scholarly journals Age-Related Variation of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Different Body Habitats across the Young, Elderly, and Centenarians in Sardinia

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Wu ◽  
Tiansheng Zeng ◽  
Massimo Deligios ◽  
Luciano Milanesi ◽  
Morgan G. I. Langille ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human body microbes interact with the host, forming microbial communities that are in continual flux during the aging process. Previous studies have mostly focused on surveying a single body habitat to determine the age-related variation in the bacterial and fungal communities. A more comprehensive understanding of the variation in the human microbiota and mycobiota across multiple body habitats related to aging is still unclear. To obtain an integrated view of the spatial distribution of microbes in a specific Mediterranean population across a wide age range, we surveyed the bacterial and fungal communities in the skin, oral cavity, and gut in the young, elderly, and centenarians in Sardinia using 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequencing. We found that the distribution and correlation of bacterial and fungal communities in Sardinians were largely determined by body site. In each age group, the bacterial and fungal communities found in the skin were significantly different in structure. In the oral cavity, age had a marginal impact on the structures of the bacterial and fungal communities. Furthermore, the gut bacterial communities in centenarians clustered separately from those of the young and elderly, while the fungal communities in the gut habitat could not be separated by host age. IMPORTANCE Site-specific microbial communities are recognized as important factors in host health and disease. To better understand how the human microbiota potentially affects and is affected by its host during the aging process, the fundamental issue to address is the distribution of microbiota related to age. Here, we show an integrated view of the spatial distribution of microbes in a specific Mediterranean population (Sardinians) across a wide age range. Our study indicates that age plays a critical role in shaping the human microbiota in a habitat-dependent manner. The dynamic age-related microbiota changes we observed across multiple body sites may provide possibilities for modulating microbe communities to maintain or improve health during aging.

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 864-872
Author(s):  
Fernanda Borowsky da Rosa ◽  
Adriane Schmidt Pasqualoto ◽  
Catriona M. Steele ◽  
Renata Mancopes

Introduction The oral cavity and pharynx have a rich sensory system composed of specialized receptors. The integrity of oropharyngeal sensation is thought to be fundamental for safe and efficient swallowing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are at risk for oropharyngeal sensory impairment due to frequent use of inhaled medications and comorbidities including gastroesophageal reflux disease. Objective This study aimed to describe and compare oral and oropharyngeal sensory function measured using noninstrumental clinical methods in adults with COPD and healthy controls. Method Participants included 27 adults (18 men, nine women) with a diagnosis of COPD and a mean age of 66.56 years ( SD = 8.68). The control group comprised 11 healthy adults (five men, six women) with a mean age of 60.09 years ( SD = 11.57). Spirometry measures confirmed reduced functional expiratory volumes (% predicted) in the COPD patients compared to the control participants. All participants completed a case history interview and underwent clinical evaluation of oral and oropharyngeal sensation by a speech-language pathologist. The sensory evaluation explored the detection of tactile and temperature stimuli delivered by cotton swab to six locations in the oral cavity and two in the oropharynx as well as identification of the taste of stimuli administered in 5-ml boluses to the mouth. Analyses explored the frequencies of accurate responses regarding stimulus location, temperature and taste between groups, and between age groups (“≤ 65 years” and “> 65 years”) within the COPD cohort. Results We found significantly higher frequencies of reported use of inhaled medications ( p < .001) and xerostomia ( p = .003) in the COPD cohort. Oral cavity thermal sensation ( p = .009) was reduced in the COPD participants, and a significant age-related decline in gustatory sensation was found in the COPD group ( p = .018). Conclusion This study found that most of the measures of oral and oropharyngeal sensation remained intact in the COPD group. Oral thermal sensation was impaired in individuals with COPD, and reduced gustatory sensation was observed in the older COPD participants. Possible links between these results and the use of inhaled medication by individuals with COPD are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 689-692
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Raftu ◽  
Elena-Claudia Sin ◽  
Aureliana Caraiane ◽  
Steliana Gabriela Bustiuc ◽  
Raluca Briceag

The study aims at identifying and highlighting dental anxiety in a group of young adults, analyzing patients� concerns about the main dental treatment procedures, and establishing statistical relationships between anxiety and gender, the background, level of education, socio-economic status and knowledge of habits of care and hygiene of oral cavity characteristic of the studied group. The study group consists of 150 female (50%) and male (50%) patients , aged between 20 and 40 years. The inclusion criteria in the batch were those related to the age range of 20 to 40 years.Two respondents (Corah�s Dental Anxiety Scale, Revised (DAS-R)) were given two questionnaires ( Corah�s Dental Anxiety Scale, DAS-R), and the second questionnaire contained 7 questions about the habits dental care). Most patients� concerns about the main procedures of dental treatment / other concerns are: dental extraction, material expenses, possibility of treatments and shame she felt oppressed health of the oral cavity. Regardless of the level of dental anxiety, the oral cavity hygiene habits are not properly performed by patients, with an increased tendency for them to be disregarded by patients with severe dental anxiety.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 001-013 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Jerger ◽  
Rebecca Estes

We studied auditory evoked responses to the apparent movement of a burst of noise in the horizontal plane. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured in three groups of participants: children in the age range from 9 to 12 years, young adults in the age range from 18 to 34 years, and seniors in the age range from 65 to 80 years. The topographic distribution of grand-averaged ERP activity was substantially greater over the right hemisphere in children and seniors but slightly greater over the left hemisphere in young adults. This finding may be related to age-related differences in the extent to which judgments of sound movement are based on displacement versus velocity information.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 616-617
Author(s):  
Corinna Tanner ◽  
Michael Caserta ◽  
Jia-Wen Guo ◽  
Margaret Clayton ◽  
Paul Bernstein ◽  
...  

Abstract This mixed method study describes posttraumatic growth (PTG) accruing form experience with vision loss caused by severe age related macular degeneration (AMD) and explores relationships between depression, social support, and cognitive processing, on the path to PTG. Research describing the psychological and social issues surrounding AMD has focused on negative outcomes. However, learning from highly challenging experiences, such as vision loss, can offer benefits. In this study, these included an increased sense of personal strength, increased spirituality, and empathy for others (all domains of PTG). 89 participants with severe vision loss (mean age = 85.3 years, age range = 74–98 years) completed the interviewer-administered composite questionnaire, which identified elements of Tedeschi and Calhoun’s model of PTG. Relationships between variables were examined using path analysis. Findings were contextualized with data from 15 qualitative interviews. Findings underscored the importance of supportive others and deliberate cognitive processing in the path to PTG.


2005 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla B. Possamai ◽  
Robert J. Young ◽  
Regiane C.R. de Oliveira ◽  
Sergio L. Mendes ◽  
Karen B. Strier

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Hinrichs ◽  
Veronika Lay ◽  
Ursina Arnet ◽  
Inge Eriks-Hoogland ◽  
Hans Georg Koch ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Treanore ◽  
Etya Amsalem

Abstract In the face of insect declines, identifying phases of the life cycle when insects are particularly vulnerable to mortality is critical to conservation efforts. For numerous annual insect groups, diapause is both a key adaptation that allows survival of inhospitable conditions and a physiologically demanding life stage that can result in high rates of mortality. As bees continue to garner attention as a group experiencing high rates of decline, improving our understanding of how annual bees prepare for diapause and identifying factors that reduce survival is imperative. Here, we studied factors affecting diapause survival length and their underlying mechanisms using an economically and ecologically important annual bee species, Bombus impatiens. We examined how age and mass upon diapause onset correlate with diapause survival length, and the mechanistic role of nutrient acquisition and oxidative stress post pupal eclosion in mediating these effects. Our findings show that both age and mass were strong predictors of diapause survival length. Heavier queens or queens in the age range of ~6–17 days survived longer in diapause. Mass gain was attributed to increases in lipid, protein and glycerol amounts following pupal eclosion, and the ability to deal with oxidative stress was significantly compromised in older pre-diapause queens. Our results demonstrate that age-related shifts in bee physiology and timing of nutrient acquisition may both be critical factors driving diapause survival.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinten S. Bernhold

The communicative ecology model of successful aging (CEMSA) examines how people’s language and communication surrounding the aging process (e.g., making age-related excuses) predicts successful aging. Using the CEMSA, this study examined how middle-aged U.S. American children’s and their parents’ age-related communication predicts children’s subjective perceptions of their own successful aging, via children’s aging efficacy. Three communication profiles emerged for children and their parents, namely engaged, bantering, and disengaged agers. Path analysis revealed that parents’ age-related communication predicted children’s successful aging, via children’s aging efficacy. Relative to children with disengaged parents, children with bantering parents were more likely to be efficacious with respect to their aging, which in turn positively predicted successful aging. The language and communication people observe from older family members may be consequential in shaping their aging trajectories for the better or worse.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe Nocera ◽  
Thomas W. Buford ◽  
Todd M. Manini ◽  
Kelly Naugle ◽  
Christiaan Leeuwenburgh ◽  
...  

A primary focus of longevity research is to identify prognostic risk factors that can be mediated by early treatment efforts. To date, much of this work has focused on understanding the biological processes that may contribute to aging process and age-related disease conditions. Although such processes are undoubtedly important, no current biological intervention aimed at increasing health and lifespan exists. Interestingly, a close relationship between mobility performance and the aging process has been documented in older adults. For example, recent studies have identified functional status, as assessed by walking speed, as a strong predictor of major health outcomes, including mortality, in older adults. This paper aims to describe the relationship between the comorbidities related to decreased health and lifespan and mobility function in obese, older adults. Concurrently, lifestyle interventions, including diet and exercise, are described as a means to improve mobility function and thereby limit the functional limitations associated with increased mortality.


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