Search results for "centenari"

Opposite Role of Pro-Inflammatory Alleles in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Longevity: Results of Studies Performed in a Sicilian Population

2006

The major trait characterizing offspring in centenarians is a reduction in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Because a pro-inflammatory genotype seems to contribute significantly to the risk of coronary heart disease, alleles associated with disease susceptibility would not be included in the genetic background favoring longevity, as suggested by our previous studies on inflammatory cytokines. To confirm whether genotypes of inflammatory molecules play an opposite role in atherosclerosis and longevity, we are studying the role of other proinflammatory alleles, such as pyrin and CCR5, in acute myocardial infarction and longevity. The results support the hypothesis that the genetic ba…

Alpha1-antitrypsin heterozygosity plays a positive role in attainment of longevity.

2007

Genes involved in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) play an opposite role in human longevity. The alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a serine-protease inhibitor required for the prevention of proteolytic tissue damage, by neutrophil elastase. The role of AAT in CVD has not been definitively assessed and its effect on longevity has not yet fully been studied. To clarify these points, we have studied the distribution of AAT allele variants in 3 cohorts: 127 young patients affected by acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 255 young controls and 143 centenarians from Sicily. The Z allele frequency was most frequent in centenarians (13.3%), intermediate in healthy young controls (3.1%) and less frequent in AM…

Inflammatory networks in ageing, age-related diseases and longevity

2006

Inflammation is considered a response set by the tissues in response to injury elicited by trauma or infection. It is a complex network of molecular and cellular interactions that facilitates a return to physiological homeostasis and tissue repair. The individual response against infection and trauma is also determined by gene variability. Ageing is accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation state clearly showed by 2-4-fold increase in serum levels of inflammatory mediators. A wide range of factors has been claimed to contribute to this state; however, the most important role seems to be played by the chronic antigenic stress, which affects immune system thorough out life with a progress…

Homenaje a Galdós en el centenario de su muerte

2021

El 4 de enero de 1920 Benito Pérez Galdós muere en Madrid. Atento cronista y cantor apasionado de la España del siglo XIX y principios del XX, el escritor canario a menudo entrega en su obra una concepción de la realidad que se revela en una compleja red de manifestaciones, puesto que para Galdós la realidad misma se impone como trama de ficción. Reinterpretando a su manera los postulados de la corriente realista/naturalista, su escritura cumple una inmersión cada vez más profunda en la esencia múltiple del ser humano. El galdosismo internacional ha puesto de relieve la influencia de su escritura entre sus contemporáneos, así como en las generaciones siguientes y en la actualidad. Sin embar…

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…

Centenarians born before 1919 are resistant to COVID-19.

2022

Although mortality from COVID-19 progressively increases with age, there are controversial data in the literature on the probability of centenarians dying from COVID-19. Moreover, it has been claimed that men in their 90s and 100s are more resilient than women. To gain insight into this matter, we analysed, according to gender, mortality data during the first year of pandemic of Sicilian nonagenarians and centenarians. We used mortality data from the 2019 as a control. The crude excess mortality between the two years was calculated. Data on deaths of Sicilian 90 + years show that, in line with what is known about the different response to infections between the two genders, oldest females a…

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…

B CELL CHANGES IN AGING

2014

The aging of the immune system is a gradual and dynamic process that modifies some immunological functions. These changes are known as “immunosenescence” that have a great impact on immune performance in late life, contributing to the decreased ability of the elderly people to respond to emerging pathogens and to the decreased responsiveness to vaccinations. It is known that the adaptive immune functions are affected in the aged. In particular, with aging, the acquired compartment of the immune system shows significant modifications in both T and B cell branches. Thus, the adaptive immune response of elderly people is qualitatively and quantitatively reduced when compared to that observed i…

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 …