Long-term health investment when people underestimate their adaptation to old age-related health problems

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1003-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octave Jokung ◽  
Serge Macé
2010 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 778-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meir Lotan ◽  
Joav Merrick ◽  
Isack Kandel ◽  
Mohammed Morad

Rett syndrome (RS) is a neurological disease affecting mainly females, characterized by an arrest of brain development caused by an X-linked mutation. Rett syndrome is the first human disease found to be caused by defects in a protein involved in regulating gene expression through its interaction with methylated DNA. The disease has been traced to a defective gene called MECP2. The case stories presented here and recent findings show that females with RS are able to live into old age. Due to the observed longevity of individuals with RS, and the fact that individuals with RS present the therapist/physician with specific clinical challenges, it is suggested that proper, long-term, and individually tailored, intensive care should be provided at all ages in the hope to prevent or at least reduce the age-related deterioration that is typical of this population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiong Lyu ◽  
Ya Wen ◽  
Xiang Zhang ◽  
Alex B. Addinsall ◽  
Nicola Cacciani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Old age is associated with a significantly increased mortality in COVID-19 patients exposed to long-term controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) and suggested to be due to the hyperinflammatory response associated with the viral infection. However, our understanding of age-related differences in the response to CMV in the absence of a viral infection remains insufficient. Methods Young (7–8 months) and old (28–32 months) F344 BN hybrid rats were exposed to the ICU condition for 5 days, i.e., complete immobilization, mechanical ventilation, and extensive monitoring. Transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) and proteomics (Proximity Extension Assay) analyses of the diaphragm and proteomics analysis of plasma were conducted to investigate the molecular differences between young and old rats exposed to the ICU condition. Results According to multi-omics analyses, significant differences were observed in the diaphragm between young and old rats in response to 5 days CMV and immobilization. In young rats, metabolic pathways were primarily downregulated in response to immobilization (post-synaptic blockade of neuromuscular transmission). In old rats, on the other hand, dramatic immune and inflammatory responses were observed, i.e., an upregulation of specific related pathways such as “IL-17 signaling pathway”, along with a higher level of inflammatory factors and cytokine/chemokine in plasma. Conclusions The dramatically increased mortality in old ICU patients with COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation and cytokine storm need not only reflect the viral infection but may also be associated with the ventilator induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) and hyperinflammatory responses induced by long-term CMV per se. Although mechanical ventilation is a life-saving intervention in COVID-19 ICU patients, CMV should be cautiously used especially in old age and other means of respiratory support may be considered, such as negative pressure ventilation.


GeroPsych ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Martin ◽  
Lutz Jäncke ◽  
Christina Röcke

Abstract. Research on aging in different domains largely focuses on age-related decrements or intervention-related improvements, often in controlled laboratory conditions or with psychometric tests of maximum ability or traits. This special issue on monitoring and promoting old-age health stabilization in real life focuses on the short-term and long-term age-related stabilization and maintenance in diverse psychological areas, including well-being, self-esteem, subjective health, and social interactions. One central focus in all studies is the clear focus on behaviors in real-life contexts. The papers both review and present ways in which new technologies and research approaches can provide novel opportunities for monitoring and promoting the stabilization of various aspects of health and quality of life in the daily lives of healthy older adults.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.


Mediaevistik ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-53
Author(s):  
Bernard S. Bachrach

During the first thirty-three years of his reign as king of the Franks, i.e., prior to his coronation as emperor on Christmas day 800, Charlemagne, scholars generally agree, pursued a successful long-term offensive and expansionist strategy. This strategy was aimed at conquering large swaths of erstwhile imperial territory in the west and bringing under Carolingian rule a wide variety of peoples, who either themselves or their regional predecessors previously had not been subject to Frankish regnum.1 For a very long time, scholars took the position that Charlemagne continued to pursue this expansionist strategy throughout the imperial years, i.e., from his coronation on Christmas Day 800 until his final illness in later January 814. For example, Louis Halphen observed: “comme empereur, Charles poursuit, sans plus, l’oeuvre entamée avant l’an 800.”2 F. L. Ganshof, who also wrote several studies treating Charlemagne’s army, was in lock step with Halphen and observed: “As emperor, Charlemagne pursued the political and military course he had been following before 25 December 800.”3


2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110175
Author(s):  
Roberto Rusca ◽  
Ike-Foster Onwuchekwa ◽  
Catherine Kinane ◽  
Douglas MacInnes

Background: Relationships are vital to recovery however, there is uncertainty whether users have different types of social networks in different mental health settings and how these networks may impact on users’ wellbeing. Aims: To compare the social networks of people with long-term mental illness in the community with those of people in a general adult in-patient unit. Method: A sample of general adult in-patients with enduring mental health problems, aged between 18 and 65, was compared with a similar sample attending a general adult psychiatric clinic. A cross-sectional survey collected demographic data and information about participants’ social networks. Participants also completed the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale to examine well-being and the Significant Others Scale to explore their social network support. Results: The study recruited 53 participants (25 living in the community and 28 current in-patients) with 339 named as important members of their social networks. Both groups recorded low numbers in their social networks though the community sample had a significantly greater number of social contacts (7.4 vs. 5.4), more monthly contacts with members of their network and significantly higher levels of social media use. The in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Conclusions: People with serious and enduring mental health problems living in the community had a significantly greater number of people in their social network than those who were in-patients while the in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Recommendations for future work have been made.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Lara Macchioni ◽  
Davide Chiasserini ◽  
Letizia Mezzasoma ◽  
Magdalena Davidescu ◽  
Pier Luigi Orvietani ◽  
...  

Age-related retinal degenerations, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are caused by the loss of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptors. The pathogenesis of AMD, deeply linked to the aging process, also involves oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. However, the molecular mechanisms contributing to the shift from healthy aging to AMD are still poorly understood. Since RPE cells in the retina are chronically exposed to a pro-oxidant microenvironment throughout life, we simulated in vivo conditions by growing ARPE-19 cells in the presence of 10 μM H2O2 for several passages. This long-term oxidative insult induced senescence in ARPE-19 cells without affecting cell proliferation. Global proteomic analysis revealed a dysregulated expression in proteins involved in antioxidant response, mitochondrial homeostasis, and extracellular matrix organization. The analyses of mitochondrial functionality showed increased mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP generation and improved response to oxidative stress. The latter, however, was linked to nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) rather than nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation. NF-κB hyperactivation also resulted in increased pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and inflammasome activation. Moreover, in response to additional pro-inflammatory insults, senescent ARPE-19 cells underwent an exaggerated inflammatory reaction. Our results indicate senescence as an important link between chronic oxidative insult and detrimental chronic inflammation, with possible future repercussions for therapeutic interventions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document