CCBAR
Newsletter
– August,
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) continues. 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 Director, Stacy Lindau, MD, made
an outreach lecture
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. She also visited Peking University and the Professor Yaohui Zhao,
the Principal Investigator of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).
New video of outreach lecture by CCBAR member, Natalia Gavrilova, PhD, 'Human Longevity and a New Vision of Aging' made at the conference of Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) is now publicly available at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bVjgNsfJvI
News
from
the
NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ, PNAS, Lancet and JAMA
Big
horns clash with longevity in sheep
by Ewen Callaway
Gene for small horns lowers sexual fitness but boosts lifespan.
Isolated
DNA patent ban creates muddy waters for biomarkers and natural products
by Charlotte Harrison
The US Supreme Court has recently ruled that isolated DNA is not
eligible for patenting. This decision overturns the long-standing
precedent that isolated products can be patented, which has created
uncertainty as to the patent eligibility of biomarkers and natural
products. I am struggling to
Early-life
nutrition and subsequent famine fitness [Evolution]
by Hayward, A. D., Rickard, I. J., Lummaa, V.
Individuals with insufficient nutrition during development often
experience poorer later-life health and evolutionary fitness. The
Predictive Adaptive Response (PAR) hypothesis proposes that poor
early-life nutrition induces physiological changes that maximize
fitness in similar environments in adul...
Improved
Blood Pressure Control Associated With a Large-Scale Hypertension Pr...
by Jaffe MG, Lee GA, Young JD, et al.
ImportanceHypertension
control for large
populations remains a major challenge.ObjectiveTo describe a
large-scale hypertension program in Northern California and to compare
rates of hypertension control in that program with statewide and
national estimates.Design, Setting, and PatientsThe Kaiser Per...
Association
Between Urinary Albumin Excretion and Coronary Heart Disease in B...
by Gutiérrez OM, Khodneva YA, Muntner P, et al.
ImportanceExcess urinary
albumin
excretion is more common in black than white individuals and is more
strongly associated with incident stroke risk in black vs white
individuals. Whether similar associations extend to coronary heart
disease (CHD) is unclear.ObjectiveTo determine whether the associat...
Omics
technologies and the study of human ageing
by Ana M. Valdes, Daniel Glass, Tim D. Spector
Normal ageing is associated with diverse physiological changes in all
organ systems but the rate and extent of these changes vary markedly
among individuals. One aspect of ageing research focuses on the
molecular profiling of the changes that occur with increasing age in
humans. Such
Reproductive
aging in primates [Anthropology]
by Alberts, S. C., Altmann, J., Brockman, D. K., Cords, M.,
Fedigan,
L. M., Pusey, A., Stoinski, T. S., Strier, K. B., Morris, W. F.,
Bronikowski, A. M.
Women rarely give birth after 45 y of age, and they experience
the
cessation of reproductive cycles, menopause, at 50 y of age
after a
fertility decline lasting almost two decades. Such reproductive
senescence in mid-lifespan is an evolutionary puzzle of enduring
interest because it should be inhe...
Healthy
behaviours yield major benefits in ageing
by Kenfield, S. A., Stampfer, M. J.
With the remarkable increases in life expectancy in recent decades in
many countries, the determinants of quality of life and disability at
older ages have attracted increasing attention. Artaud and colleagues
in this issue of the BMJ (doi:10.1136/bmj.f4240) provide an important
advance in their stu...
Evolution:
Mammals and monogamy
Some mammals may have turned to pair-living because of infanticide or
isolated females. Using an evolutionary tree of 230 primates as a
framework, Christopher Opie of University College London and his
colleagues ran simulations of evolutionary history to investigate what
conditions might produce the ...
Maternal
weight loss and offspring methylation [Developmental Biology]
by Patti, M. E.
The rapid rise in obesity over the past few decades worldwide
challenges our generation to develop effective strategies to prevent
and treat obesity and associated metabolic complications, such as type
2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is clearly aggravated by
our increasingly sedentary...
Faulty
logic justifies aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular
d...
by Thornley, S. J., Barzi, F.
We are sceptical about the use of the polypill as a 'panacea.' In
studies that justify the use of the individual constituents of the
pill, optimism about the drugs' beneficial effects sometimes
contradicted the statistical evidence presented.1 For example, a paper
published 12 years ago in Heart is ...
Biomarkers
and
Aging
in
the
News
Media
• Memory
'more consistent with age'
Ageing not necessarily a bad thing for memory
• Brushing
your teeth may lower your risk of cancer
A new study reports that poor oral health is an independent risk factor
for oral HPV infection, and by extension, could also contribute to oral
cancers.
• Economic
View: Public Policies, Made to Fit People
A new White House initiative is intended to involve social and
behavioral scientists in policy making.
• Women
Smokers Face Increased Risk of Lethal Stroke: Review
Hemorrhagic, or bleeding, stroke odds 17 percent higher than for men
who smoke
• Childhood
Bullying Scars Can Last Into Adulthood
Higher risk of illness, work and social problems seen in long-term study
• Plastics
Chemicals May Boost Kids' Obesity Risk
Studies tied phthalates, BPA to insulin resistance, higher body fat
• Comprehensive
Parkinson's biomarker test has prognostic and diagnostic value
Researchers report the first biomarker results reported from the
Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), showing that a
comprehensive test of protein biomarkers in spinal fluid have
prognostic and diagnostic value in early stages of Parkinson's disease.
• Could
Blood Test One Day Predict Suicide Risk?
Levels of certain proteins may indicate vulnerability, preliminary
research suggests
• Obesity's
death toll could be higher than believed, study says
Researchers find that 18.2% of premature deaths in the U.S. are
associated with excessive body mass. The figure is almost four times
higher than other estimates. The
death toll of the nation's obesity epidemic may be close to four times
higher than has been widely believed, and all that excess weight could
reverse the steady trend of lengthening life spans for a generation of
younger Americans, new research warns.
• Walking
to Work Tied to Lower Diabetes Risk
Car commuters have higher blood pressure, more obesity, U.K. study also
found
• Alzheimer's
Research Takes a New Turn
Study suggests that gummed-up synapses -- not plaque -- may be at the
root of aging brain diseases
• Breast-feeding
may lower mom's risk of Alzheimer's disease
Moms who breast-fed at some point had a 64 percent reduced chance of
getting Alzheimer's compared to moms who didn't breast-feed
• Study
Challenges Theory About Left Brain/Right Brain Behavior
MRI scans don't indicate that one hemisphere dominates or affects
personality
• Mediterranean
Diet May Counter Genetic Risk of Stroke
People who consumed plenty of nuts or olive oil fared better in study
• Many
Risk Factors for Early Dementia Can Show Up in Teens
Alcohol abuse topped the list in large study of Swedish men
• Working-life
training and maternity leave are related to slower cognitive dec...
Employment gaps may promote but also reduce cognitive function in older
age, as new research has shown. In particular, some of the findings
suggest that leaves reported as unemployment and sickness are
associated with higher risk of cognitive impairment indicating that
these kinds of employment gaps may decrease cognitive reserve in the
long run. Strongest evidence was found for training and maternity leave
being related to slower cognitive decline, suggesting beneficial
associations of these ki...
• Having
More Siblings Might Lower Your Divorce Risk
Past experience with family dynamics may help you navigate marriage,
study authors theorize
• Role
Models: Kids Are 6 Times More Likely To Smoke If Older Siblings Or
Paren...
20-plus year study identifies subtle familial relationships in the
origins of teenage smoking, with older siblings playing a significant
role.
• Induced
Labor Linked to Raised Risk of Autism, Study Suggests
Male children seem to be most vulnerable, researchers report
• High-flying
pilots at increased risk of brain lesions
A new study suggests that pilots who fly at high altitudes may be at an
increased risk for brain lesions.
• Altruism
or manipulated helping? Altruism may have origins in manipulation
Manipulation is often thought of as morally repugnant, but it might be
responsible for the evolutionary origins of some helpful or altruistic
behavior, according to a new study.
• Major
study links aging gene to blood cancer
A gene that helps control the ageing process by acting as a cell's
internal clock has been linked to cancer by a major new study.
Scientists found a genetic variant that influences the ageing process
among four new variants they linked to myeloma -- one of the most
common types of blood cancer. The study more than doubles the number of
genetic variants linked to myeloma.
• Who
benefits from vitamin D?
Studying the expression of genes that are dependent on vitamin D makes
it possible to identify individuals who will benefit from vitamin D
supplementation, shows a new study. Population-based studies have shown
that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk for chronic diseases
and weaken the body's immune system.
• Blood
pressure meds linked to raised breast cancer risk
Calcium channel blockers taken for 10 years more than doubled a woman's
risk for breast cancer, researchers found
NIH
Press
Releases
NIH
study links Hodgkin lymphoma treatment to possible risk of stomach
cancer
While the cure rate for this disease is high, there is a risk of
developing secondary cancers.
Researchers
find essential brain circuit in visual development
NIH-funded study could lead to new treatments for amblyopia.
Protein-based
urine test predicts kidney transplant outcomes
NIH-funded study provides more evidence supporting development of
noninvasive tests.
NIH
study finds chronic alcohol use shifts brain's control of behavior
Findings provide biological mechanism that helps explain compulsive
alcohol use.
Endocannabinoids
trigger inflammation that leads to diabetes
NIH scientists identify possible treatment target for type 2 diabetes.
3-D
images show flame retardants can mimic estrogens in NIH study
They could possibly disrupt the body's endocrine system.
NIH
issues online course on screening youth for alcohol problems
Program will help health care professionals conduct interventions with
youth.
New
data reveal extent of genetic overlap between major mental disorders
Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder share the most common genetic variation.
NIH-funded
study discovers new genes for childhood epilepsies
New strategy may find more genes and provide a better understanding of
these and other complex neurological disorders.
NIH
scientists visualize how cancer chromosome abnormalities form in living
c...
Researchers directly observe the change for the first time.
NIH
researchers find diabetes drug extends health and lifespan in mice
Long-term treatment with metformin improved health and longevity in
mice.
NIH
math model predicts effects of diet, physical activity on childhood
weight
NIH
Announcements
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
(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:
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:September 27, 2013
2014
Annual
Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society
(AGS), May 15 - 17,
2014
Orlando, Florida
Abstract deadline: December 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST
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
