Genetics, lifestyle and longevity: Lessons from centenarians

Centenarian clocks: epigenetic clocks for validating claims of exceptional longevity

Claims surrounding exceptional longevity are sometimes disputed or dismissed for lack of credible evidence. Here, we present three DNA methylation-based age estimators (epigenetic clocks) for verifying age claims of centenarians. The three centenarian clocks were developed based on n = 7039 blood and saliva samples from individuals older than 40, including n = 184 samples from centenarians, 122 samples from semi-supercentenarians (aged 105 +), and 25 samples from supercentenarians (aged 110 +). The oldest individual was 115 years old. Our most accurate centenarian clock resulted from applying a neural network model to a training set composed of individuals older than 40. An epigenome-wide association study of age in different age groups revealed that age effects in young individuals (age < 40) are correlated (r = 0.55) with age effects in old individuals (age > 90). We present a chromatin state analysis of age effects in centenarians. The centenarian clocks are expected to be useful for validating claims surrounding exceptional old age.

Prevalence of family history of cancer in the NC-CCAPH consortium of Japan

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of family history of cancer using cohorts participating in the Japanese National Center Cohort Collaborative for Advancing Population Health (NC-CCAPH). We pooled data from seven eligible cohorts of the Collaborative with available data on family history of cancer. Prevalence of family history of cancer and corresponding 95% confidence intervals are presented for all cancers and selected site-specific cancers for the total population and stratified by sex, age, and birth cohort. Prevalence of family history of cancer increased with age ranging from 10.51% in the 15 to 39 year age category to 47.11% in 70-year-olds. Overall prevalence increased in birth cohorts from ≤ 1929 until 1960 and decreased for the next two decades. Gastric cancer (11.97%) was the most common site recorded for family members, followed by colorectal and lung (5.75%), prostate (4.37%), breast (3.43%) and liver (3.05%) cancer. Women consistently had a higher prevalence of family history of cancer (34.32%) versus men (28.75%). Almost one in three participants had a family history of cancer in this Japanese consortium study highlighting the importance of early and targeted cancer screening services.

Gender equality related to gender differences in life expectancy across the globe gender equality and life expectancy

Life expectancy (LE) depends on the wider determinants of health, many of which have gendered effects worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether gender equality was associated with LE for women and men and the gender gap in LE across the globe. Gender equality in 156 countries was estimated using a modified global gender gap index (mGGGI), based on the index developed by the World Economic Forum between 2010 and 2021. Linear regression was used to investigate the association between the mGGGI and its economic, political, and education subindices and the gender gap in LE and women and men's LE. Overall, the mGGGI increased from 58% in 2010 to 62% in 2021. Globally, changes in the mGGGI and its economic and political subindexes were not associated with changes in the gender gap in LE or with LE for women and men between 2010 and 2020. Improvements in gender equality in education were associated with a longer LE for women and men and widening of the gender gap in LE. In 2021, each 10% increase in the mGGGI was associated with a 4.3-month increase in women's LE and a 3.5-month increase in men's LE, and thus with an 8-month wider gender gap. However, the direction and magnitude of these associations varied between regions. Each 10% increase in the mGGGI was associated with a 6-month narrower gender gap in high-income countries, and a 13- and 16-month wider gender gap in South and Southeast Asia and Oceania, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. Globally, greater gender equality is associated with longer LE for both women and men and a widening of the gender gap in LE. The variation in this association across world regions suggests that gender equality may change as countries progress towards socioeconomic development and gender equality.

Lessons from Sicilian Centenarians for Anti-Ageing Medicine. The Oxi-Inflammatory Status

Population ageing is a great achievement of humanity, but it also represents a challenge that the Western world is currently facing, as ageing is associated with increased susceptibility to age-related inflammatory diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms of healthy ageing to prevent the harmful aspects of ageing. The study of long living individuals (LLIs) is a great model for trying to achieve this goal. Accordingly, the oxy-inflammatory status of Sicilian LLIs was reviewed in the present paper. Based on the reported data, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress strategies have been discussed, useful for delaying or avoiding the onset of age-related diseases, thus favouring a healthy ageing process.

Comparative Senescence and Lifespan

The word senescence is derived from the Latin word “senex” (meaning old). In biology, senescence is a process by which a cell ages and permanently stops dividing. Senescence is a natural universal phenomenon affecting all living organisms (e.g., humans, animals, and plants). It is the process of growing old (aging). The underlying mechanisms of senescence and aging at the cellular level are not fully understood. Senescence is a multifactorial process that can be induced by several stimuli including cellular stress, DNA damage, telomere shortening, and oncogene activation. The most popular theory to explain aging is the free radical theory. Senescence plays a role in the development of several age-related chronic diseases in humans (e.g., ischemic heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer). Lifespan is a biological characteristic of every species. The lifespan of living organisms ranges from few hours (with mayfly) to potential eternity (with jellyfish and hydra). The maximum theoretical lifespan in humans is around 120 years. The lifespan in humans is influenced by multiple factors including genetic, epigenetic, lifestyle, environmental, metabolic, and endocrine factors. There are several ways to potentially extend the lifespan of humans and eventually surpass the maximum theoretical lifespan of 120 years. The tools that can be proposed include lifestyle, reduction of several life-threatening diseases and disabilities, hormonal replacement, antioxidants, autophagy inducers, senolytic drugs, stem cell therapy, and gene therapy.

Association between fat-soluble vitamins and self-reported health status: a cross-sectional analysis of the MARK-AGE cohort

Self-rated health (SRH) is associated with higher risk of death. Since low plasma levels of fat-soluble vitamins are related to mortality, we aimed to assess whether plasma concentrations of vitamins A, D and E were associated with SRH in the MARK-AGE study. We included 3158 participants (52 % female) aged between 35 and 75 years. Cross-sectional data were collected via questionnaires. An enzyme immunoassay quantified 25-hydroxyvitamin D and HPLC determined α-tocopherol and retinol plasma concentrations. The median 25-hydroxyvitamin D and retinol concentrations differed significantly (P < 0·001) between SRH categories and were lower in the combined fair/poor category v. the excellent, very good and good categories (25-hydroxvitamin D: 40·8 v. 51·9, 49·3, 46·7 nmol/l, respectively; retinol: 1·67 v. 1·75, 1·74, 1·70 µmol/l, respectively). Both vitamin D and retinol status were independently associated with fair/poor SRH in multiple regression analyses: adjusted OR (95 % CI) for the vitamin D insufficiency, deficiency and severe deficiency categories were 1·33 (1·06-1·68), 1·50 (1·17-1·93) and 1·83 (1·34-2·50), respectively; P = 0·015, P = 0·001 and P < 0·001, and for the second/third/fourth retinol quartiles: 1·44 (1·18-1·75), 1·57 (1·28-1·93) and 1·49 (1·20-1·84); all P < 0·001. No significant associations were reported for α-tocopherol quartiles. Lower vitamin A and D status emerged as independent markers for fair/poor SRH. Further insights into the long-term implications of these modifiable nutrients on health status are warranted.

Metagenomic and metabolomic remodeling in nonagenarians and centenarians and its association with genetic and socioeconomic factors

A better understanding of the biological and environmental variables that contribute to exceptional longevity has the potential to inform the treatment of geriatric diseases and help achieve healthy aging. Here, we compared the gut microbiome and blood metabolome of extremely long-lived individuals (94-105 years old) to that of their children (50-79 years old) in 116 Han Chinese families. We found extensive metagenomic and metabolomic remodeling in advanced age and observed a generational divergence in the correlations with socioeconomic factors. An analysis of quantitative trait loci revealed that genetic associations with metagenomic and metabolomic features were largely generation-specific, but we also found 131 plasma metabolic quantitative trait loci associations that were cross-generational with the genetic variants concentrated in six loci. These included associations between FADS1/2 and arachidonate, PTPA and succinylcarnitine and FLVCR1 and choline. Our characterization of the extensive metagenomic and metabolomic remodeling that occurs in people reaching extreme ages may offer new targets for aging-related interventions.

Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Ageing and Ageing-Related Diseases

Ageing is a physiological process of progressive decline in the organism function over time. It affects every organ in the body and is a significant risk for chronic diseases. Molecular hydrogen has therapeutic and preventive effects on various organs. It has antioxidative properties as it directly neutralizes hydroxyl radicals and reduces peroxynitrite level. It also activates Nrf2 and HO-1, which regulate many antioxidant enzymes and proteasomes. Through its antioxidative effect, hydrogen maintains genomic stability, mitigates cellular senescence, and takes part in histone modification, telomere maintenance, and proteostasis. In addition, hydrogen may prevent inflammation and regulate the nutrient-sensing mTOR system, autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondria, which are all factors related to ageing. Hydrogen can also be used for prevention and treatment of various ageing-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, and cancer. This paper reviews the basic research and recent application of hydrogen in order to support hydrogen use in medicine for ageing prevention and ageing-related disease therapy.

Exploring the effects of birth order on human lifespan in Polish historical populations, 1738–1968

While the relationships between birth order and later outcomes in life, including health and wealth, have been the subject of investigation for several decades, little or no data exist regarding the relationship between birth order and life expectancy in the Polish population. The aim of this study was to explore the link between birth order and lifespan in Polish historical populations. We obtained 8523 records from a historical dataset that was established for parishioners from the borough of Bejsce, including 4463 males and 4060 females. These data pertain to the populations that lived over a long period in a group of localities for which parish registers were well preserved. The Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and ANCOVA were run. The results strongly suggest that birth order affects male longevity. However, no such association was found for females. On balance, the hypothesis that first-born boys live longer because they are born to relatively younger parents has received some empirical support and deserves further study. We hypothesise that the effects of birth order on human health and lifespan might be overshadowed by other factors, including educational attainment, socioeconomic status and lifestyle.

Self-Reported Sensory Impairments in Older Adults and their Association with Self-Rated Health and Mortality Outcomes

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the relationship between self-reported impairments of vision, hearing, and dual sensory impairment, and change in self-rated health/mortality status over a 5-year period.

METHODS

Data came from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older. Analyses consisted of a series of ordinal logistic regressions stratified by sex.

RESULTS

For both women and men, self-reported sensory impairments were not statistical predictors of self-rated health/mortality, when other dimensions of health, such as physical functioning, participation, and activities of daily living functioning were included in models.

DISCUSSION

Understanding how self-reported sensory impairments impact self-rated health could assist in targeting rehabilitation strategies to older adults who experience sensory impairments.

DNA methylation in genes associated with the evolution of ageing and disease: A critical review

Ageing is characterised by a physical decline in biological functioning which results in a progressive risk of mortality with time. As a biological phenomenon, it is underpinned by the dysregulation of a myriad of complex processes. Recently, however, ever-increasing evidence has associated epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation (DNAm) with age-onset pathologies, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. These diseases compromise healthspan. Consequently, there is a medical imperative to understand the link between epigenetic ageing, and healthspan. Evolutionary theory provides a unique way to gain new insights into epigenetic ageing and health. This review will: (1) provide a brief overview of the main evolutionary theories of ageing; (2) discuss recent genetic evidence which has revealed alleles that have pleiotropic effects on fitness at different ages in humans; (3) consider the effects of DNAm on pleiotropic alleles, which are associated with age related disease; (4) discuss how age related DNAm changes resonate with the mutation accumulation, disposable soma and programmed theories of ageing; (5) discuss how DNAm changes associated with caloric restriction intersect with the evolution of ageing; and (6) conclude by discussing how evolutionary theory can be used to inform investigations which quantify age-related DNAm changes which are linked to age onset pathology.

Gene-Environment Interactions and Stochastic Variations in the Gero-Exposome

The limited heritability of human life spans suggests an important role for gene-environment (G × E) interactions across the life span (T), from gametes to geronts. Multilevel G × E × T interactions of aging phenotypes are conceptualized in the Gero-Exposome as Exogenous and Endogenous domains. Stochastic variations in the Endogenous domain contribute to the diversity of aging phenotypes, shown for the diversity of inbred Caenorhabditis elegans life spans in the same culture environment, and for variegated gene expression of somatic cells in nematodes and mammals. These phenotypic complexities can be analyzed as 3-way interactions of gene, environment, and stochastic variations, the Tripartite Phenotype of Aging. Single-cell analyses provide tools to explore this broadening frontier of biogerontology.

The Great Escape. Centenarians' exceptional health

BACKGROUND

Centenarians escapers are those who reached 100 years of age without the diagnosis of any of the common age-related diseases and exploring their characteristics will inform about successful ageing. No previous study has examined centenarians free of common chronic diseases amongst New Zealand centenarians.

METHODS

Retrospective observational cross-sectional review of a national dataset determining the prevalence of depression, dementia, diabetes and hypertension, smoking, physical activity and social relationships among older adults (aged 60-99 years) and centenarians. Participants were all older New Zealanders living independently in the community who completed the international Residential Assessment Instrument-Home Care (interRAI-HC) assessment during the study's 5-year period (July 2013-June 2018).

RESULTS

The assessments of 292 centenarians (mean age 101.03, SD 1.27 years) and 103,377 elderly (mean age 81.7, SD 5.7 years) were analysed. Compared to the elderly, centenarians were more likely to be female (74.7%, compared with 59.3% elderly, p < 0.001). Centenarians free of common chronic diseases did not differ from other centenarians on any of the analysed variables. Reduction in smoking rates and steady high rates of social engagement were associated with reaching a centenarian status free of common chronic diseases compared with older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Not smoking and being socially engaged throughout older age were associated with being a centenarian free of common chronic diseases. This study adds to our understanding the complexities of attaining exceptional longevity.

Review of How Genetic Research on Segmental Progeroid Syndromes Has Documented Genomic Instability as a Hallmark of Aging But Let Us Now Pursue Antigeroid Syndromes!

The purpose of this early contribution to the new Fellows Forum of this pioneering journal for what is now called Geroscience is to provide an example of how the author's interest in using the emerging tools of human genetics has led to strong support for one of the hallmarks of aging-Genomic Instability. We shall also briefly review our emerging interests in the genetic analysis of what we have called Antigeroid Syndromes. While there has been significant progress in that direction via genetic studies of centenarians, the search for genetic pathways that make individuals unusually resistant or resilient to the ravages of specific geriatric disorders has been comparatively neglected. We refer to these disorders as Unimodal Antigeroid Syndromes. It is our hope that our young colleagues will consider research efforts in that direction.

Gut microbiota and aging

Aging is characterized by the functional decline of tissues and organs and increased risk of aging-associated disorders, which pose major societal challenges and are a public health priority. Despite extensive human genetics studies, limited progress has been made linking genetics with aging. There is a growing realization that the altered assembly, structure and dynamics of the gut microbiota actively participate in the aging process. Age-related microbial dysbiosis is involved in reshaping immune responses during aging, which manifest as immunosenescence (insufficiency) and inflammaging (over-reaction) that accompany many age-associated enteric and extraenteric diseases. The gut microbiota can be regulated, suggesting a potential target for aging interventions. This review summarizes recent findings on the physiological succession of gut microbiota across the life-cycle, the roles and mechanisms of gut microbiota in healthy aging, alterations of gut microbiota and aging-associated diseases, and the gut microbiota-targeted anti-aging strategies.

Distribution of blood glucose and prevalence of diabetes among centenarians and oldest-old in China: based on the China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study and China Hainan Oldest-old Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

There was little data on the distribution of blood glucose levels and diabetes prevalence for centenarians and the oldest-old. The aim of this study is to analyzed the distribution of blood glucose and diabetes prevalence for centenarians and oldest-old in China: Based on the China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study (CHCCS) and China Hainan Oldest-old Cohort Study (CHOCS).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1002 centenarians and 798 oldest-old were enrolled from 18 cities and counties in Hainan Province (one of the longevity provinces) from 2016-2018.

MEASURES

The fasting blood glucose was tested and prevalence of diabetes was calculated.

RESULTS

The average age of centenarians was 102.77 ± 2.55 years old, 82.0% were women. The average age of the oldest-old was 84.99 ± 4.01 years old, 59.9% were women. The average blood glucose of centenarians was 5.12 ± 1.44 and 4.80 ± 1.27 mmol/L, and more than 70% were between 3.00 mmol/L and 5.99 mmol/L. There was no statistical difference between different genders and age groups. A total of 9.5% of centenarians had diabetes and 8.1% had IFG. A total of 11.4% of the oldest-old had diabetes and 4.4% had IFG. Abdominal obesity and TG levels may be associated with diabetes prevalence. The corresponding ORs were 1.517(1.083-2.125) and 1.473(1.089-1.943) respectively of abdominal obesity among centenarians and the oldest-old respectively, and corresponding ORs 1.182(1.081-1.316) and 1.162(1.009-1.699) respectively of abdominal obesity among centenarians and the oldest-old respectively CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In summary, the results based on CHCCS with the largest sample among centenarians and CHOCS showed that the blood glucose level and the prevalence of diabetes were at a lower level than those of adults or younger elderly. The results provide new evidence for target level of blood glucose control in those older elderly.

An Epigenetic Perspective on Lifestyle Medicine for Depression: Implications for Primary Care Practice

Depression is the most common presenting mental health disorder in primary care. It is also a major contributor to somatic complaints, worsening of chronic medical conditions, poor quality of life, and suicide. Current pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic approaches avert less than half of depression’s cumulative burden on society. However, there is a growing body of research describing both how maladaptive lifestyle choices contribute to the development and worsening of depression and how lifestyle-oriented medical interventions can reduce the incidence and severity of depression. This research, largely derived from an emerging field called epigenetics, elucidates the interactions between our lifestyle choices and those epigenetic factors which mediate our tendencies toward either health, or the onset, if not worsening of disease. The present review highlights how lifestyle choices involving diet, physical activity, sleep, social relationships, and stress influence epigenetic processes positively or negatively, and thereby play a significant role in determining whether one does or does not suffer from depression. The authors propose that medical training programs consider and adopt lifestyle medicine oriented instructional initiatives that will enable tomorrow’s primary care providers to more effectively identify and therapeutically intervene in the maladaptive choices contributing to their patients’ depression.

Impact on Longevity of Genetic Cardiovascular Risk and Lifestyle including Red Meat Consumption

Background

Cardiovascular risk (CVR) underlies aging process and longevity. Previous work points to genetic and environmental factors associated with this risk.

Objectives

The aim of this research is to look for any CVR gene-gene and gene-multifactorial/lifestyle interactions that may impact health and disease and underlie exceptional longevity.

Methods

A case-control study involving 521 both gender individuals, 253 centenarians (100.26 ± 1.98 years), and 268 controls (67.51 ± 3.25 years), low (LCR, n = 107) and high (HCR, n = 161) CVR. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity (BMI, kg·m⁻²), and impaired kidney function were defined according to standard criteria. CVR was calculated using Q risk®. DNA was genotyping (ACE-rs4646994, AGT-rs4762, AGR1-rs5182, GRK4-rs2960306, GRK4-rs1024323, NOS3-rs1799983, and SLC12A3-rs13306673) through iPlex-MassARRAY®, read by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and analyzed by EARTDECODE®.

Results

Antilongevity factors consisted (OR 95% CI, p < 0.05) BMI 1.558 (1.445-1.680), hypertension 2.358 (1.565-3.553), smoking habits 4.528 (2.579-7.949), diabetes 5.553 (2.889-10.675), hypercholesterolemia 1.016 (1.010-1.022), and regular consumption of red meat 22.363 (13.987-35.755). Genetic aspects particularly for HCR individuals ACE II (OR: 3.96 (1.83-8.56), p < 0.0001) and NOS3 TT (OR: 3.11 (1.70-5.70), p < 0.0001) genotypes were also risk associate. Obesity, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and frequent consumption of red meat have an additive action to hypertension in the longevity process. There was a synergistic interaction between the endothelial NOS3 genotypes and the severity of arterial hypertension. An epistatic interaction between functional genetic variants of GRK4 and angiotensinogen was also observed.

Conclusions

Cardiovascular risk-related genetic and multifactorial or predominantly lifestyle aspects and its interactions might influence the aging process and contribute to exceptional longevity in Portuguese centenarians. Besides lifestyle, the activity of nitrite oxide synthase may be one of the main physiologic regulators of cardiovascular protection in the path of longevity.

Physical robustness and resilience among long-lived female siblings: a comparison with sporadic long-livers

Long-lived individuals are central in studies of healthy longevity. However, few pro-longevity factors have been identified, presumably because of “phenocopies”, i.e. individuals that live long by chance. Familial longevity cases may include less phenocopies than sporadic cases and provide better insights into longevity mechanisms. Here we examined whether long-lived female siblings have a better ability to avoid diseases at ages 65+ (proxy for “robustness”) and/or survive to extreme ages (proxy for “resilience”) compared to sporadic long-livers. A total of 1,156 long-lived female siblings were selected from three nationwide Danish studies and age-matched with sporadic long-lived female controls. Outcomes included cumulative incidence of common health disorders from age 65 and overall survival. Long-lived female siblings had lower risks of some but not all health conditions, most significantly, depression (OR=0.74; 95%CI=0.62-0.88), and less significantly hypertensive (OR=0.84; 95%CI=0.71-0.99) and cerebrovascular (OR=0.73; 95%CI=0.55-0.96) diseases. They also had consistently better survival to extreme ages (HR=0.71; 95%CI= 0.63-0.81) compared to sporadic long-livers. After adjustment for the diseases, the association with mortality changed only marginally suggesting central role of better physiological resilience in familial longevity. Due to their consistently better resilience, familial longevity cases could be more informative than sporadic cases for studying mechanisms of healthy longevity.

Whole-genome sequencing of Chinese centenarians reveals important genetic variants in aging WGS of centenarian for genetic analysis of aging

Background

Genetic research on longevity has provided important insights into the mechanism of aging and aging-related diseases. Pinpointing import genetic variants associated with aging could provide insights for aging research.

Methods

We performed a whole-genome sequencing in 19 centenarians to establish the genetic basis of human longevity.

Results

Using SKAT analysis, we found 41 significantly correlated genes in centenarians as compared to control genomes. Pathway enrichment analysis of these genes showed that immune-related pathways were enriched, suggesting that immune pathways might be critically involved in aging. HLA typing was next performed based on the whole-genome sequencing data obtained. We discovered that several HLA subtypes were significantly overrepresented.

Conclusions

Our study indicated a new mechanism of longevity, suggesting potential genetic variants for further study.

How Physical Activity across the Lifespan Can Reduce the Impact of Bone Ageing: A Literature Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:1862. [PMID: 32183049 PMCID: PMC7143872 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061862]

Bone remodeling is a lifelong process, due to the balanced activity of the osteoblasts (OBs), the bone-forming cells, and osteoclasts (OCs), the bone-resorbing cells. This equilibrium is mainly regulated by the WNT-ß-cathenin pathway and the RANK-RANKL/OPG system, respectively. Bone ageing is a process which normally occurs during life due to the imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption, potentially leading to osteoporosis. Bone loss associated with bone ageing is determined by oxidative stress, the result of the increasing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The promotion of physical exercise during growth increases the chances of accruing bone and delaying the onset of osteoporosis. Several studies demonstrate that physical exercise is associated with higher bone mineral density and lower fracture incidence, and the resulting bone mineral gain is maintained with ageing, despite a reduction of physical activity in adulthood. The benefits of exercise are widely recognized, thus physical activity is considered the best non-pharmacologic treatment for pathologies such as osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We reviewed the physiological mechanisms which control bone remodeling, the effects of physical activity on bone health, and studies on the impact of exercise in reducing bone ageing.

The Genetics of Aging: A Vertebrate Perspective

Aging negatively impacts vitality and health. Many genetic pathways that regulate aging were discovered in invertebrates. However, the genetics of aging is more complex in vertebrates because of their specialized systems. This Review discusses advances in the genetic regulation of aging in vertebrates from work in mice, humans, and organisms with exceptional lifespans. We highlight challenges for the future, including sex-dependent differences in lifespan and the interplay between genes and environment. We also discuss how the identification of reliable biomarkers of age and development of new vertebrate models can be leveraged for personalized interventions to counter aging and age-related diseases.

Life Expectancy at Birth in Europe: An Econometric Approach Based on Random Forests Methodology

The objective of this work is to identify and classify the relative importance of several socioeconomic factors which explain life expectancy at birth in the European Union (EU) countries in the period 2008–2017, paying special attention to greenhouse gas emissions and public environmental expenditures. Methods: The Random Forests methodology was employed, which allows classification of the socioeconomic variables considered in the analysis according to their relative importance to explain health outcomes. Results: Per capita income, the educational level of the population, and the variable AREA (which reflects the subdivision of Europe into four relatively homogeneous areas), followed by the public expenditures on environmental and social protection, are the variables with the highest relevance in explaining life expectancy at birth in Europe over the perip.1 he peusto el correo e inciod 2008–2017. Conclusions: We have identified seven sectors as the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions: Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; manufacturing; transportation and storage; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; construction; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; and mining and quarrying. Therefore, any public intervention related to environmental policy should be aimed at these economic sectors. Furthermore, it will be more effective to focus on public programs with higher relevance to the health status of the population, such as environmental and social protection expenditures.

Centenarians: An excellent example of resilience for successful ageing

Centenarians are remarkable not only because of their prolonged life, but also because they compress morbidity until the very last moments of their lives, thus being proposed as a model of successful, extraordinary ageing. From the medical viewpoint, centenarians do not escape the physiological decline or the age-related diseases or syndromes (i.e. frailty), but the rate of such processes is slow enough to be counterbalanced by their increased intrinsic capacity to respond to minor stresses of daily life (i.e. resilience). These new concepts are reviewed in this paper. Allostatic stresses lead to a chronic low-grade inflammation that has led to the proposal of the "inflammaging" theory of ageing and frailty. The biology of centenarians, described in this review, provides us with clues for intervention to promote healthy ageing in the general population. One of the major reasons for this healthy ageing has to do with the genetic signature that is specific for centenarians and certainly different from octogenarians who do not enjoy the extraordinary qualities of centenarians.

Current nutritional and pharmacological anti-aging interventions

Aging is the main risk factor for chronic diseases and disablement in human societies with a great impact in social and health care expenditures. So far, aging and, eventually, death are unavoidable. Nevertheless, research efforts on aging-associated diseases with the aim not only to extend life span but also to increment health span in an attempt to delay, stop and even reverse the aging process have not stopped growing. Caloric restriction extends both health and life span in several short-lived experimental models and has brought to light the role of different molecular effectors involved in nutrient sensing pathways and longevity. This opens the possibility of modulating these molecular effectors also in humans to increase longevity and health span. The difficulty to implement caloric restricted diets in humans has led to the development of new bearable diets such as time-restricted feeding, intermittent fasting or diets with limited amounts of some nutrients and to the search of pharmacological agents, targeted to the effectors that mediate the extension of life and health span in response to these anti-aging diets. Pharmacological approaches that eliminate senescent cells or prevent primary causes of aging such as telomere attrition also emerge as potential anti-aging strategies. In the present article, we review these possible nutritional and pharmacological interventions designed to mitigate and/or delay the aging process and to increase health and life span.

Cyclin-dependent kinase Pho85p and its cyclins are involved in replicative lifespan through multiple pathways in yeast

Lifespan is determined by genetic factors and influenced by environmental factors. Here, we find that the phosphate signal transduction (PHO) pathway is involved in the determination of replicative lifespan in budding yeast. Extracellular phosphate does not affect the lifespan. However, deletion of PHO80 (cyclin) and PHO85 (cyclin-dependent kinase) genes, that is, negative regulators of the PHO pathway, shortens the lifespan, which is restored by further deletion of PHO4 (transcriptional activator). Four of the other nine Pho85p cyclin genes are also required to maintain normal lifespan. The short-lived mutants show a metabolic profile that is similar to strains with normal lifespan. Thus, Pho85p kinase genetically determines replicative lifespan in combination with relevant cyclins. Our findings uncover novel cellular signals in longevity regulation.

Relationship between Air Pollution and Regional Longevity in Guangxi, China

Air pollution has become a global environmental challenge and poses major threats to human health, particularly for the aging population. However, few studies have investigated the effects of air pollutants on human longevity, especially based on the total regional quantities and sources. Based on investigation of the spatiotemporal variations of three air pollutants (PM₁₀, SO₂, and NOx) and three longevity indicators (centenarian ratio, centenarity index, and aging tendency), this study aims to identify the relationship between air pollution and regional longevity in Guangxi Province. Air pollutant and population data from 109 counties and areas of Guangxi were collected from environmental research reports and statistical yearbooks. Cluster and outlier analysis was used to detect the regions with high and low clusters of the longevity indicators and air pollutants. Geographically weighted regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between longevity and air pollutants. A negative relationship between the air pollutants PM₁₀, SO₂, and NOx on the aged population was observed. From a provincial level, industrial sources from the urban areas of cities located in the central province, including Liuzhou, Nanning, Laibing, Guigang and Yulin, were important contributors to the air pollutants PM₁₀, SO₂, and NOx, and thus could contribute to negative impacts on regional longevity. The key findings from this study will provide a case for management of air pollutants based on public health policies in China as well as other developing communities.

Genetics of Human Longevity Within an Eco-Evolutionary Nature-Nurture Framework

Human longevity is a complex trait, and to disentangle its basis has a great theoretical and practical consequences for biomedicine. The genetics of human longevity is still poorly understood despite several investigations that used different strategies and protocols. Here, we argue that such rather disappointing harvest is largely because of the extraordinary complexity of the longevity phenotype in humans. The capability to reach the extreme decades of human lifespan seems to be the result of an intriguing mixture of gene-environment interactions. Accordingly, the genetics of human longevity is here described as a highly context-dependent phenomenon, within a new integrated, ecological, and evolutionary perspective, and is presented as a dynamic process, both historically and individually. The available literature has been scrutinized within this perspective, paying particular attention to factors (sex, individual biography, family, population ancestry, social structure, economic status, and education, among others) that have been relatively neglected. The strength and limitations of the most powerful and used tools, such as genome-wide association study and whole-genome sequencing, have been discussed, focusing on prominently emerged genes and regions, such as apolipoprotein E, Forkhead box O3, interleukin 6, insulin-like growth factor-1, chromosome 9p21, 5q33.3, and somatic mutations among others. The major results of this approach suggest that (1) the genetics of longevity is highly population specific; (2) small-effect alleles, pleiotropy, and the complex allele timing likely play a major role; (3) genetic risk factors are age specific and need to be integrated in the light of the geroscience perspective; (4) a close relationship between genetics of longevity and genetics of age-related diseases (especially cardiovascular diseases) do exist. Finally, the urgent need of a global approach to the largely unexplored interactions between the 3 genetics of human body, that is, nuclear, mitochondrial, and microbiomes, is stressed. We surmise that the comprehensive approach here presented will help in increasing the above-mentioned harvest.

Genetic background modifies CNS-mediated sensorimotor decline in the AD-BXD mouse model of genetic diversity in Alzheimer's disease

Many patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) also exhibit noncognitive symptoms such as sensorimotor deficits, which can precede the hallmark cognitive deficits and significantly impact daily activities and an individual's ability to live independently. However, the mechanisms underlying sensorimotor dysfunction in AD and their relationship with cognitive decline remains poorly understood, due in part to a lack of translationally relevant animal models. To address this, we recently developed a novel model of genetic diversity in Alzheimer's disease, the AD-BXD genetic reference panel. In this study, we investigated sensorimotor deficits in the AD-BXDs and the relationship to cognitive decline in these mice. We found that age- and AD-related declines in coordination, balance and vestibular function vary significantly across the panel, indicating genetic background strongly influences the expressivity of the familial AD mutations used in the AD-BXD panel and their impact on motor function. Although young males and females perform comparably regardless of genotype on narrow beam and inclined screen tasks, there were significant sex differences in aging- and AD-related decline, with females exhibiting worse decline than males of the same age and transgene status. Finally, we found that AD motor decline is not correlated with cognitive decline, suggesting that sensorimotor deficits in AD may occur through distinct mechanisms. Overall, our results suggest that AD-related sensorimotor decline is strongly dependent on background genetics and is independent of dementia and cognitive deficits, suggesting that effective therapeutics for the entire spectrum of AD symptoms will likely require interventions targeting each distinct domain involved in the disease.

Biomedical and genetic characteristics of the Ryukyuans: demographic history, diseases and physical and physiological traits

Context: The Ryukyu Islands stretch across a southwestern area of the Japanese Archipelago. Because of their unique geographical and historical backgrounds, Ryukyuans have their own genetic and phenotypic characteristics, which have been disclosed in previous anthropological and biomedical studies. Objective: The history, peopling and biomedical and genetic characteristics of Ryukyuans are reviewed and future research directions are discussed. Conclusion: Morphological and genetic studies have suggested the complex demographic history of Ryukyuans and their relationships with other Asian populations. Knowledge of population formation processes is important to understand the distribution of pathogens. In viral infectious diseases, some strains that may be associated with disease symptoms are specific to Ryukyuans. Dramatic changes in diet have played an important role among Ryukyuans in terms of increases in lifestyle-related diseases and mortality risks. To achieve a better understanding of pathogenic disease factors, further integration of findings regarding the genetic and biomedical characteristics of the Ryukyuans is needed.

Human Gain-of-Function MC4R Variants Show Signaling Bias and Protect against Obesity

The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor whose disruption causes obesity. We functionally characterized 61 MC4R variants identified in 0.5 million people from UK Biobank and examined their associations with body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases. We found that the maximal efficacy of β-arrestin recruitment to MC4R, rather than canonical Gαs-mediated cyclic adenosine-monophosphate production, explained 88% of the variance in the association of MC4R variants with BMI. While most MC4R variants caused loss of function, a subset caused gain of function; these variants were associated with significantly lower BMI and lower odds of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Protective associations were driven by MC4R variants exhibiting signaling bias toward β-arrestin recruitment and increased mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation. Harnessing β-arrestin-biased MC4R signaling may represent an effective strategy for weight loss and the treatment of obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases.

Age-dependent changes in GI physiology and microbiota: time to reconsider?

Our life expectancy is increasing, leading to a rise in the ageing population. Ageing is associated with a decline in physiological function and adaptive capacity. Altered GI physiology can affect the amount and types of nutrients digested and absorbed as well as impact the intestinal microbiota. The intestinal microbiota is considered a key player in our health, and a variety of studies have reported that microbiota composition is changing during ageing. Since ageing is associated with a decline in GI function and adaptive capacity, it is crucial to obtain insights into this decline and how this is related to the intestinal microbiota in the elderly. Hence, in this review we focus on age-related changes in GI physiology and function, changes of the intestinal microbiota with ageing and frailty, how these are associated and how intestinal microbiota-targeted interventions may counteract these changes.

Experimental Models for Aging and their Potential for Novel Drug Discovery

Background:

An interesting area of scientific research is the development of potential antiaging drugs. In order to pursue this goal, it is necessary to gather the specific knowledge about the adequate preclinical models that are available to evaluate the beneficial effects of new potential drugs. This review is focused on invertebrate and vertebrate preclinical models used to evaluate the efficacy of antiaging compounds, with the objective to extend life span and health span.

Methods:

Research and online content related to aging, antiaging drugs, experimental aging models is reviewed. Moreover, in this review, the main experimental preclinical models of organisms that have contributed to the research in the pharmacol-ogy of lifespan extension and the understanding of the aging process are discussed.

Results:

Dietary restriction (DR) constitutes a common experimental process to extend life span in all organisms. Besides, classical antiaging drugs such as resveratrol, rapamycin and metformin denominated as DR mimetics are also discussed. Likewise, the main therapeutic targets of these drugs include sirtuins, IGF-1, and mTOR, all of them being modulated by DR.

Conclusion:

Advances in molecular biology have uncovered the potential molecular pathways involved in the aging process. Due to their characteristics, invertebrate models are mainly used for drug screening. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) developed the Interventions Testing Program (ITP). At the pre-clinical level, the ITP uses Heterogeneous mouse model (HET) which is probably the most suitable rodent model to study potential drugs against aging prevention. The accelerated-senescence mouse P8 is also a mammalian rodent model for aging research. However, when evaluating the effect of drugs on a preclinical level, the evaluation must be done in non-human primates since it is the mammalian specie closest to humans. Research is needed to investigate the impact of new potential drugs for the increase of human quality of

An association between adult lifespan and stature in preindustrial Lithuanian populations: Analysis of skeletons

The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that no relationship between maximal living stature and adult lifespan had existed in prehistoric and historic Lithuanian populations. The sample analyzed consisted of 1713 skeletons of adult individuals who died between the 2nd century CE and the beginning of the 19th century CE, collected from 118 archaeological sites located in the current territory of Lithuania. A cumulative logit model was applied to model ordinal age-related changes in the auricular surface and the pubic symphysis (measures of lifespan) as a function of maximal length of femur (an indicator of maximal living stature), sex, burial site and its chronology as a proxy for the place of residence and period. The lack of strong association between adult lifespan and femur length was observed for males and females, various periods and places of residence. However, the results failed to reject convincingly the hypothesis that no relationship between these two variables had existed in preindustrial Lithuanian populations. In addition to concerns regarding sampling and measurement errors, heterogeneous frailty in early life and resulting selective mortality may partly explain the results obtained.

Longevity extension in Drosophila through gut-brain communication

Aging and chronic disease development are multifactorial processes involving the cumulative effects of metabolic distress, inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dynamics. Recently, variations in the gut microbiota have been associated with age-related phenotypes and probiotics have shown promise in managing chronic disease progression. In this study, novel probiotic and synbiotic formulations are shown to combinatorially extend longevity in male Drosophila melanogaster through mechanisms of gut-brain-axis communication with implications in chronic disease management. Both the probiotic and synbiotic formulations rescued markers of metabolic stress by managing insulin resistance and energy regulatory pathways. Both formulations also ameliorated elevations in inflammation, oxidative stress and the loss of mitochondrial complex integrity. In almost all the measured pathways, the synbiotic formulation has a more robust impact than its individual components insinuating its combinatorial effect. The concomitant action of the gut microbiota on each of the key risk factors of aging and makes it a powerful therapeutic tool against neurodegeneration, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other age-related chronic diseases.

Relationship between lifespan indicators and elemental background values: A case study in Guangdong Province, China

There was a significant difference in the distribution of centenarians at county-level in Guangdong Province, China. To carry out an integrated analysis on elemental background values and their relation to lifespan level, samples of environmental media such as drinking water, staple rice and soil were collected in ten counties (non-longevity and longevity areas) in Guangdong Province. Meanwhile, lifespan indicators were calculated based on census data in 2010: the percentage of population aged 80 to 90years (octogenarian index, 80-90%, OI%), the percentage of population aged 90 to 100years (longevity index, 90-100%, LI%), centenarians per one hundred thousand inhabitants (CH). Grey relational analysis (GRA) and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis (SMLR) were conducted. The major results show that the contents of Se, Mo, Ni, K and Zn in drinking water and rice and the content of Se in soil in longevity areas are significantly higher than those in non-longevity areas. Significantly positive correlation between elemental background values (Se, K, Mo, Ni and Zn) and three lifespan indicators shows an increasing trend in the order of OI, LI and CH. However, element Al in rice and soil shows a negative correlation with CH. In addition, the influence degree of elemental background values on LI and CH can be ranked as Se>Mo>K>Zn>Ni. The explanatory power of elemental background values (Se, K, Mo, Ni and Zn) to difference in LI/CH in longevity and non-longevity areas can be ranked: drinking water>rice>soil. The elemental background values (Se, K, Mo, Ni and Zn) have a positive impact on human lifespan, especially for those who live longer than 90years old.

Hippocampal TET1 and TET2 Expression and DNA Hydroxymethylation Are Affected by Physical Exercise in Aged Mice

The function of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is poorly understood. 5hmC is an epigenetic modification of DNA, resulting from the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) by the Fe2⁺, and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent, 10–11 translocation methylcytosine dioxygenases (TET1, TET2, and TET3). Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to being an intermediate in active demethylation, 5hmC may also have an epigenetic role. 5hmC is enriched in the adult brain, where it has been implicated in regulating neurogenesis. The rate of adult neurogenesis decreases with age, however physical exercise has been shown to counteract this deficit. Here, we investigated the impact of voluntary exercise on the age-related changes of TET1, TET2, expression and 5hmC content in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. For this purpose, we used voluntary exercise in young adult (3 months) and aged (18 months) mice as a rodent model of healthy brain aging. We measured the levels of hippocampal and hypothalamic TET1, TET2 mRNA, and 5hmC and memory [Object Location (OL) test] in mice that either exercised for 1 month or remained sedentary. While aging was associated with decreased TET1 and TET2 expression, voluntary exercise counteracted the decline in expression. Moreover, aged mice that exercised had higher hippocampal 5hmC content in the promoter region of miR-137, an miRNA involved in adult neurogenesis. Exercise improved memory in aged mice, and there was a positive correlation between 5hmC miR-137 levels and performance in the OL test. In the hypothalamus neither exercise nor aging affected TET1 or TET2 expression. These results suggest that exercise partially restores the age-related decrease in hippocampal TET1 and TET2 expression, which may be linked to the improvement in memory. Future studies should further determine the specific genes where changes in 5hmC levels may mediate the exercise-induced improvements in memory and neurogenesis in aged animals.

Age and Age-Related Diseases: Role of Inflammation Triggers and Cytokines

Cytokine dysregulation is believed to play a key role in the remodeling of the immune system at older age, with evidence pointing to an inability to fine-control systemic inflammation, which seems to be a marker of unsuccessful aging. This reshaping of cytokine expression pattern, with a progressive tendency toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype has been called "inflamm-aging." Despite research there is no clear understanding about the causes of "inflamm-aging" that underpin most major age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and aging itself. While inflammation is part of the normal repair response for healing, and essential in keeping us safe from bacterial and viral infections and noxious environmental agents, not all inflammation is good. When inflammation becomes prolonged and persists, it can become damaging and destructive. Several common molecular pathways have been identified that are associated with both aging and low-grade inflammation. The age-related change in redox balance, the increase in age-related senescent cells, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and the decline in effective autophagy that can trigger the inflammasome, suggest that it may be possible to delay age-related diseases and aging itself by suppressing pro-inflammatory molecular mechanisms or improving the timely resolution of inflammation. Conversely there may be learning from molecular or genetic pathways from long-lived cohorts who exemplify good quality aging. Here, we will discuss some of the current ideas and highlight molecular pathways that appear to contribute to the immune imbalance and the cytokine dysregulation, which is associated with "inflammageing" or parainflammation. Evidence of these findings will be drawn from research in cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.

Circulating levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 as a potential measure of biological age in mice and frailty in humans

A serum biomarker of biological versus chronological age would have significant impact on clinical care. It could be used to identify individuals at risk of early‐onset frailty or the multimorbidities associated with old age. It may also serve as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials targeting mechanisms of aging. Here, we identified MCP‐1/CCL2, a chemokine responsible for recruiting monocytes, as a potential biomarker of biological age. Circulating monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) levels increased in an age‐dependent manner in wild‐type (WT) mice. That age‐dependent increase was accelerated in Ercc1^−/Δ and Bubr1^H/H mouse models of progeria. Genetic and pharmacologic interventions that slow aging of Ercc1^−/Δ and WT mice lowered serum MCP‐1 levels significantly. Finally, in elderly humans with aortic stenosis, MCP‐1 levels were significantly higher in frail individuals compared to nonfrail. These data support the conclusion that MCP‐1 can be used as a measure of mammalian biological age that is responsive to interventions that extend healthy aging.

Exercise and bone health across the lifespan

With ageing, bone tissue undergoes significant compositional, architectural and metabolic alterations potentially leading to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone disorder, which is characterised by progressive bone weakening and an increased risk of fragility fractures. Although this metabolic disease is conventionally associated with ageing and menopause, the predisposing factors are thought to be established during childhood and adolescence. In light of this, exercise interventions implemented during maturation are likely to be highly beneficial as part of a long-term strategy to maximise peak bone mass and hence delay the onset of age- or menopause-related osteoporosis. This notion is supported by data on exercise interventions implemented during childhood and adolescence, which confirmed that weight-bearing activity, particularly if undertaken during peripubertal development, is capable of generating a significant osteogenic response leading to bone anabolism. Recent work on human ageing and epigenetics suggests that undertaking exercise after the fourth decade of life is still important, given the anti-ageing effect and health benefits provided, potentially occurring via a delay in telomere shortening and modification of DNA methylation patterns associated with ageing. Exercise is among the primary modifiable factors capable of influencing bone health by preserving bone mass and strength, preventing the death of bone cells and anti-ageing action provided.

THE ENDOCRINOLOGY OF AGING: A KEY TO LONGEVITY "GREAT EXPECTATIONS"

ABBREVIATIONS

AMP = adenosine monophosphate CETP = cholesteryl ester transfer protein FOXO = Forkhead box O GH = growth hormone HDL = high-density lipoprotein IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1 LDL = low-density lipoprotein miRNA = microRNA mTOR = mammalian target of rapamycin SIRT = sirtuin T4 = thyroxine TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone "The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it." Omar Khayyam ( 1 ).