scholarly journals GADL1 is a multifunctional decarboxylase with tissue-specific roles in β-alanine and carnosine production

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaheh Mahootchi ◽  
Selina Cannon Homaei ◽  
Rune Kleppe ◽  
Ingeborg Winge ◽  
Tor-Arne Hegvik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Acid Decarboxylase ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cysteine Sulfinic Acid ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Peptide Derivatives

ABSTRACTCarnosine and related β-alanine-containing peptides are believed to be important antioxidants, pH-buffers and neuromodulators. However, their biosynthetic routes and therapeutic potential are still being debated. This study describes the first animal model lacking the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase-like 1 (GADL1). We show that Gadl1-/-mice are deficient in β-alanine, carnosine and anserine, particularly in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, and skeletal muscle. Gadl1-/-mice also exhibited decreased anxiety, increased levels of oxidative stress markers, alterations in energy and lipid metabolism, and age-related changes. Examination of the GADL1 active site indicated that the enzyme may have multiple physiological substrates, including aspartate and cysteine sulfinic acid, compatible with organ-specific functions. Human genetic studies show strong associations of the GADL1 locus with plasma levels of carnosine, subjective well-being, and muscle strength, also indicating a role for β-alanine and its peptide derivatives in these traits. Together, this shows the multifaceted and organ specific roles of carnosine peptides and establishes Gadl1 knockout mice as a versatile model to explore carnosine biology and its therapeutic potential.

scholarly journals GADL1 is a multifunctional decarboxylase with tissue-specific roles in β-alanine and carnosine production

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (29) ◽  
pp. eabb3713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaheh Mahootchi ◽  
Selina Cannon Homaei ◽  
Rune Kleppe ◽  
Ingeborg Winge ◽  
Tor-Arne Hegvik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Acid Decarboxylase ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cysteine Sulfinic Acid ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Physiological Substrates

Carnosine and related β-alanine–containing peptides are believed to be important antioxidants, pH buffers, and neuromodulators. However, their biosynthetic routes and therapeutic potential are still being debated. This study describes the first animal model lacking the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase–like 1 (GADL1). We show that Gadl1−/− mice are deficient in β-alanine, carnosine, and anserine, particularly in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, and skeletal muscle. Gadl1−/− mice also exhibited decreased anxiety, increased levels of oxidative stress markers, alterations in energy and lipid metabolism, and age-related changes. Examination of the GADL1 active site indicated that the enzyme may have multiple physiological substrates, including aspartate and cysteine sulfinic acid. Human genetic studies show strong associations of the GADL1 locus with plasma levels of carnosine, subjective well-being, and muscle strength. Together, this shows the multifaceted and organ-specific roles of carnosine peptides and establishes Gadl1 knockout mice as a versatile model to explore carnosine biology and its therapeutic potential.

Subjective perceptions of age-related gains buffer negative associations of perceived age-related losses with health, well-being, and engagement

2021 ◽  
pp. 016502542110390
Author(s):  
Tim D. Windsor ◽  
Mandy J. Abbott ◽  
Monica Cations ◽  
Alexis J. Howard ◽  
Bethany Wilton-Harding
Keyword(s):  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Crowd Sourcing ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Sense Of Purpose ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Gains And Losses

People reflect on their own aging, and this subjective awareness has an influence on developmental outcomes. Scholars have recently operationalized subjective aging in terms of awareness of age-related change (AARC), which captures awareness of both gains and losses. We examined associations of AARC-gains and AARC-losses with physical functioning, subjective well-being, and engagement with life (enjoyable activities and sense of purpose). Importantly, we extended previous research by not only assessing main effects of gains and losses but also testing their interaction. We hypothesized that awareness of losses would be more weakly negatively associated with health and well-being among those who possessed higher awareness of gains. A total of 399 older participants aged 65 to 91 (235 women and 164 men) were recruited via Prime Panels crowd-sourcing platform to complete an online questionnaire. Greater AARC-losses was associated with poorer health, lower subjective well-being, and lower sense of purpose. AARC-gains was associated with better outcomes in general, and moderated associations of AARC-losses with physical functioning, subjective well-being, and sense of purpose (but not engagement in leisure activities). Consistent with predictions, moderation effects showed that negative associations of AARC-losses with the outcomes were weaker among those who reported higher AARC-gains. Results provided some support for a role of AARC-gains in buffering negative effects of AARC-losses on developmental outcomes.

Getting a Job, Again: New Evidence against Subjective Well-Being Scarring

Social Forces ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamkinat Rauf
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Employment Transitions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Temporal Relationships ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Unemployment Spells

Abstract Previous research finds that unemployment leaves permanent “scars” on subjective well-being (SWB) that remain even after reemployment. However, this research systematically overweighs long-term unemployment, inaccurately measures employment transitions, often does not track individuals long enough to substantiate scarring, and does not always account for age-related changes in well-being. This paper uses event history calendars from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to track complete monthly employment histories of prime working age Americans over a 17-year period, and accounts for the temporal relationships between SWB, age, and employment transitions using a novel fixed-effects formulation. The results suggest that there is some variation in patterns of recovery by employment stability after job loss, but no significant differences were observed by the duration of unemployment spells. Within 2 years of reemployment, average SWB levels reverted toward baseline trajectories across all groups, showing no evidence of scarring. This study brings unemployment literature into better alignment with research on resilience and adaptation. The findings also highlight some limitations of the construct of SWB for assessing the long-term costs of unemployment.

scholarly journals The Psychological Challenge of Late-Life Vision Impairment: Concepts, Findings, and Practical Implications

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Werner Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Psychological Challenge

The intention is to summarize the body of evidence speaking to the psychological challenges faced by visually impaired older adults, as well as their coping efforts. This evidence is substantiated by a rich set of concepts, theories, and empirical findings that have accumulated under the umbrella of age-related psychoophthalmology (APO). I introduce the field of APO and continue with a discussion of important concepts and theories for a better understanding of adaptational processes in visually impaired older adults. I then summarize the most relevant and most recent data from four areas: (1) everyday competence, (2) cognitive functioning, (3) social functioning, and (4) subjective well-being-related outcomes, depression, and adaptational processes. Thereafter, major insights related to the current state-of-the art psychosocial interventions with visuallyimpaired older adults are reviewed. I close with the need that the public health community should become more aware of and address the psychosocial needs of visually impaired older adults.

scholarly journals Correlates of Resilience of Older People in Times of Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 723-723
Author(s):  
Isabelle Albert ◽  
Martine Hoffmann ◽  
Elke Murdock ◽  
Josepha Nell ◽  
Anna Kornadt
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Secondary Effects ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, efforts have been made to shield older adults from exposure to the virus due to an age-related higher risk for severe health outcomes. While a reduction of in-person contacts was necessary in particular during the first months of the pandemic, concerns about the immediate and longer-term secondary effects of these measures on subjective well-being were raised. In the present study, we focused on self-reported resilience of older people in a longitudinal design to examine risk and protective factors in dealing with the restrictions. Data from independently living people aged 60+ in Luxembourg were collected via a telephone/online survey after the first lockdown in June (N = 611) and September/October 2020 (N = 523), just before the second pandemic wave made restrictions necessary again. Overall, results showed an increase in life-satisfaction from T1 to T2, although life-satisfaction was still rated slightly lower than before the crisis. Also, about a fifth of participants indicated at T2 difficulties to recover from the crisis. Participants who reported higher resilience to deal with the Covid-19 crisis at T2 showed higher self-efficacy, agreed more strongly with measures taken by the country and felt better informed about the virus. In contrast, participants who reported more difficulties in dealing with the pandemic, indicated reduced social contacts to family and friends at T2, and also felt lonelier. Results will be discussed applying a life-span developmental and systemic perspective on risk and protective factors in dealing with the secondary impacts of the pandemic.

scholarly journals THE IMPORTANCE OF LOW SOCIAL LONELINESS FOR MAINTAINING GOOD WELL-BEING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S578-S578
Author(s):  
Lise Switsers ◽  
Liesbeth De Donder ◽  
Eva Dierckx ◽  
Sarah Dury
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Scope Project ◽  
Loss Experience ◽  
Social Loneliness

Abstract Older people are often confronted with dependence, death of spouse and other loss experience. Nevertheless, older adults generally experience a good well-being. This lack of age-related decline of subjective well-being has been named the ‘paradox of ageing’. One possible explanation for this paradox can be found in the socio-emotional selectivity theory of Carstensen. Thus, we hypothesize that low emotional and/or low social loneliness can act as a buffer for the negative relationship between negative life events and well-being. We use data of the D-SCOPE project that includes 869 older community-dwelling adults at risk of frailty residing in Flanders. By means of regression moderating analyses the research gains insights into the relationships between older people and well-being where the absence of social loneliness is detected as a possible buffer against negative outcomes. The discussion develops the argument that the absence of loneliness is a crucial facet for maintaining a good well-being.

Future-Directed Thinking and Its Relationship to Subjective Well-Being in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 009141501989622
Author(s):  
Holly Corlett ◽  
Andrew K. MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Socioemotional Selectivity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Negative Thoughts ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Directed Thinking ◽  
Lower Life Satisfaction

Age-related changes in future-directed thinking may be important for well-being. Older and younger adults generated idiographic anticipated experiences for the next week, the next year, and the next 5–10 years, using an adapted fluency measure. Relative to younger adults, older adults maintained a focus on the immediate future but frequency of anticipated events declined for the medium and longer term. The presence of negative thoughts for those two more distant time periods was related to lower life satisfaction in older adults. Content differences in thoughts illustrated the differing concerns of the two groups. The results align broadly with previous findings in the literature on socioemotional selectivity theory.

scholarly journals Vision Impairment: A Psychological Challenge of the Elderly

2021 ◽  
pp. 330-336
Author(s):  
Dr. Vatika Sibal
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Body ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Psychological Challenge

Ageing is part of life. With age, the body physically changes and there are psychological challenges are faced by visual impairment. The elderly find it difficult to cope with the changes. The study is substantiated by concepts, theories, and empirical findings that have accumulated under the umbrella of age-related psycho-ophthalmology. The focus is on adaptation theories in visually impaired older adults. One can understand the ageing through everyday competence, cognitive functioning, social functioning, and subjective well-being-related outcomes, depression, and adaptation processes. Thereafter, major insights related to the current state-of-the art psychosocial interventions with visually impaired older adults are reviewed. There is a need of public health community should become more aware of and address the psychosocial needs of visually impaired older adults.

scholarly journals Impact of hearing impairment on psychological distress and subjective well-being in older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmeen Niazi ◽  
Bisma Ejaz ◽  
Amina Muazzam
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Distress Scale ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The main objective of this study was to explore the impact of hearing impairment on psychological distress and subjective well-being in older adults with hearing impairment. Methods: The study with cross sectional research design was conducted in three public sector hospitals of Lahore, from February 2017 to June 2017. Participants of the study were adults aged 50-90 years and with hearing impairment, selected through non-probability sampling technique. Demographic Information sheet, Kessler psychological distress scale by Kessler, Mroczek. in 1992 and Satisfaction with life scale by Diener, Emmons, Larsen, Griffin in 1985 were used for data collection. SPSS 21 was used to analyze the data. Results: There were 200 participants with age ranged from 53 to 89 years (M= 65.92, SD= 9.70). Of the total, 100 (50%) subjects were men and 100 (50%) were women. Significant gender differences were found in psychological distress, with men reflecting more symptoms of psychological distress (p<0.01), whereas non-significant gender differences were found in case of subjective well-being (p>0.05). Moreover, psychological distress was observed as a predictor of subjective well-being (p<0.01). One-way analysis of variance revealed insignificant differences of psychological distress and subjective well-being across three levels of hearing impairment. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and rehabilitation of age-related hearing loss improves the overall quality of life of older adults living with hearing impairment. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.2457 How to cite this:Niazi Y, Ejaz B, Muazzam A. Impact of hearing impairment on psychological distress and subjective well-being in older adults. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.2457 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document