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International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2021Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all... (Review)
Review
Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all women. Work-related factors, such as stress and pollutant exposure, affect gonadal function and can interfere with reproduction in both genders. A systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases was conducted, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to investigate the effect of occupational factors on andropause and menopause. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: 9 studies evaluated the effects of work on andropause symptoms, 8 studies examined its effects on age at menopause onset, and 9 studies addressed its effects on menopausal symptoms. Work-related factors, such as psychological stress, physical effort, and sleep disorders, showed a significant correlation with andropause manifestations, whereas age at menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms were both influenced by factors such as pesticide exposure, high job strain, and repetitive work. Since work accompanies men and women for most of their lives, it is essential to identify and prevent the risk factors that may affect reproductive health.
Topics: Aging; Andropause; Female; Gonads; Humans; Male; Menopause; Reproduction
PubMed: 34639376
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910074 -
Disability and Rehabilitation.... Aug 2019Transdisciplinary research has the potential to enhance the real-world impact of the field of aging and technology. This is a context-driven and problem-focused...
Transdisciplinary research has the potential to enhance the real-world impact of the field of aging and technology. This is a context-driven and problem-focused approach to knowledge production that involves collaboration across scientific disciplines and academic and nonacademic sectors. To sustain broader implementation of this approach, a scoping review was conducted on the impact of this approach on research processes, outcomes and uptake. A systematic search was conducted of aging, health/medicine, and technology literatures indexed in three electronic data bases (Medline/OVID, EBSCO, ProQuest) from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015. Search terms included three themes: (1) transdisciplinarity; (2) research outcomes and (3) social change. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. We found that a transdisciplinary approach to research enhances integration of diverse knowledge, scientific and extra-scientific outcomes, capacity to engage in translational research and the uptake of research knowledge. We also identified a number of facilitators and barriers to successful implementation of this approach. No articles evaluating transdisciplinary research specifically in the context of aging and technology were found. Adoption of transdisciplinary research in aging and technology may foster greater uptake of technological innovation in the real-world by supporting integration of diverse knowledge and enhancing engagement of experiential and nonacademic stakeholders in the research and development process. However, supporting successful implementation of this approach requires investment of personal and structural resources. More research is needed to better understand the evidence base on the adoption of this approach in aging and technology projects. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Transdisciplinary research is context-driven and problem-focused and involves collaboration between academic and non-academic sectors. A transdisciplinary approach can enhance knowledge integration, scientific productivity and capacity and public involvement in research. Future research is needed to determine the effectiveness of transdisciplinarity for optimizing the development and uptake of assistive technologies.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Humans; Interdisciplinary Research; Research Design; Self-Help Devices
PubMed: 30318930
DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2018.1496361 -
Cells Apr 2021Skin, as the outermost organ of the body, is constantly exposed to both intrinsic and extrinsic causative factors of aging. Intrinsic aging is related to compromised...
Skin, as the outermost organ of the body, is constantly exposed to both intrinsic and extrinsic causative factors of aging. Intrinsic aging is related to compromised cellular proliferative capacity, and may be accelerated by harmful environmental influences with the greatest significance of ultraviolet radiation exposure, contributing not only to premature aging, but also to skin carcinogenesis. The overall skin cancer burden and steadily increasing global antiaging market provide an incentive for searching novel targets to improve skin resistance against external injury. Sirtuin 1, initially linked to extension of yeast and rodent lifespan, plays a key role in epigenetic modification of proteins, histones, and chromatin by which regulates the expression of genes implicated in the oxidative stress response and apoptosis. The spectrum of cellular pathways regulated by sirtuin 1 suggests its beneficial impact on skin aging. However, the data on its role in carcinogenesis remains controversial. The aim of this review was to discuss the relevance of sirtuin 1 in skin aging, in the context of intrinsic factors, related to genetic premature aging syndromes, as well as extrinsic modifiable ones, with the assessment of its future application. PubMed were searched from inception to 4 January 2021 for relevant papers with further search carried out on ClinicalTrials.gov. The systematic review included 46 eligible original articles. The evidence from numerous studies proves sirtuin 1 significance in both chronological and premature aging as well as its dual role in cancer development. Several botanical compounds hold the potential to improve skin aging symptoms.
Topics: Aging; Humans; Sirtuin 1; Skin; Skin Aging
PubMed: 33917352
DOI: 10.3390/cells10040813 -
Free Radical Biology & Medicine Mar 2020Oxidative stress (OS) has been previously linked to the aging process, as have some diseases and geriatric syndromes as frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of the present... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Oxidative stress (OS) has been previously linked to the aging process, as have some diseases and geriatric syndromes as frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review on oxidative stress activity and extreme longevity in humans.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines. Observational studies assessing OS-biomarkers and/or antioxidants in long-lived individuals (97 years old or over) comparing them to those of one or more age groups, (at least one of which from comprising elderly subjects) were considered for inclusion. A narrative synthesis was planned. Quality of selected studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS).
RESULTS
After screening and eligibility phases, 12 articles were finally selected, with 646 long-lived participants and 1052 controls, 447 adults (20-60 years old) and 605 elderly individuals (over 60 years old). The average score on NOS scale of studies was 4,8 out of 9. Centenarians showed significantly less (p<0,05) oxidative damage to lipids in different samples, lower levels of oxidized proteins in plasma and lower superoxide anion levels in neutrophils than elderly groups. Centenarian presented significantly lower superoxide dismutase and higher glutathione reductase activities, higher levels of vitamins A and E, lower of coenzyme Q10, and lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation than elderly controls.
CONCLUSION
Based on studies of medium-low quality, available evidence suggests that long-lived individuals display less oxidative damage, particularly lower plasma lipid peroxidation biomarkers, than controls. More studies with better experimental designs are needed.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Antioxidants; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Longevity; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Superoxide Dismutase; Young Adult
PubMed: 31550529
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.09.019 -
The American Journal of Geriatric... Mar 2015To determine the efficacy of psychotherapy in late-life depression and to determine the effect of the type of control group on the magnitude of psychotherapy effects. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To determine the efficacy of psychotherapy in late-life depression and to determine the effect of the type of control group on the magnitude of psychotherapy effects.
DESIGN
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled psychotherapy trials for late-life depression.
SETTING
Outpatient clinics or in subjects' home.
PARTICIPANTS
Subjects aged 55 years or older with acute-phase depressive disorder.
MEASUREMENTS
Change in depressive symptoms was measured with validated scales. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for each therapy-control contrast, as meta-analytic summaries for contrasts using a similar control, and for all contrasts combined.
RESULTS
The search identified 27 trials with 37 therapy-control contrasts and 2,245 subjects. Trials utilized five types of control groups (waitlist, treatment-as-usual, attention, supportive therapy, placebo). In the combined contrasts, psychotherapy was effective (SMD: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51, 0.95; z=6.42, p<0.00001). The SMD varied widely (from 0.05 to 1.36) and significantly (χ2=35.67, df=4, p<0.00001) between subgroups by type of control. In five trials that compared psychotherapy with supportive therapy, the SMD was 0.39 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.61; z=3.37, p<0.0007; I2=0%). The SMD was 0.11 within the waitlist controls and 1.10 within the supportive therapy subgroup.
CONCLUSIONS
Psychotherapy is effective for late-life depression, but the magnitude of the effect varies widely with the type of control group. Supportive therapy appears to best control for the nonspecific elements of psychotherapy and is associated with considerable change itself, but few trials have utilized it as a control.
Topics: Aging; Depressive Disorder; Humans; Late Onset Disorders; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 24856580
DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2014.04.003 -
Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing Apr 2016The World Health Organization (2002) indicates that the prevention of frailty is a key indicator of successful aging, and the assessment of the muscular system is the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization (2002) indicates that the prevention of frailty is a key indicator of successful aging, and the assessment of the muscular system is the core for determining the frailty syndrome in older adults. Sarcopenia in older adults will affect more than 50 million people and will affect more than 200 million people after 40 years. Systematic literature reviews have yet to focus on the association between sarcopenia and mortality.
AIMS
The aims of this study were to determine the correlation between sarcopenia and mortality by using various evaluation methods and to analyze any differences among the resulting correlations of the different assessment tools.
METHODS
This study conducted a systematic review of relevant studies in four databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Ovid). The inclusion criteria were prospective research, the results included mortality or death, and risk estimates included risk ratio or hazard ratio estimates and 95% confidence intervals. Exclusion criteria included studies that provided no sarcopenia data, the risk of mortality or death, or data indicating deaths from cancers and in hospitals.
RESULTS
This study identified 10 studies that have investigated the association between sarcopenia and mortality with an average follow up of 4.17 years. In total, these studies have sampled 3,797 people and recorded 1,010 deaths. The result suggested that the risk of mortality in the sarcopenia group was higher than that in the nonsarcopenia group.
LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION
Although the results of evidence-based studies have suggested that sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome associated with increased mortality, few studies have focused on decreasing sarcopenia mortality. Therefore, nurse practitioners must be aware of the correlation between sarcopenia and the mortality rate and become actively involved in developing intervention methods for reducing the mortality risk of sarcopenia.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Frail Elderly; Humans; Prospective Studies; Sarcopenia
PubMed: 26844538
DOI: 10.1111/wvn.12147 -
Current Aging Science 2021Since age is the major risk factor for chronic diseases and mortality, it seems mistaken that older adults have lower basal temperature than young individuals. Many... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Since age is the major risk factor for chronic diseases and mortality, it seems mistaken that older adults have lower basal temperature than young individuals. Many confounding factors could hinder the achievement of a consensus, such as the different sites of measurement, control of basal conditions, health conditions, age difference compared, sex, and others.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to meta-analyze previous studies in order to find a consensus regarding the effects of aging on body temperature in humans, considering different types of temperature assessments, age difference and sex.
METHODS
A systematic search was performed in PubMed and 16 studies comparing basal temperature between older and young adults were meta-analyzed.
RESULTS
Older adults have significantly lower body temperature than young adults (-0.17 °C (-0.30; -0.03), p=0.04). Considering the different sites of measure, while core temperature tended to be lower in older adults (-0.13 °C (-0.27; 0.01), p=0.07), and skin temperature was not different (-0.21 °C (-0.5; 0.08), p=0.15). The aging effects were more prominent in men when assessed by oral temperature and when compared between higher age difference.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, there is a small reduction in overall temperature with aging, drove by the reduction in core temperature rather than skin temperature. The confirmation of these findings by this meta-analysis, now provide the base for the development of strategies to face the impairment in thermoregulation and metabolic efficiency with aging.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Body Temperature; Chronic Disease; Humans; Male
PubMed: 34886774
DOI: 10.2174/1874609814666210624121603 -
The Journal of Evidence-based Dental... Sep 2022This review aimed to determine how successful aging is operationalized in the oral heath context, and to determine the use of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Dental... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This review aimed to determine how successful aging is operationalized in the oral heath context, and to determine the use of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Dental Patient Reported Outcomes (dPROs).
METHODS
A scoping review was conducted and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021232668). The reporting of the review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework.
RESULTS
Five databases were searched and 1288 potentially relevant publications were identified. A total of 263 'effective' studies informed this review. Most studies were observational in nature (94.3%, 250) and the majority were cross-sectional (52.5%, 139). Most studies (89.4%, 235) were unidimensional in their operationalization of successful aging. Successful aging was mainly operationalized in terms of the 'biomedical model' (81.4%, 214) with limited consideration of psychological and social dimensions/models. Regarding biological health, commonly considered components were 'nutrition' (33.6%, 72/214) and 'longevity' (28.9%, 62/214). PROs were most frequently employed in the assessment of nutrition (88.8%, 64/72), albeit in response to standardized assessments. Regarding the psychological dimension (28.9%, 76), 'cognition' was most frequently assessed (69.7%, 53/76) - typically by the use of PROs (83.0%, 44/53). Social dimensions were only rarely considered (1.5%, 4). In terms of oral health - a range of aspects were considered including: 'number of teeth' (58.2%, 153 - dPROs (31.6%, 49/155)); and prosthesis use (30.4%, 80 - dPROS (31.3%, 25/80)).
CONCLUSION
The operationalization of successful aging in oral health is typically unidimensional and focuses primarily on the 'biomedical model'. PROs and dPROS are both widely used in the assessment of successful aging in the oral health context.
Topics: Aging; Cognition; Humans; Oral Health; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 36162882
DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2022.101714 -
Schizophrenia Research Aug 2022Evidence suggests that schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with accelerated biological aging. DNA methylation can be used as an indicator of biological aging by means of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Evidence suggests that schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with accelerated biological aging. DNA methylation can be used as an indicator of biological aging by means of epigenetic clock estimates.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between SZ and different epigenetic clocks.
METHODS
Search terms were applied in different databases: Embase, MEDLINE (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, PsychINFO and Web of Science. To assess for risk of bias we utilized an adapted version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were conducted using the random effects model and meta-regressions were used to assess factors associated with heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Eight studies were included (Controls, n = 3394; SZ subjects, n = 3096), which analyzed five different epigenetic clocks. Overall meta-analysis revealed no significant differences between SZ and controls on epigenetic aging (Standardized Mean Difference - SMD = -0.21; p = 0.13). However, epigenetic clock method was a significant moderator of heterogeneity (p = 0.004). Using Horvath's clock as reference, higher SMD's were found for PhenoAge and Intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA) clocks. In a stratified meta-analysis restricted to the two clocks mentioned above, a significant accelerating effect was found in patients with SZ when compared to controls (SMD = 0.29; p = 0.003).
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that the method of epigenetic clocks is a critical factor associated with estimates of aging acceleration in SZ. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings and in order to evaluate a possible minor effect in overall analysis.
Topics: Aging; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenomics; Humans; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 35780750
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.06.029 -
European Journal of Nutrition Mar 2016Nutrition is a key determinant of chronic disease in later life. A systematic review was conducted of studies examining dietary patterns and quality of life, physical... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Nutrition is a key determinant of chronic disease in later life. A systematic review was conducted of studies examining dietary patterns and quality of life, physical function, cognitive function and mental health among older adults.
METHODS
Literature searches in MEDLINE complete, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, Ageline, Global health, PsycINFO, SCOPUS and EMBASE and hand searching from 1980 up to December 2014 yielded 1236 results. Inclusion criteria included dietary pattern assessment via dietary indices or statistical approaches, a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 45 years and over at baseline and a cross-sectional or longitudinal study design. Exclusion criteria included a single 24-h recall of diet, evaluation of single foods or nutrients, clinical or institutionalised samples and intervention studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the six-item Effective Public Health Practice Project's Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies.
RESULTS
There were 34 articles (11 cross-sectional and 23 longitudinal) included with 23 studies examining dietary indices and 13 studies using empirical analysis. Most studies examined mental health (n = 10) or cognitive function (n = 18), with fewer studies examining quality of life (n = 6) and physical function (n = 8). Although dietary pattern and outcome assessment methods varied, most studies reported positive associations between a healthier diet and better health outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the number of studies using dietary patterns to investigate diet and successful ageing is small, and further investigation in longitudinal studies is needed, particularly for quality-of-life outcomes. This review provides support for the importance of a healthy diet for the ageing population globally.
Topics: Aging; Cognition; Diet; Humans; Mental Health; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Quality of Life
PubMed: 26695408
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-1123-7