Aging-US
Aging-US Podcast
Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.
Read about the Aging-US Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity
Read about the Aging-US Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity
Episodes
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Jan 27, 2023 • 6min
Gene Linked to Osteoporosis Risk in Postmenopausal Asian Women
Blog summary of a recent research paper published by Aging: "A case-control study coupling with meta-analysis elaborates decisive association between IGF-1 rs35767 and osteoporosis in Asian postmenopausal females."
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Osteoporosis is characterized by the loss of bone density and an increased risk of fractures. This serious health condition is a major public health concern, particularly among older women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 80% of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis are women. Additionally, roughly one in two women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
“Osteoporosis (OP) is prevalent in postmenopausal women. Several studies investigated the association between IGF-1 polymorphisms and OP among postmenopausal females with conflicting outcomes.”
While the main risk factor for osteoporosis is undeniably aging, the causes of osteoporosis are more complex—involving a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene plays a critical role in bone growth and development, and previous studies have suggested that variations in this gene may be associated with osteoporosis. Some genetic variants have been found to be associated with decreased IGF-1 levels, which may contribute to the development of osteoporosis.
In a recent study, researchers Sui-Lung Su, Yung-Hsun Huang, Yu-Hsuan Chen, Pi-Shao Ko, Wen Su, Chih-Chien Wang, and Meng-Chang Lee from the Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan, explored the relationship between IGF-1 polymorphisms rs35767, rs2288377 and rs5742612 and the development of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Asian women. Their new research paper was published in Aging’s Volume 15, Issue 1, entitled, “A case-control study coupling with meta-analysis elaborates decisive association between IGF-1 rs35767 and osteoporosis in Asian postmenopausal females.”
Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2023/01/gene-linked-to-osteoporosis-risk-in-postmenopausal-asian-women/
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204464
Corresponding author - Meng-Chang Lee - apply0710@yahoo.com.tw
Keywords - osteoporosis, postmenopausal, insulin-like growth factor-1, single nucleotide polymorphism, meta-analysis
About Aging-US
Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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Jan 25, 2023 • 4min
FBXC-58 Mediates Dietary Restriction Effects in Healthy Aging C. Elegans
A new research paper was published in Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by MEDLINE/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 1, entitled, “The innate immune signaling component FBXC-58 mediates dietary restriction effects on healthy aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.”
Dietary restriction (DR) is a highly effective and reproducible intervention that prolongs longevity in many organisms. The molecular mechanism of action of DR is tightly connected with the immune system; however, the detailed mechanisms and effective downstream factors of immunity that mediate the beneficial effects of DR on aging remain unknown.
In this new study, researchers Jeong-Hoon Hahm, Farida S. Nirmala, Pyeong Geun Choi, Hyo-Deok Seo, Tae Youl Ha, Chang Hwa Jung, and Jiyun Ahn from the Korea Food Research Institute and the University of Science and Technology (in Daejeon, South Korea) investigated the immune signaling that mediates DR effects. The team used Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of aging and immunity.
“We found that the F-box gene, fbxc-58, a regulator of the innate immune response, is a novel mediator of DR effects on extending the health span of C. elegans.”
Fbxc-58 is upregulated by DR and is necessary for DR-induced lifespan extension and physical health improvement in C. elegans. Furthermore, through DR, fbxc-58 prevents disintegration of the mitochondrial network in body wall muscle during aging. The researchers found that fbxc-58 is a downstream target of the ZIP-2 and PHA-4 transcription factors, the well-known DR mediator, and fbxc-58 extends longevity in DR through an S6 kinase-dependent pathway. Thus, the team proposed that fbxc-58 may provide a new mechanistic understanding of the effects of DR on healthy aging and elucidate the signaling mechanisms that link immunity and DR effects with aging.
“Thus, we propose that investigating the molecular mechanism of action of F-box proteins, including fbxc-58, in DR will shed light on means to prevent sarcopenia and offer a potentially practical means of encouraging healthy aging via DR.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204477
Corresponding Authors: Jeong-Hoon Hahm - hahmjh@kfri.re.kr, Jiyun Ahn - jyan@kfri.re.kr
Keywords: dietary restriction, aging, innate immunity, F-box protein, Caenorhabditis elegans
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About Aging-US
Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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For media inquiries, please contact: media@impactjournals.com

Jan 18, 2023 • 4min
Genetic Deficiency and Pharmacological Modulation of RORα Regulate Laser-Induced CNV
A new research paper was published in Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by MEDLINE/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 1, entitled, “Genetic deficiency and pharmacological modulation of RORα regulate laser-induced choroidal neovascularization.”
Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) causes acute vision loss in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Genetic variations of the nuclear receptor RAR-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) have been linked with neovascular AMD, yet its specific role in pathological CNV development is not entirely clear.
In this new study, researchers Chi-Hsiu Liu, Felix Yemanyi, Kiran Bora, Neetu Kushwah, Alexandra K. Blomfield, Theodore M. Kamenecka, John Paul SanGiovanni, Ye Sun, Laura A. Solt, and Jing Chen from Harvard Medical School, UF Scripps Biomedical Research and University of Arizona showed that Rora was highly expressed in the mouse choroid compared with the retina, and genetic loss of RORα in Staggerer mice (Rorasg/sg) led to increased expression levels of Vegfr2 and Tnfa in the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) complex.
“Here, we investigated whether RORα regulates CNV using a mouse model of laser-induced CNV, mimicking the neovascular features of wet AMD. We found that expression of RORα was enriched in the mouse choroid/RPE complex and upregulated in laser-induced CNV.”
In a mouse model of laser-induced CNV, RORα expression was highly increased in the choroidal/RPE complex post-laser, and loss of RORα in Rorasg/sg eyes significantly worsened CNV with increased lesion size and vascular leakage, associated with increased levels of VEGFR2 and TNFα proteins. Pharmacological inhibition of RORα also worsened CNV. In addition, both genetic deficiency and inhibition of RORα substantially increased vascular growth in isolated mouse choroidal explants ex vivo. RORα inhibition also promoted angiogenic function of human choroidal endothelial cell culture.
“Together, our results suggest that RORα negatively regulates pathological CNV development in part by modulating angiogenic response of the choroidal endothelium and inflammatory environment in the choroid/RPE complex.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204480
Corresponding Author: Jing Chen - jing.chen@childrens.harvard.edu
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, angiogenesis, choroidal neovascularization, inflammation, nuclear receptors, RORα, VEGFR2, TNFα
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About Aging-US:
Launched in 2009, Aging (Aging-US) publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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Jan 16, 2023 • 3min
Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Peripheral Blood in Aging Mouse
A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by Medline/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 1, entitled, “Single-cell transcriptomics of peripheral blood in the aging mouse.”
Compositional and transcriptional changes in the hematopoietic system have been used as biomarkers of immunosenescence and aging. In this new study, researchers Yee Voan Teo, Samuel J. Hinthorn, Ashley E. Webb, and Nicola Neretti from Brown University used single-cell RNA-sequencing to study the aging peripheral blood in mice and characterize the changes in cell-type composition and transcriptional profiles associated with age.
“Here, we applied scRNA-seq on young and old mice to dissect the transcriptional and cell composition changes of all cell types in the peripheral blood with age.”
The team identified 17 clusters from a total of 14,588 single cells. They detected a general upregulation of antigen processing and presentation and chemokine signaling pathways and a downregulation of genes involved in ribosome pathways with age. In old peripheral blood, the researchers also observed an increased percentage of cells expressing senescence markers (Cdkn1a, and Cdkn2a). In addition, a cluster of activated T cells exclusively found in old blood was detected, with lower expression of Cd28 and higher expression of Bcl2 and Cdkn2a, suggesting that the cells are senescent and resistant to apoptosis.
“Finally, targeting senescent cells using genetic approaches has been shown to ameliorate the aging phenotype [34, 35]. More recently, senolytics drugs are being identified or developed to target apoptotic pathways because senescent cells are known to be apoptosis-resistant [34]. Therefore, the Bcl2+ old T cells that we identified in old mice can potentially be targeted pharmacologically to ameliorate the phenotypes associated with the aging of the immune system.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204471
Corresponding Author: Nicola Neretti - nicola_neretti@brown.edu
Keywords: aging, single-cell transcriptomics, senescence, peripheral blood
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About Aging-US:
Launched in 2009, Aging (Aging-US) publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

Jan 12, 2023 • 4min
Transcriptomic Analysis of Human ALS Skeletal Muscle Reveals…
A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 24, entitled, “Transcriptomic analysis of human ALS skeletal muscle reveals a disease-specific pattern of dysregulated circRNAs.”
Circular RNAs are abundant, covalently closed transcripts that arise in cells through back-splicing and display distinct expression patterns across cells and developmental stages. While their functions are largely unknown, their intrinsic stability has made them valuable biomarkers in many diseases.
In this new study, researchers Dimitrios Tsitsipatis, Krystyna Mazan-Mamczarz, Ying Si, Allison B. Herman, Jen-Hao Yang, Abhishek Guha, Yulan Piao, Jinshui Fan, Jennifer L. Martindale, Rachel Munk, Xiaoling Yang, Supriyo De, Brijesh K. Singh, Ritchie Ho, Myriam Gorospez, and Peter H. King from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center set out to examine circRNA patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By RNA-sequencing analysis, the researchers first identified circRNAs and linear RNAs that were differentially abundant in skeletal muscle biopsies from ALS compared to normal individuals.
“By RT-qPCR analysis, we confirmed that 8 circRNAs were significantly elevated and 10 were significantly reduced in ALS, while the linear mRNA counterparts, arising from shared precursor RNAs, generally did not change.”
Several of these circRNAs were also differentially abundant in motor neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) bearing ALS mutations, and across different disease stages in skeletal muscle from a mouse model of ALS (SOD1G93A). Interestingly, a subset of the circRNAs significantly elevated in ALS muscle biopsies were significantly reduced in the spinal cord samples from ALS patients and ALS (SOD1G93A) mice. In sum, the researchers identified differentially abundant circRNAs in ALS-relevant tissues (muscle and spinal cord) that could inform about neuromuscular molecular programs in ALS and guide the development of therapies.
“As our studies advance, we will investigate the function of the most promising and abundant circRNAs, among the 18 circRNAs reported here. We are especially interested in those that appeared to be specific for ALS (Figure 2), as they may help to characterize disease-associated molecular pathways that could be targeted therapeutically.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204450
Corresponding Authors: Myriam Gorospe - GorospeM@grc.nia.nih.gov, Dimitrios Tsitsipatis - dimitrios.tsitsipatis@nih.gov, Peter H. King - phking@uabmc.edu
Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, circular RNAs, neurodegenerative disease, human skeletal muscle, human spinal cord tissue
About Aging-US:
Launched in 2009, Aging (Aging-US) publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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Jan 11, 2023 • 10min
How Hidden Markov Models Could Elucidate Multimorbidity in Aging
Listen to a blog summary of a research paper published by Aging in Volume 14, Issue 24, entitled, "12-year evolution of multimorbidity patterns among older adults based on Hidden Markov Models."
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Multimorbidity is a term that refers to living with two or more chronic diseases at the same time, and the prevalence of this phenomenon increases with age. In addition, humans tend to evolve and transition into distinct patterns of multimorbidity. These still ill-defined patterns of multimorbidity may offer a window of opportunity for researchers. Since the aging population continues to grow in many parts of the world, researchers are motivated to better understand these patterns and how they evolve and transition over time in order to develop interventions and therapeutics for healthier aging. However, this is a challenging task for several reasons.
“Multimorbidity is associated with a higher risk of polypharmacy and decreased quality of life, and challenges the decision-making of clinicians that lack effective guidelines for the management and treatment of patients with cohexisting complex diseases [4].”
While researchers have investigated multimorbidity, not all studies are created equal—rendering meta-analyses largely incongruent (thus far). One reason the evolution of multimorbidity patterns is so challenging to study is because most study designs are not powered to account for the dynamic nature of multimorbidity in old age. Another reason is that various studies use different lists of diseases. (Some studies include ten conditions or less and others include 200+ conditions.) Finally, most statistical methods used to organize data are not able to properly handle the complexity of multimorbidity.
“Exploring how multimorbidity patterns evolve throughout people’s lives and the time subjects remain within specific patterns is still an under-researched area [7, 8]. The understanding of how diseases cluster longitudinally in specific age groups would pave the way to the design of new prognostic tools, as well as new preventive and, eventually, therapeutic approaches.”
Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2023/01/how-hidden-markov-models-can-help-elucidate-multimorbidity-in-aging/
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204395
Corresponding authors - Albert Roso-Llorach - aroso@idiapjgol.org, Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga - amaia.calderon.larranaga@ki.se
Keywords - multimorbidity, older adults, longitudinal population-based study, aging, Hidden Markov Models
About Aging-US
Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

Jan 5, 2023 • 4min
Epigenetic Aging, Cognitive Function and Visuospatial Processing in People With HIV
A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 24, entitled, “Epigenetic aging is associated with aberrant neural oscillatory dynamics serving visuospatial processing in people with HIV.”
Despite effective antiretroviral therapy, cognitive impairment and other aging-related comorbidities are more prevalent in people with HIV (PWH) than in the general population. Previous research examining DNA methylation has shown PWH exhibit accelerated biological aging. However, it is unclear how accelerated biological aging may affect neural oscillatory activity in virally suppressed PWH, and more broadly how such aberrant neural activity may impact neuropsychological performance.
Participants (n = 134) between the ages of 23 – 72 years underwent a neuropsychological assessment, a blood draw to determine biological age via DNA methylation, and a visuospatial processing task during magnetoencephalography (MEG). Researchers Mikki Schantell, Brittany K. Taylor, Rachel K. Spooner, Pamela E. May, Jennifer O’Neill, Brenda M. Morsey, Tina Wang, Trey Ideker, Sara H. Bares, Howard S. Fox, and Tony W. Wilson from the Boys Town National Research Hospital, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Heinrich-Heine University, and the University of California San Diego focused their analyses on the relationship between biological age and oscillatory theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (10 - 16 Hz) activity among PWH (n=65) and seronegative controls (n = 69).
“To our knowledge, no study to date has directly linked accelerated biological aging in PWH to the neuro-functional changes that occur in cognitively impaired PWH, which include deficits in visuospatial processing, attention, working memory, and motor function networks.”
PWH had significantly elevated biological age when controlling for chronological age relative to controls. Biological age was differentially associated with theta oscillations in the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and with alpha oscillations in the right medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) among PWH and seronegative controls. Stronger alpha oscillations in the mPFC were associated with lower CD4 nadir and lower current CD4 counts, suggesting such responses were compensatory. Participants who were on combination antiretroviral therapy for longer had weaker theta oscillations in the PCC.
Full press release - https://www.aging-us.com/news_room/Aging-Epigenetic-aging-associated-with-aberrant-neural-oscillatory-dynamics-serving-visuospatial-processing-in-people-with-HIV
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204437
Corresponding Author: Tony W. Wilson - tony.wilson@boystown.org
Keywords: HIV, epigenetics, biological age, visuospatial discrimination, oscillations
About Aging-US:
Launched in 2009, Aging (Aging-US) publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Visit our website at www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
SoundCloud – https://soundcloud.com/Aging-Us
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl
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For media inquiries, contact media@impactjournals.com.

Jan 5, 2023 • 5min
Associations of APOE-TOMM40-APOC1 Variants With Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers
A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by Medline/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 14, Issue 24, entitled, “Associations of the APOE ε2 and ε4 alleles and polygenic profiles comprising APOE-TOMM40-APOC1 variants with Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers.”
Capturing the genetic architecture of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is challenging because of the complex interplay of genetic and non-genetic factors in its etiology. It has been suggested that AD biomarkers may improve the characterization of AD pathology and its genetic architecture. Most studies have focused on connections of individual genetic variants with AD biomarkers, whereas the role of combinations of genetic variants is substantially underexplored.
In this new study for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, researchers, from Alexander M. Kulminski, Ethan Jain-Washburn, Elena Loiko, Yury Loika, Fan Feng, and Irina Culminskaya from Duke University and University of California examined the associations of the APOE ε2 and ε4 alleles and polygenic profiles comprising the ε4-encoding rs429358, TOMM40 rs2075650, and APOC1 rs12721046 polymorphisms with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma amyloid β (Aβ40 and Aβ42) and tau biomarkers.
“Here, we examine the associations of the APOE ε2 and ε4 alleles and the AD-risk-differentiating compound genotypes comprising rs429358, rs2075650, and rs12721046 SNPs with Aβ40, Aβ42, and tau AD biomarkers measured in CSF and plasma using data from three studies: the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and the Framingham Heart Study (FHS).”
Findings from this study support associations of the ε4 alleles with both plasma and CSF Aβ42 and CSF tau, and the ε2 alleles with baseline, but not longitudinal, CSF Aβ42 measurements. The researchers found that the ε4-bearing polygenic profiles conferring higher and lower AD risks are differentially associated with tau but not Aβ42. Modulation of the effect of the ε4 alleles by TOMM40 and APOC1 variants indicates the potential genetic mechanism of differential roles of Aβ and tau in AD pathogenesis.
“Our primary finding is that the ε4-bearing polygenic profiles conferring higher and lower AD risks are differently associated with tau but not Aβ42. The other main results of our work are characterizations of the associations of the APOE ε2 and ε4 alleles with Aβ40, Aβ42, and tau biomarkers in ADNI-1, ADNI-2/GO, ARIC, and three FHS cohorts.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204384
Corresponding Author: Alexander M. Kulminski - kulminsk@duke.edu
Keywords: aging, apolipoprotein E polymorphism, Alzheimer’s disease, haplotypes, Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers
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About Aging-US
Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
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Jan 3, 2023 • 4min
DNA Methylation-Based Measures of Biological Aging and Cognitive Decline Over 16 Years
A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 23, entitled, “DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging and cognitive decline over 16-years: preliminary longitudinal findings in midlife.”
DNA methylation-based (DNAm) measures of biological aging associate with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, but their links with cognitive decline are less established.
In this new study, researchers Rebecca G. Reed, Judith E. Carroll, Anna L. Marsland, and Stephen B. Manuck from University of Pittsburgh and University of California examined changes over a 16-year interval in epigenetic clocks (the traditional and principal components [PC]-based Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge) and pace of aging measures (Dunedin PoAm, Dunedin PACE) in 48 midlife adults enrolled in the longitudinal arm of the Adult Health and Behavior project (56% Female, baseline AgeM = 44.7 years), selected for discrepant cognitive trajectories.
“We hypothesized that overall, cognitive Decliners would be biologically older compared to cognitive Maintainers.”
Cognitive Decliners (N = 24) were selected based on declines in a composite score derived from neuropsychological tests and matched with participants who did not show any decline, Maintainers (N = 24). Multilevel models with repeated DNAm measures within person tested the main effects of time, group, and group by time interactions. DNAm measures significantly increased over time generally consistent with elapsed time between study visits.
There were also group differences: overall, Cognitive Decliners had an older PC-GrimAge and faster pace of aging (Dunedin PoAm, Dunedin PACE) than Cognitive Maintainers. There were no significant group by time interactions, suggesting accelerated epigenetic aging in Decliners remained constant over time. Older PC-GrimAge and faster pace of aging may be particularly sensitive to cognitive decline in midlife.
“In conclusion, these preliminary results suggest PC-GrimAge and DNAm based pace of aging measures (Dunedin PoAm and PACE) associate with 16-year, neuropsychologically-validated cognitive decline in midlife. The results warrant a larger-scale study to better examine longitudinal associations between changes in DNAm measures and changes across multiple cognitive domains. Ultimately, establishing DNAm measures as biomarkers of cognitive function in midlife may offer pre-clinical markers of a molecular aging mechanism that can help identify individuals at increased risk for cognitive impairment and dementia in later life.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204376
Corresponding Author: Rebecca G. Reed - rebecca.reed@pitt.edu
Keywords: epigenetic age, aging biomarker, pace of aging, geroscience, cognitive aging
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About Aging-US:
Launched in 2009, Aging (Aging-US) publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
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Jan 3, 2023 • 7min
Late-in-Life Interventions to Improve Cardiac Health
Listen to a blog summary about a recent research perspective published in Volume 14, Issue 23, entitled, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Run ! : 4 Rs to improve cardiac health in advanced age.”
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Cardiac dysfunction is a major public health concern. While it can occur for various reasons at any age, the prevalence of cardiac dysfunction dramatically increases with advancing age. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms of age-related cardiac decline are still largely unknown. Thus, it is essential for researchers to uncover novel strategies to improve cardiac health at advanced ages.
AUTOPHAGIC FLUX
An important physiological process involved in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis is autophagic flux. Autophagic flux is the process by which cells break down and recycle their own cellular components after they have become damaged or unnecessary. This process is essential for maintaining healthy cardiac function, as it slows age-related oxidative damage, reduces the accumulation of toxic lipid and protein aggregates, and improves energy metabolism. However, the efficiency of autophagic flux decreases with age, resulting in declined cardiac function.
Given its crucial role and fading functioning, the search for strategies to improve autophagic flux may be essential for improving cardiovascular health as humans age. Researchers Jae Min Cho, Rajeshwary Ghosh, Sohom Mookherjee, Sihem Boudina, and J. David Symons from the University of Utah authored a new research perspective about nutraceutical, lifestyle and pharmacological interventions that can reduce age-associated cardiac dysfunction. On December 1, 2022, their research perspective was published in Aging’s Volume 14, Issue 23, entitled, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Run ! : 4 Rs to improve cardiac health in advanced age.”
“In the following sections we review evidence that age-associated cardiac dysfunction can be Reduced by boosting cardiomyocyte autophagy (i.e., the ability to Reuse and Recycle damaged/dysfunctional proteins) via spermidine, rapamycin, and caloric-restriction. In addition, we highlight a new report indicating that a physiological intervention i.e., Running, rejuvenates cardiomyocyte autophagic flux to an extent that lessens age-associated cardiac dysfunction.”
Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2022/12/late-in-life-interventions-to-improve-cardiac-health/
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204415
Corresponding authors - Sihem Boudina: sihem.boudina@u2m2.utah.edu, and J. David Symons: J.David.Symons@hsc.utah.edu
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Keywords - aging, authophagy, exercise training, heart, cardiac function
About Aging-US
Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.
Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us:
SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/Aging-Us
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/
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For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com


