Ageing Flashcards
How much does average performance deteriorate by after the age of 30
o.8/0.9% each year
What are the 2 theories that underpin the idea behind intrinsic ageing of cells?
Genetic theory - cells have a coded death time or runs out of genetic material
Error theory - not programmed but actually accumulate DNA errors, free radicals
What is the term given to describe the changes seen in the median survival of the population over the past couple hundred years?
Rectangularisation of the survival curve
People at the extremes of the biological/chronological age ratio are known as having what types of ageing?
Accelerated or retarded
Group of syndromes that carry accelerated rates of ageing? 3 subtypes
Progeroid syndromes
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria
Werner progeria
Cockayne syndrome
Physiology behind Hutchinson-Gilford progeria?
Mutation in gene for Lamin A that forms nuclear lamina so forms abnormal protein Progerin which sticks to nuclear envelope and stops cell division
What are the presenting symptoms in children with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria?
Failure to thrive
Scleroderma
Full body alopecia
Small face and shallow recessed jaw, pinched nose
What is the typical life expectancy of someone with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria?
mid teens early twenties
Where does the mutation occur in Werner Syndrome?
WRNp protein
What is WRNp protein needed for?
DNA repair
What are the 6 cardinal symptoms of Werner Syndrome?
Premature greying of hair or hair loss, bilateral cataracts, atrophied tight skin, soft tissue calcification, sharp facial features, abnormally high pitched voice
Where is the mutation in Cockayne Syndrome?
ERCC6 or ERCC8
What is the inheritance pattern of Cockayne Syndrome?
Autosomal recessive
What is the physiology that occurs in Cockayne Syndrome? symptoms?
Mutation means that once DNA is damaged it cannot repair itself
Demyelination of neurones
Decreased white matter
Premature ageing
4 interventions can be put in place to limit ageing process?
Calorific restriction
Anti-oxidant therapy
Hormonal manipulation
Immune restoration
What is the OKINAWA Study? What 4 factors to a long life did it find were crucial?
Lots of exercise
Healthy arteries with less than 4umols/l cholesterol
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Good family and social support
What did the Danish Cohort Survery look at and what did it discover?
It looked at self rated health and functional ability of nonogenerians
Found women to be more disabled due to osteoporosis and decreased Vit D from oily fish and sunlight
What did the Perls Boston Study classify elderly as?
Escapers - no disease
Delayers - disease diagnosed after 80 years old
Survivors - disease diagnosed before 80 years old
3 main ways to avoid CV disease?
Low BMI
Low overall cholesterol with a high HDL
No smoking
What is the gene that codes for apolipoprotein E protein?
ApoE gene
What do apolipoproteins do? what different allele types are there? which lower cholesterol and which increase?
found in the chylomicrons and IDL that transport fat and cholesterol into blood stream
E2, E3, E4
E2 lowers cholesterol
E4 raises cholesterol
What makes NK cells unique?
They can recognise stressed cells without needing antibodies or MHC
What is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and what is an anti-inflammatory cytokine?
pro-inflammatory = IL6 Anti-inflammatory = IL10
Why are mitochondrial genes important in healthy ageing?
They play a role in production of free radicals
Name a good mitchondrial gene to have any what it prevents?
the J haplotype mitchondrial DNA
Lower arthritis, eye disorders and higher function in old age
What does the MTFHR gene do? what does it produce? what is it a risk factor for? how can risk be minimised?
Gene produces homocysteine
Risk factors for endothelial damage
Risk minimised by folate - eating leafy greens, broccoli
What food down regulated NfKb inflammatory pathway?
Tumeric
What does sweet potato contain that interacts with insulin signalling pathway?
Sirtuin
