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Study confirms weight training improves symptoms of anxiety and depression in older people

Weight training offers numerous benefits for older individuals, including reductions in body fat and enhancements in muscle strength and mass. These improvements are pivotal for maintaining functional independence and reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Moreover, recent studies have highlighted weight training’s positive effects on the mental health of older adults, particularly those grappling with anxiety and depression.

The findings of a study published in Psychiatry Research are significant, as they corroborate the benefits of weight training for older individuals. This comprehensive review and meta-analysis of over 200 articles, conducted by Paolo Cunha, a postdoctoral fellow at the Albert Einstein Jewish-Brazilian Institute of Education and Research in São Paulo, Brazil, underscored resistance training as one of the most effective non-pharmacological strategies for healthy ageing, with notable benefits extending to mental well-being.

The study’s revelations are promising, indicating that weight training not only alleviates symptoms of anxiety and depression in the general populace but also exerts a more pronounced effect on individuals diagnosed with these disorders. Cunha pointed out that age-related declines in muscle strength and mass might exacerbate mental health issues due to various physiological changes controlled by the brain.

Furthermore, weight training in a group setting fosters increased social interaction, adding another dimension to its mental health benefits. The investigation also outlined optimal training structures for improving mental health, recommending weight training exercises three times a week, with three sets per exercise, focusing on six critical exercises. Quality over quantity is emphasised, with shorter sets yielding better outcomes.

Edilson Cyrino, the study’s principal investigator, noted that diverse resistance training programmes tailored to older individuals consistently yield improvements in symptoms of anxiety and depression, regardless of intensity or volume. The researchers observed that training with machines and free weights yields superior mental health benefits compared to exercises involving elastic bands or callisthenics, likely due to better control over intensity and volume.

Despite weight training’s evident mental health benefits, the researchers acknowledged the need for further research to elucidate underlying mechanisms. They highlighted the limitations of most existing studies, which suffer from small sample sizes, impeding a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. However, the burgeoning field offers ample opportunities for future advancements, inviting the audience to be part of this journey.

Cunha is currently engaged in a collaborative project with the Research Group on Clinical Intervention and Cardiovascular Disease to explore the impact of prolonged sedentary behaviour on vascular and cognitive functions in older adults, underscoring the multifaceted nature of research to promote the well-being of ageing populations.

More information: Paolo M. Cunha et al, Can resistance training improve mental health outcomes in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, Psychiatry Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115746

Journal information: Psychiatry Research Provided by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

Following a Mediterranean lifestyle is linked to a reduced risk of death from all-cause and cancer mortality

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Individuals who follow a Mediterranean lifestyle, characterized by a diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, eating habits that minimize the intake of added salts and sugars, and practices that encourage sufficient rest, regular physical activity, and social interactions, are found to have a significantly decreased risk of dying from any cause and from cancer. This conclusion comes from a new study conducted by La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in collaboration with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The research further highlights that adherence to this lifestyle’s focus on adequate rest, physical exercise, and socializing lowers the risk of dying from heart disease.

The findings of this study are scheduled for publication in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings on Wednesday, August 16.

While numerous studies have underscored the health benefits of adopting a Mediterranean diet and overall lifestyle, there needs to be more research exploring the application of this diet beyond its traditional Mediterranean borders. The study presents evidence that adopting the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle is feasible for people outside the Mediterranean region using locally sourced products and adapting the lifestyle to fit their cultural contexts, according to Mercedes Sotos Prieto, the study’s lead author. She holds positions as a Ramon y Cajal research fellow at La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and an adjunct assistant professor of environmental health at Harvard Chan School. The study underscores the adaptability of the Mediterranean lifestyle and its positive impact on health.

This research scrutinized the lifestyle habits of 110,799 UK Biobank participants, including a broad cross-section of individuals from England, Wales, and Scotland. The study employed the Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index, based on responses to a lifestyle questionnaire and dietary assessments, to evaluate participants’ adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle. The participants, aged between 40 and 75, reported on their lifestyle across three main categories assessed by the index: “Mediterranean food consumption”, focusing on the intake of Mediterranean diet staples like fruits and whole grains; “Mediterranean dietary habits”, emphasizing mealtime practices, such as limiting salt intake and choosing healthy beverages; and “physical activity, rest, and social habits and conviviality” highlighting lifestyle practices like taking regular naps, exercising, and socializing. Scores were assigned within these categories, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Upon a nine-year follow-up to assess the participants’ health outcomes, the study found that out of the cohort, 4,247 individuals had passed away from all causes, 2,401 from cancer, and 731 from cardiovascular diseases. Analyzing these health outcomes of the MEDLIFE scores revealed an inverse relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle and mortality risk. Participants with higher MEDLIFE scores had a 29% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 28% reduced risk of dying from cancer compared to those with lower scores. Adherence to each MEDLIFE category was independently linked to a lower risk of all-cause and cancer mortality. Notably, the category “physical activity, rest, and social habits and conviviality” showed the strongest association with these reduced risks and was also linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.

More information: Javier Maroto-Rodriguez et al, Association of a Mediterranean Lifestyle With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Study from the UK Biobank, Mayo Clinic Proceedings. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.05.031

Journal information: Mayo Clinic Proceedings Provided by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Health behaviours build up and maintain a relatively consistent pattern throughout middle adulthood

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In a research project undertaken by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences along with the Gerontology Research Center, it was noted that health behaviours are interconnected. Individuals displaying minimal physical activity also tend to consume the most alcohol, with a notable percentage also indulging in smoking. Conversely, healthier behaviours displayed similar patterns of interrelation.

Our research takes a unique approach. Instead of examining smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity as isolated behaviours, we delve into the reality that individuals usually engage in multiple health behaviours at once. As Johanna Ahola, a doctoral researcher at the Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, explains, this approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of health behaviours.

The research tracked the same group of individuals aged 42 in 2001, 50 in 2009, and 61 during 2020–2021. It was observed that health behaviour patterns largely remain stable through middle adulthood, although the study period did reveal some notably positive changes.

The findings of our research align with those of previous studies, providing a reassuring consistency. It was particularly heartening to see favourable behaviour changes over the years surveyed. There was a significant reduction in smoking, which might be attributable not just to ageing but also to the broader social context at the time. This suggests that as diseases become more common in middle adulthood, a greater emphasis on general health precautions and health-related objectives takes precedence, thus influencing behavioural adjustments.

The study also highlighted that sociodemographic factors influence health behaviour patterns. Women, married individuals, degree holders, and white-collar professionals tended to exhibit healthier behaviours. Moreover, personality traits such as higher levels of conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness and lower levels of neuroticism and extraversion were also indicative of healthier behavioural choices.

“Integrating personality traits into the analysis of health behaviour patterns offered a fresh perspective compared to earlier studies,” Ahola added. “Previous observations have shown that highly extroverted individuals are generally more active physically. However, it was surprising to find in our study that lower levels of extraversion were associated with healthier behaviours, providing an intriguing insight for researchers in physical activity.”

More information: Johanna Ahola et al, Stability in health behavior patterns in middle adulthood: a 19-year follow-up study, Psychology and Health. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2024.2316676

Journal information: Psychology and Health Provided by University of Jyväskylä

A study finds that perceptions of when ‘old age’ begins have shifted to a later age

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A recent study, published by the American Psychological Association, has unveiled a significant shift in the perception of old age among middle-aged and older adults. The study, featured in the journal Psychology and Aging, reveals that these adults now perceive the onset of old age to occur later in life, a stark contrast to the perceptions held by their counterparts several decades ago. The findings suggest that changes in life expectancy and health improvements over the years might be influencing these shifting perceptions, a discovery that holds profound implications for public health and policy.

Dr. Markus Wettstein, a renowned researcher from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, has authored a groundbreaking study on the perception of old age. He notes that an increase in life expectancy could be a contributing factor to the later perceived onset of old age. Furthermore, he highlights that health advancements have reshaped societal views on ageing, leading to a shift in the perception of what constitutes old age. This shift, he argues, reflects medical and health improvements and changing societal attitudes towards ageing.

The study, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the shifting perceptions of old age, utilized data from the German Ageing Survey. This survey included responses from 14,056 individuals living in Germany who were born between 1911 and 1974. These participants were surveyed up to eight times from 1996 to 2021, providing a longitudinal perspective on their perceptions. The age range of the participants, from 40 to 100 years, and the inclusion of subsequent generations, aged 40 to 85 years, throughout the study, ensured a diverse and representative sample.

One key finding from the study is that participants born later reported perceiving the onset of old age later than those born earlier. For instance, participants born in 1911 believed that old age began at 71 when they were 65, whereas those born in 1956 considered the onset of old age to be at 74 when they were the same age. This indicates a gradual shift in the perception of what constitutes old age.

However, the study also noted a slowdown in this trend over the past two decades, indicating that the delay in perceiving old age might only continue for a while. Wettstein pointed out that the trend is not linear, and its future trajectory is uncertain.

Additionally, the research explored how individual perceptions of old age evolved as participants aged. It was found that individuals tended to view old age as beginning later in life with each passing year. For example, at age 64, the average age at which participants said old age started was 74.7, but by age 74, this had shifted to 76.8. The perceived onset of old age generally increases by about one year for every four to five years a person ages.

The study also examined differences in perceptions based on gender and health status. It found that women, on average, said old age started two years later than men, and this gender difference has grown over time. Furthermore, participants who reported feeling lonelier, in worse health, or older than their actual age believed that old age began earlier, compared to those who felt less lonely, were in better health, and felt younger.

These findings have broader implications for how individuals prepare for ageing and how older adults are viewed in society. Wettstein raised whether the trend towards postponing old age is due to more positive attitudes towards ageing or a desire to avoid the perceived negatives of being old.

The researchers recommend further studies to determine whether this trend will persist and suggest expanding the research to more diverse populations in various countries, including non-Western contexts, to understand better how cultural and societal factors influence ageing perceptions globally. This would help comprehensively understand the dynamics of ageing perceptions and their implications for public health and policy.

More information: Wettstein, M., Park, R., Kornadt, A. E., Wurm, S., Ram, N., & Gerstorf, D. Postponing old age: Evidence for historical change toward a later perceived onset of old age, Psychology and Aging. DOI: 10.1037/pag0000812

Journal information: Psychology and Aging Provided by American Psychological Association

Patient-centered cardiovascular care is essential for enhancing equity and outcomes

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A new Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, published in Circulation, emphasizes the significant benefits of adopting a patient-centred approach to adult cardiovascular care. This approach, as detailed by Michael J. Goldfarb, M.D., M.Sc., the chair of the statement writing committee and an associate professor of cardiology at Jewish General Hospital and McGill University, revolves around treating patients as individuals, respecting their beliefs, preferences, and values. It advocates for a harmonious blend of the healthcare professional’s expertise with the patient’s health priorities, fostering an environment where informed decisions are made through the empowerment of patients. This entails not just providing information but cultivating an active partnership among patients, their families, and the healthcare team. However, it is made clear that this does not grant patients carte blanche to make any healthcare decisions indiscriminately.

Goldfarb highlights the current gap in guidance and practical tools for healthcare professionals managing adults with heart disease in terms of integrating person-centred care into everyday clinical practice. The statement outlines essential elements of patient-centred care, such as shared decision-making, effective medication management, and the prioritization of patient-oriented outcomes. Shared decision-making is underscored as a process grounded in trust, mutual respect, and open communication, encouraging patients to express their values and preferences openly.

Despite the known benefits of medication in preventing and treating heart disease, adherence remains a challenge, with more than half of patients not consistently taking their medication as prescribed. The statement suggests that patient-centred discussions could enhance medication adherence and reduce costs and side effects. Importantly, any decision regarding starting, adjusting, or cessation of cardiovascular medications must consider the patient’s preferences and goals.

The comprehensive care model also includes the evaluation of patient-reported outcomes like physical functioning, symptom burden, and quality of life, offering a more holistic view of a patient’s condition and treatment impact. Goldfarb stresses the importance of aligning healthcare outcomes with what matters most to the patient, acknowledging that traditional metrics such as hospital stay length might not capture a patient’s primary concerns regarding their quality of life post-treatment.

The statement addresses the need to overcome barriers to patient-centered care, especially for populations disproportionately burdened by cardiovascular disease. It calls for culturally and linguistically competent care teams to assess and address social determinants of health alongside considerations for special groups such as older adults, women, individuals with behavioural and mental health disorders, adults with congenital heart disease, and those with physical disabilities.

However, the path to implementing patient-centred care is fraught with challenges from patient, clinician, and health system barriers, including distrust, limited health literacy, time pressures on clinicians, and fragmented health systems. Despite these obstacles, Goldfarb remains optimistic about the feasibility and existing instances of patient-centred care within current delivery systems. He advocates for the further development and inclusion of patient-centred outcomes measures to optimize care for patients, their families, and caregivers, highlighting the pivotal role of patient-centred care in improving medical outcomes and patient experiences in cardiovascular health.

More information: Michael J. Goldfarb et al, Patient-Centered Adult Cardiovascular Care: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, Circulation. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001233

Journal information: Circulation Provided by American Heart Association

Women caregivers are stressed: improvements in transportation infrastructure could help

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Travel related to caregiving, such as escorting a child to school or accompanying a parent to medical appointments, is often linked with increased stress and reduced happiness among women, but not men, reveals a study from the University of Michigan. This disparity highlights the societal tendency to prioritise travel for employment over “mobility of care.”

Published in the journal Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, the study provides evidence that public transportation planning has historically overlooked caregiving travel’s unique needs, predominantly affecting women. This research is pioneering in its quantitative analysis of the impact of caregiving travel on well-being. It expands upon earlier findings that women are more likely to undertake domestic caregiving tasks than men.

The researchers utilised data from the 2021 American Time Use Survey by the U.S. Department of Labor to examine the correlation between daily activities and personal well-being, encompassing happiness, stress, and sense of meaning. They discovered that women, regardless of their or their male partner’s employment status, were about 60% more likely to engage in caregiving travel during a typical weekday—23% for women compared to 14% for men. During these journeys, women exclusively reported heightened stress and diminished happiness and meaning, unlike during leisure activities, where such feelings were not reported.

The study suggests that time constraints imposed by balancing work and family duties might contribute to this stress. It shows that men in full-time employment who also perform caregiving duties tend to spend less time on caregiving and household tasks such as shopping and maintenance than their female counterparts, allowing them more time for work-related activities.

Atiyya Shaw, U-M Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the study’s senior author, notes that employment does not influence women’s likelihood of undertaking caregiving travel as it does for men. Interestingly, men with employed female partners are more likely to engage in caregiving travel than those without partners, a trend not seen among women.

The researchers also pointed out limitations in their study, such as the inability to differentiate between same-sex and different-sex partners and the broader spectrum of gender identities and family structures, which could influence the relationship between caregiving travel and well-being.

The study critically evaluates how transportation planning contributes to these disparities and suggests improvements that could mitigate them. Amy Fong, a doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering at U-M and the study’s first author emphasised the growing awareness among transportation engineers of how cultural and societal norms have shaped the design of transport systems and, by extension, people’s daily lives.

Historically, U.S. transportation systems have been designed to focus on commuting patterns, thus prioritising work-related travel over unpaid caregiving tasks. Shaw and Fong argue that this focus reflects a broader societal undervaluation of domestic labour.

To address these issues, Shaw and Fong recommend several strategies.
Local governments should enhance the safety and accessibility of alternative walking, biking, and public transit options for those who usually require assistance to travel. The federal government could streamline funding across different agencies to improve transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and low-income people. State transportation departments might focus on projects facilitating independent travel for the elderly and disabled. Local governments and school districts could collaborate with initiatives like Safe Routes to School to promote children’s independent mobility.
Future travel surveys should differentiate between types of trips to better understand the specific impacts of caregiving-related mobility on quality of life.

These recommendations underscore the need for a more inclusive approach to transportation planning that acknowledges the essential nature of caregiving travel and its significant impact on caregivers’ quality of life.

More information: Amy Z. Fong et al, Well-being implications of mobility of care: Gender differences among U.S. adults, Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2024.104109

Journal information: Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment Provided by University of Michigan

Encouraging hair regeneration in aging follicular stem cells

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Just as the ageing process can lead to reduced mobility due to less flexible joints, the stem cells within hair follicles also experience decreased flexibility, hindering their ability to foster hair growth. Northwestern Medicine’s recent study brought this crucial insight to light. However, the research also unveiled a potential solution: increasing these stem cells’ suppleness could significantly enhance their hair-producing capabilities, a finding of immense importance in hair growth and stem cell research.

The team at Northwestern embarked on an innovative path, discovering a method to increase the flexibility of these stem cells, thereby rejuvenating their hair-producing function. In their groundbreaking research, published in the prestigious journal PNAS, they revealed that enhancing the production of a specific tiny RNA molecule, miR-205, can decrease the rigidity of these cells. By genetically altering the stem cells to amplify miR-205 production, they were able to encourage hair growth in both young and aged mice, a testament to the potential of cutting-edge research in this field.

Rui Yi, the study’s leading author and the Paul E. Steiner Research Professor of Pathology and Dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, remarked, “Within 10 days, they began to grow hair.” Yi elaborated, “We are not creating new stem cells. Instead, we’re invigorating existing stem cells to produce hair. Often, the stem cells are present but fail to generate hair.”

The findings of this study showcase the potential of stimulating hair growth through regulating cellular mechanics. With the feasibility of delivering microRNA directly to the skin via nanoparticles, the team plans to investigate whether applying miR-205 topically can encourage hair growth in mice. Pending the success of these experiments, they aim to explore the possibility of using this microRNA to stimulate hair growth in humans.

This pioneering research was conducted using genetically modified mouse models. It employed sophisticated microscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, to assess cell stiffness and two-photon microscopy to observe cell behaviour in living subjects.

More information: Jingjing Wang et al, MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220635120

Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Provided by Northwestern University

Identifying foodborne illness early

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Produce, including lettuce and spinach, routinely undergoes testing for pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and pathogenic strains of E. coli, aiming to shield consumers from illness.

Although rapid testing of foods is possible, there remains to be a delay in identifying the source of contamination and the affected individuals. When a multi-state recall is initiated as a remedy, it is often too late for many consumers who have already consumed the contaminated produce. This approach predominantly serves as damage control.

Researchers at the University of Delaware are working on a proactive solution. As described in a publication in the Journal of Food Safety, a collaboration between UD faculty and a Delaware-based startup, Biospection, aims to accelerate the detection process drastically. Harsh Bais, a professor of plant biology, and Kali Kniel, a microbiologist specialising in food safety, along with graduate student Nick Johnson, have teamed up with Andy Ragone of Biospection to detect foodborne pathogens within three to six hours.

Kniel, with expertise in pathogens like Salmonella that can transfer between hosts, stresses the importance of innovative tools for the produce industry to minimise microbial contamination risks. The collaboration between academia and biotechnology firms, such as their own, is poised to enhance technologies that significantly impact food safety and public health.

Pathogens often infiltrate plants, which serve as unwitting hosts, unable to disclose the presence of these microbial invaders. Like humans, plants employ defence mechanisms against diseases. However, specific pathogens have adapted to bypass these defences by settling comfortably within stomata—tiny openings in the plant surfaces.

Bais highlighted that these pathogens are not typical plant pathogens; thus, visual signs of plant stress are not apparent. Biospection technology promises rapid indication of these opportunistic pathogens within plants.

The association between Ragone, a chemical physicist based in Wilmington, and the UD researchers developed through shared scientific resources and community engagements in Delaware. Their collaborative efforts, supported by a research grant from the Delaware Biotechnology Institute Center for Advanced Technology (CAT), have led to the creation of a multispectral imaging platform designed to observe plant responses to pathogens.

This innovative technique, yet to be commercially available, allows for the non-invasive scanning of plants directly on conveyors before they even reach supermarket shelves. By employing multispectral imaging and deep ultraviolet sensing, the technology can detect subtle changes in plants when exposed to harmful pathogens—changes that would be invisible to the naked eye.

For instance, a significant reduction in chlorophyll pigments within a few hours of exposure to Listeria indicates that the plant reacts to an attack, marking a significant shift towards more effective and rapid detection methods.

With funding from a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant in 2022, Biospection is developing this technology into a real-time imaging sensor for commercial use, capable of inspecting plants for diseases and other stresses. Ragone envisions a portable, automated device that delivers quick results, revolutionising how we monitor and ensure plant health.

This technology also holds promise for vertical farming, which could greatly benefit from enhanced disease detection methods. Vertical farms use less water and space and are susceptible to diseases such as E. coli, potentially devastating entire harvests. Biospection is actively engaging with agricultural companies to integrate these sensors into vertical farming systems and, potentially, drones for outdoor farming applications.

Looking ahead, Bais is interested in refining the technology to distinguish between different microbes based on the plant’s sentinel response. This breakthrough could redefine microbial identification and plant health monitoring.

In summary, this pioneering approach not only aims to prevent the consumption of contaminated produce but also represents a significant advancement in integrating biotechnology with agricultural practices, ultimately contributing to safer food supply chains and enhanced public health.

More information: Nick Johnson et al, Deep ultraviolet fluorescence sensing with multispectral imaging to detect and monitor food-borne pathogens on the leafy green phyllosphere, Journal of Food Safety. DOI: 10.1111/jfs.13056

Journal information: Journal of Food Safety Provided by University of Delaware

Predominantly cited scientists remain men, yet the gender disparity is narrowing

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An examination of 5.8 million authors across the entire spectrum of scientific disciplines reveals a promising trend of a narrowing gender gap, indicating that significant strides have been made. The recent study led by John Ioannidis from the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICs) at Stanford University, US, along with his team, was released on November 21st in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, offering a beacon of hope for a more equitable scientific community.

Science continues to exhibit a pronounced gender divide, evident in numerous facets. Among these, the differential visibility of male and female scientists in their work’s prominence in scientific publications stands out significantly.

The research scrutinized the comprehensive Scopus database, encompassing articles from all areas of science. This database accounted for 5.8 million authors whose gender could be determined with high confidence. Among these, men constituted 3.8 million and women 2.0 million.

The findings indicated a male predominance, with men outnumbering women by a factor of 3.93 among authors who began their publishing careers before 1992. Still, this ratio dropped to 1.36 for those who commenced after 2011. Nevertheless, focusing on authors with the most significant impact (those within the top 2% in their field based on citation metrics), men still outnumbered women by 3.21 times among the most-cited authors. This disparity decreased from 6.41 times among the more senior groups to 2.28 times among the newest cohort, who started publishing post-2011. In this youngest group, 32 out of 174 scientific fields (18%) featured an equal number of women and men, or more women, among the top-cited authors.

The gap in gender representation among authors has markedly narrowed over time in affluent countries like the USA. However, the latter showed minimal progress concerning top-cited authors’ gender imbalances. An in-depth review of random samples of 100 women and 100 men from the newest group revealed that advancement to full professorship was exceedingly rare. At the same time, most were engaged in academia as of 2023. The researchers contend that improvements are needed in addressing gender disparities and the slow progression routes for highly talented scientists, irrespective of gender.

Ioannidis highlighted, “Our research captures a significant reduction over time in the gender-based inequalities among the upper tiers of scientific citation impact. However, considerable scope remains for further advancements in the majority of scientific domains.”

More information: John P. A. Ioannidis et al, Gender imbalances among top-cited scientists across scientific disciplines over time through the analysis of nearly 5.8 million authors, PLoS Biology. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002385

Journal information: PLoS Biology Provided by PLOS

The presence of particular lipids signals tissue ageing, which can be mitigated through regular exercise

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A collaborative team from Amsterdam UMC and Maastricht UMC+ has made a groundbreaking discovery: a specific type of fat accumulates as tissues age, but exercise can reverse this process. This research, a testament to the power of collective effort, involved analysing tissue samples from mice and humans before and after exercise. The team’s findings have been published in today’s edition of Nature Aging.

Professor Riekelt Houtkooper from Amsterdam UMC’s Genetic Metabolic Diseases laboratory expressed his excitement about the potential implications of these findings. “The notion of reversing aging has traditionally been relegated to the realm of science fiction. However, these discoveries provide us with significant insights into the aging process,” he stated. Houtkooper’s colleague, Georges Janssens, who is the first author of the study and an assistant professor at Amsterdam UMC, added, “Often, we accept aging as an inevitable part of life, but this research shows that this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. With a deeper understanding of how aging works, we can explore new methods of intervention that could potentially revolutionise aging research.”

Recent laboratory studies have indicated that it might be possible to combat age-related diseases by targeting the fundamental mechanisms that drive ageing. While scientific understanding of how metabolism alters with age has progressed, many aspects still need to be better understood. “Our goal was to broaden the existing knowledge base. Lipids, a crucial component of our diet and essential for cell function, form the cellular membranes that maintain the separation between the interior and exterior of cells,” explained Houtkooper.

To expand on this knowledge, the researchers examined how fat composition changes in various tissues of mice, such as muscles, kidneys, liver, and heart. They observed that in all these tissues from older mice, levels of a particular lipid known as bis(monoacylglycero)phosphates (BMPs) were increased, indicating that these lipids accumulate with age. The team then explored whether a similar pattern could be observed in humans. Although they could not sample as many tissue types, the accumulation of BMPs was also noticeable in muscle biopsies from older individuals. Further studies involving additional muscle biopsies from participants before and after engaging in daily hour-long exercise sessions showed decreased BMP levels among the active subjects.

“These findings mark a significant advancement in our understanding of aging,” Houtkooper remarked. “However, they do not represent the definitive answer. We are planning further studies to explore how BMPs contribute to the aging process, the effects of BMP accumulation, and whether factors other than exercise can also influence BMP levels.”

This research challenges the inevitability of ageing and opens the door to potential new strategies for extending health span and combating age-related diseases through molecular and lifestyle interventions.

More information: Georges E. Janssens et al, A conserved complex lipid signature marks human muscle aging and responds to short-term exercise, Nature Aging. DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00595-2

Journal information: Nature Aging Provided by Amsterdam University Medical Center

Recent research uncovers the molecular signature of biological ageing

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The University of Pittsburgh, a renowned institution in the field of ageing research, has achieved a significant milestone. Their researchers have successfully identified blood markers that correspond with an individual’s health and ageing rate. This breakthrough allows for the estimation of a person’s biological age, a measure that reflects the ageing rate of their cells and organs, independent of their actual birthdate.

Published in the esteemed journal Aging Cell, this groundbreaking study sheds light on the biological pathways and compounds that influence ageing rates and paves the way for potential treatments. By understanding the diverse aging processes among individuals, this research proposes new avenues for interventions aimed at slowing down aging and improving the quality of life in old age.

Aditi Gurkar, Ph. D., the study’s lead author and an assistant professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, emphasizes that age should be seen as more than just a number. She illustrates this by comparing two 65-year-olds, one physically active and the other struggling with basic mobility despite having the same chronological age. This disparity in ageing has been the driving force behind Gurkar’s research.

To investigate the variations in aging rates, the lead author, Aditi Gurkar, Ph.D., and her team conducted a comprehensive study. They examined 196 older adults, categorizing them as either healthy or rapid agers based on their performance in simple walking tasks. These tasks, which are indicative of overall health, encompass cardiovascular fitness, physical strength, and neurological condition. Importantly, the study focused on differentiating between biological and chronological aging by selecting rapid agers who were chronologically younger than the healthy agers.

Employing metabolomics, the analysis of metabolites produced by the body’s chemical reactions, the researchers could sketch a molecular blueprint of biological ageing from the participants’ blood samples. Unlike genetic studies, metabolomics offers a dynamic view of ageing since metabolites can change based on lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors, providing a real-time snapshot of one’s health.

The study identified a set of 25 metabolites, termed the Healthy Aging Metabolic (HAM) Index, which could effectively differentiate between healthy and rapid agers. This index proved more accurate than traditional ageing metrics in distinguishing between groups. To further validate their findings, the team applied the HAM Index to an independent group of older adults from Wisconsin, confirming its efficacy in predicting healthy ageing with a significant accuracy rate.

Moreover, the researchers utilized artificial intelligence to pinpoint three key metabolites likely to influence the ageing process significantly. Future studies will explore these metabolites and the molecular pathways they activate, seeking strategies to mitigate rapid ageing.

Gurkar is also planning further research to monitor how the metabolome evolves in younger individuals. The ultimate goal is to develop a blood test that could predict biological age in younger adults, potentially enabling early lifestyle interventions to reverse or slow the ageing process.

This research underscores a paradigm shift towards preventative medicine, focusing on early detection and personalized interventions to delay the onset of age-related diseases and extend the period of good health. Gurkar envisions a future where understanding an individual’s biological ageing process becomes a cornerstone of medical care, emphasizing the importance of prevention in managing the ageing process.

More information: Shruthi Hamsanathan et al, A molecular index for biological age identified from the metabolome and senescence-associated secretome in humans, Aging Cell. DOI: 10.1111/acel.14104

Journal information: Aging Cell Provided by University of Pittsburgh

Disparities in sleep health and insomnia can start early in life

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Most individuals have endured sleepless nights, restlessly trying to drift off or maintain sleep. However, for some, sleep disturbances are not merely sporadic events but persistent issues that can start as early as childhood.

Research spearheaded by a team from Penn State has revealed that children and adolescents from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately plagued by enduring insomnia symptoms that initiate in childhood and persist into young adulthood. The study, in particular, highlighted that Black children are 2.6 times more likely to suffer from these prolonged sleep difficulties when compared to their white peers. Recently published in SLEEP, this research emphasizes the critical need for early detection and intervention of insomnia symptoms with treatments appropriate for different ages.

Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, a professor at the Penn State College of Medicine and the study’s senior author, remarked, “Insomnia is a public health issue.” He pointed out that the prevalence of childhood-onset insomnia, where symptoms begin in early years and continue into young adulthood, is more widespread than previously recognized. He emphasized that, unlike transient childhood sleep disturbances such as sleep terrors or sleepwalking, insomnia does not simply dissipate with puberty and maturation.

Fernandez-Mendoza further explained that insomnia beginning in childhood poses a significant risk of health issues due to the extended period of sleep deprivation. This risk is notably higher among Black and Hispanic/Latino children, who experience disparities in sleep patterns from a young age.

The findings stem from an extensive review of Penn State Child Cohort data. This cohort study, initiated in 2000, initially recruited participants aged between 5 and 12 and followed them through adolescence into young adulthood, with evaluations conducted around the ages of 9, 16, and 24. These assessments, including parental reports during childhood and in-lab sleep studies similar to those used for diagnosing sleep apnea, provided a longitudinal view of sleep evolution across different developmental stages.

The study is pioneering in examining how childhood insomnia symptoms develop and vary among different racial and ethnic groups, addressing a significant research gap, according to Fernandez-Mendoza. Results showed that 23.3% of the participants experienced persistent insomnia symptoms across all three assessment points, and 16.8% developed symptoms during young adulthood. The racial and ethnic breakdown revealed that Black participants predominantly experienced persistent insomnia symptoms, followed by Hispanic/Latino youth.

The data indicated that Black participants were 2.6 times more likely than non-Hispanic white participants to have persistent insomnia symptoms into young adulthood. Moreover, Black children were 3.44 times more likely to see their insomnia symptoms continue rather than resolve after childhood compared to their white counterparts, suggesting that their symptoms were less likely to diminish as they transitioned to adulthood. Hispanic/Latino participants were 1.8 times more likely to experience persistent insomnia symptoms compared to white participants.

Fernandez-Mendoza stressed the importance of not waiting until adulthood to address sleep issues that have been present throughout a person’s life. He advocates for greater attention to insomnia symptoms in children and adolescents, underlining the necessity of proactive healthcare approaches to mitigate the long-term consequences of poor sleep from a young age.

More information: Rupsha Singh et al, Racial/ethnic disparities in the trajectories of insomnia symptoms from childhood to young adulthood, SLEEP. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae021

Journal information: SLEEP Provided by Penn State