INTELLECTUAL ABILITY IN EARLY ADULTHOOD AS AN ANTECEDENT OF PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING DECLINE IN OLD AGE

Synapses connect neurons together to form the circuits of the brain and their molecular composition controls innate and learned behavior. We have analyzed the molecular and morphological diversity of five billion excitatory synapses at single-synapse resolution across the mouse brain from birth to old age. A continuum of changes alters synapse composition in all brain regions across the lifespan. Expansion in synapse diversity produces differentiation of brain regions until early adulthood and compositional changes cause dedifferentiation in old age. The spatiotemporal synaptome architecture of the brain potentially accounts for lifespan transitions in intellectual ability, memory, and susceptibility to behavioral disorders.

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Metabolic Syndrome Trajectories and Objective Physical Performance in Mid-To-Early Late Life: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab188 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jenna M Napoleone ◽

Robert M Boudreau ◽

Brittney S Lange-Maia ◽

Samar R El Khoudary ◽

Kelly R Ylitalo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

African American ◽

Women’S Health ◽

Women's Health ◽

Old Age ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Performance Outcomes ◽

Early Old Age

Abstract Background Little is known about how adverse, midlife metabolic profiles impact future physical functioning. We hypothesized that a higher number of midlife metabolic syndrome (MetS) components are associated with poorer physical performance in early old age for multi-ethnic women. Methods MetS status from 1996-2011 (8 visits) and objective physical performance in 2015/2016 (short physical performance battery (SPPB; 0-12), 40-foot walk (m/s), 4-meter gait speed (m/s), chair stands (sec), stair climb (sec)) were assessed in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN; n=1722; age 65.4±2.7 years; 26.9% African American, 10.1% Chinese, 9.8% Japanese, 5.5% Hispanic). Poisson latent class growth modeling identified MetS component trajectory groups: none (23.9%), 1=low-MetS (28.7%), 2=mid-MetS (30.9%), and >3=high-MetS (16.5%). Adjusted linear regression related MetS groups to physical performance outcomes. Results High-MetS versus none had higher BMI, pain, financial strain, and lower physical activity and self-reported health (p<0.0001). Compared to White, African American and Hispanic women were more likely to be in the high-MetS groups and had worse physical functioning along with Chinese women (SPPB, chair stand, stair climb, and gait speed - not Hispanic). After adjustments, high-MetS versus none demonstrated significantly worse 40-ft walk (β:-0.08; 95% CI:-0.13, -0.03), gait speed (β:-0.09; 95% CI:-0.15, -0.02), SPPB (β:-0.79; 95% CI: -1.15, -0.44), and chair stands (β:0.69; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.28), but no difference in stair climb. Conclusions Midlife MetS groups were related to poor physical performance in early old age multi-ethnic women. Midlife management of metabolic function may improve physical performance later in life.

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Intellectual ability in young adulthood as an antecedent of physical functioning in older age

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afw087 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 45 (5) ◽

pp. 724-728 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Taina Poranen-Clark ◽

Mikaela B. von Bonsdorff ◽

Timo Törmäkangas ◽

Jari Lahti ◽

Niko Wasenius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adulthood ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Older Age ◽

Intellectual Ability

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Work Stressors in Late Midlife and Physical Functioning in Old Age

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264316654673 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 893-911 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Charlotta Nilsen ◽

Neda Agahi ◽

Ingemar Kåreholt

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Panel Study ◽

Work Stressors ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Level Of Living ◽

Demand Control ◽

The Relationship ◽

Late Midlife

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between work stressors in late midlife and physical functioning in old age. Method: Two linked nationally representative Swedish surveys were used: the 1991 Level of Living Survey (age 57-65) and the 2011 Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old. Work stressors were measured with the job demand–control model and physical functioning in old age with physical performance tests, lung function tests, and self-reported mobility. Ordered logistic and linear regressions were performed ( n = 166-214). Results: High demands, low control, and high strain (i.e., high demands combined with low control) were associated with limited physical functioning in women. Low control and passive jobs were associated with limited physical functioning in men. Discussion: Work stressors in late midlife are important predictors of physical functioning in older adults. However, women and men seem to be vulnerable to different work stressors.

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Gender Differences in Factors Associated With Change in Physical Functioning in Old Age: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/33.5.603 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 603-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

W. J. Strawbridge ◽

T. C. Camacho ◽

R. D. Cohen ◽

G. A. Kaplan

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Old Age ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Factors Associated

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Gratitude From Early Adulthood to Old Age

Journal of Personality ◽

10.1111/jopy.12134 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 21-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mathias Allemand ◽

Patrick L. Hill

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Early Adulthood

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Association between breastfeeding and better preserved cognitive ability in an elderly cohort of Finnish men

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291717002331 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (6) ◽

pp. 939-951 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

V. Rantalainen ◽

J. Lahti ◽

M. Henriksson ◽

E. Kajantie ◽

M. Mikkonen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Ability ◽

Old Age ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Intellectual Ability ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Ability Test ◽

Mean Differences ◽

Elderly Cohort ◽

Duration Of Breastfeeding

BackgroundBeing breastfed in infancy has been shown to benefit neurodevelopment. However, whether the benefits persist to old age remains unclear.MethodsWe examined the associations between breastfeeding and its duration on cognitive ability in young adulthood and old age, and on aging-related cognitive change over five decades. In total, 931 men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study born in 1934–1944 in Finland took the Finnish Defence Forces Basic Intellectual Ability Test (total and verbal, arithmetic and visuospatial subtest scores) twice, at ages 20.2 and 67.9 years, and had data on breastfeeding (yes v. no) and its duration (‘never breastfed’, ‘up to 3’, ‘3 to 6’ and ‘6 or more months’). Linear and mixed model regressions tested the associations.ResultsAt 20.2 years, breastfed men had higher cognitive ability total and visuospatial subtest scores [mean differences (MDs) ranged between 3.0–3.9, p values < 0.013], and its longer duration predicted higher cognitive ability total and arithmetic and visuospatial subtest scores (MDs ranged between 3.0 and 4.8, p values < 0.039). At 67.9 years, breastfed men had higher total cognitive ability and all subtest scores (MDs ranged between 2.6 and 3.4, p values < 0.044) and its longer duration predicted all cognitive ability scores (MDs ranged between 3.1 and 4.7, p values < 0.050). Verbal subtest scores decreased over five decades in men who were never breastfed or were breastfed for 3 months or less, and increased in those breastfed for longer than 3 months.ConclusionsNeurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding and its longer duration persist into old age, and longer duration of breastfeeding may benefit aging-related change, particularly in verbal reasoning ability.

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A lifespan program of mouse synaptome architecture

10.1101/838458 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Mélissa Cizeron ◽

Zhen Qiu ◽

Babis Koniaris ◽

Ragini Gokhale ◽

Noboru H. Komiyama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Old Age ◽

Mouse Brain ◽

Protein Composition ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Intellectual Ability ◽

Brain Circuits ◽

Brain Circuitry ◽

Wide Scale ◽

The Brain

AbstractHow synapses change molecularly during the lifespan and across all brain circuits is unknown. We analyzed the protein composition of billions of individual synapses from birth to old age on a brain-wide scale in the mouse, revealing a program of changes in the lifespan synaptome architecture spanning individual dendrites to the systems level. Three major phases were uncovered, corresponding to human childhood, adulthood and old age. An arching trajectory of synaptome architecture drives the differentiation and specialization of brain regions to a peak in young adults before dedifferentiation returns the brain to a juvenile state. This trajectory underscores changing network organization and hippocampal physiology that may account for lifespan transitions in intellectual ability and memory, and the onset of behavioral disorders.One sentence summaryThe synaptome architecture of the mouse brain undergoes continuous changes that organize brain circuitry across the lifespan.

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From Transition Through Old Age: Caring for Adults With Down Syndrome

The Oxford Handbook of Down Syndrome and Development ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190645441.013.10 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Robert M. Hodapp ◽

Kelli A. Sanderson ◽

Maria Mello

Keyword(s):

Down Syndrome ◽

Old Age ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Work ◽

Residential Status ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Health Functioning ◽

Aging Adult

As adults with Down syndrome live longer lives, increased attention is being paid to their health, work, and living situations. In this chapter, we divide the adult years in Down syndrome into young adulthood—roughly from 20 through the late 40s—and older adulthood, from the late 40s until death in the late 50s or 60s. Many adults with Down syndrome are doing well during early adulthood, although concerns persist about their finding meaningful jobs, connecting to others in the community, and (sometimes) showing increased levels of depression. During later adulthood, changes emerge for many, including the onset of chronic “old-age” health problems during the 50s, as well as moving away from their parental homes (often occurring as late as the 40s). Despite 160 years of research on the syndrome, major gaps remain in our understanding of adulthood, especially concerning connections among the health, functioning, and work and residential status of the aging adult with Down syndrome, as well as the aging of their parents and their relationships with adult siblings.

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Dietary macronutrient content, age-specific mortality and lifespan

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2019.0393 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 286 (1902) ◽

pp. 20190393 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alistair M. Senior ◽

Samantha M. Solon-Biet ◽

Victoria C. Cogger ◽

David G. Le Couteur ◽

Shinichi Nakagawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Expectancy ◽

Old Age ◽

Dietary Protein ◽

Middle Age ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Later Life ◽

Age At Death ◽

Specific Mortality ◽

Median Lifespan ◽

High Concentrations

Protein and calorie restrictions extend median lifespan in many organisms. However, studies suggest that among-individual variation in the age at death is also affected. Ultimately, both of these outcomes must be caused by effects of nutrition on underlying patterns of age-specific mortality (ASM). Using model life tables , we tested for effects of dietary macronutrients on ASM in mice ( Mus musculus ). High concentrations of protein and fat relative to carbohydrates were associated with low life expectancy and high variation in the age at death, a result caused predominantly by high mortality prior to middle age. A lifelong diet comprising the ratio of macronutrients self-selected by mouse (in early adulthood) was associated with low mortality up until middle age, but higher late-life mortality. This pattern results in reasonably high life expectancy, but very low variation in the age at death. Our analyses also indicate that it may be possible to minimize ASM across life by altering the ratio of dietary protein to carbohydrate in the approach to old age. Mortality in early and middle life was minimized at around one-part protein to two-parts carbohydrate, whereas in later life slightly greater than equal parts protein to carbohydrate reduced mortality.

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