Search results for "Longevity"

Ways to become old: Role of lifestyle in modulation of the hallmarks of aging

2021

Abstract Lifestyle represents one of the most relevant aspects in aging research since it is an important modifiable factor that affects aging process. A healthy lifestyle can limit the damage caused by environmental influences that face us each day. As gerontology says, there are two ways to become old, without success (unsuccessful aging), manifested by people that develop one or more age-related diseases, and with success (successful aging), defined as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability, which enables well-being in older age. Among the lifestyle factors that may influence successful aging and longevity, physical activity and healthy dietary habits have a gre…

Palermo-2010 conference on biogerontology

2011

We, as the guest editors, are pleased to introduce this special issue of Biogerontology, which is the outcome from the 7th European Congress of Biogerontology, held from 14th to 17th October, 2010 in Palermo, Italy. The thematic aim of the Palermo-conference was to get an overview of the present state of research in the development of effective therapies to postpone or treat human ageing, focusing on predictive medicine and prevention of age-related diseases, immunosenescence, longevity, model systems, ageing and wellness, and vaccination in the elderly. Understanding the determinants of ageing in humans in relation to the living environment and the individual life history was the additiona…

Smoking, health and ageing.

2008

Abstract On March 19, 2008 a Symposium on Pathophysiology of Ageing and Age-Related diseases was held in Palermo, Italy. Here, the lecture of V. Nicita-Mauro on Smoking, health and ageing is summarized. Smoking represents an important ageing accelerator, both directly by triggering ana inflammatory responses, and indirectly by favoring the occurrence of several diseases where smoking is a recognized risk factor. Hence, non-smokers can delay the appearance of diseases and of ageing process, so attaining longevity.

Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling: More than a Metabolic Pathway

2014

Background: Dietary intervention and genetic alterations in gene encoding proteins involved in nutrient-sensing pathways can modulate lifespan, influencing longevity. It depends on under/over-expression of regulatory molecules that lead to different expression of homeostatic genes. Insulin/IGF-1 pathway was associated with longevity and lifespan modulation in model organisms. In humans, a key molecule in this pathway is FOXO3A that acts as a TF on homeostatic genes in response to decreased signaling increasing life span. Interestingly, other genes that increase lifespan interact with FOXO3A such as SIRT1, which modulates the oxidative stress response. Methods: We used meta-analytical and ca…

Longevity hotspot in Sicily. The exploration of a new possible blu zone

We are conducting a survey in some mountainous Sicilian populations, particularly in villages sited in the Palermo province, part of the Madonie Park. To ascertain the true longevity rate, we checked the born and death registers, analyzing about 37,000 newborns between 1881 and 1917 in a sample of five small municipalities located in Madonie. About 1,700 individuals died at the age of 90 years and over, and about one hundred were centenarians. Therefore, the probability to reach 90 and 100 years old was of 4.6% and 0.22% respectively. Accordingly, we observed significant lower mortality rates for all causes of death when compared to those measured in Palermo town. Therefore, the population …

16th IHIW: Immunogenetics of Aging

2013

Ageing is a process characterised by progressive loss of function in multiple different organ systems, such as the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Current data showing that ageing processes may be associated with alterations in the immune system suggest that some of the genetic determinants of senescence might be polymorphic genes that regulate immune responses. The ‘Immunogenetics of Aging’ programme was a component introduced in the 14th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop (IHIWS) and developed further within the 15th and 16th. The aim of this component was to determine the contribution of immune genes to successful ageing and an increased capacity to reach the extreme li…

Regolazione della longevità in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ruolo di micro e macronutrienti nella modulazione dell'invecchiamento negli eucarioti

2014

In diversi organismi, dal lievito ai mammiferi, è stato osservato che la riduzione dell'introito calorico aumenta la sopravvivenza e protegge dall'insorgenza di numerose patologie associate all'età. Il meccanismo molecolare tramite cui questo effetto si realizza non è ancora chiaro. Questa ricerca mette in evidenza il ruolo di singoli nutrienti nella sensibilizzazione agli stress e nella promozione dell'invecchiamento, identifica in particolare tre specifici aminoacidi che agiscono da segnalatori pro-aging e descrive le vie molecolari attraverso cui tali molecole agiscono. Poiché i pathway di segnalazione coinvolti nell'invecchiamento e nella risposta ai nutrienti sono significativamente co…

Role of TLR Polymorphisms in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

2017

Innate immunity provides the first line of host defense against infection by recognizing and killing microbes, and simultaneously activating an instructive immune response. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are principal mediators of rapid microbial recognition, and they mainly function by detecting exogenous pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Recognition of their ligands actives signaling ways, which culminate in evocating acute host responses, involved in killing pathogens. Here, we describe the involvement of TLR4 polymorphisms in aging, and particularly in immunosenescence and age-related diseases, suggesting the crucial role of molecules of innate immunity in the pathophysiology of these…

Phenotypic Aspects of Longevity

2019

Centenarians are individuals who live over the average life span characteristic of their population. The growing number of old people worldwide makes it necessary to identify a good strategy to reach healthy ageing and avoid or delay age-related diseases. The longevity phenotype is the result of a positive combination between genetic, epigenetic, stochastic and lifestyle factors. So, the analysis of all the known parameters that can influence these single elements or their interaction can give new possible elements to delineate a sort of longevity signature. Starting from the easiest biomarkers as the haematochemical values and reaching the study of molecular and cellular components, as the…

Insulin pathway and its correlation with ageing and longevity

2014

Ageing is unavoidable and leads to the reduction of the ability to adapt to the environment, involving the organism at all levels. Approximately 25% of the overall variation in human lifespan can be attributed to genetic factors, which become more relevant for extreme longevity. A “favourable” genetic background is essential to live longer. Longevity depends on the survival after reproduction and genes that lead to longevity are “survival genes” rather than “longevity genes”. But human population is very heterogeneous because of the different genetic background and different environmental stimuli thus it has not been yet possible to identify a clear panel of biomarkers of ageing and longevi…