bims-minfam 2022-12-25 papers

Science. 2022 Dec 23. 378(6626): 1276-1277

Epigenetic clocks, aging, and cancer.

Sarah E Johnstone, Vadim N Gladyshev, Martin J Aryee, Bradley E Bernstein.

Global methylation changes in aging cells affect cancer risk and tissue homeostasis.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn4009

Nature. 2023 Jan;613(7942): 30-31

Senescent cells damage the body throughout life.

David J Glass.

Keywords: Ageing; Regeneration; Stem cells

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-04430-9

J Cardiovasc Aging. 2023 ;pii: 5. [Epub ahead of print]3(1):

The importance of "when" in calorie restriction-induced lifespan extension.

Kristin Eckel-Mahan.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20517/jca.2022.40

Nutrients. 2022 Dec 18. pii: 5376. [Epub ahead of print]14(24):

Nutrition, Food and Diet in Health and Longevity: We Eat What We Are.

Suresh I S Rattan, Gurcharan Kaur.

Nutrition generally refers to the macro- and micro-nutrients essential for survival, but we do not simply eat nutrition. Instead, we eat animal- and plant-based foods without always being conscious of its nutritional value. Furthermore, various cultural factors influence and shape our taste, preferences, taboos and practices towards preparing and consuming food as a meal and diet. Biogerontological understanding of ageing has identified food as one of the three foundational pillars of health and survival. Here we address the issues of nutrition, food and diet by analyzing the biological importance of macro- and micro-nutrients including hormetins, discussing the health claims for various types of food, and by reviewing the general principles of healthy dietary patterns, including meal timing, caloric restriction, and intermittent fasting. We also present our views about the need for refining our approaches and strategies for future research on nutrition, food and diet by incorporating the molecular, physiological, cultural and personal aspects of this crucial pillar of health, healthy ageing and longevity.

Keywords: diet and culture; healthy ageing; macro- and micro-nutrients; nutritional interventions

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245376

Gerontology. 2022 Dec 20.

Association of Torquetenovirus viremia with physical frailty and cognitive impairment in three independent European cohorts.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosenescence and inflammaging have been implicated in the pathophysiology of frailty. Torquetenovirus (TTV), a single-stranded DNA anellovirus, the major component of the human blood virome, shows an increased replication rate with advancing age. An elevated TTV viremia has been associated with an impaired immune function and an increased risk of mortality in the older population. The objective of this study was to analyze the relation between TTV viremia, physical frailty and cognitive impairment Methods: TTV viremia was measured in 1131 nonfrail, 45 physically frail, and 113 cognitively impaired older adults recruited in the MARK-AGE study (overall mean age 64.7±5.9 years), then the results were checked in two other independent cohorts from Spain and Portugal, including 126 frail, 252 prefrail and 141 nonfrail individuals (overall mean age: 77.5±8.3 years).
RESULTS: TTV viremia ≥4log was associated with physical frailty (OR: 4.69; 95% CI: 2.06-10.67, p<0.0001) and cognitive impairment (OR: 3.49, 95% CI : 2.14-5.69, p<0.0001) in the MARK-AGE population. The association between TTV DNA load and frailty status was confirmed in the Spanish cohort, while a slight association with cognitive impairment was observed (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.000-1.773), only in the unadjusted model. No association between TTV load and frailty or cognitive impairment was found in the Portuguese sample, although a negative association between TTV viremia and MMSE score was observed in Spanish and Portuguese females.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate an association between TTV viremia and physical frailty, while the association with cognitive impairment was observed only in the younger population from the MARK-AGE study. Further research is necessary to clarify TTV's clinical relevance in the onset and progression of frailty and cognitive decline in older individuals.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000528169

Immun Ageing. 2022 Dec 21. 19(1): 66

Implication of IL-7 receptor alpha chain expression by CD8+ T cells and its signature in defining biomarkers in aging.

Min Sun Shin, Hong-Jai Park, Juan Young, Insoo Kang.

CD8+ T cells play an important role in host defense against infections and malignancies as well as contribute to the development of inflammatory disorders. Alterations in the frequency of naïve and memory CD8+ T cells are one of the most significant changes in the immune system with age. As the world population rapidly ages, a better understanding of aging immune function or immunosenescence could become a basis for discovering treatments of illnesses that commonly occur in older adults. In particular, biomarkers for immune aging could be utilized to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated conditions and help monitor the efficacy of therapeutic interventions targeting such conditions. This review details the possible role of CD8+ T cell subsets expressing different levels of the cytokine receptor IL-7 receptor alpha chain (IL-7Rα) and the gene signature associated with IL-7Rα as potential biomarkers for immune aging given the association of CD8+ T cells in host defense, inflammation, and immunosenescence.

Keywords: Aging; Biomarkers; CD8+ T cells; IL-7 receptor alpha chain; Signature

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12979-022-00324-6

Future Healthc J. 2022 Nov;9(3): 286-290

Developing frailty friendly hospitals: the Specialised Clinical Frailty Network.

Nathan Hall, Richard Fluck, Towhid Imam, Thomas Jacob, Deborah Thompson, Matt Tite, Emma Backhouse, Jugdeep Dhesi, Simon Conroy.

Introduction: The aim of the Specialised Clinical Frailty Network (SCFN) was to develop frailty-attuned pathways in specialised services in England.
Methods: We developed a breakthrough series collaborative involving a range of specialised services, using quality improvement methods (including experience-based design) to implement improvements designed to enhance the experience and outcomes of older people living with frailty who have specialised healthcare needs.
Results: Specialised teams responded positively to the SCFN, many implementing process changes aligned to the needs of older people living with frailty. Some were able to demonstrate improvements in service and/or patient outcomes, including greater identification of frailty, more holistic care and increased use of shared decision making.
Discussion: The network has successfully demonstrated how frailty can be assessed both at individual, as well as population level, to support both local teams and systems to best manage the health of their patients.

Keywords: frailty; quality improvement; specialised healthcare needs

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7861/fhj.2022-0071

Ann Geriatr Med Res. 2022 Dec 20.

Potential imaging biomarkers of cognitive frailty.

Jaesub Park, Woo Jung Kim.

Cognitive frailty (CF) is a state of impairment in both cognitive and motor functions. The concept of CF has been developed in several ways. However, it is difficult to identify consistent neuroimaging findings according to the application of the operational definition of different frailty models within the same concept, as well as the diversity of the concept itself of CF. This study aimed to review neuroimaging studies of CF and to determine suitable imaging biomarkers of CF. White matter abnormalities (e.g., white matter hyperintensity and microbleeds) seem likely to be considered imaging biomarkers of CF. The volume of the cerebral/cerebellar cortex and that of the subcortical nuclei are also candidates of imaging biomarkers of CF. These imaging biomarkers are expected to be more useful in discriminating the need for screening CF in visitors of clinics or health examination centers than in detecting the presence of CF in community-dwelling older adults.

Keywords: cognitive frailty; imaging biomarker, MRI; motoric cognitive risk syndrome; physio-cognitive decline syndrome

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4235/agmr.22.0141

Blood. 2022 Dec 22. 140(25): 2660-2661

Chronic GVHD on the move.

Antonia M S Müller.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2022018321

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 19. pii: 16219. [Epub ahead of print]23(24):

Mitochondrial Aging and Senolytic Natural Products with Protective Potential.

Andrea Deledda, Emanuele Giordano, Fernanda Velluzzi, Giovanna Flore, Sara Franceschelli, Lorenza Speranza, Patrizio Ripari.

Living organisms do not disregard the laws of thermodynamics and must therefore consume energy for their survival. In this way, cellular energy exchanges, which aim above all at the production of ATP, a fundamental molecule used by the cell for its metabolisms, favor the formation of waste products that, if not properly disposed of, can contribute to cellular aging and damage. Numerous genes have been linked to aging, with some favoring it (gerontogenes) and others blocking it (longevity pathways). Animal model studies have shown that calorie restriction (CR) may promote longevity pathways, but given the difficult application of CR in humans, research is investigating the use of CR-mimetic substances capable of producing the same effect. These include some phytonutrients such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, epigallo-catechin-gallate, fisetin, quercetin, and curcumin and minerals such as magnesium and selenium. Some of them also have senolytic effects, which promote the apoptosis of defective cells that accumulate over the years (senescent cells) and disrupt normal metabolism. In this article, we review the properties of these natural elements that can promote a longer and healthier life.

Keywords: curcumin; epigallo-catechin-gallate; fisetin; magnesium; oleuropein; phytonutrients; quercetin; selenium; senescence; senolytic

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232416219