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Aging is a complex phenomenon of functional decay in a biological organism. Although the effects of aging are readily recognizable in a wide range of organisms, the cause(s) of aging are ill defined and poorly understood. Experimental methods on model organisms have driven significant insight into aging as a process, but have not provided a complete model of aging. Computational biology offers a unique opportunity to resolve this gap in our knowledge by generating extensive and testable models that can help us understand the fundamental nature of aging, identify the presence and characteristics of unaccounted aging factor(s), demonstrate the mechanics of particular factor(s) in driving aging, and understand the secondary effects of aging on biological function. In this review, we will address each of the above roles for computational biology in aging research. Concurrently, we will explore the different applications of computational biology to aging in single-celled versus multicellular organisms. Given the long history of computational biogerontological research on lower eukaryotes, we emphasize the key future goals of gradually integrating prior models into a holistic map of aging and translating successful models to higher-complexity organisms.

This work takes a first step towards a psycholinguistic investigation on the role of aging in processing presuppositions. Experimental data collected support two main results. First, in online language comprehension older adults exhibit higher processing costs when presuppositions involve demanding mental representations. Second, the ability to recover information introduced in the discourse as taken for granted is affected by the age factor. Overall, beyond other more explored levels of pragmatic processing, the decline with age of processing speed and working memory ability seems to affect presuppositions processing.

Background: High blood levels of the chemokine eotaxin-1 (CCL11) have recently been associated with aging and dementia, as well as impaired memory and learning in humans. Importantly, eotaxin-1 was shown to pass the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and has been identified as crucial mediator of decreased neurogenesis and cognitive impairment in young mice after being surgically connected to the vessel system of old animals in a parabiosis model. It thus has to be assumed that differences in eotaxin-1 levels between blood donors and recipients might influence cognitive functions also in humans. However, it is unknown if eotaxin-1 is stable during processing and storage of transfusion blood components. This study assesses eotaxin-1 concentrations in fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), erythrocyte concentrate (EC), and platelet concentrate (PC) in dependence of storage time as well as the donor’s age and gender. Methods: Eotaxin-1 was measured in FFP (n = 168), EC (n = 160) and PC (n = 8) ready-to-use for transfusion employing a Q-Plex immunoassay for eotaxin-1. Absolute quantification of eotaxin-1 was performed with Q-view software. Results: Eotaxin-1 was consistently detected at a physiological level in FFP and EC but not PC. Eotaxin-1 levels were comparable in male and female donors but increased significantly with rising age of donors in both, FFP and EC. Furthermore, eotaxin-1 was not influenced by storage time of either blood component. Finally, eotaxin-1 is subject to only minor fluctuations within one donor over a longer period of time. Conclusion: Eotaxin-1 is detectable and stable in FFP and EC and increases with donor’s age. Considering the presumed involvement in aging and cognitive malfunction, differences in donor- and recipient eotaxin-1 levels might affect mental factors after blood transfusion.

Hepatocytes isolated from 20- and 4-month Wistar rats and cultured with or without alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) were then added with nutraceutical YHK or sylibin before the test with iron or copper. Overall, YHK proved to be more effective than sylibin in Fe/Cu-induced peroxidative damage on normal and LNA-loaded hepatocytes (p < 0.05). YHK exerted a significant protection against DPPH radical-scavenging activity in the "old" group (p versus sylibin) and against lipophilic generators in both age groups (p < 0.05 versus sylibin). Both compounds were ineffective on age-related increase of surface-charge density. These preliminary data suggest that age per se enhances the vulnerability of hepatocytes to xenobiotics, whereas some safe nutraceuticals seem to exert significant protective effects.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 38 (2), ISSN:0168-6445, ISSN:1574-6976

Single intraperitoneal injection of splenic lymphoid cells from 20-month-old mice to 2-month-old syngeneic mice (similarly as 5-day injections of purified brain extract) leads to preterm (4 months earlier than in the control) appearance of aging factor in the blood (the main sign of old age). Combined injections of brain extract and splenic lymphoid cells led to the appearance of aging factor in the blood 5 months earlier than in the control.

Since Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) was first described more than 170 years ago, there have been major advances in the understanding of the etiology of the disease as well as in its treatment. This article will review current knowledge concerning the role of the environment, genetic hypotheses and the aging factor in the etiology of IPD and proposes a complex interaction involving all these factors. Hypotheses regarding mitochondrial inhibition and free radical generation in IPD are discussed in relation to the mechanism of action of neurotoxins known to produce parkinsonian syndromes.

ResumenLa inmigración extranjera en el Estado español constituye un aspecto prioritario en la realidad social y demográfica del país. En el mundo, las tendencias en la evolución de la población y los indicadores económicos, sociales y políticos apuntan a que la inmigración de los países pobres hacia los más ricos seguirá produciéndose en los próximos años.En el ámbito de la salud, considerando que se trata de un fenómeno relativamente reciente, caracterizado por población joven y sana, todavía no se dispone de datos que caractericen sus necesidades en salud y principales trastornos vinculados a su envejecimiento.La información procedente de otros países con una tradición migratoria más dilatada apunta que los problemas de salud mental y los factores vinculados al desarraigo sociocultural son los principales elementos que deben añadirse a los principales determinantes de la salud de las poblaciones de mayor edad. Con relación a las repercusiones en el sistema sanitario, tanto del envejecimiento de la población en general como los datos sobre la población inmigrante, permite ver con optimismo elementos para la planificación y la incorporación de estas realidades.El envejecimiento de las poblaciones inmigrantes en España, aunque se plantee desde una perspectiva a medio y largo plazo, requiere la progresiva adaptación de recursos y conocimientos para cubrir las nuevas necesidades. La formación en aspectos de interculturalidad de los profesionales de la salud debe también incorporarse sobre la base de este futuro.AbstractForeign migration in Spain is at present a priority in the social and demographic context the country. At a worldwide level, trends in the evolution of population and social, political and economical indicators, appear to maintain for the coming years, the present trends on migrations from poor countries to the rich ones.In the health area, considering migration as a relatively recent phenomena in Spain, and considering that is mainly constituted by young and healthy population, there are not still data available on the main health needs of migrants related to aging.Data from other countries with a longer migrant tradition, shows mental health disorders and social and cultural barriers for adaptation, as basic health determinants for older migrants. Related to the effects in the health system, the inclusion of the aging factor in general population and migrant needs, offer an optimistic panorama for future planning.Migrant aging in Spain, despite of it’s middle and long term perspective, do require a progressive adaptation of knowledge and resources to cover future needs. Considering this coming future, health professionals do need to be trained in intercultural skills and knowledge.

A factor analysis of reaction time crossover data of 53 schizophrenic patients, 45 first-degree relatives, and 38 controls, previously reported by De Amicis and Cromwell, was performed in order to shed light upon the relationship of crossover to aging, mean reaction time, and general socioeconomic functioning. The aging factor shared variance with getting married and having children, but not with reaction time crossover. Crossover was also found to be independent of reaction time speed among first-degree relatives and control subjects; however, it was correlated with reaction time speed among actively symptomatic schizophrenic patients. Additionally, the relationship of crossover to socioeconomic functioning was found to be negative among the patients, positive among the relatives, and nonexistent among control subjects. Results are discussed in terms of previous reports of higher than normal functioning found in relatives of schizophrenic patients.