Search results for "Longevity"
showing 10 items of 378 documents
APOE and longevity: study of a population of Sardinian Centenarians
2011
Apolipoprotein E is a major determinant in lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease, it has emerged as an important molecule in several biological processes including Alzheimer's disease and cognitive function. ApoE is a polymorphic protein (ε2, ε3, ε4) with three proteic isoforms, ApoE2, ApoE3, ApoE4 (1). The aim of the study was to verify the frequencies of allelic variants a population of healthy elderly people. ApoE polymorphisms were determined by Real Time-PCR. The genotype frequencies of ApoE in our group of 71 centenarians (mean age 100.9 ±1.3) were: ε2/ε3 (12.67%); ε3/ε4 (5.63%). In the control group, consisting of 97 individuals (mean age 92.98 ±2.53), the genotype freque…
The role of immune response in ageing and longevity. A focus on B cell compartment
2017
The improvement of the quality of life of elderly people is going to become a priority because of the continuous increase in the number of centenarians. This render the studies of the processes involved in ageing of critical importance. Centenarians are a widely accepted model of successful ageing, a complex process which is influenced by several biological, environmental and lifestyle factors, because they have reached the extreme limits of life span overcoming the major age-related diseases. In centenarians model, several aspects have been studied, as inflammation, immune system, genetics and metabolism, to understand the secret of their long survival. It has been proposed that centenaria…
Bioimpedance: a new approach for studying longevity
2017
Centenarians are the best model to study successful ageing. Unfortunately, they are rare and do not have an aged-matched control population to compare their exceptional characteristics with non-longevous people. Considering the complexity of molecular studies, the opportunity to analyse the centenarian phenotype with anthropometry could be an easy and no invasive interesting solution to identify peculiar measurable variables. In addition to the classic measurements, the bioelectrical impedance could be considered. This method permits to analyse the body composition, in terms of fat free mass and fat mass. Ageing is related to reduced fat free mass and increased body fat. The reduction of th…
Updates in Pathobiology: Causality and Chance in Ageing, Age-Related Diseases and Longevity
2017
The relationship between causality and chance is an open discussion in many disciplines. Often, the boundary among these events is thin to understand if an occurrence is related to one or to both. In particular, ageing, the related diseases, and longevity are difficult to define as consequence of causality, chance or both.
Mediterranean Diet as a tool for achieving successful ageing
2017
Targeted interventions to slow or postpone ageing and to favour an active life expectancy represent the new perspectives in ageing investigation. Some mechanisms that delay or prevent the onset of ageing disabilities and pathologies have been identified. In general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle seems to reduce many risk factors. In particular, eating habits represent the most concrete and low-cost method to address ageing. Of all dietary habits analysed, the Mediterranean diet has received much attention since it has consistently proven its beneficial influence on health and longevity. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by low glycaemic index and low animal protein intake, it is ric…
Healthy eating as a strategy to achieve successful ageing: focus on Mediterranean diet and functional foods.
People want to live longer. To date, it is impossible not to grow older, but it is desirable to get older in good health, avoiding age-related disabilities. To do this, it is necessary to have a healthy lifestyle which can limit the damage caused by the environmental hazards that face us each day. In humans, healthy ageing and longevity are modulated by a fortunate interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Regarding the latter, physical activity and healthy dietary habits are the most important modifiable factors that can affect the maintenance of a healthy ageing phenotype. A feasible diet that reduces the risk of ageing-related diseases, promoting health ageing and longevity,…
Fasting and "Fasting mimicking diet" (FMD) an effective intervention to promote longevity and health span
Age-associated changes in circulatory fatty acids: new insights on adults and long-lived individuals
2022
Long-lived individuals (LLIs) are considered an ideal model to study healthy human aging. Blood fatty acid (FA) profile of a cohort of LLIs (90–111 years old, n = 49) from Sicily was compared to adults (18–64 years old, n = 69) and older adults (65–89 years old, n = 54) from the same area. Genetic variants in key enzymes related to FA biosynthesis and metabolism were also genotyped to investigate a potential genetic predisposition in determining the FA profile. Gas chromatography was employed to determine the FA profile, and genotyping was performed using high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis. Blood levels of total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and total trans-FA decreased with age, while the lev…
The signature of longevity in Sicily
2019
Ageing is a natural and physiological condition that is the result of compromised stress response, homeostatic imbalance and increased risk of developing diseases. However, if aging with good health and functions (successful ageing) and aging with disease and disability (unsuccessful ageing) depends on a combination of “positive features”, including genetic, epigenetic and phenotypic characteristics in combination with favourable environment, economic status and social involvement. In our study, we summarize some key points for the identification of a longevity signature, with a particular focus on long-living Sicilian individuals and centenarians. Analysing three different Sicilian cohorts…
Proceedings of the Symposium “Updates in Pathobiology: Causality and Chance in Ageing, Age-related diseases and Longevity”
2017
The Symposium "Updates in Pathobiology: Causality and Chance in Ageing, Age-related diseases and Longevity" was held on March 24 in Palermo, 2017 (Sala delle Capriate, Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri), the day after exams for obtaining the title of PhD in Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology XXIX, Cycle (Coordinator Prof. Calogero Caruso) by seven PhD candidates; four of them have been awarded the title of Doctor Europaeus.