The MMM of aging: mood, memory, movement

“Thinking, Moving, Feeling”: What Do They Have in Common?

This question opens a review of age-related declines, their inter-relationships, mechanisms, and the ways to postpone if not avoid them. The authors discuss the occurrence of depression and mood disorders during normal, premature or pathological aging, reminding that the usual suspects – serotonin and norepinephrine – indeed decline as people age as well as in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases (A, Granholm et al., Mood, Memory and Movement: An Age-Related Neurodegenerative Complex? Curr Aging Sci. 2008 July ; 1(2): 133–139.)

Is there such thing as “successful aging”? How does one become a winner or a looser in this game? Seems like it’s descending from the top to toe: studies show that a person with positive emotional and philosophical outlook, with strong social attitude, and intact interest to life less likely acquires memory and movement deficits.

What role do genetic factors play in aging?

They say that genetic factors are responsible for at least one-third of longevity in experimental animals. Interestingly, the much talked about calorie restriction may be involved, among other things, in stabilizing gene expression generally and the longevity gene specifically.

“In yeast, one life span gene affected by caloric restriction is Sir2 (silent information regulator 2), and in mammals, the ortholog of Sir2 is Sirt1. Caloric restriction activates Sirt1 to inhibit peroxysome proliferator-activator receptor gamma (PPARgamma) receptor, which is a nuclear receptor promoting adipogenesis, leading to lipolysis and loss of fat. Thus, lowering of adiposity appears to be one mechanism whereby caloric restriction affects life span.” (Wolf G. Calorie restriction increases life span: a molecular mechanism. Nutr Rev 2006;64(2 Pt 1):89–92.)

Prevention of age-related declines is possible!

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