Causal Inference Approaches Reveal Associations Between LDL Oxidation, NO Metabolism, Telomere Length and DNA Integrity Within the MARK-AGE Study.

Genomic instability markers are important hallmarks of aging, as previously evidenced within the European study of biomarkers of human aging, MARK-AGE; however, establishing the specific metabolic determinants of vascular aging is challenging. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the susceptibility to oxidation of serum LDL particles (LDLox) and the plasma metabolization products of nitric oxide (NOx) on relevant genomic instability markers. The analysis was performed on a MARK-AGE cohort of 1326 subjects (635 men and 691 women, 35-75 years old) randomly recruited from the general population.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), oxidative stress, and inflammation: implications for immunosenescence and age-related diseases in the MARK-AGE population.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) drives immunosenescence, while its reactivation is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. This study investigates the interplay between CMV, oxidative stress and inflammation in a cohort of 2065 age-stratified individuals randomly recruited from the general population (RASIG), as part of the MARK-AGE study, to better understand the role of CMV in immunosenescence and its potential impact on age-related diseases. CMV IgG titers were associated with oxidative stress, antioxidant, and inflammatory biomarkers.

Circulating Bacterial DNA as a Novel Blood-Based Biomarker in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2): Results from the PROMOTERA Study.

Blood bacterial DNA (BB-DNA) has been identified as a novel biomarker for metabolic dysfunction, yet its relationship with epigenetic features in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) patients remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the relationship between BB-DNA and epigenetic, inflammatory, and aging-related markers in 285 elderly both with and without DM2. BB-DNA levels were higher in DM2 patients than in non-diabetic subjects, with the highest levels in those with severe renal impairment.

A Novel Cognitive Frailty Index for Geriatric Mice.

Loss of cognitive function is a significant challenge in aging, and developing models to understand and target cognitive decline is crucial for the development of Geroscience-based interventions. Aged mice offer a valuable model as they share features of cognitive decline with humans. Despite numerous studies, knowledge of longitudinal age-related cognitive changes and cognitive frailty in naturally aging mice is limited, particularly in cohorts exceeding 30 months of age, where cognitive decline is more pronounced.

miR-132-3p is down-regulated in plasma and CD171 extracellular vesicles isolated from patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in aging populations, demands minimally invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as such biomarkers. In this study, we examined the levels of five selected miRNAs, implicated in neurodegenerative processes, in plasma and neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) from cognitively healthy controls (n = 5), and patients with mild (n = 10) and moderate AD (n = 10), stratified by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Negative symptoms in psychosis: A scoping review of qualitative studies.

Introduction: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia, characterised by the absence or reduction of normal processes, are understudied and effective treatments remain elusive. Qualitative research can provide novel and patient-centred insights into these complex phenomena. This scoping review synthesizes findings from previously published qualitative studies aiming to explore previous results and identify gaps in the published literature.

Impact of nutritional interventions on quality of life in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a scoping review.

Objectives: Schizophrenia is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. Quality of life is an important outcome measure for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia; it can be tracked over time allowing evaluation of whether interventions lead to sustainable improvements. Nutrition and dietary interventions are an underutilized treatment for tackling the metabolic consequences of mental illness, which is now recognized as having increased importance in the management of schizophrenia.

Association of cytomegalovirus serostatus with ELOVL2 methylation: Implications for lipid metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and repair capacity in the MARK-AGE study population.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been linked to accelerated biological aging, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. DNA methylation of the gene Elongation Of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids-Like 2 (ELOVL2) is a molecular biomarker for aging, and its gene product is involved in polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis, which impacts immune and inflammatory responses. This study, conducted in the MARK-AGE population, aimed to investigate the relationship between CMV infection and ELOVL2 methylation in adults aged 35-75, as well as the influence of CMV IgG levels on lipid metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and DNA repair.

The role of the gut microbiota in the onset and progression of heart failure: insights into epigenetic mechanisms and aging.

Background: The gut microbiota (GM) plays a critical role in regulating human physiology, with dysbiosis linked to various diseases, including heart failure (HF). HF is a complex syndrome with a significant global health impact, as its incidence doubles with each decade of life, and its prevalence peaks in individuals over 80 years. A bidirectional interaction exists between GM and HF, where alterations in gut health can worsen the disease's progression.

Interactions between patterns of multimorbidity and functional status among hospitalized older patients: a novel approach using cluster analysis and association rule mining.

Background: Multimorbidity (MM) is generally defined as the presence of 2 or more chronic diseases in the same patient and seems to be frequently associated with frailty and poor quality of life. However, the complex interplay between MM and functional status in hospitalized older patients has not been fully elucidated so far. Here, we implemented a 2-step approach, combining cluster analysis and association rule mining to explore how patterns of MM and disease associations change as a function of disability.

DNA Methylation-derived biological age and long-term mortality risk in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) face an increased mortality risk, not fully captured by canonical risk factors. Biological age estimation through DNA methylation (DNAm), i.e.

Plasma cfDNA abundance as a prognostic biomarker for higher risk of death in geriatric cardiovascular patients.

The management of geriatric cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients with multimorbidity remains challenging and could potentially be improved by integrating clinical data with innovative prognostic biomarkers. In this context, the analysis of circulating analytes, including cell-free DNA (cfDNA), appears particularly promising. Here, we investigated circulating cfDNA (measured through the quantification of 247 bp and 115 bp Alu genomic fragments) in a cohort of 244 geriatric CVD patients with multimorbidity hospitalised for acute CVD or non-CVD events.

Response rates to sequential trials of antipsychotic medications according to algorithms or treatment guidelines in psychotic disorders. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is a relative lack of research evaluating the outcomes when treatment guidelines or algorithms for psychotic disorders are followed. This systematic review and meta-analysis determined the response rates to antipsychotic medications at different stages of these algorithms and whether these response rates differ in first episode cohorts.

Methods: Data sources: A systematic search strategy was conducted across four databases PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO (Ovid) and CINAHL.

Association of Inflammatory Mediators with Mitochondrial DNA Variants in Geriatric COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 remains a serious concern for elderly individuals with underlying comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 can target and damage mitochondria, potentially leading to mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This study aimed to evaluate single nucleotide substitutions in mtDNA and analyze their correlation with inflammatory biomarkers in elderly COVID-19 patients.

Neuroinflammaging: A Tight Line Between Normal Aging and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Aging in the healthy brain is characterized by a low-grade, chronic, and sterile inflammatory process known as neuroinflammaging. This condition, mainly consisting in an up-regulation of the inflammatory response at the brain level, contributes to the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Development of this proinflammatory state involves the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, able to induce age-related epigenetic modifications.

Association between low values of mean arterial pressure and impaired cognitive performance in older patients with mild cognitive impairment: cross-sectional preliminary findings from the STRENGTH Project.

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Aims: This study examined the relationship between BP and clinical/cognitive/neuropsychological aspects in MCI individuals.

Methods: MCI patients underwent clinical, functional, cognitive and metacognitive, as well as psychological assessments.

Blood circulating bacterial DNA in hospitalized old COVID-19 patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease COVID-19 is a heterogeneous condition caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Generally, it is characterized by interstitial pneumonia that can lead to impaired gas-exchange, acute respiratory failure, and death, although a complex disorder of multi-organ dysfunction has also been described. The pathogenesis is complex, and a variable combination of factors has been described in critically ill patients.

Cellular senescence and frailty: a comprehensive insight into the causal links.

Senescent cells may have a prominent role in driving inflammation and frailty. The impact of cellular senescence on frailty varies depending on the assessment tool used, as it is influenced by the criteria or items predominantly affected by senescent cells and the varying weights assigned to these items across different health domains. To address this challenge, we undertook a thorough review of all available studies involving gain- or loss-of-function experiments as well as interventions targeting senescent cells, focusing our attention on those studies that examined outcomes based on the individual frailty phenotype criteria or specific items used to calculate two humans (35 and 70 items) and one mouse (31 items) frailty indexes.

Uncovering the Relationship between Selenium Status, Age, Health, and Dietary Habits: Insights from a Large Population Study including Nonagenarian Offspring from the MARK-AGE Project.

An inadequate selenium (Se) status can accelerate the aging process, increasing the vulnerability to age-related diseases. The study aimed to investigate plasma Se and Se species in a large population, including 2200 older adults from the general population (RASIG), 514 nonagenarian offspring (GO), and 293 GO Spouses (SGO). Plasma Se levels in women exhibit an inverted U-shaped pattern, increasing with age until the post-menopausal period and then declining.