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Altering the Community of Gut Bacteria Promotes Health and Increases Lifespan
Jan. 16, 2014 — Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have promoted health and increased lifespan in Drosophila by altering the symbiotic, or commensal, relationship between bacteria and the absorptive cells lining the intestine. The research, appearing in the January 16, 2014 edition of Cell, provides a model for studying many of the dysfunctions that are characteristic of the aging gut and gives credence to the growing supposition that having the right balance of gut bacteria may be key to enjoying a long healthy life.
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Even though recent research in humans has linked the composition of gut flora with diet and health in the elderly and the list of age-related diseases associated with changes in gut bacteria include cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, lead author and Buck faculty Heinrich Jasper, PhD, says there is no systematic understanding of how we go from having a young, healthy gut to one that is old and decrepit. "Our study explores age-related changes in the gut that include increased oxidative stress, inflammation, impaired efficiency of the immune response, and the over-proliferation of stem cells," said Jasper. "It puts these changes into a hierarchical, causal relationship and highlights the points where we can intervene to rescue the negative results of microbial imbalance."
Jasper says the bacterial load in fly intestines increases dramatically with age, resulting in an inflammatory condition. The imbalance is driven by chronic activation of the stress response gene FOXO (something that happens with age), which suppresses the activity of a class of molecules (PGRP-SCs, homologues of PGLYRPs in humans) that regulate the immune response to bacteria. PGRP-SC suppression deregulates signaling molecules (Rel/NFkB) that are important to mount an effective immune response to gut bacteria. The resulting immune imbalance allows bacterial numbers to expand, triggering an inflammatory response that includes the production of free radicals. Free radicals, in turn, cause over-proliferation of stem cells in the gut, resulting in epithelial dysplasia, a pre-cancerous state.
Jasper said the most exciting result of their study occurred when his group increased the expression of PGRP-SC in epithelial cells of the gut, which restored the microbial balance and limited stem cell proliferation. This enhancement of PGRP-SC function, which could be mimicked by drugs, was sufficient to increase lifespan of flies. "If we can understand how aging affects our commensal population -- first in the fly and then in humans -- -- our data suggest that we should be able to impact health span and life span quite strongly, because it is the management of the commensal population that is critical to the health of the organism."

The next big technological wave targets smart homes for seniors.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/24/technology-healthcare-boomers/3661007/

Caregiving goes digital - and lets Boomers age in place With the world's population aging fast and living longer than ever before, health care increasingly will move to the home, where technology will assist humans with monitoring and administering care

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SUSANNE SPENCER is likely to be your first contact with Tweeten Eldercare Advisors. She conducts initial phone interviews with callers, gathering the most relevant information about medical conditions, care needs, social needs, geographic parameters, and cost constraints. You may just need a referral to in-home care agencies, or other community resources, in which case she can provide this information directly. Often, she will schedule an in-person appointment with Eloise to gather more in-depth information before you tour community options. Susanne also follows up with families after placement to ensure they are satisfied with the care provided.

A former broadcast reporter and Human Resources executive, Susanne finds that she's still doing a lot of interviewing. Outside of work, one of Susanne's hobbies is singing with the Petaluma Chamber Chorus. She's also an avid reader and cat-lover, volunteering her time as a board member for Forgotten Felines, which provides spay and neuter services for feral cats. Susanne and her husband have three cats they adore.

It's time for us Boomers to plan for old age (both financially and care-wise), as we are indeed living longer than previous generations. What will you do when you need care? There are growing community alternatives to living alone and hiring a private caregiver, and as this article points out, a shrinking supply of caregivers as well. -Eloise

Why Baby Boomers Are Facing A Caregiver Shortage A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the dramatic decline in family caregivers who will be available to assist Baby Boomers in their old age. Today, according to estimates by AARP, there are about 7 people aged 45-64 to care for each person who is 80 or older. By [...]

In order to be the best assisted living placement professional you need to complete the RCFE Administrator certification yourself. Congratulations Eloise!

What you eat can affect your level of stress. For example, if you’re feeling nervous, maybe you should give up coffee. Here are some other great suggestions
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

ChooseMyPlate.gov TK