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Although multiple cellular pathways have been implicated in α-Synuclein (α-syn)-associated Parkinson's disease (PD), the role of lipid metabolism remains elusive. In this study, we identify Drosophila mino, which encodes the mitochondrial isoform of the lipid synthesis enzyme glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT), as a potent modifier of α-syn. Silencing the expression of mino significantly suppresses α-syn-induced PD phenotypes in Drosophila, including dopaminergic neuronal loss and...

Deposition of misfolded α-synuclein (αsyn) in the enteric nervous system (ENS) is found in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. It is hypothesized that ENS synucleinopathy contributes to both the pathogenesis and non-motor morbidity in Parkinson's Disease (PD), but the cellular and molecular mechanisms that shape enteric histopathology and dysfunction are poorly understood. Here, we employ a fibrillar injection model of enteric synucleinopathy in male mice and demonstrate that ENS-resident...

Recent epigenome-wide studies have identified a large number of genomic regions that consistently exhibit changes in their methylation status with aging across diverse populations, but the functional consequences of these changes are largely unknown. On the other hand, transcriptomic changes are more easily interpreted than epigenetic alterations, but previously identified age-related gene expression changes have shown limited replicability across populations. Here, we develop an approach that...

First evidence for tool use in cattle includes a skill previously seen only in humans and chimpanzees

This study investigates how older adults in Guangzhou navigate a rapidly digitalizing city through the lens of Bourdieu's habitus and capital. The study draws on semistructured interviews with 25 smartphone-owning adults aged 60+. Guangzhou's older adults follow path-dependent adaptation. Many use smartphones to continue familiar habits, while others adopt new routines. Yet, resistance persists when low education, limited resources, or fear of fraud reduce confidence. Adaptation is partial and...

ObjectivesCognitive function is shaped by social network characteristics, but the geographic dispersion of social network ties remains understudied. We examine whether having a greater proportion of network ties residing outside of one's local area ("network extralocality") may benefit cognitive function among U.S. older adults.MethodsWe analyzed nationally representative data from the 2015-2016 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 4,557) in multivariable regression models to...

Proteomics experiments on Drosophila reveal sex-specific effects in aging, and an important role for a protein called DIP-β.

Aging changes the lipidome and mitochondrial function in a sex-dependent manner, yet their associations remain poorly understood. Twenty-four younger (7M/17F) and forty-three older (21M/22F) adults underwent blood draws and skeletal muscle biopsies for this cross-sectional investigation. Plasma lipidomic profiling was performed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, while peak mitochondrial O(2) utilization (OXPHOS) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) emission were assessed using...

Age-related memory decline is a hallmark of brain aging and a primary risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders. Microglia play a crucial role in preserving memory function by maintaining brain homeostasis through phagocytosis, yet the specific mechanisms governing this protective function remain elusive. In the present study, we identified a population of Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1)-positive microglia in both aged mouse and human brains. To investigate the role of microglial Spp1 in...

Calorie restriction (CR) is a robust intervention for improving metabolic health and delaying obesity and age-related diseases, yet its translational utility is limited by adherence challenges and diminished effectiveness later in life. Dietary protein restriction (DPR), which reduces dietary protein without decreasing total caloric intake, has emerged as a promising alternative, yet its cardioprotective potential in the context of obesity and aging remains poorly understood. Here, we...

Cellular senescence is an irreversible state linked to aging that involves molecular and functional alterations. The mammalian hippocampus, a key brain region for learning and memory, is highly vulnerable to damage in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, yet the role of cellular senescence in hippocampal aging remains underexplored. Here, we report an early onset of senescence signatures in hippocampal astrocytes of the accelerated aging and frailty mouse model SAMP8. We examine how astrocyte...

CONCLUSION: Spirituality and religiosity are important, yet underutilized, resources that promote resilience in older adults with chronic illness. Greater clinical attention to spiritual assessment, integration into chronic disease care, and referral for clerical intervention when indicated may enhance patient-centered outcomes. Future research should increase representation of diverse religious perspectives, ensure uniformity in assessing spirituality/religiosity to enhance comparability across...