Category Archives: Aging

Ageotypes: Different Ways of Aging At The Molecular Level

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How bodies age differently has been explored using broad tools and large participant populations in the past. Recently, a small-scale more refined study has been reported, focusing on molecular aspects of aging. The study utilized 106 healthy participants (female & male) from 29 to 75 years of age, and used blood, stool and other biological samples, to track participants’ levels of certain microbes and biological molecules, such as proteins, metabolites and lipids, over 2-3 years, monitoring how the levels changed over time, and how they correlated with age. Based on the findings, the study defined different types of aging patterns in different individuals, termed ‘ageotypes’, on the basis of the types of molecular pathways that changed over time in a given individual. In particular, they identified four well-defined ageotypes: metabolic (buildup and breakdown of substances in the body), immune (immune system responses), hepatic (liver function) and nephrotic (kidney function), which can overlap, or be exclusive. It is expected that ongoing research will identify and characterize further ageotypes, and that the use of ageotypes will assist individuals in zeroing in on health-risk factors and find the areas in which they’re most likely to encounter problems as they age.

Here are links to three media articles on the work:
Scientists Discover 4 Distinct Patterns of Aging
‘Ageotypes’ provide window into how individuals age
Ageotypes: Why do people age differently?

Here is a link to the research study:
Personal aging markers and ageotypes revealed by deep longitudinal profiling

All links have been added to Aging

Category: Aging

Exercise, Aging & Inflammation

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Inflamm-aging (aka inflammaging or inflamm-ageing) is a chronic low-grade inflammation developing with advanced age, contributing to biological aging and worsening the course of Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, type II diabetes and chronic heart diseases. Earlier studies have indicated that exercise is useful in resisting such inflammation, and a new study of lifelong active athletes reinforces those studies. Note that inflammation is a normal body process, dealing with invading microbes as well as physical stress (including exercise). But when microbes are have been dealt with, or when exercise/stress concludes, inflammation should decrease to a normal base level. The chronic inflammation associated with aging remains above that normal base level.

At the beginning of the present study, two things were already known: 1) higher levels of inflammatory factors in people are associated with greater loss of muscle mass, and 2) physically fit people tend to have lower levels of inflammation in their bodies than inactive people. So the question was: do older, active people also have more and healthier muscle mass than other less active older people? This first study focused on men — another study on women is to be published soon.

This study enrolled 21 elderly athletic men, 10 healthy but sedentary elderly men, and 10 runners and cyclists in their 20s, none of whom had been performing weight training. The initial measurements taken focused on blood (for measuring inflammation levels) and thighs: their size at outset of the study, and the quality of their front (quadriceps) muscle as determined by biopsies. Immediately, the following was evident:

Group Thigh Size
Young Men Largest
Elderly Athletes Middle
Elderly Inactive Smallest

The experimental activity consisted of lower-body weight lifting, which would stress the thighs of all of the participants. After the weight-lifting, blood samples and biopsies were again drawn and examined for signs of both flaring of inflammation, together with signs of counter-inflammation activity, as shown here:

Group Inflammation Level Anti-Inflammation Activity

Young Men Smallest Greatest
Elderly Athletes Middle Middle
Elderly Inactive Largest Smallest

While being a lifelong athlete is obviously protective of one’s muscles, starting at middle age to go to the gym, or run, or cycle can gradually build up missing mass. And those aches and pains at first are the signs of inflammation, and their decline are the signs of the decline of inflammation.

Here are links to three media articles on the work:
25 Again? How Exercise May Fight Aging
Lifelong Exercise Prevents “Inflammaging”
LIFELONG EXERCISE PROTECTS AGAINST AGING

And here is a link to the research publication:
Effects of aging and lifelong aerobic exercise on basal and exercise-induced inflammation

All links have been added to Aging and Health > Physical Exercise

Category: Aging, Physical Exercise

Listen Up! Hearing Aids Can Help Resist Dementia.

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In an October post (Hearing Loss and Dementia) we examined several studies of the relationship between hearing loss and the onset of dementia. The present post is a follow-up to that October post. We list three additional studies of the dementia-hearing loss relationship, together with seven media articles on that relationship, and on the ability of hearing aids to slow the possible onset of dementia due to hearing loss.

Here are the seven media articles:
For Better Brain Health, Preserve Your Hearing
Link between hearing and cognition begins earlier than once thought
Mild Hearing Loss May Be Associated with Mental Decline in Seniors
Hearing Loss Linked to Dementia
CAN HEARING AIDS HELP PREVENT DEMENTIA?
Cognitive loss and hearing loss
Hearing Loss and Dementia: Breakthrough Research Seeks Causal Link

Here are the three studies on the association of hearing losss with dementia:
Association of Subclinical Hearing Loss With Cognitive Performance.
Association of Hearing Loss With Dementia
Relationship of Hearing loss and Dementia: a Prospective, Population-based Study

All links have been added to Aging and Risk Factors.

Category: Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Risk Factors

Owning A Dog Might Extend Your Life

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Two recently published studies strongly suggest that owning a dog improves the odds of living longer.

The first study was a review and meta-analysis of ten studies over 70 years (1950 to 2019), involving nearly 4 million people in the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. This review showed that owning a dog was associated with a 24% reduction in mortality from all causes. For people who had already had a heart attack or stroke, the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was reduced by 31%.

The second study, in Sweden, involving people of ages 40-85 who had heart attacks or ischemic strokes between 2001-2012. The study involved 182,000 people who had a heart attack (almost 6% were dog owners), and 155,000 people who had an ischemic stroke (almost 5% were dog owners). Compared to patients who did not own a dog:

  • For dog owners, the risk of death for heart attack patients living alone after hospitalization was 33% lower, and was 15% lower for those living with a partner or child.
  • For dog owners, the risk of death for stroke patients living alone after hospitalization was 27% lower and 12% lower for those living with a partner or child.


The media articles below discuss both research publications:
Owning a dog tied to lowering your risk of dying early by 24%, says science
Dog ownership associated with longer life, especially among heart attack and stroke survivors

Research publications:
Dog Ownership and Survival: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Dog Ownership and Survival After a Major Cardiovascular Event: A Register-Based Prospective Study

All links have been added to Aging

Category: Aging

Hearing Loss and Dementia

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Most people can expect to deal with hearing loss in the course of normally long lives. 50% of people in their 70’s suffer from it, as do 80% of people in their 80’s. Unfortunately, besides being troublesome, it appears that hearing loss can have a direct causal effect on dementia, as well as other bad outcomes. (See the table in our post Nine Factors Contributing to Dementia — You Can Manage Them. Hearing loss, at 9%, is the largest factor.)

1,164 participants (average age 73.5) in a 24-year longitudinal study underwent assessments for hearing acuity and cognitive function between the years 1992 to 1996. All of them were followed for up to 24 years with up to five subsequent cognitive assessments at approximately four-year intervals. None used a hearing aid.

Almost half of the participants had mild hearing impairment, with almost 17% suffering moderate-to-severe hearing loss. Those with more serious hearing impairment showed worse cognitive performance at the initial visit. Hearing impairment was associated with greater decline in performance on cognitive tests over time, both for those with mild hearing impairment and those with more severe hearing impairment.

Here are two media articles on the work:
With age comes hearing loss and a greater risk of cognitive decline
How hearing impairment is associated with cognitive decline
Here is the abstract of the original research article:
Hearing impairment and cognitive decline in older, community-dwelling adults.

Similar conclusions arise from a study of 8 years of data from more than 10,000 men. The study compared the effects of hearing loss with measures of subjective cognitive decline, which is changes in memory and thinking that people notice in themselves.

The risk of subjective cognitive decline was 30 percent higher among men with mild hearing loss, compared with those with no hearing loss, while for men with moderate or severe hearing loss, the risk was between 42 and 54 percent higher.

Media article:
Hearing loss and cognitive decline: Study probes link
Research publication:
Longitudinal study of hearing loss and subjective cognitive function decline in men

In another study that covered over 154,000 adults 50 and older who had health insurance claims, but no evidence of hearing device use, researchers found that untreated hearing loss increased the risk of developing dementia by 50 percent and depression by 40 percent in just five years when compared to those without hearing loss. This study also demonstrated a clear association between untreated hearing loss and not only an increased risk of dementia and depression, but also falls and even cardiovascular diseases.

Here are three media articles on this study:
Hearing Loss Threatens Mind, Life and Limb
Higher risk of dementia and depression with an untreated hearing loss
Hearing Loss in Older Adults Linked to Depression, Dementia Among Other Comorbidities
Here is the original research publication:
Incident Hearing Loss and Comorbidity: A Longitudinal Administrative Claims Study

There is concrete evidence that using hearing aids can slow the rate of cognitive decline, as shown by two recent research studies.

Here is a review discussion of the first research publication on hearing aids:
Evidence that Hearing Aids Could Slow Cognitive Decline in Later Life
First research article:
Longitudinal Relationship Between Hearing Aid Use and Cognitive Function in Older Americans

Here are media articles about the second research publication on hearing aids:
Hearing aids linked to lower risk of dementia, depression and falls
Hearing aids lower the chance of dementia, depression, and falling
Second research article:
Can Hearing Aids Delay Time to Diagnosis of Dementia, Depression, or Falls in Older Adults?

Finally, we note a study, closely related to the “Administrative Claims Study” above, which shows that untreated hearing loss tends to lead to higher health care costs over time. (Users of hearing aids were not considered in the study, so, as yet, one cannot conclude that hearing aid use might lower costs, though that might be a reasonable inference.)

Media article:
Patients with untreated hearing loss incur higher health care costs over time
Research article:
Trends in Health Care Costs and Utilization Associated With Untreated Hearing Loss Over 10 Years

All links have been added to Aging and Alzheimers > Risk Factors

Category: Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Risk Factors

New Aging Resource Page

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We’ve added a new page of links under Aging:

Aging > Useful Sponsored Web Pages for Seniors

Links to web pages are sent to us regularly by various commercial organizations, particularly for our Aging page. Some are ok for Strong Brain Blog, some have absolutely nothing to do with this blog, and some show their commercial origin, but the level of advertising is restrained.

We’ll be adding any reasonable new ones that arrive. Here’s a snapshot of the page right now:

Staying Healthy in Your Home as You Age
Simple Changes to Make Your Home Safe for Aging in Place
Make Your Bathroom Safer with a Walk-In Tub
Accommodating the Needs of a Multigenerational Household
Grab Bars: Why and How to Install Them

The complete medication management guide for seniors

AboutAssistedLiving.org

Financial Assistance & Funding Options for Assisted Living / Senior Living

The Complete Guide to Home Modifications to Prevent Falls
Selling a Home with Modifications for Older Adults
Falls an Early Sign of Alzheimer’s
Fall Prevention & Mobility: Practical Safety and Organization Strategies for Seniors
Preventing Falls for a Person with Dementia
Senior Fall Prevention: A Roadmap for Navigating Resources and Benefits

Best Medical Alert Systems – 2019

Sleep Help for Seniors

Category: Aging, Announcements

Catch Up II: Weight Training, A Wedding, History, COPD.

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Here we continue Catch Up I: Dementia Signs, Microbiome & Brain, Processed Foods & More, setting out four brief posts concerning links which either bring up to date earlier posts on Strong Brain, or which are simply of interest in and of themselves.

☞ Weight Training & Brain Health

Add weight training to the list of types of exercise benefitting body and brain (even if the study deals with rats): Serious Exercise May Seriously Defer Aging.

Media articles:
How Weight Training Changes the Brain
Weight Training – Good for the Brain Too?
Research publication:
Resistance-exercise training ameliorates LPS-induced cognitive impairment concurrent with molecular signaling changes in the rat dentate gyrus

Category: Exercise, Aging

☞Another Bittersweet Wedding.

So sad, yet so sweet: A man descends into dementia, forgets he is married to his wife — who is his caregiver, and who he deeply loves — and pesters her to marry him. Which she does, again:
After Countless Proposals, She Finally Said Yes. Again.

See Coping & Caregiving: Bittersweet Stories for more such stories.
Category: Coping & Caregivers > Coping Stories

☞ History of Alzheimer’s

The History of Alzheimer’s Disease

Category: Alzheimers > General & Resources > General

☞ COPD and Your Brain

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cuts down on the amount of oxygen supplied by your lungs to all parts of your body, including your brain. It is linked to a higher risk for memory and cognitive problems with older adults with COPD having nearly twice the risk for memory problems:
How COPD Affects Your Brain

Category: Risk Factors

Each group of links has been added to the indicated categories.

Category: Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Caregivers & Coping, Physical Exercise, Risk Factors

Closer To A Blood Test For Alzheimer’s

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Clumps of amyloid beta can begin building up in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers nearly 20 years before the individuals exhibit the memory loss and confusion characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, the most reliable method of detecting amyloid beta buildup before exhibition of behavioral symptoms is using a PET scan (Positron emission tomography) (Brain Scans Prevent Alzheimer’s Misdiagnosis and Lead to Better Treatment—But They’re Not Covered By Medicare), but these are expensive, not covered by insurance, and take time and a visit to a site with the right scanning machinery. Because of this, few people have the scans done on a routine annual basis, and it is very difficult for drug researchers to recruit participants who might develop Alzheimer’s in the future, but don’t current exhibit memory loss and confusion.

These are all reasons why a blood test which could detect buildup of amyloid beta as early as PET scans would be highly desirable. A recent research publication reports on work coming very close to such a test. A certain amount of amyloid beta is naturally present in both brain and blood. The test first chops up the amyloid obtained from a blood sample with enzymes. The amounts of two fragments, called a-beta 42 and a-beta 40, are obtained by mass spectrometry, and their ratio is computed. As amyloid beta starts building up in the brain, less of the fragment a-beta 42 is available for circulation in the blood, and so the computed ratio goes down. Utilizing this ratio, together with an individual’s age and genetic risk, the test was able to match PET scan performance on 94% of the study participants.

Although at present there are no reliable methods of treating Alzheimer’s, a positive result on a blood test such as this would enable one to take steps to defer the onset of the disease, using:

And, sensibly, one could ensure that one’s will and healthcare advance directive were up to date, and one could consider creating an Advance Directive for Dementia.

Here are three media articles on the blood test work:
Blood test can identify Alzheimer’s 2 decades before symptoms
Blood test is 94% accurate at identifying early Alzheimer’s disease
New Alzheimer’s Blood Test Proved 94% Accurate in Finding Brain Changes Related to the Disease

Here is the published research article:
High-precision plasma β-amyloid 42/40 predicts current and future brain amyloidosis

All links have been added to Alzheimers > Diagnosis & Tests

Category: Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Diagnosis & Tests | Tags:

Air Pollution: Shorter Life, More Dementia Risk, Worse Thinking

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Three recent studies have demonstrated that breathing polluted air has significant negative effects, including a shorter lifespan, greater risk of dementia, and diminished cognitive capacity.

Life Expectancy
Airborne PM(Particulate Matter)2.5 is material less than 2.5 micrometers, which can be seen only with electron microscopes. Being so small, they can travel deeply into our lungs with quite harmful effects. They are produced from car & truck exhausts, industrial plants include coal-fired powerplants, and also include dust produced by windstorms. Averaged across the globe, breathing them typically cuts up to a year off lifespans, and in areas of greater pollution, up to two years.

Here are three links to media articles on the work:
Air pollution reduces global life expectancy by more than one year
Air pollution is shaving a year off our average life expectancy
Lowering air pollution just a bit would increase life expectancy as much as eradicating lung and breast cancer

Here is the research publication:
Ambient PM2.5 Reduces Global and Regional Life Expectancy
These links have been added to Aging

Dementia Risk

This study involved a sample of 130,978 adults living in London between 2005 and 2013. The participants were between 50 and 79 years old. Broadly, even after making adjustments for factors such as smoking and social status/class, those from the most polluted areas of London were much more at risk of dementia (40% more) than those from the least polluted areas.

Here are two links to media articles on the research:
Is air pollution tied to higher dementia risk?
Air pollution linked to much greater risk of dementia

Here is the research publication:
Are noise and air pollution related to the incidence of dementia? A cohort study in London, England

Diminished Cognitive Capacity
Living with air pollution very likely reduces your intelligence, as measured by test scores for arithmetic and language. The effect can, on average, be as if one had lost a year of education. For people over 64, for men, and for those with lower education, the effect can be even greater.

An international research team carried out the research in China using 20,000 people, between 2010 and 2014. People who were exposed longer to polluted air had greater damage to their intelligence. Language ability was hurt more than mathematical ability, and men were harmed more than women.

Here are three links to media articles on the research work:

Air Pollution Exposure Harms Cognitive Performance, Study Finds
Study shows air pollution may be causing cognitive decline in people

Here is the research publication:
The impact of exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance

The last two groups of links have been added to Alzheimer’s > Risk Factors

Category: Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Risk Factors

Your Heart And Your Brain

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One is in your head, the other in your chest. But of course they’re deeply interconnected. Looking at it from your brain’s point of view, what’s good for your heart is also good for your head. A major French study reported in August quantifies that, using the American Heart Association (AHA)’s notion of Life’s Simple 7:

Blood pressure
Blood sugar
Cholesterol
Diet
Exercise
Smoking status
Weight management

The better one manages each of these, the lower one’s risk of dementia.

Here are links to media articles about heart health and dementia:
The more you do to promote your cardiovascular health, the lower your risk of dementia
Midlife heart health shows a link with future risk of dementia
Better heart health may mean lower dementia risk in older people
These 7 heart-healthy factors could cut your risk of dementia, a new study finds

Here are two health organization posts on heart health and dementia:
Dementia and Heart Health: Are They Related?
Risk factors for heart disease linked to dementia

Research article:
Association of Cardiovascular Health Level in Older Age With Cognitive Decline and Incident Dementia

All links have been added to Aging, Alzheimer’s > Amelioration/Prevention and Alzheimer’s > Risk Factors

Category: Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Amelioration/Prevention, Risk Factors
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