by Ray Marks

Received: 25 March 2019;  Published: 28 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901042

Depression and Aging: Role of Social Support

by Lei Zhang  , Xian-Zhang Hu  , Xiaoxia Li  , Jacob Dohl  , Tianzheng Yu  and Robert J. Ursano

Received: 28 December 2018;  Published: 21 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901041

Depression, PTSD, and hostility are common mental conditions that are associated with aging. A growing body of research has highlighted the possible effects of depression, PTSD, and hostility on aging and telomere length (TL), a cellular aging marker. Individuals who exhibit excessive responses to stressors show notable circulating inflammatory responses with high cortisol reactivity, which increases cell turnover and oxidative stress and may subsequently contribute to shortened TL. This review focuses on the most [...]

by Robert J Emanuel

Received: 09 January 2019;  Published: 21 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901040

The amount of patients who suffer with dementia is set to rise with an ageing population. As well as living longer, patients will be retaining their natural teeth into their later life and will be less reliant on dentures. From both the current evidence available in the literature, and anecdotally from clinicians experienced in treating patients with dementia, it can be concluded that on balance, patients with dementia appear to be at a greater risk from dental caries (dental decay). However, more research in this [...]

by Robert L. Conder  , Christopher Friesen  and Alanna A. Conder

Received: 30 November 2018;  Published: 20 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901039

Background: While the percent of persons 65 and older is expected to increase to 17% of the world’s population by 2050, this increase in longevity does not necessarily suggest a parallel increase in health status. While aging is an inevitable aspect of living, there are factors which can accelerate morbidity and mortality, as well as factors likely to promote a healthy transition into longevity. This paper addresses behavioural and complementary interventions for healthy neurocognitive aging. Specific evidence-base [...]

by Ali Al-Ragawi  , Sergey Zyryanov  , Elena Ushkalova  , Olga Butranova  and Anton Pereverzev

Received: 10 October 2018;  Published: 05 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901038

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are common in the elderly and often have serious clinical and economic consequences. Prediction of ADRs is a valuable tool to improve pharmacotherapy and outcomes in this category of patients. Objective: Prediction of ADRs in patients ≥ 65 years old, based on GerontoNet risk score with emphasis on polypharmacy. Methods: Pharmacoepidemiological retrospective study of medical records of patients admitted to the Russian Gerontology Clinical Research Center (RGCRC) between 1 [...]

by Kristopher M. Struckmeyer  , Alex J. Bishop  , Brenda J. Smith  and Brandt C. Gardner

Received: 27 August 2018;  Published: 27 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901037

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine discrepancies in self-proxy agreement of biopsychosocial factors and the influence of objective well-being and psychosocial resources self and proxy appraisals of subjective well-being in older adults. Methods: Seventy-two older adult-proxy dyads rated the biopsychosocial health of non-cognitively impaired older adults. Results: Proxies underestimated functional ability, psychosocial factors, and overrated negative health outcomes compared to older adults. Older [...]

by Vincenza Frisardi  , Sara Faroni  , Angela Bellani  , Felice Biagi  , Emanuela Galante  , Alida Balzanelli  , Erika Talassi  , Lorella Frittoli  , Giancarla Capiluppi  , Claudia D'angelis  , Antonella Taragnani  , Donatella Terzi  , Elena Podavini  , Graziana Gazzoni  , Graziana Simoncelli  , Carmine Matarazzo  , Mirko Avesani  , Antonio Ventura  , Consuelo Basili  , Maurizio Galavotti  , Carlo Maria Stucchi  , Maria Cristina Cilia  and Alfonso ciccone

Received: 31 October 2018;  Published: 27 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901036

The WHO global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025 stressed the need to have a comprehensive approach with deep interconnections and cross-cutting elements through several action areas. As the elderly population grows worldwide, the number of patients with dementia increases rapidly because age is an important risk factor for developing late-onset dementia. Currently, dementia syndrome represents a true emergency. Once a diagnosis of dementia was made, informal caregivers, patients and t [...]

by Steven R. Brenner

Received: 29 August 2018;  Published: 26 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901035

Alzheimer Disease may result from excessive stimulation of the innate immune system from development of underlying opportunistic infections and impaired age related self-recognition as non-self, due to immunodeficiency and immunosenescence, resulting in excessive inflammation and runaway Beta-amyloid production (a component of the innate immune system) causing cytosolic calcium overload. Excessive cytosolic calcium may cause over activation of calcineurin and inactivation of cis-trans prolyl isomerase (Pin1), with [...]

by Michael Fossel

Received: 31 December 2018;  Published: 15 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901034

The consensus that cell senescence plays a role in age-related disease has prompted a number of potential clinical interventions, including attempts to reset cell senescence and attempts to remove senescent cells from aging tissues. The latter approach, senolytic therapy, has attracted considerable attention, but both theoretical considerations and published data suggest that the clinical benefits will be transient and that senolytic therapies will likely accelerate long-term degenerative disease. We review the ove [...]

by Marco Barale  , Ruth Rossetto Giaccherino  , Ezio Ghigo  and Massimo Procopio

Received: 31 October 2018;  Published: 14 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901033

Background: It is well known that hypovitaminosis D has been associated with various cardio-metabolic disorders, though the pathogenetic link, if any, still remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate in elderly uncontrolled non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients with hypovitaminosis D, whether six-months vitamin D supplementation was able to improve glycemic control, lipid profile and blood pressure levels. Methods: In an open-label pilot study, thirty type 2 diabetic patients (age 71.5 ± 3.2 years, BMI [...]