BACKGROUND Multidomain lifestyle interventions may have the potential to slow biological aging as captured by deficit accumulation frailty indices. We describe the distribution and composition of the 49-component frailty index (FI) developed by the U.S. POINTER clinical trial team of investigators and assess its cross-sectional associations with sociodemographic factors and markers chosen to be representative

Background To describe the implementation of the ICOPE program in France using digital tool in order to: 1) describe the characteristics of people completing the screener, identifying differences across assessors (Health Care Professionals (HCP), non-HCPs or self-assessment) 2) describe the characteristics of follow-up and assessments for people with abnormal screening test 3) describe the recommendations

Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and parkinsonism affect many older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the sequence of their occurrence and associated risk of death. Methods 1,255 community-dwelling unimpaired participants from two epidemiological cohorts were examined annually. MCI was based on neuropsychological testing, and parkinsonism was based on the motor portion

Background Patients with heart failure (HF) are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia, leading to a high mortality. A decrease in muscle strength due to aging or concomitant disease may contribute to the development of pneumonia in older adults. We sought to investigate the relationship between low muscle strength and pneumonia incidence in older patients hospitalized for worsening HF. Methods

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) or Presbycusis is the most frequent sensory deficiency in older adults and is associated with comorbidities, such as falls, cognitive decline, and frailty. Frailty is related to poor health outcomes in old age. Recent research suggested that ARHL may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for frailty, although inconclusive. The use of animal models to study the correlation

Background Biomarkers for sarcopenia are lacking. We examined the diagnostic power of serum creatinine to cystatin C (Cr:Cyc) ratio for identifying low MRI-muscle volume and low grip strength in a large observational study of UK Biobank older adults. Methods Serum creatinine and cystatin C were measured via immunoassays (Beckman Coulter AU5800 and Siemens Advia 1800, respectively) and grip strength

Background Exercise (EX) or cognitive and social enrichment (ENRICH) are two strategies for promoting cognition post-stroke. Whether sleep moderates the effects of EX or ENRICH on cognition in adults with chronic stroke is unknown. Methods A three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial among community-dwelling adults aged 55+ years with chronic stroke (i.e., ≥12 months since stroke). Participants were

Type H vessels have been proven to couple angiogenesis and osteogenesis. The decline of type H vessels contributes to bone loss in the aging process. Aging is accompanied by the accumulation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs). However, whether AOPP accumulation is involved in age-related decline of type H vessels is unclear. Here, we show that the increase of AOPP levels in plasma and bone

Background Reversible short-term fluctuations in the frailty index (FI) are often thought of as representing only noise or error. Here, we assess (1) size and source of short-term FI fluctuations, (2) variation across socio-demographics, (3) association with chronic diseases, (4) correlation with age, frailty level, frailty change, and mortality, and (5) whether fluctuations reflect discrete health

Background Fall-related head impact is the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in older adults. There is limited understanding of factors related to fall-related head impact. This investigation examined characteristics of upper limb movements during standing-height falls and examined their association with fall-related head impact in older adults at risk for falls. Methods Older adults (n=29) at

Background Little work to date has quantified the effect of psychotropic medications (antidepressants, benzodiazepines, ‘Z’ drugs, antipsychotics, anticholinergics) on mobility and gait in later life. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between these medications and mobility/gait parameters in a large cohort of community-dwelling older people. Methods Participants were included if

Background Physiological networks are highly complex, integrating connections among multiple organ systems and their dynamic changes underlying human aging. It is unknown whether individual-level network could serve as robust biomarkers for health and aging. Methods We used personalized network analysis to construct single sample network and examine the associations between network properties and functional

Introduced in 2010, the sub-discipline of gerontologic biostatistics was conceptualized to address the specific challenges of analyzing data from clinical research studies involving older adults. Since then, the evolving technological landscape has led to a proliferation of advancements in biostatistics and other data sciences that have significantly influenced the practice of gerontologic research

Background The involvement of older adults in research on digital health is uneven with respect to e.g. age, gender, health status, and digital skills. However, little is known regarding the impact of the uneven involvement of older adults in digital health research on researched outcomes. This study helps to fill this knowledge gap and identifies the effects of uneven involvement of older adults in

The Midwest Aging Consortium (MAC) has emerged as a critical collaborative initiative aimed at advancing our understanding of aging and developing strategies to combat the rising prevalence of age-related diseases. Founded in 2019, MAC brings together researchers from various disciplines and institutions across the Midwestern United States to foster interdisciplinary geroscience research. This report

This study tested whether carriage of the longevity-associated G-allele of FOXO3 SNP rs2802292 (TG/GG) protects against incident coronary artery disease (CAD) in men with hypertension. Subjects were American men residing on Oahu having Japanese (n=5415) or Okinawan (n=897) ancestry and free of CAD at baseline (1965–1968) when aged 45–68 years. During follow-up there were 1,629 incident CAD cases. Adjusting

Delirium is a multifactorial medical condition characterized by impairment across various mental functions and is one of the greatest risk factors for prolonged hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Research focused on delirium has proven to be challenging due to a lack of objective measures for diagnosing patients, and few laboratory models have been validated. Our recent studies report the efficacy

Integrating antiretroviral therapy (ART) into HIV care dramatically extended the lifespan for people living with HIV (PWH). Improving the health span requires understanding aging, HIV, associated comorbid conditions, and concurrent treatments. The 14th annual International Workshop on HIV and Aging on October 26-27, 2023 included podium presentations on: Sarcopenia Biology, Pathophysiology, Prevention

Common features of the aging heart are dysregulated metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. Elevated oxidative stress is another hallmark of cardiac aging that can exacerbate each of these conditions. We hypothesize that by increasing natural antioxidant levels (glutathione), we will improve cardiac function. Twenty-one-month-old mice were fed Glycine and N-Acetyl Cysteine (GlyNAC) (glutathione pr

Objectives This study explores the potential of developing digital biomarkers from wearables for monitoring individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, focusing on the feasibility of using Apple Watches for tracking health and behaviors in older adults with cognitive impairment. Method Data collection used the Amissa Health technology stack, which passively collects time-series data

Background This study examined the longitudinal relationship between cumulative socioeconomic status (SES) risk and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels to better understand the association between social factors and a biomarker of neurodegeneration. Methods We used data from the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS), collecting psychosocial and blood data at two waves (2008) and (2019)

Background Impaired respiratory function, measured via peak expiratory flow (PEF), has been associated with increased dementia risk. However, much of the current literature uses cross-sectional measures of PEF, whereas longitudinal relationships between changes in respiratory function and dementia risk are underexplored. Methods Using 10 years of data (2011-2021) from 2,439 adults ages 65 and older

The implication of Torquetenovirus (TTV) in Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) has not been thoroughly explored. This study investigated the association between TTV viremia, proinflammatory cytokines, and IHD risk in an aging population. This cross-sectional study included 900 non-IHD subjects (NIHD) and 86 individuals with IHD (aged 55 to 75 years) selected from the MARK-AGE project. Results were verified

Obesity accelerates the onset and progression of age-related conditions. In preclinical models, obesity drives cellular senescence, a cell fate that compromises tissue health and function, in part through a robust and diverse secretome. In humans, components of the secretome have been used as senescence biomarkers that are predictive of age-related disease, disability, and mortality. Here, using biospecimens

Aging is a complex multifactorial process that results in a general functional decline, including cognitive impairment. Caloric restriction (CR) can positively influence the aging processes and delay cognitive decline. There is a rhythmic variation in memory and learning processes throughout the day, indicating the involvement of the circadian clock in the regulation of these processes. Despite growing

Aging triggers physiological changes in organisms that are tightly linked to metabolic changes. Senolytics targeting many fundamental aging processes are currently being developed. However, the host metabolic response to natural senescence and the molecular mechanism underlying the antiaging benefits of senolytics remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated metabolic changes during natural

Sarcopenia is recognized as a complex and multifactorial disorder that includes nutritional deficiency, inactivity, proinflammatory status, hormonal changes, neurological degeneration, and metabolic disturbances. Its’ pathogenesis is not fully understood. Therefore, identifying specific biomarkers of sarcopenia will help us understand its pathophysiology. The most frequently reported blood-derived

Aging is a complex process influenced by mechanisms operating at numerous levels of functioning. Multiple biomarkers of age have been identified, yet we know little about how the different alternative age indicators are intertwined. In the Berlin Aging Study II (nmin= 328; nmax= 1,517, women = 51%; 14.27 years of education), we examined how levels and seven-year changes in indicators derived from blood

Background This study quantifies incremental healthcare expenditures of functional impairments and phenotypic frailty in specific healthcare sectors. Methods Pooled 2023 analysis of 4 prospective cohort studies linked with Medicare claims including 4318 women and 3847 men attending an index examination (2002-2011). Annualized inpatient, skilled nursing facility (SNF), home healthcare (HHC) and outpatient

Background Muscle strength, as measured by handgrip strength (HGS), is associated with physical function and mortality. Yet, the environmental context that influences muscle strength is poorly understood. We evaluated built and social neighborhood characteristics and their association with muscle strength over time. Methods Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018), linear mixed models

Background In older patients, frailty and anemia frequently coexist. However, only few studies have been conducted in older patients with multimorbidity and several overlapping causes of anemia, such as inflammation, inadequate nutrition or certain pathologies. This analysis aims to decipher potential factors associated with anemia in older hospital patients with frailty. Methods Patients (n=208, age:

Background The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well-established risk factors for dementia. Relationships between APOE and incidence of T2DM and CVD are not fully understood but may shed light on the mechanisms underlying dementia pathogenesis. Methods Postmenopausal women (N=6,795) from the Women’s Health Initiative hormone therapy

It is becoming highly accepted that aging, age-related diseases, and geriatric healthcare can move forward if reductionist research is complemented by integrative research uniting knowledge on specific aging mechanisms, multiple biomedical, social, psychological, lifestyle, and environmental factors and their interactions. In this special issue, we present exciting papers that illustrate how complexity

Background Few studies have analyzed sensor-derived metrics of mobility abilities and total daily physical activity (TDPA). We tested whether sensor-derived mobility metrics and TDPA indices are independently associated with mobility disabilities. Methods This cohort study derived mobility abilities from a belt-worn sensor that recorded annual supervised gait testing. TDPA indices were obtained from

The relationship between pain and falls remains controversial. Therefore, this study explored the associations between pain and fall-related outcomes in 5,340 middle-aged (45–65 years) adults residing in the communities in Korea. Pain was defined as pain at any location, pain-related activity restriction (PAR), and persistent pain. The outcome measures included fall injuries, recurrent falls, injurious

Background This study aimed to determine the threshold of muscle power and strength enhancements that lead to functional gains after exercise intervention in an acute care unit. Methods A total of 302 older patients (intervention: 169, control: 133) from two randomized clinical trials were included (mean age 86.7 years). We measured maximal strength (1RM) and muscle power via a velocity transducer

Background Person-centered approaches to measuring severity of multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic conditions) can help clinicians assess the individual experience of multimorbidity and inform effective caregiving and intervention strategies. We examine how limitations in everyday activities attributable to specific chronic conditions act independently and in tandem to influence individual perceptions of multimorbidity

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common but life-threatening vascular condition in men at an advanced age. However, the underlying mechanisms of age-increased incidence and mortality of AAA remain elusive. Here, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of mouse aortas from males (young: 3-month, n = 4 vs old: 23-month, n = 4) and integrated with the data sets of human aortas (young: 20–39, n = 47

BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic medical condition characterized by red blood cell sickling, vaso-occlusion, hemolytic anemia, and subsequently, end-organ damage and reduced survival. Because of this significant pathophysiology and early mortality, we hypothesized that patients with SCD are experiencing accelerated biological aging compared with individuals without SCD. METHODS We

Background While age is an important risk factor for both cancer and frailty, it is unclear whether cancer itself increases the risk of frailty. We aimed to assess the association between cancer and frailty in a longitudinal cohort of older Danish twins, taking familial effect into account. Methods Using the Danish Cancer Registry, cancer cases were identified among participants aged 70 and over in

Background Orthostatic hypotension is associated with cardiovascular disease. It remains unclear if low standing blood pressure or high seated blood pressure is responsible for this association. We compared associations of orthostatic hypotension and hypertension with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of the

BACKGROUND Each day is made up of a composition of ‘time-use behaviours’. These can be classified by their intensity (e.g., light or moderate-vigorous physical activity (PA)) or domain (e.g., chores, socialising). Intensity-based time-use behaviours are linked with cognitive function and cardiometabolic health in older adults, but it is unknown whether these relationships differ depending on the domain

Background Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with early onset of chronic diseases, and increased risk of chronic disorders. Chronic viral infections have been linked to accelerated biological aging based on epigenetic clocks. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between HCV infection and clinical measures of biological aging among 8,306 adults participating the

Background The caregiving burden of the spousal caregivers (SCGs) to individuals with cognitive impairment poses public health challenges with adverse psychosocial and physiological effects. However, few studies have investigated the neurobiological impact of caregiving, particularly through the investigation of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Methods Using data from a longitudinal cohort

Background There is limited knowledge about the effect of leisure activities on cognitive decline related to different multimorbidity patterns. The study aimed to examine the role of leisure activities in the association between multimorbidity patterns and cognitive function. Methods We conducted a community-based cohort study based on the 2002-2018 Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS)

Background People with HIV (PWH) experience faster physical decline than those without HIV (PWoH), despite antiretroviral therapy. We compared skeletal muscle density and area and their relationship with physical function among PWH and PWoH. Methods Quantitative computed tomography (CT) scans were performed at the L4-L5 spinal region and the thigh to evaluate muscle groups in Multicenter AIDS Cohort

Background Hearing loss and lifestyle factors have been associated with cognitive impairment. We aimed to explore the joint association of combined healthy lifestyle factors and hearing loss with cognitive impairment, which has been scarcely studied. Methods This baseline study used data from the CHOICE-Cohort study (Chinese Hearing Solution for Improvement of Cognition in Elders). Hearing loss was

Background Social isolation is a well-known risk factor for poor health outcomes, including incident dementia, yet its associations with outcomes among persons living with dementia is understudied. We examined the association between social isolation and hospitalization among a nationally representative sample of older adults with and without dementia. Methods This observational cohort study included

Background Few studies have explored the association between stair climbing and osteoarthritis (OA) to determine whether the former is a protective or risk factor for the latter. This study prospectively evaluated the associations among stair climbing, genetic susceptibility, and their interaction with the risk of incident hip/knee OA. Methods The cohort analyses included 398,939 participants from

Background Loneliness is a biopsychosocial stressor linked to poor health outcomes including dementia. Few studies have focused on this association among men and even fewer have examined racial disparities in loneliness and cognitive functioning among this group. The purpose of this study was to examine racial differences in the association between loneliness and cognitive functioning among men in

Background Prescribing cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) concurrently with beta-blockers might cause syncope that increases the risk of fall-related injuries (FRIs). This self-controlled case series study assesses the risk of FRIs associated with initiating ChEIs while receiving beta-blockers among Medicare fee-for-service-insured nursing home (NH) residents in the United States. Methods We identified

Numerous studies have indicated a close association between gut microbiota dysbiosis, inflammation, and cognitive impairment, highlighting their crucial role in the aging process. 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate (HTHB), a novel derivative of hydroxytryrosol (HT), known for its metabolic and anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated for its effects on memory, inflammation, and gut

BACKGROUND Very little is known about specific trajectories or patterns of falls over time. Using the well-characterized cohort of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS), we classified individuals by fall trajectories across age and identified predictors of group assignment based on characteristics at baseline. METHODS Using an analysis sample of 5 976 MrOS participants and 15 years of follow-up

Background Fatigability in community-dwelling older adults is highly prevalent and disabling, but lacks a treatment. Greater nigrostriatal dopaminergic signaling can ameliorate performance fatigability in healthy young adults, but its role in community-dwelling older adults is not known. We hypothesized that higher nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity would be associated with lower performance fatigability

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a potential solution to the antibiotic crisis owing to their antimicrobial properties, and the human gut biome may be a source of these peptides. However, the potential AMPs and antimicrobial peptide resistance genes (AMPRGs) of gut microbes in different age groups has not been thoroughly assessed. Here, we investigated the potential development of AMPs and the distribution

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two prevalent diseases of aging with demonstrated epidemiological association, but the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to this association are unknown. We used network analysis of bone and brain transcriptomes to discover common molecular mechanisms underlying these two diseases. Our study included RNA-sequencing