New Measures of Population Ageing
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The Health and Life Expectancy of Older Blacks and Hispanics in the United States
Today’s Research on Aging P r o g r a m a n d P o l i c y i m P l i c a t i o n s Issue 28, June 2013 The Health and Life Expectancy of Older Blacks and Hispanics in the United States Despite advances in health care and increases in income over Yet while older blacks have lower life expectancies than the past 50 years, significant gaps in life expectancy and health older whites, Hispanics actually are expected to live longer— by race and ethnicity persist among older Americans. This again, both at birth and at older ages. At age 65, for newsletter highlights recent work by National Institute on example, Latino males can expect to live, on average, an Aging (NIA)-supported researchers and others who examined additional 18.8 years, while Latina women have a life life expectancy and health trends among older blacks and expectancy of an additional 22 years—almost two years Hispanics. By 2030, the U.S. elderly population is expected to more than 65-year-old white females. Similar differences become more racially and ethnically diverse than it is today can be found at age 75 for both men and women. (See (see Box 1, page 2). Understanding their differences in health Box 2, page 3, for a discussion of factors influencing life and addressing disparities are critically important to improving expectancy among Hispanics.) the nation’s overall health and well-being. Hispanics have longer life expectancies than Life Expectancy non-Hispanic whites or blacks. -
Forkhead Transcription Factors and Ageing
Oncogene (2008) 27, 2351–2363 & 2008 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0950-9232/08 $30.00 www.nature.com/onc REVIEW Forkhead transcription factors and ageing L Partridge1 and JC Bru¨ ning2 1Institute of Healthy Ageing, GEE, London, UK; 2Department of Mouse Genetics and Metabolism, Institute for Genetics University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany Mutations in single genes and environmental interventions Forkhead transcription factors are turning out to play can extend healthy lifespan in laboratory model organi- a key role in invertebrate models ofextension ofhealthy sms. Some of the mechanisms involved show evolutionary lifespan by single-gene mutations, and evidence is conservation, opening the way to using simpler inverte- mounting for their importance in mammals. Forkheads brates to understand human ageing. Forkhead transcrip- can also play a role in extension oflifespanby dietary tion factors have been found to play a key role in lifespan restriction, an environmental intervention that also extension by alterations in the insulin/IGF pathway and extends lifespan in diverse organisms (Kennedy et al., by dietary restriction. Interventions that extend lifespan 2007). Here, we discuss these findings and their have also been found to delay or ameliorate the impact of implications. The forkhead family of transcription ageing-related pathology and disease, including cancer. factors is characterized by a type of DNA-binding Understanding the mode of action of forkheads in this domain known as the forkhead box (FOX) (Weigel and context will illuminate the mechanisms by which ageing Jackle, 1990). They are also called winged helix acts as a risk factor for ageing-related disease, and could transcription factors because of the crystal structure lead to the development of a broad-spectrum, preventative ofthe FOX, ofwhich the forkheadscontain a medicine for the diseases of ageing. -
World Population Ageing 2019
World Population Ageing 2019 Highlights ST/ESA/SER.A/430 Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division World Population Ageing 2019 Highlights United Nations New York, 2019 The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides the international community with timely and accessible population data and analysis of population trends and development outcomes for all countries and areas of the world. To this end, the Division undertakes regular studies of population size and characteristics and of all three components of population change (fertility, mortality and migration). Founded in 1946, the Population Division provides substantive support on population and development issues to the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Population and Development. It also leads or participates in various interagency coordination mechanisms of the United Nations system. -
Causes of Improving Health and Longevity at Older Ages: a Review of the Explanations
GENUS, LXI (No. 1), 21-38 DORA L. COSTA Causes of improving health and longevity at older ages: a review of the explanations 1. TRENDS IN ELDERLY HEALTH AND LONGEVITY Life expectancy at older ages rose very slowly at the beginning of the twentieth century and then accelerated sharply toward the end of the century. Between 1970 and the end of the twentieth century life expectancy at age 65 increased by 4 years in Sweden and France and by 3 years in England and Wales and in the United States. In contrast, between 1900 and 1960 life expectancy at age 65 rose by only 2 years in Sweden and France and by one and a half years in England and Wales. National data are unavailable for the United States for this period but at most the increase in life expectancy was two and a half years and was probably considerably less. The life expectancy pattern at age 85 is even more striking. Life expectancy at age 85 rose by almost 2 years in all four countries between 1960 and the end of the twentieth century after having risen by only about 1 year between 1900 and 19601. On the whole population aging has been accompanied by declines in disability at older ages (see the review by Freedman, Martin, and Schoeni, 2002). Manton, Corder, and Stallard (1997) find that between 1982 and 1989 disability among those older than 64 declined by 1.1 percent per year and between 1989 and 1994 by 1.5 percent per year. In exactly comparable data for 1994 and 1999 disability declined by 2.1 percent per year (Manton and Gu, 2001), suggesting that improvements in elderly health have been accelerating. -
Dissecting Aging and Senescence—Current Concepts and Open Lessons
cells Review Dissecting Aging and Senescence—Current Concepts and Open Lessons 1,2, , 1,2, 1 1,2 Christian Schmeer * y , Alexandra Kretz y, Diane Wengerodt , Milan Stojiljkovic and Otto W. Witte 1,2 1 Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Thuringia, Germany; [email protected] (A.K.); [email protected] (D.W.); [email protected] (M.S.); [email protected] (O.W.W.) 2 Jena Center for Healthy Ageing, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Thuringia, Germany * Correspondence: [email protected] These authors have contributed equally. y Received: 2 October 2019; Accepted: 13 November 2019; Published: 15 November 2019 Abstract: In contrast to the programmed nature of development, it is still a matter of debate whether aging is an adaptive and regulated process, or merely a consequence arising from a stochastic accumulation of harmful events that culminate in a global state of reduced fitness, risk for disease acquisition, and death. Similarly unanswered are the questions of whether aging is reversible and can be turned into rejuvenation as well as how aging is distinguishable from and influenced by cellular senescence. With the discovery of beneficial aspects of cellular senescence and evidence of senescence being not limited to replicative cellular states, a redefinition of our comprehension of aging and senescence appears scientifically overdue. Here, we provide a factor-based comparison of current knowledge on aging and senescence, which we converge on four suggested concepts, thereby implementing the newly emerging cellular and molecular aspects of geroconversion and amitosenescence, and the signatures of a genetic state termed genosenium. -
Mechanisms and Rejuvenation Strategies for Aged Hematopoietic
Li et al. Journal of Hematology & Oncology (2020) 13:31 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-020-00864-8 REVIEW Open Access Mechanisms and rejuvenation strategies for aged hematopoietic stem cells Xia Li1,2,3†, Xiangjun Zeng1,2,3†, Yulin Xu1,2,3, Binsheng Wang1,2,3, Yanmin Zhao1,2,3, Xiaoyu Lai1,2,3, Pengxu Qian1,2,3 and He Huang1,2,3* Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) aging, which is accompanied by reduced self-renewal ability, impaired homing, myeloid-biased differentiation, and other defects in hematopoietic reconstitution function, is a hot topic in stem cell research. Although the number of HSCs increases with age in both mice and humans, the increase cannot compensate for the defects of aged HSCs. Many studies have been performed from various perspectives to illustrate the potential mechanisms of HSC aging; however, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear, blocking further exploration of aged HSC rejuvenation. To determine how aged HSC defects occur, we provide an overview of differences in the hallmarks, signaling pathways, and epigenetics of young and aged HSCs as well as of the bone marrow niche wherein HSCs reside. Notably, we summarize the very recent studies which dissect HSC aging at the single-cell level. Furthermore, we review the promising strategies for rejuvenating aged HSC functions. Considering that the incidence of many hematological malignancies is strongly associated with age, our HSC aging review delineates the association between functional changes and molecular mechanisms and may have significant clinical relevance. Keywords: Hematopoietic stem cells, Aging, Single-cell sequencing, Epigenetics, Rejuvenation Background in the clinic, donor age is carefully considered in HSC A key step in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) aging re- transplantation, and young donors result in better sur- search was achieved in 1996, revealing that HSCs from vival after HSC transplantation [2–4]. -
Chapter (2) – (Aging and Ageism: Cultural Influences)
CHAPTER 2 Aging and Ageism: Cultural Influences distribute or Source: post, ©iStockphoto.com/CharlieAJA. Learningcopy, Objectives notBy the end of this chapter, you should be able to do the following: • Define ageism and identify positive and negative aging myths. • Explain the ways in which ageism impacts older adults and everyone. Do • Discuss three theoretical approaches that help explain ageism. • Identify the ways that ageism intersects with other personal characteristics. • List ways in which you can reduce ageism. 23 Copyright ©2018 by SAGE Publications, Inc. This work may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without express written permission of the publisher. 24 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH OLDER ADULTS INTRODUCTION Cultural beliefs shape social norms and values surrounding the aging process and the role of older people. These beliefs about aging are not static—they shift and change as society evolves. Like other social groups, such as women or African Americans, myths have emerged and, over time, have become part of the social fabric. These aging myths, which form the basis for stereotypes, create a limited social perspective on older people, and, as a consequence, older people are thought of and treated as if they are “all the same.” However, these myths are socially constructed, which means they can be challenged. Social work values stress the importance of social justice for those who are vulnerable and oppressed, and older adults are among those groups that can be at risk. Thus, it is impor- tant to confront the aging myths that we have been socialized to believe. -
New England Centenarian Study Updates Medical Campus: We Hope This Newsletter Finds You and Your Family Well
Our contact November 2017 information at the Boston University New England Centenarian Study Updates Medical Campus: We hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. We’ve been The New England quite busy since our last newsletter with conferences, new research Centenarian Study publications, new participants, and new research partnerships as well as Boston University some staff changes to tell you about. We deeply value your help with Medical Campus our studies ,and to our participants, obviously none of what we do 88 East Newton Street would be possible without you! Robinson 2400 Boston, MA 02118 Our Toll-free Number: 888-333-6327 Pennsylvania, who is also the sec- ond oldest person ever in the world! Thomas T. Perls, MD, Of special note, we also enrolled MPH Sarah’s daughter Kitty at the age of 617‐638‐6688 Email: [email protected] 99 years and Kitty herself went on to become a centenarian. Stacy Andersen, PhD 617‐638‐6679 Sisters Mildred MacIsaac & Agnes Buckley, ages of 100 years and 103 Email: [email protected] years, were kind enough to pose for a photo shoot for Boston Julia Drury, BS Magazine which highlighted the 617-638-6675 Study’s recent findings Email: [email protected] Study Participant Recruitment Sara Sidlowski, BS Since beginning our research in 617-638-6683 Sarah Knauss, seated on the left, as 1996, we have enrolled approxi- Email: [email protected] the second oldest ever person in mately 2,500 centenarians includ- the world at age 119 years. Sarah is ing 150 supercentenarians (people the oldest participant in the New England Centenarian study. -
2 the Biology of Ageing
The biology of ageing 2 Aprimer JOAO˜ PEDRO DE MAGALHAES˜ OVERVIEW .......................................................... This chapter introduces key biological concepts of ageing. First, it defines ageing and presents the main features of human ageing, followed by a consideration of evolutionary models of ageing. Causes of variation in ageing (genetic and dietary) are reviewed, before examining biological theories of the causes of ageing. .......................................................... Introduction Thanks to technological progress in different areas, including biomed- ical breakthroughs in preventing and treating infectious diseases, longevity has been increasing dramatically for decades. The life expectancy at birth in the UK for boys and girls rose, respectively, from 45 and 49 years in 1901 to 75 and 80 in 1999 with similar fig- ures reported for other industrialized nations (see Chapter 1 for further discussion). A direct consequence is a steady increase in the propor- tion of people living to an age where their health and well-being are restricted by ageing. By the year 2050, it is estimated that the per- centage of people in the UK over the age of 65 will rise to over 25 per cent, compared to 14 per cent in 2004 (Smith, 2004). The greying of the population, discussed elsewhere (see Chapter 1), implies major medical and societal changes. Although ageing is no longer considered by health professionals as a direct cause of death (Hayflick, 1994), the major killers in industrialized nations are now age-related diseases like cancer, diseases of the heart and 22 Joao˜ Pedro de Magalhaes˜ neurodegenerative diseases. The study of the biological mechanisms of ageing is thus not merely a topic of scientific curiosity, but a crucial area of research throughout the twenty-first century. -
The Pro-Longevity Gene Foxo3 Is a Direct Target of the P53 Tumor Suppressor
Oncogene (2011) 1–15 & 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 0950-9232/11 www.nature.com/onc ORIGINAL ARTICLE The pro-longevity gene FoxO3 is a direct target of the p53 tumor suppressor VM Renault1, PU Thekkat1, KL Hoang1, JL White1, CA Brady2,3, D Kenzelmann Broz2, OS Venturelli1, TM Johnson2,3, PR Oskoui1, Z Xuan4, EE Santo5, MQ Zhang4,6, H Vogel7, LD Attardi1,2,3 and A Brunet1,3 1Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 3Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 4Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA; 5Department of Human Genetics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 6MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics & Bioinformatics Division, TNLIS, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China and 7Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA FoxO transcription factors have a conserved role in 2005). The connection between aging and cancer raises longevity, and act as tissue-specific tumor suppressors the possibility that genes that extend lifespan may also in mammals. Several nodes of interaction have been be part of a molecular network that suppresses identified between FoxO transcription factors and p53, a tumorigenesis. An example for such genes is provided major tumor suppressor in humans and mice. However, by FoxO transcription factors, which have a pivotal role the extent and importance of the functional interaction at the interface between longevity and tumor suppres- between FoxO and p53 have not been fully explored. sion (Greer and Brunet, 2005). -
Stem Cell Research: Immortality Or a Healthy Old Age?
European Journal of Endocrinology (2004) 151 U7–U12 ISSN 0804-4643 Stem cell research: immortality or a healthy old age? Christine Mummery Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology and the Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands (Correspondence should be addressed to C Mummery; Email: [email protected]) Abstract Stem cell research holds the promise of treatments for many disorders resulting from disease or trauma where one or at most a few cell types have been lost or do not function. In combination with tissue engineering, stem cells may represent the greatest contribution to contemporary medicine of the present century. Progress is however being hampered by the debate on the origin of stem cells, which can be derived from human embryos and some adult tissues. Politics, religious beliefs and the media have determined society’s current perception of their relative value while the ethical antipathy towards embryonic stem cells, which require destruction of a human embryo for their derivation, has in many countries biased research towards adult stem cells. Many scientists believe this bias may be premature and basic research on both cell types is still required. The media has created confusion about the purpose of stem cell research: treating chronic ailments or striving for immortality. Here, the scientific state of the art on adult and embryonic stem cells is reviewed as a basis for a debate on whether research on embryonic stem cells is ethically acceptable. European Journal of Endocrinology 151 U7–U12 Introduction was referred to as ‘transdifferentiation’ or adult stem cell ‘plasticity’. -
Fourth Ageism: Real and Imaginary Old Age
societies Article Fourth Ageism: Real and Imaginary Old Age Paul Higgs * and Chris Gilleard Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London W1T 7NF, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: This paper is concerned with the issue of ageism and its salience in current debates about the COVID-19 pandemic. In it, we address the question of how best to interpret the impact that the pandemic has had on the older population. While many feel angry at what they see as discriminatory lock-down practices confining older people to their homes, others are equally concerned by the failure of state responses to protect and preserve the health of older people, especially those receiving long-term care. This contrast in framing ageist responses to the pandemic, we suggest, arises from differing social representations of later life, reflecting the selective foregrounding of third versus fourth age imaginaries. Recognising the tension between social and biological parameters of ageing and its social categorisations, we suggest, may offer a more measured, as well as a less discriminatory, approach to addressing the selective use of chronological age as a line of demarcation within society. Keywords: ageism; COVID-19; fourth age; nursing homes; third age 1. Introduction In a paper on ageism published in 2020, we argued that the term ageism has become a concept that has been extended too far, and used so broadly that it fails to specify exactly Citation: Higgs, P.; Gilleard, C. what it is that is being discussed [1]. Ageism is applied to all sorts of circumstances and Fourth Ageism: Real and Imaginary levels as a way of explaining nearly all the negative situations and consequences associated Old Age.