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Reversing the immune ageing clock: lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions.
Duggal, NA
Biogerontology. 2018;19(6):481-496
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Plain language summary
Advancing age is accompanied by a compromised ability of older adults to combat bacterial and viral infections, increased risk of autoimmunity, poor vaccination responses and the re-emergence of latent infections. This review discusses current understanding of immunesenescence [the gradual deterioration of our immune system as we get older] and also focuses on lifestyle interventions and therapeutic strategies that have been shown to restore immune functioning in aged individuals. Findings show that: - changes in nutrition and lifestyle can be an effective approach towards improving immune outcome in older adults but may be hard to achieve at a population level. - improving immune responses, such as the developments of vaccines, may be used as an early biomarker for anti-ageing effects. Authors conclude that immunomodulation represents a promising therapeutic approach to improve the health of older adults.
Abstract
It is widely accepted that ageing is accompanied by remodelling of the immune system, including reduced numbers of naïve T cells, increased senescent or exhausted T cells, compromise to monocyte, neutrophil and natural killer cell function and an increase in systemic inflammation. In combination these changes result in increased risk of infection, reduced immune memory, reduced immune tolerance and immune surveillance, with significant impacts upon health in old age. More recently it has become clear that the rate of decline in the immune system is malleable and can be influenced by environmental factors such as physical activity as well as pharmacological interventions. This review discusses briefly our current understanding of immunesenescence and then focuses on lifestyle interventions and therapeutic strategies that have been shown to restore immune functioning in aged individuals.
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Impact of Mediterranean diet on metabolic syndrome, cancer and longevity.
Di Daniele, N, Noce, A, Vidiri, MF, Moriconi, E, Marrone, G, Annicchiarico-Petruzzelli, M, D'Urso, G, Tesauro, M, Rovella, V, De Lorenzo, A
Oncotarget. 2017;8(5):8947-8979
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There is a growing link between being overweight or obese and the onset of certain cancers. The latest research shows that 30-35% of cancers may have a link to diet, and that metabolic syndromes involving obesity encourage the body to store metabolically active ‘sick fats’ in adipose tissue, which in turn causes inflammation and creates an environment for cancer to thrive. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the healthiest in the world and rates of cancer and metabolic syndrome are lower in the Mediterranean region versus Northern Europe suggesting it may be helpful in prevention of obesity and cancer. The MD is characterised as a balanced combination of fruit and vegetables, fish, cereals, and polyunsaturated fats (such as olive oil), with a reduced consumption of meat and dairy products and moderate intake of alcohol, primarily red wine. The nutrients that are found in abundance in the MD have a mixture of anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties thanks to antioxidant elements, fibre and healthy polyunsaturated fats. Studies show these nutrients can help support multiple metabolic markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity. In 2010, UNESCO proclaimed the MD as “World Cultural Heritage”. This diet represents a behavioural model, a “way of life”, that can ensure longer life expectancy and improve quality of life itself.
Abstract
Obesity symbolizes a major public health problem. Overweight and obesity are associated to the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome and to adipose tissue dysfunction. The adipose tissue is metabolically active and an endocrine organ, whose dysregulation causes a low-grade inflammatory state and ectopic fat depositions. The Mediterranean Diet represents a possible therapy for metabolic syndrome, preventing adiposopathy or "sick fat" formation.The Mediterranean Diet exerts protective effects in elderly subjects with and without baseline of chronic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between cancer and obesity. In the US, diet represents amount 30-35% of death causes related to cancer. Currently, the cancer is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Furthermore, populations living in the Mediterranean area have a decreased incidence of cancer compared with populations living in Northern Europe or the US, likely due to healthier dietary habits. The bioactive food components have a potential preventive action on cancer. The aims of this review are to evaluate the impact of Mediterranean Diet on onset, progression and regression of metabolic syndrome, cancer and on longevity.