Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Maureen Tam
The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Keynote: Towards a cross-cultural understanding of ageing and learning by senior adults in Hong Kong and Australia
Time : 10:00-10:45
Biography:
Dr Maureen Tam has extensive experience in teaching, research and management in higher education institutions, both in Hong Kong and overseas. Currently, Dr Tam is Associate Professor in Elderly Education with the Department of International Education and Lifelong Learning at the Education University of Hong Kong. Also, she is Deputy Director of Centre for Lifelong Learning Research and Development, and Head of the EdUHK Elder Academy. Dr Tam's research interests are wide-ranging which cover elderly education, lifelong learning, professional and vocational education, quality assurance, outcomes-based education, teaching, learning and assessment in higher education.
Abstract:
Aging and learning are value-laden concepts that are culturally relevant. Culture plays an important role in influencing what people think, resulting in different views and understandings by people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In the literature, there have been researched and discussions relating culture with aging and culture with learning to shed light on the value systems and predominant cultural values that have influenced the understanding of aging and learning by people in different cultures. The aim of this presentation is four-fold. First, it examines the concepts of aging and learning and considers the role that culture plays in the understanding of these two constructs. Second, it draws on the predominant East-West cultural debate to shed light on the cultural values and views that have influenced the understanding and conceptualization of aging and learning. Third, limitations are identified for the East-West dichotomous view of aging and learning using the Confucian perspective of learning to illustrate the inadequacies of the Eastern and Western ideas of learning, or lifelong learning, in particular. Finally, it draws on findings from a cross-cultural study to compare and contrast senior adults in Hong Kong and Australia, with regard to aging and learning.
Keynote Forum
Ping Song
Georgia State University, USA
Keynote: β-Hydroxybutyrate prevents vascular cell senescence through heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1)-upregulated octamer-binding transcriptional factor 4
Time : 11:00-11:45
Biography:
Dr. Ping Song has a broad background in cell biology and biochemistry with specific training and expertise in both vascular biology and metabolism. By developing effective cell and mouse animal models, Dr. Song’s researches are focused on vascular biology and remodeling under aging, diabetic, or tobacco smoking/and e-cigarette condition. Recently, Dr. Song’s lab reported that activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an energy gauge and redox sensor, delays aging process by reduction of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p16 that is mediated by HMG box-containing protein 1 (HBP1). AMPKα2 isoform plays a fundamental role in anti-oxidant stress and anti-senescence. AMPKα also plays an important role in maintaining chromosome integrity and reduction of DNA damage, which is highly associated with cellular senescence. Ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate exerts anti-aging effects in both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells by upregulating a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1-controlled Oct4-mediated Lamin B1 signaling pathway.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Vascular aging is considered as a main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), one of three human ketone bodies, usually functions as an alternative source of energy during nutrient deprivation. Elevation of ketone bodies, including β-HB, during fasting or caloric restriction is believed to induce anti-inflammation effects and alleviate aging-related neurodegeneration. However, whether β-HB regulates molecular signaling in the aging process, specifically the senescence pathway in vascular cells, has not been previously studied. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of β-HB on vascular cell senescence and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methodology and Results: Vascular cells treated with β-HB and a ligand fishing pull-down approach were employed as an in vitro model. Mouse treated with β-HB was used as an in vivo animal model. β-HB stimulates cellular quiescence in vascular cells, which significantly inhibits both replicative senescence and stress-induced premature senescence via p53-independent mechanisms. Further, we identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) as a direct binding target of β-HB. The binding of β-HB with hnRNP A1 profoundly enforces hnRNP A1 binding to Octamer-binding transcriptional factor (Oct) 4 mRNA. The binding of hnRNP A1 with Oct4 mRNA stabilizes Oct 4 mRNA and Oct4 expression. Moreover, Oct4 increases Lamin B1, a key factor in maintaining chromosome stability against DNA damage-induced senescence. Finally, either fasting or intraperitoneal injection of β-HB in vivo elevates Oct4 and Lamin B1 in both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells in mice in vivo. Conclusions: Ketone body β-HB exerts anti-aging function in vascular cells by upregulating an hnRNP A1-controlled Oct4-mediated Lamin B1 pathway.
Keynote Forum
Kranthi Sitammagari
Methodist University, Campbell University, USA
Keynote: Suboptimal care of hospitalized older patients in the United States; it’s never too late to improve the quality of care
Time : 11:45-12:30
Biography:
Dr. Kranthi Sitammagari is a board certified Internist, board certified Physician Advisor, Faculty at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, USA. He is an editorial board member of Society of Hospital Medicine's official magazine "The Hospitalist", Editor-in-Chief of Quality Assurance and Utilization at “StatPearls” online database publishing peer-reviewed, PubMed indexed articles and review books. He is also a scientific reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed journals including Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of Hospital Medicine, and Journal of Preventive Medicine etc. and published peer reviewed articles. He is actively involved in clinical teaching and research.
Abstract:
The average life expectancy of individuals in the United States (US) has increased dramatically in the last century due to public health strategies and advances in medical treatment. It is expected that more than 20% of US population will be over 65 years of age by 2030. Older patients suffer from significant chronic medical problems including heart disease, cancer, stroke, dementia, and diabetes etc. requiring frequent hospitalizations. Almost half of the adults who get hospitalized are ≥ 65 yrs. and this proportion increases as the population ages. Hospital care costs Medicare about $149 billion per year in 2015, representing 25% of health care expenditures in the US. Hospitalization causes functional decline and increases mortality and morbidity due to confinement, immobility, diagnostic testing, and treatment especially changes in drug regimen, complications including delirium, falls, infections and death. Acute hospital care should only last long enough to allow successful transition to home care, a skilled nursing facility, or an outpatient rehabilitation program. The outcome of hospitalization is poorer with increasing age, although physiologic age is a more important predictor of outcome than is chronologic age. Even when a disorder is treatable or appears uncomplicated, a significant proportion of older patients may not return to prehospital functional status. The inpatient care is suboptimal leading to recurrent and frequent hospitalizations as most physicians have very little or no formal geriatric training despite the rapid increase in geriatric population. Hospital-wide strategies including multidisciplinary team approach, accurate medication reconciliation, early mobilization, frequent repositioning, avoiding high risk medications, training more hospital-based clinicians in geriatric care and to follow evidence-based interventions will improve both the quality and quantity of life for older adults. Additional research should be done on factors influencing poor outcome, strategies and systems to improve the quality of care in older hospitalized patients.
- Aging and Cosmetic Surgeries | Aging and Disorders| Aging and Bone health | Remedial Aging
Chair
Ariela Lowestein
University of Haifa, Israel
Co-Chair
Kranthi Sitammagari
Campbell University, USA
Session Introduction
Changzheng Zhang
Lingnan Normal University, China
Title: Ageing changes in cerebellar acetylcholine-mediated blood pressure response
Biography:
Changzheng Zhang has his expertise in brain aging research, especially in the cerebellum. He has made some investigations on the morphologic and functional alterations in aging cerebellum, such as cell number, neuronal structures, neurotransmitter content, neuronal activities and the behavioral correlates. In recent years, he and his team focus on cholinergic role in cerebellum and other brain regions, and explore the age-related alterations based on the molecular, cellular, neural circuit and behavioral relationships.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: The cerebellum is innervated by abundant cholinergic fibers and found with several subtypes of cholinergic receptors (AChRs), through which the cholinergic action plays a subtle role in blood pressure (BP) regulation. The cerebellum undergoes significant morphologic and functional alterations with age, and this study was designed to determine how aging affects cerebellar acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated BP regulation.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The carotid arterial pressure was measured in young (2 mo) and old (16–20 mo) rats after ACh (10, 30 or 100 mM) was microinjected (0.3 µl/5s) into the vermian lobule VI under anesthetization. In some young animals, nonselective nAChR or mAChR agonist, ACh mixed with the nonselective nAChR or mAChR antagonist, the selective M2R agonist, mAChR agonist mixed with the selective M2R antagonist, was used to examine the specific receptor phenotype that participates in the ACh-mediated BP modulation. Finally, the cortical M2R proteins in young and old rats were extracted for western blot analysis. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the reaction time (RT) in BP responses, and the relative chemiluminescent intensity in western blot results were analyzed.
Findings: Cerebellar ACh induces a marked depressor effect on systemic BP regulation, and the depressor responses in the old animals are significantly attenuated compared with the young ones. The mAChRs, further the M2R subtypes, rather than the nAChRs, in the cortex are involved in such response. Moreover, the M2R protein expression deceases greatly in the old vs the young rats.
Conclusion & Significance: Cerebellar cholinergic tone exerts depressor effect on BP regulation, and such effect undergoes retrogression with aging, which may be contributed by the decreased M2R expression during aging.
Raine Iris
University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Title: Use of Mancala/ Sungka to reduce cognitive decline in institutionalized elderly in metro Manila
Biography:
Raine Verar, Mariah Danica Velasco, Leah Vicente, Carmella Villanueva, and Beatrice Villespin are senior nursing students from the University of Santo Tomas, College of Nursing in the Philippines. They have studied gerontology and geriatric nursing in the oldest Catholic University in Asia. They were supervised and guided by Mr. Dennis S. Cuadra, a professor who is a Master’s degree holder in nursing. He specializes in adult health nursing and is currently teaching in the prestigious Catholic University of the Philippines. Their Mancala/Sungka wooden board game research intervention is a non-pharmacologic and cost-effective intervention, that aims to delay the onset of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and reduce cognitive decline among elderly people. The researchers incorporated the study into a structured routine program in order to promote socialization, exercise, and stimulate the cognitive function among the elderlies.
Abstract:
Introduction: As people age, their mental and physical functions diminish due to their inactivity. The purpose of this study is to use Sungka to reduce cognitive decline and enhance cognitive aspects (memory and retention, attention and concentration, executive function, and mood) among institutionalized elderly in Metro Manila.
Methods: The playing of Sungka was incorporated into a structured routine program, entitled COMPLY: Communicate-Move-Play (which includes social, physical and cognitive activities). The subjects were 12 elderlies, who came from an elderly institution in Metro Manila, selected under purposive sampling. The study was conducted for 45 minutes to one hour, once a week for four weeks. Quasi-experimental design was utilized through a pre- and post-intervention test using Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). Two researcher developed tools were used in determining the effect of the structured routine program. The consent of the institution and the subjects were obtained and was assured that their privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity were secured. Measure of pre-and post MMSE scores of were analyzed through Dependent T-Test, while, cognitive aspects under the research developed tool were analyzed through repeated measures ANOVA.
esults: Findings revealed that there is a significant difference between the pre- and post- MMSE (p=0.001). The results suggest that Sungka is effective in reducing cognitive decline in geriatric subjects. Further, attention and concentration were shown to have a significant change (F=4.600, p=0.030) indicating that the subjects were being taught lesser every session has transpired. However, memory and retention (F=1.882, p=0.169), executive function (F=0.792, p=0.502) and mood (F=1.0000, p=0.339) had no significant change.
Discussion: The significant difference in the pre- and post- MMSE shows that the use of Mancala/Sungka can reduce cognitive decline among institutionalized geriatric subjects in Metro Manila. Further research is needed to extend the length of application of the said structured program.
Hovsepyan LM
Institute of Molecular biology NAS of Armenia, Armenia
Title: Specifities of glycolipids metabolizm in rat and lipid peroxidation during aging
Biography:
Laura Hovsepian since 1967 worked at the Institute of Biochemistry named Buniatyan, in 1967, enrolled in graduate school, she graduated with a thesis on the title “The changes in the absorption and release of brain phospholipids after unilateral removal of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion” in 1970. After that, she was awarded the PhD degree. With 1987 she works at the Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA. The main area of research is the study Hovsepyan regulatory role of lipids in the tissue respiration, changes in hydroxylation processes, processes of lipid peroxidation and protein. Hovsepyan head of the Laboratory of Molecular membranology. She is the author of 170 scientific papers. Hovsepyan Member of Scientific Council at the Institute of Molecular Biology, member of Armenian Association of Biochemists affiliated to Federation of the European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), Member Armenian Association of and Cellular Biology and Immunology.
Abstract:
Oxidative processes and lipid metabolism were studied in young (4–5 months) and old (25–28 months) rats. The increased rate of lipid peroxidation (hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide), as well as the accumulation of products of the oxidative modification of proteins, was observed in the mitochondrial fraction of rat brain tissues. The study of lipid diversity in brain tissues of old rats demonstrated that aging is accompanied by changes in the qualitative and quantitative phospholipid composition. It was found that changes in the metabolism of neutral glycolipids result in a decrease in the expression of cerebrosides and sulfatides. Also, an increase was observed in the sphingosine level (a product of hydrolysis of neutral glycolipids). It was shown that disorders in lipid metabolism play a key role in pathological changes during aging. Thus, the data we obtained on changes in oxidation and lipid metabolism can be useful for better understanding the mechanisms of aging.