Rejuvenation Research

Previous studies on sarcopenia and COVID-19 have primarily focused on pathophysiological mechanisms, leaving the effects of social isolation policies largely unexplored. Taiwan offers a unique environment to investigate this issue. This study investigates the association between COVID-19-related isolation and sarcopenia in older adults in Taiwan. Participants aged 65 and older were enrolled from annual geriatric health check-ups conducted between 2018 and 2023. The years from 2018 to 2020 were designated as the pre-COVID-19 period, while 2022–2023 was considered the post-COVID-19 era. Demographic data and health conditions were collected. The assessments encompassed body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance. The prevalence and trends of sarcopenia were analyzed. The prevalence of low muscle strength declined in 2021 but subsequently increased from 2022 to 2023 (p_quadratic = 0.018). In 2023, compared with 2018–2020, the odds ratio for sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia was 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.67), and the odds ratio for low physical performance was 1.73 (95% CI 1.39–2.15). This is the first report describing the association between COVID-19 pandemic-related policies and the prevalence of sarcopenia, revealing a significant increase in sarcopenia prevalence following the pandemic. Our results emphasize the necessity of tailored strategies to support older adults during and after health crises.

Oxidative stress (OS) causes biochemical and morphological alterations in erythrocytes. The primary factors contributing to OS are aging and storage. Antioxidants significantly alleviate OS. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the response of young and old erythrocytes to vitamin C and vitamin E during storage. Erythrocytes were separated into young and old by the Percoll method. Each erythrocyte subpopulation was categorized into the i) Control (additive solution-7 [AS-7]) and ii) vitamin C and vitamin E in AS-7 (VC+VE) groups and stored for 21 days at 4°C. OS, antioxidant, and aging markers were analyzed on days 1, 14, and 21. The activity of antioxidant enzymes was similar throughout storage in young cells. However, superoxide dismutase activity elevated in old cells (Control and VC+VE) on days 1 and 21. Catalase (CAT) activity increased on days 14 and 21, whereas glutathione peroxidase (GPX) increased on days 1 and 14 in old Controls. However, in old VC+VE, CAT increased on day 21 and GPX increased on day 1. Advanced oxidation protein products, superoxides, glutathione, and uric acid increased in old cells throughout storage. Malondialdehyde decreased in old VC+VE compared with old Control on days 14 and 21. Sialic acids and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activity were higher in young cells compared to old cells. Young cells exhibited lower oxidative changes throughout storage. Vitamin C and vitamin E were effective in maintaining the redox balance in old cells. These findings emphasize the need for specific approaches for different subpopulations during erythrocyte banking.

Successful aging is essential for health, particularly as the global population of older adults rises. It assesses whether older adults maintain a healthy lifestyle and enjoy quality in their later years. This study explores the relationship between successful aging and mortality, focusing on how its components relate to mortality across different genders. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of 9633 older adults (aged 65+) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2011–2018). This study used two definitions of successful aging: SA I includes five dimensions (the absence of major diseases, no subthreshold depression, freedom from disability, high cognitive function, and active social participation); SA II consists of four dimensions and excludes the absence of major diseases. Both genders exhibited lower mortality rates among those achieving successful aging (males: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.62 for SA I, HR = 0.65 for SA II; females: HR = 0.57 for SA I, HR = 0.58 for SA II). All successful aging dimensions correlated with reduced death risk, except for subthreshold depression in females. In males, significant reductions in mortality were linked to freedom from disability (HR = 0.49) and active social participation (HR = 0.60). In females, these were notable for freedom from disability (HR = 0.46) and high cognitive function (HR = 0.47). SA I, which includes the absence of major diseases, is more relevant for Chinese younger old. The influence of successful aging components on mortality risk varies by gender, emphasizing the importance of addressing functional daily living challenges to enhance the health of older adults in China.

This study investigates the correlation between polypharmacy and gut microbiota compositional changes in older people who were treated with multidrug therapy, aiming to provide insights into the complex interplay between medication use, gut microbiota, and aging. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to analyze microbial diversity in older patients with multiple chronic diseases and polypharmacy, and the results were compared with a control group of older people without multiple chronic diseases and not undergoing polypharmacy. The study revealed distinct differences in gut microbiota composition between the two groups, with lower alpha-diversity observed in multidrug therapy group. Furthermore, the analysis identified several significant differences in microbiome composition at the genus and family levels between the multidrug therapy and the control group. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the impact of polypharmacy on the gut microbiota and its relationship to overall health in older people. Additionally, the study provides insights into the potential effects of specific medications, such as antihypertensive drugs, proton pump inhibitors, and antibiotics, on the gut microbiota, highlighting the need for continued research in this critical area to optimize therapeutic strategies for the older population.

Elevated levels of Bicaudal-D Family Like Cargo Adaptor 1 (BICDL1) are associated with poor prognosis in various cancers. However, the role of BICDL1 in breast cancer (BC) has not been reported. We analyzed BICDL1 expression in BC using bioinformatics and molecular experiments. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was conducted to identify significantly enriched signaling pathways related to BICDL1. The effects of BICDL1 on BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were assessed using colony formation assays, Transwell assays, and Western blot. The influence of BICDL1 on pyroptosis in BC cells was determined by measuring the expression of key pyroptosis proteins (NLRP3, GSDMD-N, procaspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, ASC), lactate dehydrogenase release, and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18). We also investigated whether BICDL1 promotes BC proliferation and metastasis by regulating pyroptosis using Nigericin, an agent that induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The results showed that BICDL1 was significantly overexpressed in BC tissues and cells. Knockdown of BICDL1 inhibited BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the EMT process, while overexpression of BICDL1 had the opposite effects. BICDL1 was enriched in the pyroptosis pathway; overexpression of BICDL1 suppressed pyroptosis, thus promoting BC cell proliferation, inhibition, and migration. Notably, the addition of Nigericin reversed the effects of BICDL1 overexpression on BC cells. These results suggested that BICDL1 promoted BC cell proliferation, inhibition, and migration by hindering pyroptosis. These findings indicate that BICDL1 is a potential biomarker for BC treatment.