CCBAR
Newsletter
– April,
2014
Editors:
Natalia
Gavrilova
and
Stacy
Tessler
Lindau
CCBAR News:
On
April 7, 2014 Natalia Gavrilova gave an outreach lecture about CCBAR at
the Workshop on demographics of longevity, Department of
Population Studies of El Colegio de la Frontera Norte,
Tijuana, Mexico. Another outreach lecture about biosocial survey
research in the United States and worldwide was given by Natalia
Gavrilova for physicians from Kazakhstan at the Center for Health and
the Social Sciences (CHeSS at the University of Chicago) on
April 18, 2014.
News
from
the
NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ, PNAS, Lancet and JAMA
Biomarkers
and ageing: The clock-watcher
by W. Wayt Gibbs
Biomathematician Steve Horvath has discovered a strikingly accurate way
to measure human ageing through epigenetic signatures.
The
RNA Revolution
by Christine Gorman, Dina Fine Maron
Long overlooked as a mere cellular housekeeper, RNA has emerged as a
path to a new world of medical treatment
Sperm
RNA carries marks of trauma
by Virginia Hughes
Stress alters the expression of small RNAs in male mice and leads to
depressive behaviours in later generations.
Implication
of sperm RNAs in transgenerational inheritance of the effects of ...
by Katharina Gapp, Ali Jawaid, Peter Sarkies, Johannes
Bohacek, Pawel Pelczar, Julien Prados, Laurent Farinelli, Eric
MiskaIsabelle M Mansuy
In this study, the authors show that the heritable behavioral and
metabolic changes that are observed in rodents exposed to early life
stress are mediated by changes in miRNA levels in the sperm of affected
males. Injection of isolated RNA from the sperm of stressed males into
donor fertilized oocyt...
Ubiquitin
sets the timer: impacts on aging and longevity
by Éva Kevei, Thorsten Hoppe
Protein homeostasis is essential for cellular function, organismal
growth and viability. Damaged and aggregated proteins are turned over
by two major proteolytic routes of the cellular quality-control
pathways: the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy. For both these
pathways, ubiquitination pr...
The
role of vitamin D in reducing cancer risk and progression
by David Feldman, Aruna V. Krishnan, Srilatha Swami, Edward
Giovannucci, Brian J. Feldman
Vitamin D is not really a vitamin but the precursor to the potent
steroid hormone calcitriol, which has widespread actions throughout the
body. Calcitriol regulates numerous cellular pathways that could have a
role in determining cancer risk and prognosis. Although epidemiological
and early clinical...
Rescuing
US biomedical research from its flaws [Medical Sciences]
by Alberts, B., Kirschner, M. W., Tilghman, S., Varmus, H.
The long-held but erroneous assumption of never-ending rapid growth in
biomedical science has created an unsustainable hypercompetitive system
that is discouraging even the most outstanding prospective students
from entering our profession?and making it difficult for seasoned
investigators to produc...
Adversity,
genetic sensitivity, and child telomere [Psychological and Cogniti...
by Mitchell, C., Hobcraft, J., McLanahan, S. S., Siegel, S.
R., Berg, A., Brooks-Gunn, J., Garfinkel, I., Notterman, D.
Disadvantaged social environments are associated with adverse health
outcomes. This has been attributed, in part, to chronic stress.
Telomere length (TL) has been used as a biomarker of chronic stress: TL
is shorter in adults in a variety of contexts, including disadvantaged
social standing and depr...
Researchers
Test Strategies to Prevent Alzheimer Disease
by Friedrich MJ.
A decade of disappointing
clinical trial
results for Alzheimer disease (AD)-modifying therapies in people
suggests that treatment should be targeted at earlier stages in the
disease?even before overt symptoms arise.
Nutrition:
Dietary protein and lifespan
by Randy Levinson
Lifelong
skeletal benefits of physical activity [Medical Sciences]
by Warden, S. J., Mantila Roosa, S. M., Kersh, M. E., Hurd, A.
L., Fleisig, G. S., Pandy, M. G., Fuchs, R. K.
The skeleton shows greatest plasticity to physical activity-related
mechanical loads during youth but is more at risk for failure during
aging. Do the skeletal benefits of physical activity during youth
persist with aging? To address this question, we used a uniquely
controlled cross-sectional study...
Americans
are ill prepared for the ACA [Economic Sciences]
by Barcellos, S. H., Wuppermann, A. C., Carman, K. G.,
Bauhoff, S., McFadden, D. L., Kapteyn, A., Winter, J. K., Goldman, D.
This paper investigates whether individuals are sufficiently informed
to make reasonable choices in the health insurance exchanges
established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We document knowledge of
health reform, health insurance literacy, and expected changes in
healthcare using a nationally re...
The
New Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Guidelines Perspective on the Path
For...
by Krumholz HM.
After much delay,
deliberation, and
drama, the long-awaited updates of the cholesterol and blood pressure
guidelines were released during the last 6 months. These guidelines
were intended to distill the wisdom that emerged since the last
versions of these authoritative documents were released more t...
Dyslipidaemia:
Implications of new statin guidelines
by Gregory B. Lim
In November 2013, the ACC and the AHA released new guidelines on the
treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic risk in
adults. The recommendations in this document are a substantial
departure from those in the Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) of
the National
Biomarkers
and
Aging
in
the
News
Media
• Scientists
seek genetic clues to longevity from 115-year-old woman
Woman who died in 2005 is believed to be the oldest person ever to
donate her body to science
• Aging
linked to cellular interactions that occur across generations
By studying the reproductive cells of nematodes -- tiny worms found in
soil and compost bins -- a researcher identified the Piwi/piRNA genome
silencing pathway, the loss of which results in infertility after many
generations. This study also found a signaling pathway -- a series of
molecular interactions inside cells -- that could be tweaked to
overcome infertility while also causing the worms to live longer adult
lives.
•
High
risk for eye disease?
Women are at higher risk for some eye diseases than men and the
majority aren't aware of this.
• Well:
Aspirin Benefits Some at Risk for Colon Cancer
Many studies have found that regular aspirin use reduces the risk for
colon cancer. Now scientists have found that aspirin may benefit some
people far more than others.
• Could
more coffee lower your odds for diabetes?
People who drink at least three cups of java daily may reduce their
risk for insulin resistance
• Study
Links Coffee to Lower Liver Cancer Risk
Daily drinkers had reduced risk of the most common form of liver
malignancy, but researchers can't say why
• Two
breath compounds could be associated with larynx cancer
Volatile substances exhaled by eleven people with cancer of larynx have
been compared with those of another twenty healthy people. The results
show that the concentrations of certain molecules, mainly ethanol and
2-butanone, are higher in individuals with carcinoma, therefore they
act as potential markers of the disease. Human breath contains
thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and some of them can be
used as non-invasive biomarkers for various types of head and neck
cancers as well as...
• Well:
Pregnancy Weight Gain Predicts Child's Obesity
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy is associated with an
increased risk that your child will be obese as a preschooler, new
evidence shows. Gaining too little weight may have the same effect.
• Risk
of false positives from mammograms
Daily health headlines: New study looks at the consequences of getting
a false positive mammogram, a link between dietary fats and colon
cancer, plus more top stories.
• Stress
may make allergy symptoms worse
Study found people with hay fever who had high levels of stress
suffered more severe symptoms
• Young
Dads at Risk of Depressive Symptoms, Study Finds
But experts stress findings don't mean fatherhood at an early age dooms
men to clinical depression
• Religious
music brings benefit to seniors' mental health
A new article reports that among older Christians, listening to
religious music is associated with a decrease in anxiety about death
and increases in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and sense of control
over their lives. In particular, listening to gospel music is
associated with a decrease in anxiety about death and an increase in
sense of control.
• Laughing
Makes Your Brain Work Better, Study Finds
Ever have trouble remembering where you just left your keys? Laugh it
off! New research suggests that humor can improve short-term memory in
older adults.
• Nearly
10 percent of U.S. adults now have diabetes
Diabetes rate has almost doubled since 1980s, keeping pace with obesity
-- but doctors see a few encouraging signs
• High-Fat
Diet May Boost Breast Cancer Risk
Study found women who ate the most saturated fat were more likely to
develop tumors
• Genetic
risk of Alzheimer's has gender bias
Carrying a variant of the APOE gene increases
Alzheimer's risk – but comparing men's and women's genetic risk
suggests it's not that simple
NIH
Press
Releases
HHS
leaders call for expanded use of medications to combat opioid overdose
ep...
Commentary describes vital medications are being underutilized in
addiction treatment.
Glaucoma
drug helps women with blinding disorder linked to obesity
Drug treatment and weight loss can restore lost vision, NIH-funded
study shows.
Muscle
weakness seen in alcoholism linked to mitochondrial repair issues
Evidence found that chronic heavy alcohol use affects a gene involved
in mitochondrial repair and muscle regeneration.
Jump-starting
natural resilience reverses stress susceptibility
Compensatory response shields mice from depression-like behaviors ?
NIH-funded study.
Eavesdropping
on brain cell chatter
NIH-funded researchers develop novel tools to learn how astrocytes
listen in on neurons.
Research
consortium including NIH proposes diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia
Condition leads to disability in many older adults.
Gene
linked to excess male hormones in female infertility disorder
Discovery by NIH-supported researchers may lead to diagnostic test,
treatment.
Unexpected
protein partnership has implications for cancer treatment
NIH scientists find unusual method that may alter tumor growth.
GuLF
STUDY gears up for second round of health exams
Research continues four years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Too
much protein may kill brain cells as Parkinson's progresses
NIH-funded study on key Parkinson's gene finds a possible new target
for monitoring the disease.
Aspirin
does not prevent pregnancy loss, NIH study finds
Increased live birth rate in subgroup of participants.
Obesity
primes the colon for cancer, according to NIH study
Obesity, rather than diet, causes changes in the colon that may lead to
colorectal cancer, according to a study in mice by the National
Institutes of Health.
Disorganized
cortical patches suggest prenatal origin of autism
NIH-funded study shows disrupted cell layering process in the
developing brain.
Funding
Announcements
Juvenile
Protective Factors and Their Effects on Aging (R03)
Expiration Date: July 17, 2016
Analysis
of Genome-Wide Gene-Environment (G x E) Interactions (R21)
Funding Opportunity PAR-13-382 from the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts. The purpose of this FOA is to provide support for research
projects that involve secondary data analyses of existing genome-wide
data from genome-wide association studies or other large genomic
datasets for the purpose of identifying gene-environment interactions.
The ultimate objective of this funding opportunity is the discovery of
complex interplays of genes and environmental factors in human
populations which may disclose novel genetic susceptibilities to
environmental exposures or a greater understanding of the role of
environmental exposures in the development, progression, and severity
of complex human diseases.
NIH
Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent
R13/U13)
Funding Number: PA-13-347
Expiration Date: September 8, 2016
Academic
Research Enhancement Award (Parent R15)
Funding Number: PA-13-313
Expiration Date: September 8, 2016
Behavioral
and Social Science Research on Understanding and Reducing Health
Disparities (R21)
Funding Number: PA-13-288
Expiration Date: September 8, 2016
Mid-life
Reversibility of Early-established Biobehavioral Risk Factors (R01)
Funding Opportunity RFA-AG-14-006 from the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA)
issued by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is to solicit two-year
Research Project Grant (R01) applications that propose to explore the
potential for midlife plasticity of biobehavioral or psychological
systems affected by early life disadvantage. In order to speed the
development of novel intervention strategies, applicants are encouraged
either to use existing human cohort data to identify circumstances that
mitigate or exacerbate the effects of early adversity or to use human
and/or animal models to test the feasibility of developing
interventions aimed specifically at increasing malleability in
adulthood of risk persistence mechanisms.
High
Priority Behavioral and Social Research Networks (R24)
Funding Opportunity RFA-AG-14-007 from the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA)
issued by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), working in part with
funds contributed by the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Research (http://obssr.od.nih.gov/index.aspx ), is to provide
infrastructure support for advancing development of specific emerging
and high priority interdisciplinary areas of behavioral and social
research of relevance to aging. The infrastructure support will
facilitate research networks through meetings, conferences, small scale
pilots, training, and dissemination to encourage growth and development
of specified priority areas and of resources for the field at large.
Projects are solicited that will develop, strengthen, and evaluate
transdisciplinary approaches and methods for basic behavioral and/or
social research.
Regional
and
International Differences in Health and Longevity at Older Ages
(R01)
PA-13-125
Expiration Date September 8, 2016
Obesity
Policy
Evaluation Research (R01) PA-13-110
Expiration Date: May 8, 2016
Events:
Conferences:
2014
Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America
Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA, May 1-3, 2014
Abstract deadline was September 27, 2013
2014
Annual
Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society
(AGS), May 15 - 17,
2014
Orlando, Florida
Abstract deadline was December 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST
The
26th REVES
meeting on health expectancy
Edinburgh, UK, May 28-30,
2014
Abstract submission deadline was February 1, 2014
The
67th Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America,
November 5-9, 2014
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
Abstract
submission deadline was March 5, 2014
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This
Newsletter is supported by a grant from the National
Institute on
Aging, National Institutes of Health (Grant No. 5 P30 AG012857)
If you would like to unsubscribe please notify us at ngavrilova@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
