Articles related to AGING

Use of estrogen-only hormone therapy in women over age 70 was associated with lower rates of dementia diagnoses and reduced Alzheimer-related pathology across large observational cohorts. The findings identify an association but do not establish a preventive effect against dementia.

Three-year increases or sustained elevations in NT-proBNP were associated with greater cardiovascular and mortality risks among older adults without prior cardiovascular disease. Participants whose elevations resolved had risks resembling those who remained free of heart stress.

Discontinuing statins in adults 75 years and older without prior cardiovascular disease did not increase mortality or major cardiovascular events over three years in a randomized trial. LDL cholesterol rose substantially after discontinuation, and longer-term effects remain uncertain.

Among adults with both sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment, self-reported vitamin D supplementation of at least 5,000 IU daily was associated with higher cognitive assessment scores in a small observational study, while lower doses showed no similar association.

A meta-analysis of seven studies found cannabinoid-based therapies were associated with lower agitation and neuropsychiatric symptom scores in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer disease. Cognitive benefits were not consistently observed, and somnolence occurred more frequently with treatment.

A mathematical modeling study estimated that somatic DNA mutations alone could limit median human life span to roughly 146 to 194 years. The findings add to ongoing research suggesting that aging reflects multiple interacting biological processes rather than a single mechanism.