum klotho was assessed before and after exercise, as well as 60-min post-exercise recovery in the respective environments. Results: Absolute klotho concentrations were greater in young versus older men during all measured time points in the temperate (p = 0.032), but not the hot condition (p = 0.064). In the hot condition, the change in serum klotho from baseline was significantly higher after exercise in the heat (mean ± SEM: +251 ± 73 pg/mL) than the temperate (+75 ± 57 pg/mL) environment in both groups (p = 0.026). However, this elevation was not maintained during recovery. Conclusion: We showed that prolonged exercise in a temperate environment does not elicit a klotho response in either group. In contrast, despite lower resting klotho levels, the older men showed a similar exercise-induced increase in serum klotho response as their younger counterparts.

Background: Although home confinement reduces the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, it may negatively impact the psychological and physical health of older adults. Objective: The present study attempted to describe the quality of life (QoL) of older adults before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, focusing on evaluating QoL, physical activity, sitting time, and sleep quality during home confinement. Methods: The present study was conducted in 1,063 older adults (91 % females) enrolled in a Brazilian social program. They were interviewed for QoL (EQ-5D), physical activity (international physical activity questionnaire-short), and sleep quality [Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)] after 11.6 ± 2.4 weeks of confinement. Logistic regression confirmed changes in QoL. Results: The QoL (86.5 ± 14.7) decreased significantly during confinement (66.0 ± 21.0; P < 0.001), whereas the PSQI global score was 6.8 ± 3.9 points. Older adults spent 18.7 ± 29.8 min/day in moderate to vigorous physical activity, whereas they spent 325.5 ± 144.4 min/day sitting. The PSQI global score [odds ratio (OR): 1.10], sitting time (OR: 1.001), and diseases (OR: 1.23) were significantly associated with low QoL (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Confinement has a deleterious effect on QoL, which is influenced by quality of sleep, sitting time, and disease. Awareness regarding the significance of sleep and physical exercise in older adults can mitigate the damage to their health during confinement.