Aging is a major risk factor for most chronic diseases and functional impairments. Within a homogeneous age sample there is a considerable variation in the extent of disease and functional impairment ...risk, revealing a need for valid biomarkers to aid in characterizing the complex aging processes. The identification of biomarkers is further complicated by the diversity of biological living situations, lifestyle activities and medical treatments. Thus, there has been no identification of a single biomarker or gold standard tool that can monitor successful or healthy aging. Within this short review the current knowledge of putative biomarkers is presented, focusing on their application to the major physiological mechanisms affected by the aging process including physical capability, nutritional status, body composition, endocrine and immune function. This review emphasizes molecular and DNA-based biomarkers, as well as recent advances in other biomarkers such as microRNAs, bilirubin or advanced glycation end products.
Mass and lifetime measurements lead to the discovery and understanding of basic properties of matter. The isotopic nature of the chemical elements, nuclear binding, and the location and strength of ...nuclear shells are the most outstanding examples leading to the development of the first nuclear models. More recent are the discoveries of new structures of nuclides far from the valley of stability. A new generation of direct mass measurements which allows the exploration of extended areas of the nuclear mass surface with high accuracy has been opened up with the combination of the Experimental Storage Ring ESR and the FRragment Separator FRS at GSI Darmstadt. In-flight separated nuclei are stored in the ring. Their masses are directly determined from the revolution frequency. Dependent on the half-life two complementary methods are applied. Schottky Mass Spectrometry SMS relies on the measurement of the revolution frequency of electron cooled stored ions. The cooling time determines the lower half-life limit to the order of seconds. For Isochronous Mass Spectrometry IMS the ring is operated in an isochronous ion-optical mode. The revolution frequency of the individual ions coasting in the ring is measured using a time-of-flight method. Nuclides with lifetimes down to microseconds become accessible. With SMS masses of several hundreds nuclides have been measured simultaneously with an accuracy in the 2 x 10⁻⁷-range. This high accuracy and the ability to study large areas of the mass surface are ideal tools to discover new nuclear structure properties and to guide improvements for theoretical mass models. In addition, nuclear half-lives of stored bare and highly charged ions have been measured. This new experimental development is a significant progress since nuclear decay characteristics are mostly known for neutral atoms. For bare and highly charged ions new nuclear decay modes become possible, such as bound-state beta decay. Dramatic changes in the nuclear lifetime have been observed in highly charged ions compared to neutral atoms due to blocking of nuclear decay channels caused by the modified atomic interaction. High ionization degrees prevail in hot stellar matter and thus these experiments have great relevance for the understanding of the synthesis of elements in the universe and astrophysical scenarios in general.
There is an ongoing debate as to the optimal protein intake in older adults. An increasing body of experimental studies on skeletal muscle protein metabolism as well as epidemiological data suggest ...that protein requirements with ageing might be greater than many current dietary recommendations. Importantly, none of the intervention studies in this context specifically investigated very old individuals. Data on the fastest growing age group of the oldest old (aged 85 years and older) is very limited. In this review, we examine the current evidence on protein intake for preserving muscle mass, strength and function in older individuals, with emphasis on data in the very old. Available observational data suggest beneficial effects of a higher protein intake with physical function in the oldest old. Whilst, studies estimating protein requirements in old and very old individuals based on whole-body measurements, show no differences between these sub-populations of elderly. However, small sample sizes preclude drawing firm conclusions. Experimental studies that compared muscle protein synthetic (MPS) responses to protein ingestion in young and old adults suggest that a higher relative protein intake is required to maximally stimulate skeletal muscle MPS in the aged. Although, data on MPS responses to protein ingestion in the oldest old are currently lacking. Collectively, the data reviewed for this article support the concept that there is a close interaction of physical activity, diet, function and ageing. An attractive hypothesis is that regular physical activity may preserve and even enhance the responsiveness of ageing skeletal muscle to protein intake, until very advanced age. More research involving study participants particularly aged ≥85 years is warranted to better investigate and determine protein requirements in this specific growing population group.
In recent years, the phase angle (PhA) as a raw bioelectrical impedance analysis variable has gained attention to assess cell integrity and its association to physical performance in either ...sports-related or clinical settings. However, data on healthy older adults are scarce. Therefore, data on body composition, physical performance and macronutrient intake from older adults (n = 326, 59.2% women, 75.2 ± 7.2 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Physical performance was evaluated by the Senior Fitness Test battery, gait speed, timed up and go and handgrip strength. Body composition was determined by the BIA and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (from a subgroup of n = 51). The PhA was negatively associated with the timed up and go test and age (r = -0.312 and -0.537,
< 0.001), and positively associated with the 6 min walk test, 30 s chair stand, handgrip strength, gait speed and physical performance score (r = 0.170-0.554,
< 0.05), but not protein intake (r = 0.050,
= 0.386). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that especially age, sex, BMI, but also the PhA predicted the performance test outcomes. In conclusion, the PhA seems to be an interesting contributor to physical performance, but sex- and age-specific norm values still need to be determined.
The purpose of this study was to investigated the effect of age – over or under life-expectancy (LE) – on six months resistance training alone or combined with a nutritional supplement, and cognitive ...training by analyzing markers for oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in institutionalized elderly, living in Vienna.
Three groups (n = 117, age = 83.1 ± 6.1 years) – resistance training (RT), RT combined with protein and vitamin supplementation (RTS) or cognitive training (CT) – performed two guided training sessions per week for six months. Oxidative stress, antioxidant defense and DNA strand breaks were analyzed and transformed into an “antioxidant factor” to compare the total effect of the intervention. Physical fitness was assessed by the 6-min-walking, the chair-rise and the handgrip strength tests.
We observed significant negative baseline correlations between 8-oxo-7.8-dihydroguanosine and handgrip strength (r = −0.350, p = 0.001), and between high sensitive troponin-T and the 6-min-walking test (r = −0.210, p = 0.035). RT and RTS groups, showed significant improvements in physical performance. Over LE, subjects of the RT group demonstrated a significant greater response in the “antioxidant factor” compared to RTS and CT (RT vs. RTS p = 0.033, RT vs. CT p = 0.028), whereas no difference was observed between the intervention groups under LE.
Six months of elastic band resistance training lead to improvements in antioxidant defense, DNA stability and oxidative damage, summarized in the “antioxidant factor”, however mainly in subjects over their statistical LE. Consuming a supplement containing antioxidants might inhibit optimal cellular response to exercise.
The study was approved by the ethics committee of the City of Vienna (EK-11–151–0811) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01775111.
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•Physical fitness was linked to lower DNA damage and reduced cardiac risk markers.•Strength training improved the redox state, especially in the oldest subjects.•Consuming antioxidants seems to blunt optimal response to exercise in the elderly.
Purpose
Cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline, predominant in ageing populations, share common features of dysregulated one-carbon (1C) and cardiometabolic homeostasis. However, few studies ...have addressed the impact of multifaceted lifestyle interventions in older adults that combine both nutritional supplementation and resistance training on the co-regulation of 1C metabolites and cardiometabolic markers.
Methods
95 institutionalised older adults (83 ± 6 years, 88.4% female) were randomised to receive resistance training with or without nutritional supplementation (Fortifit), or cognitive training (control for socialisation) for 6 months. Fasting plasma 1C metabolite concentrations, analysed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and cardiometabolic parameters were measured at baseline and the 3- and 6-month follow-ups.
Results
Regardless of the intervention group, choline was elevated after 3 months, while cysteine and methionine remained elevated after 6 months (mixed model time effects,
p
< 0.05). Elevated dimethylglycine and lower betaine concentrations were correlated with an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile at baseline (spearman correlations,
p
< 0.05). However, increasing choline and dimethylglycine concentrations were associated with improvements in lipid metabolism in those receiving supplementation (regression model interaction,
p
< 0.05).
Conclusion
Choline metabolites, including choline, betaine and dimethylglycine, were central to the co-regulation of 1C metabolism and cardiometabolic health in older adults. Metabolites that indicate upregulated betaine-dependent homocysteine remethylation were elevated in those with the greatest cardiometabolic risk at baseline, but associated with improvements in lipid parameters following resistance training with nutritional supplementation. The relevance of how 1C metabolite status might be optimised to protect against cardiometabolic dysregulation requires further attention.
Vitamin D status is associated with muscle strength and performance in older adults. To examine the additive effects of vitamin D3 supplementation during resistance training, 100 seniors (65-85 ...years) participated in a 16-week intervention. Besides a daily dose of 400 mg of calcium, participants received either 800 IU vitamin D3 per day (VDD), 50,000 IU vitamin D3 per month (VDM) or nothing (CON). After the initial loading phase of four weeks, all groups started a 10-week resistance training program. Assessments of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status, muscle strength endurance (30-s chair stand and arm curl tests), aerobic capacity (6-min walk test) and functional mobility (gait speed and timed up and go test) were undertaken at baseline, after four weeks and at the end of the study. 25(OH)D status significantly improved in VDD and VDM, but not in CON (time x group:
= 0.021), as 15.2% of CON, 40.0% of VDD and 61.1% of VDM reached vitamin D sufficiency (>30 ng/mL;
= 0.004). Chair stand test, arm curl test, 6-min walk test, gait speed and timed up and go test improved over the whole intervention period (
< 0.05), however only chair stand and arm curl test were selectively affected by resistance training (
< 0.001). Neither muscle strength endurance, nor functional mobility or aerobic capacity were modulated by vitamin D supplementation. Therefore, the mere amelioration of 25(OH)D status of older adults does not lead to an additive effect on muscular performance during RT.
Aging is considered a state of low grade inflammation, occurring in the absence of any overt infection often referred to as ‘inflammaging'. Maintaining intestinal homeostasis may be a target to ...extend a healthier status in older adults. Here, we report that even in healthy older men low grade bacterial endotoxemia is prevalent. In addition, employing multiple mouse models, we also show that while intestinal microbiota composition changes significantly during aging, fecal microbiota transplantation to old mice does not protect against aging-associated intestinal barrier dysfunction in small intestine. Rather, intestinal NO homeostasis and arginine metabolism mediated through arginase and NO synthesis is altered in small intestine of aging mice. Treatment with the arginase inhibitor norNOHA prevented aging-associated intestinal barrier dysfunction, low grade endotoxemia and delayed the onset of senescence in peripheral tissue e.g., liver. Intestinal arginine and NO metabolisms could be a target in the prevention of aging-associated intestinal barrier dysfunction and subsequently decline and ‘inflammaging'.
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•In humans ‘healthy' aging is associated with increased levels of TLR2 and TLR4 ligands in blood.•‘Healthy' aging is associated with an impaired intestinal barrier function in mice.•NO metabolism rather than the intestinal microbiota seems to affect aging associated intestinal barrier dysfunction.
Introduction
Obesity affects a rising proportion of the population and is an important risk factor for unfavorable outcomes in viral disease including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2- ...associated diseases. Torque Teno virus (TTV) is a ubiquitous and apathogenic virus which reflects the immune function of its host. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and TTV load - an indirect marker of compromised viral immune response.
Methods
TTV was quantified by TTV R-GENE
®
PCR in a total of 89 participants of which 30 were lean (BMI <25 kg/m
2
) and 59 were obese (BMI >30 kg/m
2
). For 38 subjects, follow-up was available after bariatric surgery.
Results
TTV load was higher in individuals with obesity (median 2.39, IQR: 1.69–3.33 vs. 1.88, IQR 1.08–2.43 log10 copies/mL;
p
= 0.027). Multivariable linear modeling revealed an independent association between TTV load and obesity. TTV was positively correlated with waist-to-hip ratio and inversely with 25OH vitamin D levels. Interleukin 6 and fasting insulin resistance were confounders of the association between TTV and obesity, while age was an effect modifier. TTV load increased by 87% (95% CI 2–243%) in the year following bariatric surgery.
Discussion
A higher TTV load in obese individuals may reflect compromised immune function and thus might serve for risk stratification of unfavorable outcomes during infectious disease, including coronavirus disease 2019, in this population. Our data warrant further analysis of TTV-based risk assessment in obese individuals in the context of infectious disease-associated outcomes.
Older adults lack of proper physical activity which is often accompanied by vitamin D deficiency. Those factors are known to contribute to health issues in the later years of life. The main goal of ...this intervention study was to investigate the effect of different vitamin D supplementation strategies for 4 weeks solely or combined with a 10-week strength training program on chromosomal stability in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in community-dwelling older people. One hundred women and men (65–85 years) received either vitamin D3 daily (800 IU), a monthly dose (50.000 IU) or placebo for 17 weeks. All groups received 400 mg calcium daily. The fitness status of the study participants was measured using the 30- second chair stand test, the handgrip strength test and the 6-min walk test. The cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome (CBMN) assay was applied to analyze chromosomal anomalies, including cytotoxic and genotoxic parameters. Changes in antioxidant markers were measured in plasma.
Walking distance and chair stand performance improved significantly. Increased levels of the parameters of the CBMN assay were detected for all intervention groups at study end. At baseline micronuclei (MNi) frequency correlated significantly with BMI in both sexes (females: r = 0.369, p = 0.034; males: r = 0.265, p = 0.035), but not with vitamin D serum levels. In females, body fat (r = 0.372, p < 0.001) and functional parameter using the 30-s chair stand test (r = 0.311, p = 0.002) correlated significantly with MNi frequency. Interestingly, not vitamin D supplementation but 10 weeks of resistance training increased MNi frequency indicating elevated chromosomal instability and also adverse effects on antioxidant markers including glutathione and FRAP were detected in the group of community-dwelling older adults.
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