Articles related to AGING

Age, a Critical Moderator in Anxiety/Depression and Cognitive Outcomes in MS In recent findings from the ACTRIMS Forum 2023, researchers underscored the crucial role of age in the relationship between mental health and cognitive outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Key Points: “Considering age is necessary when exploring the links between depression or anxiety and cognition in people with MS.” Researchers from the University of Toronto

Dive into the intriguing relationship between POT1 mutations and long telomere length in relation to cellular aging and cancer development. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, closely examines the effects of POT1 mutations, a telomere-related gene, on aging and cancer. Specifically, they focused on individuals with heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in POT1 and their noncarrier relatives. Initially, they assessed 17 POT1 mutation carriers alongside 21 noncarrier relatives. Moreover, they incorporated a validation cohort of six additional mutation carriers. They found that a substantial majority, specifically 9 of the 13 evaluated, of the POT1 mutation carriers possessed long telomeres – a rare case falling above the 99th percentile. In contrast, the study identified a variety of benign and malignant neoplasms in POT1 mutation carriers affecting different tissues, including epithelial, mesenchymal, and neuronal, along with B- and T-cell lymphoma and myeloid cancers. Additionally, they found that 28% of POT1 mutation carriers had T-cell clonality. This percentage rose to 67% when evaluating for clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential. With age, this predisposition to clonal hematopoiesis followed an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Interestingly, common somatic hotspot mutations, specifically DNMT3A and JAK2, frequently occurred. They theorize that these somatic driver mutations arose […]

Dive into the potential of senolytics in combating age-related diseases, revealing how these compounds might unlock a healthier, longer life. Although senescent cells play crucial roles in early life, their persistence in later years can link to numerous age-related diseases. The potential of senolytics, such as dasatinib and quercetin (D&Q), is being explored in clearing out these harmful cells and combating age-related diseases like cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. To illustrate, researchers applied D&Q as senolytics in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and diabetic kidney disease. Findings revealed that patients showed improvements in physical function, with benefits including enhanced gait speed and increased walking distance. Similarly, the treatment significantly reduced cellular senescence in another study involving patients with diabetic kidney disease. However, caution is advised. Experts insist on the need for additional long-term studies and human clinical trials to confirm the safety of these senolytics. The majority of global morbidity, mortality, and health costs stem from chronic illnesses. Age, as indicated by JAMA, is a significant predictive factor for most of these diseases. Therefore, research aiming to “turn back the clock” and mitigate the effects of aging is well underway. Among the promising strategies is the removal of senescent cells, […]