CCBAR
Newsletter
– June-July,
2013
Editors:
Natalia
Gavrilova
and
Stacy
Tessler
Lindau
CCBAR News:
Registration
for the 7th Chicago Workshop on Biomeasures in Population-Based Health
and Aging Research.
Registration for the 2013 Workshop, "Biosocial Study of Health and
Aging in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and HIV-Affected Populations" (October
17, 2013) is now open. Please register using the following
URL:
http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/Reg2013.asp
Workshop space is limited to 50 participants; registration will be on a
first-come, first-serve basis. Due to limited space, registrants are
required to commit to participate in the full conference. For
more information, please contact Lori Garibay, MPH at CCBAR by phone at
773-834-5890 or by email lgaribay@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Outreach
lectures. CCBAR researcher, Natalia Gavrilova, PhD gave
three outreach lectures on biomeasures in population-based aging
research for European audiences. The first lecture was given for a
short course "Contemporary Methods of Mortality Analysis" at the
Institut Universitaire de Medecine Sociale et Preventive, Universite de
Lausanne (IUMSP), Switzerland, on June 21, 2013. The second lecture was
presented to students of Barcelona Insurance and Risk Management Summer
School 2013 "New Approaches to Study Mortality and Longevity Risks" at
the Universitat de Barcelona, Economics and Business Faculty, Spain on
July 1, 2013. The third lecture was given to the members of the EU
project "Social Innovation on Active and Healthy Ageing for Sustainable
Economic Growth" (SIforAGE) in San Sebastian, Spain on July 3,
2013. In August, CCBAR Director, Stacy Lindau, MD, will speak
about CCBAR activities in biosocial survey and gerosexuality research
for collaborators affiliated with the China Oxford Centre for
International Health Research and Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, China
http://chinaoxford.fuwai.com/en/. Fuwai Hospital is part of
the Cardiovascular Institute at the Chinese Academy of Medical
Sciences.
News
from
the
NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ, PNAS, Lancet and JAMA
Biological
markers: Tailoring treatment and trials to prognosis
by David J. Kerr, Yuankai Shi
As we learn more about the biology of cancer, we may be able to apply
prognostic biomarkers to select patients at high risk or low risk of
disease recurrence or progression. This will allow a priori
stratification of patients in clinical trials and will help to tailor
treatment to patients.
Anxiety
Can Be Good for You? Sometimes
by Ferris Jabr
Short-term stress can boost the immune system
Do
CT Scans Cause Cancer?
by Carina Storrs
Researchers reevaluate the safety of radiation used in medical imaging
Diabetes:
Look AHEAD published: weight loss not linked to fewer cardiovascula...
by Bryony M. Mearns
In a multicentre, randomized, controlled study of 5,145 patients who
were overweight or obese and had type 2 diabetes mellitus, an intensive
lifestyle intervention was associated with significant weight loss and
improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, but had no effect on the
rate of cardiovasc...
Public
health: Cardiovascular disease insights - something new out of
Africa
by George A. Mensah
Adverse trends in blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and other
cardiometabolic risk factors, together with population growth and
ageing, are contributing to the burden of cardiovascular diseases in
Africa. This increasing problem, coupled with inadequate access to
effective interventions for prevent...
Statins
in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
by Zeljko Reiner
Statins are widely used in the evidence-based lowering of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The use of these drugs for secondary
prevention of CVD is well founded, but their expanding use in primary
prevention - in individuals without documented CVD - has
raised some
concerns. Firstly, evidence suggest...
High-molecular-mass
hyaluronan mediates the cancer resistance of the naked mo...
by Xiao Tian, Jorge Azpurua, Christopher Hine, Amita Vaidya,
Max
Myakishev-Rempel, Julia Ablaeva, Zhiyong Mao, Eviatar Nevo, Vera
Gorbunova, Andrei Seluanov
The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) displays exceptional
longevity, with a maximum lifespan exceeding 30?years. This is the
longest reported lifespan for a rodent species and is especially
striking considering the small body mass of the naked mole rat. In
comparison, a similarly sized house m...
Basic
research: Understanding why the naked mole rat is cancer resistant
The naked mole rat's lifespan of 30 years is remarkable, as is its
natural resistance to cancer. Researchers have now identified a
mechanism responsible for the latter: high levels of
high-molecular-mass hyaluronan secreted from fibroblasts, which
accumulates because of decreased activity of hyaluro...
Epidemiology:
Biorepositories for cancer research in developing countries
by Sandipan Ray, Aliasgar Moiyadi, Sanjeeva Srivastava
Well-documented biorepositories are essential for cancer research.
Currently, major biobanks are located in the developed world, which
represents the minority global population; however, countries with
low-resource settings contribute more than 50% of the global cancer
burden. Therefore, there is an...
Diabetes:
Have the gut(s) to test the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mell...
by Elisabeth Kugelberg
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) might be
predicted by the gut metagenome, a new study suggests. Previous studies
have shown that the gut microbiota can affect host metabolism, and
Chinese patients with T2DM have an altered gut metagenome. Now, Karlsson
Epidemiology:
Work-related stress and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus
by Eric J. Brunner, Mika Kivimäki
A new cohort study links work-related stress to an increased risk of
developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in women, but the findings
are less clear in men. Randomized controlled studies are now needed to
determine whether management of stress could be used to reduce the risk
of developing T2DM...
Testosterone
and insulin resistance in the metabolic syndrome and T2DM in men
by Preethi M. Rao, Daniel M. Kelly, T. Hugh Jones
Obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome are major
risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Studies have demonstrated an
association between low levels of testosterone and the above
insulin-resistant states, with a prevalence of hypogonadism of up to
50% in men with type 2
Alzheimer
disease: Skin cancer - protective effect against Alzheimer disease?
Risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) is slightly reduced in patients with
nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), according to a recent population-based
longitudinal study. 1,102 community-dwelling adults aged over 70 years
were assessed annually as part of the Einstein Aging Study in New York
City, USA. Relative
Ushering
in the study and treatment of preclinical Alzheimer disease
by Jessica B. Langbaum, Adam S. Fleisher, Kewei Chen,
Napatkamon
Ayutyanont, Francisco Lopera, Yakeel T. Quiroz, Richard J. Caselli,
Pierre N.
Tariot, Eric M. Reiman
Researchers have begun to characterize the subtle biological and
cognitive processes that precede the clinical onset of Alzheimer
disease (AD), and to set the stage for accelerated evaluation of
experimental treatments to delay the onset, reduce the risk of, or
completely prevent clinical decline. I...
Dementia
in the oldest old
by Zixuan Yang, Melissa J. Slavin, Perminder S. Sachdev
People over the age of 90 years - the oldest old
- are the fastest growing
sector of the population. A substantial proportion of these individuals
are affected by dementia, with major implications for the individual as
well as society. Research on dementia in the oldest old is important
Cognition
improves in successive birth cohorts of the oldest old
In 1998, researchers set
out to survey the health of all surviving Danish adults born in 1905.
Twelve years later, they surveyed all surviving adults born...
Vitamin
D Deficiency Induces Early Signs of Aging in Huma...
by Busse, B., Bale, H. A., Zimmermann, E. A., Panganiban, B.,
Barth,
H. D., Carriero, A., Vettorazzi, E., Zustin, J., Hahn, M., Ager, J. W.,
Puschel, K., Amling, M., Ritchie, R. O.
Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread medical condition that plays a
major role in human bone health. Fracture susceptibility in the context
of low vitamin D has been primarily associated with defective
mineralization of collagenous matrix (osteoid). However, bone’s
fracture resistance is due t...
Epigenetics:
Keeping it in the family
by Leonie Welberg
Paternal exposure to stress influences offspring stress responsiveness,
probably through changes in the microRNA content of sperm.
Psychology
in markets [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
by Sonnemann, U., Camerer, C. F., Fox, C. R., Langer, T.
A fundamental debate in social sciences concerns how individual
judgments and choices, resulting from psychological mechanisms, are
manifested in collective economic behavior. Economists emphasize the
capacity of markets to aggregate information distributed among traders
into rational equilibrium pr...
Association
Between Duration of Overall and Abdominal Obesity Beginning in Yo...
by Reis JP, Loria CM, Lewis CE, et al.
ImportanceYounger
individuals are
experiencing a greater cumulative exposure to excess adiposity over
their lifetime. However, few studies have determined the consequences
of long-term obesity.ObjectiveTo examine whether the duration of
overall and abdominal obesity was associated with the presence ...
China's
Shifting Burden of Disease Global Health
by Friedrich MJ.
In the past 2 decades,
China has made
enormous improvements in the health of its population, but it has also
seen a shift in the burden of disease, according to an analysis carried
out by an international collaboration of researchers (Yang G et al. Lancet.
2013;381:1987-2015).
Ageing:
An ageing balancing act
by Hannah Stower
The regulation of lifespan is known to be coordinated by intersecting
metabolic pathways, but we are far from knowing the precise metabolic
readouts that feed into longevity. Although alterations in respiration
are known to have a role in regulating lifespan, surprisingly
Houtkooper et al.
Telomeres:
Telomere length measurement in single cells
by Hannah Stower
Current measurements of telomere length take the average from a
population of cells. Here, the authors adapted a quantitative real-time
PCR (qPCR)-based method for telomere measurement in order to be able to
take measurements in single cells. They optimized a multiplex
pre-amplification step that is
IOM
Report: Evidence Fails to Support Guidelines for Dietary Salt Reduction
by Mitka M.
A report from the Institute
of Medicine
(IOM) finds no evidence that drastically reducing salt, and the sodium
it contains, in individuals' diets reduces the risk of myocardial
infarction, stroke, or death. The US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (A...
B
vitamins reduce Alzheimer's-related atrophy [Neuroscience]
by Douaud, G., Refsum, H., de Jager, C. A., Jacoby, R., E.
Nichols, T., Smith, S. M., Smith, A. D.
Is it possible to prevent atrophy of key brain regions related to
cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD)? One approach is to
modify nongenetic risk factors, for instance by lowering elevated
plasma homocysteine using B vitamins. In an initial, randomized
controlled study on elderly subjects ...
The
Morality of Using Mortality as a Financial Incentive Unintended
Consequen...
by Kupfer JM.
The strategy of using
financial
incentives to improve quality and lower costs is firmly embedded in the
Affordable Care Act and the hospital value-based purchasing program
launched nationwide in October 2012. The Affordable Care Act not only
stiffens penalties for hospitals with high readmission rat...
Biomarkers
and
Aging
in
the
News
Media
• Stress
can cause weight gain
Studies show stress can cause weight gain. CNN's Mary Ellen Hopkins has
more.
• Taller
women may have greater cancer risk
New studies show the taller the woman, the greater her risk for cancer.
• 5
Health Problems Linked to Height
Your height might raise your risk for certain diseases.
• Task
Force Urges Scans for Smokers at High Risk
A shift to CT scans from chest X-rays has the potential to save 20,000
lives a year, experts say.
• The
Consumer: Concerns About Dementia Screening
A push for early detection and treatment, even in the absence of
cognitive symptoms, of the amyloid plaques that indicate a risk for
Alzheimer's and other dementias has some researchers worried.
• Red
Wine Supplement May Block Benefits of Exercise in Older Men
In small study, resveratrol undermined gains in blood pressure,
cholesterol and aerobic fitness
• Family
History of Cancer May Raise Risk for Other Types of Tumors
Large European study looked at people with close relatives who'd been
affected
• Taste
preference changes in different life stages of rats
In humans and animals aging decreases dietary and energy requirements
and it is generally believed that reduced consumption is related to
alterations in taste preference. However, the mechanisms underlying an
age-induced shift in taste preference remain unclear. Thus, the
researchers investigated differences in fluid intake and taste nerve
responses across different age groups of rats.
• Stress
early in life leads to adulthood anxiety and preference for 'comfort
f...
New research finds that adult rats reared in a stressful neonatal
environment demonstrate more anxiety and stress, and they prefer to eat
more foods rich in fat and sugar.
• Recognizing
people by the way they walk
Recognizing people by the way they walk can have numerous applications
in the fields of security, leisure or medicine. A new technique offers
significant advantages as recognition can be done remotely and does not
require the cooperation of the subject. Detecting suspicious behavior
(video surveillance), access control to buildings or to restricted
areas and demographic analysis of a population in terms of gender and
age range are just some of the possible applications of this technology.
• Hot
flashes? Thank evolution
A study of mortality and fertility patterns among seven species of wild
apes and monkeys and their relatives, compared with similar data from
hunter-gatherer humans, shows that menopause sets humans apart from
other primates.
• Evolution
of monogamy in humans the result of infanticide risk, new study sug...
The threat of infants being killed by unrelated males is the key driver
of monogamy in humans and other primates, a new study suggests.
• Heavy
cell phone use linked to oxidative stress
A new study finds a strong link between heavy cell phone users and
higher oxidative stress to all aspects of a human cell, including DNA.
Uniquely based on examinations of the saliva of cell phone users, the
research provides evidence of a connection between cell phone use and
cancer risk.
• By
Measuring 'Health Backwards From Death, Not Forwards,' We Know Now That
Th...
A new study finds that the elderly are living two years longer than
before, with better quality of health.
• Drinking
Coffee Reduces Suicide Risk By 50%: 2 To 4 Cups A Day Is Effective A...
A recent Harvard study finds a link between coffee and a lower risk of
suicide. Could coffee be doing more than keeping us awake?
• Study:
Later retirement may help prevent dementia
New research boosts the "use it or lose it" theory about
brainpower and staying mentally sharp. People who delay retirement have
less risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia,
a study of nearly half a million people in France found....
• How
to tell signs of dementia from normal aging
New studies suggest that noticing you are having memory
or thinking problems could be the earliest sign of Alzheimer's disease.
The Alzheimer's Association lists these 10 warning signs, plus advice
on how to tell them from normal age-related changes:...
• The
New Old Age Blog: In Europe, Dementia Rates May Be Falling
New studies from Denmark and Britain find that older people are getting
healthier and experiencing less dementia.
• Elderly
Cognitive Function May Be Determined By Childhood IQ
Decreased cognitive function might come with old age, but researchers
have found that intelligence in youth might be able to postpone
dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.
• Fish
oils may raise prostate cancer risks, study confirms
Everyone knows that fish oil is good for you, right? It's a rich source
of omega-3 fatty acids, which are marketed to reduce the risk of just
about everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's.
• Fatty
acids found in fish linked to lower risk of breast cancer
A high intake of fatty acids found in fish is associated with a 14
percent reduction in the risk of breast cancer in later life, a new
study finds.
• Cancer
risks double when two carcinogens present at 'safe' levels,
epigenetic...
New research has found that low doses of arsenic and estrogen -- even
at levels low enough to be considered "safe" for humans if they were on
their own -- can cause cancer in prostate cells.
• Screening
fails to affect breast cancer mortality statistics, UK study finds
New research from the UK analysing breast cancer mortality data
spanning almost 40 years concludes that breast cancer screening does
not yet show an effect on mortality statistics. The research analyzed
mortality trends before and after the introduction of the National
Health Service Breast Screening Programme in 1988.
• Gene
Biomarkers Reveal Colon Cancer: New Noninvasive DNA Test Detects 92% Of
...
Researchers developed a noninvasive colon cancer test by identifying
biomarkers on the SDC2 gene linked to the disease.
• An
aspirin every other day cuts colon cancer risk for women, study says
For women, an aspirin every other day may keep colon cancer away, a new
study suggests.Women who took low dose aspirin on alternate days for 18
years saw a 20 percent drop in their risk of developing colon cancer,
according to the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
• Sugary
Snacks Tied To Bowel Cancer, Found In Many Industrialized, Western Diets
Sugary snacks are linked to bowel cancer, which now joins heart disease
and diabetes as a risk factor for high-sugar diets.
• Gut
Bugs Could Explain Obesity-Cancer Link
In obese mice, changes in intestinal bacteria may lead to higher cancer
risk
• Vegetarians
May Live Longer
California research finds 12% lower risk of dying for those who don't
eat meat
• Unattractive
people more likely to be bullied at work
It's common knowledge that high school can be a cruel environment where
attractive students are considered "popular," and unattractive kids
often get bullied. And, while that type of petty behavior is expected
to vanish with adulthood, new research proves it does not. Colleagues
can be just as immature as classmates.
• Young
Adults Who Are More Outgoing Win Later In Life, Too
A new study finds that younger people with more social connections and
emotional stability report greater happiness later in life.
• Do
Pretty Women Cause Men's Mouths To Water? Courting Behavior Spikes
Testost...
Ever wonder why men's mouths water at the sight of pretty women?
• Studies
Show Chinese Have Higher Risk of Stroke Than White People
A study found that Chinese people have a higher risk of stroke than
whites. But after an earlier study found that South Asians were more
prone to diabetes than whites because of poor fitness, could there be a
link between the two?
• Gene
Flaws Common In Blacks With Breast Cancer
African American women have higher rates of breast cancer at younger
ages, and their survival rates are lower than white women. Now
researchers might have an idea why.
NIH
Press
Releases
NIH
math model predicts effects of diet, physical activity on childhood
weight
Findings suggest major differences between obese adults and children.
NIH
researchers identify therapy that may curb kidney deterioration in
patien...
Innovation in mouse model helps researchers distinguish disease
mechanisms and biomarkers.
NIH
researchers discover how brain cells change their tune
Study may advance fundamental understanding of how brain cells
communicate.
NIH
commits $24 million annually for Big Data Centers of Excellence
Efforts will harness power of complex datasets to improve health, aid
discovery, reduce duplication.
For
a healthy brain, don't let the trash pile up
NIH-funded study finds that quickly clearing away damaged proteins may
help prevent neurodegenerative disorders.
NIH-funded
study suggests that moving more may lower stroke risk
New research finds link between frequency of exercise and stroke risk.
NIH
scientists find that proteins involved in immunity potentially cause
cancer
Naturally produced mutations may be just as powerful as known
carcinogens.
Federal
report shows drop in proportion of children in US population
Annual statistics compilation forecasts increasing diversity.
mHealth
has great potential, but needs a rigorous scientific foundation
Dr. Robert M. Kaplan discusses how to move from hype to real scientific
value.
NIH
study identifies brain circuits involved in learning and decision making
Finding has implications for alcoholism and other patterns of addictive
behavior.
Urine
test can diagnose, predict kidney transplant rejection
NIH-funded study describes noninvasive alternative to kidney biopsy.
Vietnam
vets with PTSD more than twice as likely to have heart disease
NIH-funded study finds PTSD is a risk factor for heart disease among
Vietnam vets.
Only
half of U.S. youth meet physical activity standards, NIH study shows
Few consume recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Estrogen
therapy has no long-term effect on cognition in younger postmenopaus...
NIH-funded study finds neither benefit nor risk to cognitive function
years after treatment.
Two
gene variants may predict who will benefit from breast cancer
prevention ...
NIH-supported discovery could advance individualized care of high-risk
women.
NIH
scientists find link between allergic and autoimmune diseases in mouse
study
Discovery of gene may help scientists better understand diseases such
as MS, Crohn's disease, celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.
NIH
Announcements
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
(R03) PA-13-123
Expiration Date September 8, 2016
Regional
and
International Differences in Health and Longevity at Older Ages
(R21)
PA-13-124
Expiration Date September 8, 2016
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
PAR-12-186 DBSR
Macroeconomic Aspects of Population Aging (R01)
Expiration
date:
10/04/2014
Biodemography
of
Aging
(R21),
Funding
Number:
PAR-12-079
Expiration Date: March 4, 2014
Biodemography
of
Aging
(R03),
Funding
Number:
PAR-12-080
Expiration Date: March 4, 2014
Biodemography
of
Aging
(R01),
Funding
Number:
PAR-12-078
Expiration Date: March 4, 2014
Events:
Conferences:
108th
Annual meeting of the American Sociological Association
August 10-13,
Hilton New York & Sheraton New York
The deadline for paper submission was January 9, 2013 at 3:00pm EST.
XXVII IUSSP
International Population Conference
26 to 31 August 2013.
Busan, Republic of Korea
Abstract deadline was November 7, 2012
66th
Annual
Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Wednesday,
11/20 to Sunday, 11/24, 2013
Sheraton New Orleans - New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, Louisiana
Deadline for abstract
submissions was March 15, 2013
2014
Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America
Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA, May 1-3, 2014
Abstract deadline: to be announced
2014
Annual
Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society
(AGS), May 15 - 17,
2014
Orlando, Florida
Abstract deadline: to be announced
The
26th REVES
meeting on health expectancy
Edinburgh, UK, May 28-30,
2014
Abstract submission deadline: to be announced
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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