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Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has emerged as a significant biomarker of aging, linked to various physiological and pathological processes. This study investigates circulating GDF-15 levels in a cohort of healthy individuals from the Balearic Islands, exploring its associations with biological age markers, including multiple DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks, physical performance, and other age-related biomarkers. Seventy-two participants were assessed for general health, body...

Vascular aging refers to a series of processes where the elasticity of blood vessels diminishes, leading to stiffening, and deposition of fat components on the vessel walls, causing inflammation. Cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and hypertension, play significant roles in morbidity and mortality rates among the elderly population. In this study, the Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI) was measured to assess vascular endothelial function and aging-induced pathogenesis of vascular diseases in...

Infectious diseases are often concomitant with symptoms of lassitude and emotional disturbances, including depression, the so-called sickness behavior. Kososan, a Kampo (traditional Japanese herbal) formula, has been clinically used for depressive mood, with demonstrated efficacy in stress-induced depressive-like behavior mouse models. Additionally, our previous study has shown that nobiletin-rich kososan (NKS) prevents aging-related depressive-like behaviors and neuroinflammation in mice. Here,...

Decadal survey in solar and space physics says NASA funding for the field should be doubled

In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Shen et al. investigate in vivo transient expression of Yamanaka factors (YFs) during embryogenesis and an adult mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated amyloidosis. These studies demonstrate that transient induction of YFs may be capable of enhancing neurogenesis and offer resilience against neurodegeneration.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and influence many biological processes. Despite their importance, understanding of how genetic variation affects miRNA expression in the brain and how this relates to brain disorders remains limited. Here we investigated these questions by identifying microRNA expression quantitative trait loci (miR-QTLs), or genetic variants associated with brain miRNA levels, using genome-wide small RNA sequencing profiles from dorsolateral...

Since the first description of a set of characteristics of aging as so-called hallmarks or pillars in 2013/2014, these characteristics have served as guideposts for the research in aging biology. They have been examined in a range of contexts, across tissues, in response to disease conditions or environmental factors, and served as a benchmark for various anti-aging interventions. While the hallmarks of aging were intended to capture generalizable characteristics of aging, they are derived...

A decline in mitochondrial functions associated with ageing is the key factor of free radical generation which contributes to age-related pathologies. Protecting healthy functional mitochondrial networks with antioxidants is critical in promoting healthy ageing. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of ergothioneine (EGT)-rich Lentinula edodes extract (LE-ETH) against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) assaulted senescent HT22 cells. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by...

CONCLUSION: The study advances that although financial support plays a significant role in reducing depressive symptoms in older adults, social engagement also serves as an important mediator in this relationship. Enhancing opportunities for social engagement may amplify the protective effects of financial support, offering a more comprehensive approach to addressing mental health challenges among aging populations in India.

The T cell aging process can be modified by genotoxic factors, including ionizing radiation, and metabolic controls, such as caloric restriction; the former accelerates and the latter retards the process. However, the mechanisms by which these systemic factors interact to cause T cell aging remain unclear. This study investigated the naïve T-cell pool, thymic cellularity, and transcriptome in mice irradiated with 3.8 Gy at 5 weeks of age and treated 13 months later with 30 mM spermidine (SPD), a...

The GDF15 protein, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is a stress-induced multifunctional protein with many of its functions associated with the regulation of the immune system. GDF15 signaling provides a defence against the excessive inflammation induced by diverse stresses and tissue injuries. Given that the aging process is associated with a low-grade inflammatory state, called inflammaging, it is not surprising that the expression of GDF15 gradually increases with aging. In fact, the GDF15...

New insights into the metabolic mechanisms of frailty are needed. This study aimed to identify serum metabolites linked to frailty phenotype and its component through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomic analysis among community-dwelling older individuals. An exploratory, cross-sectional case-control study. Setting and participants: The participants were recruited from the ''Otassha Study,'' a cohort study conducted in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, targeting women aged 65 years and older....

While reactive oxygen species (ROS) have long been known to drive aging and neurodegeneration, their persistent depletion below basal levels also disrupts organismal function. Cells counteract loss of basal ROS via the reductive stress response, but the identity and biochemical activity of ROS sensed by this pathway remain unknown. Here, we show that the central enzyme of the reductive stress response, the E3 ligase Cullin 2-FEM1 homolog B (CUL2^(FEM1B)), specifically acts at mitochondrial TOM...

The field of aging and longevity research is overwhelmed by vast amounts of data, calling for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the evaluation of geroprotective interventions. Such evaluations should be correct, useful, comprehensive, explainable, and they should consider causality, interdisciplinarity, adherence to standards, longitudinal data and known aging biology. In particular, comprehensive analyses should go beyond comparing data based...

CONCLUSION: A rapid decrease in the number of teeth is associated with an increased risk of psychological distress in older adults. Regular dental checkups, nutritional counseling, and the use of dentures are critical in mitigating the adverse psychological effects of the tooth loss.

CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation results presented herein highlight the program's success in addressing the critical need for accessible dementia-related services. Overall, our evaluation results underscore the importance of community-based initiatives in promoting early dementia detection and intervention, which are crucial for disease management.

Understanding the biophysical basis of protein aggregation is important in biology because of the potential link to several misfolding diseases. Although experiments have shown that protein aggregates adopt a variety of morphologies, the dynamics of their formation are less well characterized. Here, we introduce a minimal model to explore the dependence of the aggregation dynamics on the structural and sequence features of the monomers. Using simulations, we demonstrate that sequence complexity...

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between functional limitations and depressive symptoms among older adults in South Korea, focusing on gender differences in the moderating roles of relationship satisfaction with family, friends, and neighbors.

Centenarians and their relatives possess a notable survival advantage, with higher longevity and reduced susceptibility to major age-related diseases. To date, characteristic omics profiles of centenarians have been described, demonstrating that these individuals with exceptional longevity regulate their metabolism to adapt and incorporate more resilient biomolecules into their cells. Among these adaptations, the lipidomic profile stands out. However, it has not yet been determined whether this...

The effects of aging on the satellite cell pool have primarily been studied in male mice, where the role of cell-intrinsic versus environmental changes on satellite cell function remains contentious. Estradiol is necessary for maintenance of satellite cell pool size in adult female mice-here we investigate the hypothesis that in females, estradiol is a major environmental driver of age-associated effects on satellite cells. In 24-26 month-old ovarian senescent mice, we find the satellite cell...