The curvilinear relationship of early-life adversity and successful aging: the mediating role of mental health

Objectives: The steeling effect suggests that early-life adversity can have a beneficial impact later in life. However, little is known about its underlying mechanisms and long-term outcomes . The study aimed to examine the role of early-life adversity (ELA) on successful aging, and whether this relationship can be explained by mental and physical health.

Method: Socio-demographics, early-life adversity (ELA), individual quality of life (iQoL), and mental and physical health of 270 individuals (M_age = 66.82 years, 71.5% female) were assessed. Polynomial regressions and mediation analyses were conducted.

Results: Significant inverse U-shaped associations were found between ELA and iQoL (β = ?.59, p = .005) and between ELA and mental health (β = ?.64, p = .002), but not between ELA and physical health. Furthermore, mental health significantly mediated the relationship between ELA and iQoL (b = ?.84, BCa CI [?1.66, ?.27]).

Conclusion: Highest level of individual quality of life (i.e. successful aging) was related to a moderate amount of ELA. Additionally, mental health significantly mediated this relationship. These findings suggest that some amount of ELA could be beneficial for successful aging. Resource-focused interventions are needed to improve health and promote successful aging for an underdetected, at-risk subgroup with low early-life adversity.     

Interaction of estrogen receptor‐α ligand binding domain with nuclear proteins of aging mouse brain

After the interaction of estrogen with the ligand binding domain (LBD) of mouse estrogen receptor‐α (mERα) and hormone‐responsive elements of target genes, many nuclear proteins are recruited to regulate the expression of specific genes. Because it is not known which brain proteins interact with LBD or whether these proteins vary with age and sex, we used pull‐down assay and far Western blotting to detect five nuclear proteins of 160, 140, 87, 60, and 46 kD in the mouse brain. These interacting proteins were identified as PELP1, RIP140, PGC1α, BAF60, and ADA3, respectively. The level of PELP1, RIP140, PGC1α, and BAF60 decreased drastically in old compared with adult male mice, whereas the ADA3 level showed no significant change. PELP1, PGC1α, and BAF60 levels were lower in old male compared with female mice. Thus we report the identification and interaction of five nuclear proteins with mERα‐LBD, indicating their role in estrogen signaling and brain functions during aging. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Gerontology in the developing Brazil: Achievements and challenges in public policies

Aim:   In the last three decades, the segment of population aged 60 years and older has more than doubled in Brazil. People aged 80 years and older are expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the near future. This aim of this study was to analyze the legal structures currently in place in Brazil and to provide a framework for care policies and practices towards older-adults.
Methods:   This article focuses on past and present major socioeconomic burdens on this segment of the Brazilian population as well as on public achievements to overcome inequities.
Results:   Both the public health and the social security systems have been directed to provide preferential assistance to the aged. Nonetheless, the elderly remain the most impoverished segment of Brazil and carry the burden of an overall lack of specialized services. Moreover, socioeconomic inequalities and population diversity in Brazil affects elderly care, adding complexity to this unique scenario.
Conclusion:   Brazil has adopted legal hallmarks that substantially shifted public practices towards the elderly segment from a philanthropic status to a legitimate right for care and assistance. The demographic transition that took place provides an opportunity for innovative solutions in public policies for older adults in a developing economic environment.     

Mental health in the population approaching retirement age. Preliminary findings of the TURVA project

The present paper deals with a Finnish long-term prospective study, the objective of which is to shed light on adjustment to retirement and old age. In this phase, only the preliminary findings of the initial survey carried out in 1982 are available. For the purposes of the study, a random sample of 200 individuals was drawn from among Turku inhabitants born in 1920. Another sample, consisting of 189 persons of the same age, was drawn from rural municipalities in the neighborhood of Turku. An extensive structured psychosocial interview could be conducted with a total of 339 subjects. The research methods used included e.g. the 36-item version of Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Relatively little mental disturbance was revealed in the interview, and no major differences occurred between the urban and the rural sample. Somewhat over one-third of both samples were probable psychiatric cases as defined according to the GHQ.     

对诊断PADAM的游离睾酮指数的评估

目的 评价诊断中老年男子部分雄激素缺乏综合征（PADAM）的游离睾酮指数（FTI）.方法 对129例45岁以上健康男性的FTI进行年龄相关分析.以推算的游离睾酮（CFT）值为依据,对FTI进行有效性检验.结果 男子在中老年期FTI与增龄呈明显的负相关.FTI敏感性97.78%,特异性58.33%.结论 计算简单的FTI可用于PADAM病人的筛选和随访,尤其对70岁以上男子是血清FT较为有效的参数.     

当归对衰老小鼠脑组织细胞凋亡及胸腺指数的影响

目的：研究当归的抗衰老作用及作用机制。方法：用D—半乳糖诱导小鼠制成衰老模型，同时给予不同剂量的当归水煎剂，观察当归对脑组织细胞凋亡及胸腺指数的影响。结果：当归能明显抑制小鼠脑组织细胞凋亡，提高胸腺指数。结论：当归具有抗衰老作用。     

CHANGES IN PREJUNCTIONAL POTENCY OF B-HT 933 DURING AGING IN THE RAT VAS DEFERENS

1. Age-related changes in prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors were examined in the rat vas deferens using pharmacological techniques. 2. B-HT 933 (1 x 10(-8) - 1 x 10(-6) mol/L) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of isometric contractions (tetrodotoxin-sensitive) induced by stimulation with single field-stimulus pulses, in both the epididymal and prostatic regions of rat vas deferens. The concentration-response curve to B-HT 933 was shifted to the right with age in the prostatic regions of the vas deferens. 3. In high concentrations (10(-6) - 3 x 10(-4) mol/L), B-HT 933 caused concentration-dependent enhancement of the contractile response to stimulation and evoked spontaneous contractile activity. No significant difference in this postjunctional activity occurred with age in either the prostatic or epididymal regions of the vas deferens. 4. Schild analysis revealed no significant differences in pA2 values for the antagonisms of the prejunctional inhibitory effect of B-HT 933 by rauwolscine in either the prostatic or epididymal regions of vas deferens between young and old rats. 5. These results could be interpreted as a decrease in alpha 2-adrenoceptor number with age. The more marked decrease in the prejunctional inhibitor potency of B-HT 933 in prostatic regions of vas deferens with aging may be due to a smaller receptor reserve in this region of the vas deferens.     

The Effects of Depressed Affect on Functional Disability Among Rural Older Adults

This study investigates functional disability among some of the nation's most vulnerable older adults: rural Medicaid recipients. Data were provided by 221 older adults (mean age = 75.9 years; 82% women) who were receiving community-based long-term care services through Medicaid. Participants self-reported functional ability involving the completion of six basic activities of daily living (BADLs), three cognitive instrumental activities of daily living (IADLS), and four physical IADLs. Self-reports of depressed affect and the number of physical health conditions were also obtained. Path analysis was used to examine all of the associations among age, gender, number of chronic health conditions, depressed affect and functional disability. The tested model was significant [chi2 (DF = 3, n = 221) = 5.052, p = 0.168; TLI = 0.945; CFI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.056] and explained 45.1% of the variance in BADL disability. Depressed affect significantly predicted disability in cognitive IADLs and physical IADLs, which predicted disability in BADLs. Age and gender had indirect effects on BADL, through their association with cognitive IADLs and physical IADLs. The number of chronic health conditions exerted both indirect and direct effects on BADL disability. Results are discussed within the context of the growing literature that suggests the importance of psychological variables as predictors of functional disability. Moreover, we discuss whether community-based long-term care is appropriate for older adults with high levels of functional disability.