Search Results (366)

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) can be produced from the metabolism of foods containing sulfur in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). At low doses, H₂S regulates the gut microbial community and supports GIT health, but depending on dose, age, and individual health conditions, it may also contribute to inflammatory responses and gut barrier dysfunction. Controlling H₂S production in the GIT is important for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. However, research on this subject is limited due to the gaseous nature of the chemical and the difficulty of accessing the GIT in situ. In the present ex vivo experiment, we used a single-dose sodium sulfide preparation (SSP) as a H₂S precursor to test the effect of H₂S on the human gut microbiome across different age groups, including breastfed infants, toddlers, adults, and older adults. Metagenomic sequencing and metabolite measurements revealed that the development of the gut microbial community and the production of short-chain fatty-acids (SCFAs) were age-dependent; that the infant and the older adult groups were more sensitive to SSP exposure; that exogeneous SSP suppressed SCFA production across all age groups, except for butyrate in the older adult group, suggesting that H₂S selectively favors specific gut microbial processes. Full article

Improving community walkability can encourage older adults to walk, which is beneficial for enhancing their physical activity level (PAL) and keeping healthy. The first purpose of this study was to formulate an optimized community Walk Score measurement system from the perspective of Chinese seniors. It will be optimized from the aspects such as community service facility selection, weight determination, and distance decay function calculation. The second purpose was to verify its validity by exploring the correlation between Walk Score and subjective/objective community environment variables based on Spearman correlation analysis and the ANOVA method. The third purpose was to examine the relationship between Walk Score and Chinese seniors’ PAL and health outcomes by means of ordered/binary logistic regression. The results show the following: (1) Walk Scores are significantly correlated with partial objective environmental variables. (2) Walk Score was related to older adults’ physical activity level. (3) There was no significant relationship between Walk Score and two health outcomes. Walk Score can provide a supporting basis for urban renewal, older-community renovation, age-friendly community planning and design, and public health practitioners or policymakers. Full article

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent acquired heart disease in cats and shares many clinical, phenotypical and pathological features with human HCM. Despite its relevance, knowledge on the pathomechanisms underlying the disease is limited. The present study aimed to characterize the molecular phenotypic changes in cardiomyocytes in feline HCM (fHCM) to better understand their contribution to the pathogenesis. To achieve this, the myocardium of the left ventricular free wall of 15 cats with confirmed fHCM and 30 control cats (two age groups: 16 cats 18-month-old, and 14 older adult cats without cardiac disease) were subjected to RT-qPCRs for markers representative of cardiomyocyte function. Overall, all markers were expressed at the highest level in young control cats, and increasing age correlated with decreased expression, regardless of sex. The comparison between the older adult control cats and those with HCM showed increased transcription levels for most markers associated with the disease, and higher expression of all markers in affected male cats compared to females. The constitutive transcription of all markers provides evidence of continuous myocardial adaptation throughout cats’ life. The high transcription values in the myocardium of young healthy cats and male cats affected by HCM suggest a particularly high myocardial responsiveness early in life and with HCM and reveal sex as relevant factor in the disease process. These results support the relevance of age and sex in the cardiac response to HCM in feline hearts. Full article

Ergothioneine is a diet-derived antioxidant with emerging evidence of neuroprotective benefits, but no dose-ranging study has evaluated its effects in healthy older adults. In this 16-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 147 adults aged 55–79 with subjective memory complaints received ergothioneine (10 mg or 25 mg/day ErgoActive^®) or placebo. The primary outcome was the change in composite memory (CNS Vital Signs). Secondary outcomes included other cognitive domains, subjective memory and sleep quality, and blood biomarkers. At baseline, participants showed slightly above-average cognitive function (neurocognitive index median = 105), with plasma ergothioneine levels of median = 1154 nM (interquartile range = 889.9). Plasma ergothioneine increased by ~3- and ~6-fold for 10 mg, and ~6- and ~16-fold for 25 mg, at weeks 4 and 16, respectively (p < 0.001). 25 mg ergothioneine showed a within-group improvement in composite memory at week 4 (p < 0.05), although this was not sustained. Reaction time improved in both groups, dependent on time. Other domains showed null or limited effects. Subjective prospective memory and sleep initiation improved dose-dependently, with significant effects at 25 mg (p < 0.05). Liver function improved and a within-group increase in telomere length was noted. In conclusion, ergothioneine supplementation was safe and well tolerated, with evidence suggesting some benefits in this cohort of healthy older adults. Longer trials in individuals with lower baseline ergothioneine or cognitive function are warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cognitive impairment and vestibular dysfunction commonly co-occur in older adults and may share overlapping neuroanatomical pathways. Understanding their association may enhance the early identification of cognitive decline using clinically feasible vestibular assessments. This study aimed to examine the relationship between vestibular dysfunction and early cognitive impairment, assess the diagnostic accuracy of vestibular markers, and explore the association of subjective dizziness and balance measures with cognitive performance. Methods: Our cross-sectional study included 90 participants aged ≥60 years, classified into cognitively healthy, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) groups. Cognitive function was assessed using the MoCA and the MMSE; vestibular function was evaluated via posturography sway and horizontal vHIT gain. Subjective dizziness and balance were measured using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), gait speed, and eyes-closed balance time. The data were analyzed using SPSS v24 with ANOVA, Pearson correlations, linear regression, and ROC curve analyses. Results: Significant group differences were found across the cognitive and vestibular scores (MoCA: p = 0.001. Sway: p = 0.001. vHIT: p = 0.001). vHIT gain and posturography sway independently predicted the MoCA and MMSE scores (adjusted R² = 0.68 and 0.65, respectively). The ROC analysis showed a strong diagnostic accuracy for posturography sway (AUC = 0.87) and vHIT gain (AUC = 0.82). Conclusions: Vestibular dysfunction is significantly associated with early cognitive impairment and may serve as a useful clinical marker for cognitive screening in older adults. Full article

Background: Cognitive decline during aging is a factor that inevitably affects everyone. In some older adults, cognitive function declines more rapidly to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and eventually dementia. Our work aimed to determine the associations between suicide-related single-nucleotide genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) and cognitive function dynamics in people over 65 years old over a three-year follow-up. Suicide-related SNPs have already shown an association with dementia in our previous study. Methods: The present study included 66 participants over 65 without subjective cognitive decline. Cognitive impairment was assessed at two follow-up points (at the start of the study in 2020–2021 and 3 years later) using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Patients were also genotyped for 16 SNPs. Results: We found associations between rs10898553 and rs165774 and MoCA 3-year dynamics, with a certain genetic variant related to more significant progression. For rs7982251, associations with scale scores were found, but no effect on its dynamics. Conclusions: The research focused on analyzing genetic factors of cognitive decline in healthy older adults without subjective cognitive decline. Identifying these markers can help predict the development of pathology at early stages and start timely treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a common symptom experienced by individuals in the preclinical stage of dementia. However, traditional neuropsychological tests often fail to detect subtle cognitive changes associated with SCD. People with SCD may appear to have intact cognitive function (as measured by traditional tests), but they themselves subjectively feel that their cognition is becoming impaired. Methods: This preliminary study investigated the relationship between SCD and antisaccade performance as a potential early marker of dementia risk in a community-based sample of older adults (N = 17, mean age = 77.71 years). SCD was also explored by calculating the dissociation between objective and subjective memory performance, with SCD implied if there was a large dissociation between perceived memory performance but intact objective performance. Results: Participants with evidence of SCD exhibited significantly increased antisaccade latency compared to healthy controls, even when standard cognitive tests were normal. Antisaccade latency showed a significant correlation with self-reported cognitive complaints (r = 0.57, p = 0.018), while traditional cognitive measures did not. Conclusions: These compelling but preliminary findings suggest that antisaccade performance may be a more sensitive indicator of early cognitive decline than traditional cognitive measures, even in the preclinical stage of dementia. The results have implications for early dementia diagnosis, as antisaccade tasks could be incorporated into routine assessments to identify individuals at risk for dementia, potentially enabling earlier therapeutic intervention. Full article

Background: Advances in medical care of patients with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) have significantly altered the natural course of the disease by prolonging life. Thus, our focus has now shifted to exploring the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of those patients. This study sought to explore the HRQoL of adult patients operated on for ToF using two validated instruments—the SF-36 and EQ-5D—that highlight both physical and mental aspects of the disease. Methods: A total of 115 individuals (53 ToF patients and 60 healthy controls) were recruited for the purposes of this study. HRQoL was assessed through the SF-36 and EQ-5D instruments. Comparisons were made between ToF patients and controls with subgroup analyses based on sex and age. Results: ToF patients reported significantly poorer HRQoL in the physical domains, namely Physical Functioning, Role Physical, General Health, and Physical Component Summary of the SF-36 when compared to controls (p < 0.05). Interestingly, there was a trend towards lower Bodily Pain and better Vitality scores in ToF subjects. Age influenced HRQoL, with older respondents rating their physical health lower than younger patients and controls (p < 0.05). EQ-5D VAS scores indicated that ToF patients perceived their overall health worse than controls (80.02 vs. 86.92, p < 0.001), with Anxiety/Depression being the most frequently reported problem (45.3%). Controls reported better HRQoL than ToF patients across all SF-36 domains in both health states (EQ-5D = 1 and EQ-5D > 1), except for Bodily Pain and Vitality in EQ-5D = 1. Significant differences were observed in Physical Functioning, Role Physical, General Health, Vitality, and Physical Component Score. Notably, ToF patients with EQ-5D = 1 showed unexpectedly higher Vitality scores than controls; however, this advantage diminished significantly in the EQ-5D > 1 group. Conclusions: Adult ToF survivors experience significant physical limitations as expected, while mental health seems to remain relatively unaffected compared to healthy peers. These findings underscore the importance of HRQoL assessment in patients with congenital heart disease and the need for disease-specific HRQoL instruments. Full article

According to the 2022 Korean Society of Lipidology and Atherosclerosis, in Korea, dyslipidemia is a common disease that occurs in 40.2% of adults aged 20 or older, and its prevalence increases with age. Although dyslipidemia has a high prevalence of 47.8% in adults aged 30 or older, it is known to be preventable and manageable through lifestyle improvements in areas including eating habits, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity. In this study, we propose a model for predicting age-specific dyslipidemia risk factors according to adult health behavior characteristics and diet. By analyzing the correlation between age-specific health behaviors and diet and the presence or absence of dyslipidemia, we aimed to predict dyslipidemia risk factors through a combination of multiple factor variables. This study utilized data from the 8th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and selected 12,028 adults who received a doctor’s diagnosis of dyslipidemia as the subjects. In order to compare the characteristics of the dyslipidemia diagnosis group and the non-diagnosed group, a Rao–Scott χ² test was performed, and machine learning-based logistic regression and decision tree analyses were performed to predict the dyslipidemia risk factors. Analyzing the difference in the dyslipidemia prevalence according to the general characteristics and health status showed no significant difference between the men and women in the 19–34, 35–49, and 50–64 age groups, but there was a significant difference in the dyslipidemia prevalence in the 65 and older group. It was found that the dyslipidemia risk also increased with age. In terms of health behavior characteristics, the alcohol intake frequency and aerobic exercise frequency were found to have statistically significant effects and, in terms of eating habits, the breakfast frequency and dining out frequency were found to be significant factor variables in the dyslipidemia prevalence. As a result of the decision tree analysis, the most important dyslipidemia predictive factor showed differences according to the age group. The most important predictive variable for the presence or absence of dyslipidemia in the 19–34 age group was the BMI; for the 35–49 age group, it was gender and subjective health perception; for the 50–64 age group, it was subjective health perception and the BMI; and for the 65 and older group, it was the BMI. This suggests that healthy eating habits and behaviors such as aerobic exercise are very important for preventing and managing dyslipidemia as age increases. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mild behavioral impairment (MBI) is an early marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, often preceding cognitive decline. The MBI Checklist (MBI-C) is a 34-item tool designed to detect MBI. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the MBI-C and its ability to differentiate patients with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI-AD) from cognitively unimpaired older adults (healthy participants, HPs). Methods: A total of 181 participants (104 MCI-AD, 77 HPs) were recruited from the Third Age Day Care Center IASIS (2019–2023), accompanied by a close informant. Participants underwent neuropsychological assessment [Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R)], and informants completed the MBI-C. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s α and known-group validity was assessed via comparing MBI-C between the MCI-AD and HPs groups. Diagnostic accuracy was determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The Greek MBI-C showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.899). Among its domains, impulse dyscontrol demonstrated the highest reliability (α = 0.901), whereas decreased motivation (α = 0.564) and abnormal perception/thought content (α = 0.617) exhibited lower reliability. MBI-C total and domain scores were significantly higher in patients with MCI-AD than HPs (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.871 (optimal cutoff = 9.5), indicating excellent diagnostic performance. Conclusions: Overall, the Greek MBI-C has strong psychometric properties for MCI-AD. Sociocultural factors might influence symptom identification and reporting, particularly in the domains of decreased motivation and abnormal perception/thought content. Future research should investigate its predictive value for dementia conversion and its applicability to other populations, including individuals with subjective cognitive decline and non-AD causes of MCI. Full article

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients experience higher risks of colorectal cancer but the pathogenesis is unclear. In the general population, polyketide synthase-positive (pks⁺) E. coli is implicated in intestinal carcinogenesis via the production of colibactin; however, the relevance in CF is unknown. In this study, we investigate pks⁺E. coli prevalence in CF and potential associations between pks⁺E. coli, gastrointestinal inflammation, and microbiome dynamics with fecal calprotectin and 16SrRNA gene taxonomic data. Cross-sectional analysis demonstrated no difference in pks⁺E. coli carriage between CF patients and healthy controls, 21/55 (38%) vs. 26/55 (47%), p = 0.32. Pks⁺E. coli was not associated with significant differences in mean (SD) calprotectin concentration (124 (154) vs. 158 (268) mg/kg; p = 0.60), microbial richness (159 (76.5) vs. 147 (70.4); p = 0.50) or Shannon diversity index (2.78 (0.77) vs. 2.65 (0.74); p = 0.50) in CF. Additionally, there was no association with exocrine pancreatic status (p = 0.2) or overall antibiotic use (p = 0.6). Longitudinally, CF subjects demonstrated intra-individual variation in pks⁺E. coli presence but no significant difference in overall prevalence. Future investigation into the effects of repeat exposure on risk profile and analysis of older CF cohorts is necessary to identify if associations with colorectal cancer exist. Full article

The analysis of cognitive trajectories is relatively underexplored in China. Furthermore, most previous studies examining the association between cognitive function and mortality have been limited to cross-sectional perspectives. This study aims to identify distinct cognitive trajectories and the corresponding influencing factors and investigate the impact of these trajectories on all-cause mortality in Chinese older adults. A total of 6232 subjects aged 65 years and above were drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Growth mixture models were utilized to identify different cognitive trajectories, while Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between the cognitive trajectories and all-cause mortality after adjusting for covariates. Four cognitive trajectories were identified: rapid decline group, slow decline group, low-level stable group, and high-level stable group. Some factors such as age, sex, and marital status were significantly associated with trajectories. Compared to the high-level stable group, adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the all-cause mortality were 3.87 (95% CI: 3.35–4.48), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.24–1.59), and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.18–1.58) for the rapid decline group, the slow decline group, and the low-level stable group, respectively, indicating that these three groups had a higher mortality risk. In summary, these findings facilitate the development of targeted health promotion measures, which have implications for reducing the social and economic burdens of cognitive decline. Full article

Objectives: The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if there are significant differences in cognition between a group of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and cognitively intact controls. Methods: An initial sample of 132 older people underwent an extensive neuropsychological evaluation (memory, executive functions, and language) and were classified according to diagnostic criteria. Two groups of 33 subjects each, controls and SCD, were formed using an a priori case-matching procedures in different variables: age, biological sex, years of education, cognitive reserve, and Mini-Mental State Exam. Results: The mean age and standard deviation in the control group were equal to 70.39 ± 4.31 years, while in the SCD group, they were 70.30 ± 4.33 years. The number of males (n = 9) and females (n = 24) was equal in both groups; the means of years of education were also quite similar. SCD participants have a significantly lower mood than the controls. Significant differences between groups were obtained in delayed recall, inhibitory control, and comprehension of sentences not fitted to canonical word order in Spanish. A logistic regression revealed that a lower score on the Stroop’s interference condition is associated with a higher likelihood of having SCD. Finally, ROC analysis provided a model that performs better than random chance, and a cut-off score in Stroop’s interference condition equal to 49 was suggested for clinically differentiating the two groups. Conclusions: This study highlights that, compared to a matched control group, participants with SCD showed subtle but significant neuropsychological differences. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vascular aging is associated with increased arterial stiffness and changes in the wall structure, leading to a loss of elasticity. Silicon is abundant in arteries and plays a key role in the synthesis and stabilization of elastin fibers. In animal models of accelerated cardiovascular aging, a specific nutritional supplement based on silicon-enriched spirulina (SpSi) has been shown to have beneficial effects on vascular function. The present study, designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this SpSi supplement on aging-related changes in vascular function among healthy older adults. Methods: Here, 120 healthy volunteers aged 60–75 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the SpSi group (n = 60) or placebo group (n = 60). Over 6 months, the participants received either 3.5 g of specific 1% silicon-enriched spirulina (SpSi group) or placebo tablets daily. The primary outcome was the assessment of arterial wall pressure waveforms, which included blood pressure (BP) readings and the determination of the aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV). Secondary outcomes included the vasomotor endothelial function through post-ischemic vasorelaxation, measured using the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), and carotid intima–media thickness. Results: When considering the entire sample, none of the studied parameters differed between the placebo and SpSi groups. However, when focusing on individuals with high–normal blood pressure (i.e., systolic BP between 130 and 150 mmHg) and aPWV levels above cutoff values (>10 m/s), the BP decreased by 8% (p < 0.001) and aPWV decreased by 13.5% (p < 0.0001) in subjects receiving SpSi. In individuals with BP and aPWV levels below the cutoff values, no effect was observed. Conclusions: In healthy elderly individuals, SpSi supplementation improved high–normal blood pressure and aortic pulse wave velocity, suggesting an enhanced vascular function. Full article

Background/Objectives: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a critical exercise-induced modulator of various neuroplasticity processes, including adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Environmental affordance for physical activity is a novel theory that aims to increase the BDNF through walking or climbing stairs, stimulated by the urban and interior environment. In a systematic review, this paper explores the association between walking, as a structured or free-living form of physical activity, and changes in the BDNF in humans with healthy locomotion. Method: A systematic review with a registered protocol, INPLASY2024110093, and following the PRISMA guidelines, includes English-language original research articles on adult and older adult human subjects who are locomotor-healthy, studies on walking as a structured exercise or free-living physical activity that is presented in a non-combined intervention, and must report changes in the BDNF as a dependent variable. The search was conducted using three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, resulting in 21 eligible studies. Results: This systematic review finds that the impact of walking on the BDNF is evidenced, but subject to moderate to high intensities in single bouts. At the same time, the long-term effects are yet to be fully understood, potentially due to the uptake of the BDNF for functional brain improvements, neuroplasticity processes, or muscle repair, instead of an accumulation of the BDNF itself, yet still confirm the important role of the BDNF for neurosustainability. Age and environmental factors such as heat are also found to affect the increase in the BDNF. The narrative synthesis provides elaborate explanations for understanding those complex dynamics before reaching future conclusions on the impact of walking or environmental affordance for physical activity on the changes in the BDNF concentrations. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the potential role played by moderate- and high-intensity walking as a lifestyle intervention that can be utilised through the built environment to promote adaptive brain changes, through the sustainable regulation of the BDNF. Full article