Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults.

Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here, we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (principal-component PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (PhenoAge Acceleration ß = - .34, [- .51, - .17], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration ß = - .34, [- .49, - .19], p < .001), but not young adults, adolescents or children. These associations remained statistically robust even after correcting for possible confounders such as socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with self-reported disease (PhenoAge Acceleration: ß = .13 [.06, .19], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration: ß = .19 [.12, .26], p < .001; DunedinPACE: ß = .09 [.02, .17], p = .01). However, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, suggesting that customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.

Dietary Tyrosine Intake (FFQ) Is Associated with Locus Coeruleus, Attention and Grey Matter Maintenance: An MRI Structural Study on 398 Healthy Individuals of the Berlin Aging Study-II.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It is documented that low protein and amino-acid dietary intake is related to poorer cognitive health and increased risk of dementia. Degradation of the neuromodulatory pathways, (comprising the cholinergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic and noradrenergic systems) is observed in neurodegenerative diseases and impairs the proper biosynthesis of key neuromodulators from micro-nutrients and amino acids. How these micro-nutrients are linked to neuromodulatory pathways in healthy adults is less studied. The Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenergic System (LC-NA) is the earliest subcortical structure affected in Alzheimer's disease, showing marked neurodegeneration, but is also sensitive for age-related changes. The LC-NA system is critical for supporting attention and cognitive control, functions that are enhanced both by tyrosine administration and chronic tyrosine intake. The purpose of this study was to 1) investigate whether the dietary intake of tyrosine, the key precursor for noradrenaline (NA), is related to LC signal intensity 2) whether LC mediates the reported association between tyrosine intake and higher cognitive performance (measured with Trail Making Test - TMT), and 3) whether LC signal intensity relates to an objective measure of brain maintenance (BrainPAD). METHODS: The analyses included 398 3T MRIs of healthy participants from the Berlin Aging Study II to investigate the relationship between LC signal intensity and habitual dietary tyrosine intake-daily average (HD-Tyr-IDA - measured with Food Frequency Questionnaire - FFQ). As a control procedure, the same analyses were repeated on other main seeds of the neuromodulators' subcortical system (Dorsal and Medial Raphe, Ventral Tegmental Area and Nucleus Basalis of Meynert). In the same way, the relationships between the five nuclei and BrainPAD were tested. RESULTS: Results show that HD-Tyr-IDA is positively associated with LC signal intensity. Similarly, LC disproportionally relates to better brain maintenance (BrainPAD). Mediation analyses reveal that only LC, relative to the other nuclei tested, mediates the relationship between HD-Tyr-IDA I and performance in the TMT and between HD-Tyr-IDA and BrainPAD. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide the first evidence linking tyrosine intake with LC-NA system signal intensity and its correlation with neuropsychological performance. This study strengthens the role of diet for maintaining brain and cognitive health and supports the noradrenergic theory of cognitive reserve. Within this framework, adequate tyrosine intake might increase the resilience of LC-NA system functioning, by preventing degeneration and supporting noradrenergic metabolism required for LC function and neuropsychological performance.

Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults.

Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (ß =-.34), but not young adults, adolescents or children. This association was not accounted for by statistical correction for socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with worse self-reported health (ß =.13 to ß = .19). But, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, thus customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.

Associations of socioeconomic disparities with buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are at increased risk for aging-related diseases and perform less well on tests of cognitive function. The weathering hypothesis proposes that these disparities in physical and cognitive health arise from an acceleration of biological processes of aging. Theories of how life adversity is biologically embedded identify epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation (DNAm), as a mechanistic interface between the environment and health. Consistent with the weathering hypothesis and theories of biological embedding, recently developed DNAm algorithms have revealed profiles reflective of more advanced aging and lower cognitive function among socioeconomically-at-risk groups. These DNAm algorithms were developed using blood-DNA, but social and behavioral science research commonly collect saliva or cheek-swab DNA. This discrepancy is a potential barrier to research to elucidate mechanisms through which socioeconomic disadvantage affects aging and cognition. We therefore tested if social gradients observed in blood DNAm measures could be reproduced using buccal-cell DNA obtained from cheek swabs. RESULTS: We analyzed three DNAm measures of biological aging and one DNAm measure of cognitive performance, all of which showed socioeconomic gradients in previous studies: the PhenoAge and GrimAge DNAm clocks, DunedinPACE, and Epigenetic-g. We first computed blood-buccal cross-tissue correlations in n = 21 adults (GEO111165). Cross-tissue correlations were low-to-moderate (r = .25 to r = .48). We next conducted analyses of socioeconomic gradients using buccal DNAm data from SOEP-G (n = 1128, 57% female; age mean = 42 yrs, SD = 21.56, range 0-72). Associations of socioeconomic status with DNAm measures of aging were in the expected direction, but were smaller as compared to reports from blood DNAm datasets (r = - .08 to r = - .13). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with DNAm indicators of worse physical health. However, relatively low cross-tissue correlations and attenuated effect sizes for socioeconomic gradients in buccal DNAm compared with reports from analysis of blood DNAm suggest that in order to take full advantage of buccal DNA samples, DNAm algorithms customized to buccal DNAm are needed.

[Saving motives in young, middle-aged, and older adults. Preliminary results of a new inventory for exploring lifespan saving motives]. / Sparmotive von jungen, mittelalten und älteren Erwachsenen. Erste Ergebnisse eines neuen Inventars zur Erfassung lebenslaufbezogener Sparmotive.

There is some research on personal reasons for saving money in the economic sciences. However, not much is known about the age differences of saving motives. In this vein, the future time perspective (FTP) is known to play a critical role for motivation across the life span. In this study, we introduce a new Saving Motive Inventory (SMI), which also covers saving goals after retirement. Furthermore, it is argued that additional saving motives that are not based on economic models of life-cycle saving also exist. In accordance with the socio-emotional selectivity theory, we explored age differences in an online survey with 496 participants from young (19-44 years), middle-aged (45-64 years), and older (65-86 years) adulthood, who completed a questionnaire on saving motives, personality, and future-related thinking (e.g., Future Time Perspective Scale, Life Orientation Test). Results of the explorative Factor Analysis (EFA) are consistent with the theoretical expectations. The factors are generativity, educational investment, consumption, indifference, and provision for death and dying. Together these five factors account for 67% of the variance. In general, the inventory is reliable and valid with respect to the expected internal and external criteria. It contributes to better understanding of saving motives over the lifespan, especially with respect to effects of the future time perspective.

Critical parameters for modelling the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in wildlife.

A series of simulation experiments was conducted to determine how estimates of the latent and infectious periods, number of neighbours (contacts) and population size impact on the predicted magnitude and distribution of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in white-tailed deer in southern Texas. Outbreaks were simulated using a previously developed and applied susceptible-latent-infected-recovered geographic automata model. There were substantial differences in the estimated predicted number of deer and locations infected, based on the model parameters used (3779-119 879 deer infected and 227-6526 locations affected). There were also substantial differences in the spatial risk of infection based on the model parameters used. The predicted spread of FMD was found to be most sensitive to the assumed latent period and the assumed number of contacts. How these parameters are estimated is likely to be critical in studies on the impact of FMD spread in situations in which wildlife reservoirs might potentially exist.

[Isometric grip strength and social gerontological research: results and analytic potentials of SHARE and SOEP]. / Isometrische Greifkraft und sozialgerontologische Forschung: Ergebnisse und Analysepotentiale des SHARE und SOEP.

This paper shows that the measurement of hand grip strength provides a non-invasive and reliable objective health indicator for social science research and is easy to collect in general population surveys. Grip strength is not only a useful complement of self-reported indicators of health, but it also exhibits a considerable predictive power with regard to a number of further relevant variables for social gerontological research, such as mortality risks. New data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the 2006 wave of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) allow insightful methodological and very first substantive cross-sectional analyses of grip strength in Germany. The focus of the present study is on the analysis of individuals aged 50 or older. The experience of both surveys when measuring grip strength is consistently positive, particularly with regard to the respondents' feedback. Major determinants of isometric grip strength are - beyond the individual's gender - age, body size and weight. A multivariate analysis also provides evidence for a clear positive association between various health indicators and grip strength.

[Patient living wills in Germany: conditions for their increase and reasons for refusal]. / Patientenverfügungen in Deutschland: Bedingungen für ihre Verbreitung und Gründe der Ablehnung.

OBJECTIVES: There is few data about how many people in Germany have deposited a living will or intend to do so. Most studies report distributions among patients, medical doctors or clinical personal. It is unclear, which pre-clinical conditions endorse the distribution of living wills. We were interested in which social contexts contribute to refusal of depositing a living will. METHOD: In two representative surveys with 400 and with 1023 adults, who were between 16 and 92 years old. Within both two multiple-purpose surveys it was assessed whether a living will was available, and if not, whether respondents planned or objected to do so. RESULTS: About 10 percent of adults in Germany had deposited a living will pre-clinically. About fifty percent object to depositing a living will. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the distribution and acceptance of living will deposition depends on chronological age and personal experience with death and dying, even after statistically controlling for effects of socio-economic variables (education, income, household size). Adults are more likely to object to depositing a living will, if they are below 50 years old, do not eat healthy food, do no sports, have low income, and have not experienced death of a relative or acquaintance during the past year. CONCLUSION: Acceptance of living will deposition depends in the pre-clinical phase of life on subjective experience related to medical end-of-life treatment. If people are confronted with death and dying in their social world, they will be more willing to consider their personal preference of end-of-life treatment.

A single-chain fragment variable recombinant antibody against F5 fimbria of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli inhibits agglutination of horse red blood cells induced by F5 protein.

Bovine colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a worldwide problem. Adhesion of ETEC to intestinal cell receptors mediated by the surface protein F5 fimbriae is the initial step in the establishment of colibacillosis. Prevention of ETEC F5(+) adhesion to enterocytes protects newborn calves against collibacillosis. On the enterocytes, the F5 fimbriae bind to a ganglioside that is also found on horse red blood cells. Thus, the presence of F5 fimbriae induces haemagglutination, which is useful as an indicator in a functional assay system. In this study, recombinant anti-F5 scFv antibody fragment produced in E. coli HB2151 reacted with F5 fimbriae in ELISA and Western immunoblot, and prevented haemagglutination induced by the binding of the F5 fimbriae to its natural host receptors on horse red blood cells. Given the ease with which recombinant antibodies can be mass-produced, the presently described scFv may hold promise as a prophylactic agent for colibacillosis.

Allele frequency and gene expression of a putative carboxylesterase-encoding gene in a pyrethroid resistant strain of the tick Boophilus microplus.

We utilized RNA Northern blot analysis and ribonuclease protection assays (RPA) to study the mRNA expression level of a putative carboxylesterase-encoding gene from several strains of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Both the Northern analysis and RPAs indicated that an esterase transcript was more abundant in the pyrethroid resistant strain, Coatzacoalcos (Cz), compared to a susceptible control strain and a resistant strain whose pyrethroid resistance is mediated through a target site insensitivity mechanism. A PCR-based assay was designed to identify the presence of a previously reported point mutation in this B. microplus esterase gene. The reported G-->A substitution at nucleotide 1120 creates an EcoR I site in the mutant allele which can be detected by EcoR I digestion of the amplification products. The PCR assays showed that the frequency of the mutant allele was highest in the Cz-resistant strain, which has been shown to have an esterase-mediated resistance mechanism. The PCR assay can be performed either on individual tick larvae or hemolymph from adults.

Genotypically unique Babesia spp. isolated from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in the United States.

Two morphologically dissimilar Babesia spp. were cultured from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Placer County, Calif. The smaller isolate, designated RD61, was morphologically similar to Babesia odocoilei. Serum from RD61-infected reindeer reacted equally strongly to B. odocoilei and RD61 parasites in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene-sequence analysis showed 99.0% identity to that of B. odocoilei. The larger piroplasm, designated RD63, resembled larger babesia organisms, such as Babesia caballi and Babesia bigemina. Serum from RD63-infected reindeer also reacted with both B. odocoilei and RD61 parasites in the indirect fluorescent antibody test. The SSU rRNA gene showed 94.2% identity to that of B. bigemina. Further studies are needed to determine whether these parasites are the same as the Babesia spp. previously documented in Siberian reindeer.

Histochemical localization of esterases in the integument of the female Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) tick.

The cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) is one of the most important ectoparasites affecting tropical cattle with worldwide distribution. Application of organophosphate compounds (OP) is extensively used as a tick control method. However, the appearance of ticks resistant to the OP decreases the therapeutic efficacy of such compounds. Esterases have been implicated as potential biochemical mechanisms for detoxification in B. microplus larvae. We found increased esterase activity in the inner layers of the integument of OP resistant adult female B. microplus ticks as compared with the OP susceptible ticks. We discuss the potential role of these enzymes during acaricide metabolism and propose future research.

Antigenic analysis of Anaplasma marginale grown in bovine erythrocytes co-cultured with bovine endothelial cells.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for A. marginale were used to test the antigenic integrity of A. marginale grown in vitro in bovine erythrocytes co-cultured with endothelial cells. Both the mAbs reacted in the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test with A. marginale grown in vitro and also detected the antigens in Western immunoblots of SDS-PAGE separated antigens made from A. marginale infected erythrocytes from the cultures. Furthermore, active replication was evident as [35S]-methionine is incorporated by A. marginale present in the second passage of a culture maintained for six weeks as shown by immunoprecipitation of labeled antigens by the mAbs. This indicates that A. marginale grown in the in vitro culture system described previously [Waghela et al., Vet. Parasitol. 73 (1997) 43] maintain antigenic character, and with further development the system can be used for preparing immunogens or diagnostic antigens.

Antigenic, phenotypic and molecular characterization confirms Babesia odocoilei isolated from three cervids.

Babesia isolates from an elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) and a caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) with fatal infections were compared to Babesia odocoilei (Engeling isolate) from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by experimental infection, serologic, and small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence analysis studies. Both the indirect fluorescent antibody test and immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated antigenic variation among the isolates. Experimental infection studies showed no clinical differences among the isolates. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the elk and caribou Babesia sp. isolates possessed SSU rRNA genes with identical sequences to that of B. odocoilei. A phylogenetic tree constructed from SSU rRNA gene sequences shows that B. odocoilei is most closely related to Babesia divergens, both of which branch together in the true babesia clade.

A common high molecular weight antigen of Babesia bovis isolates from Mexico.

Cattle from an area of Mexico endemic with Babesia bovis infections have a dominant antibody response to a 152kDa antigen of the Tamaulipas strain of B. bovis. A mAb termed PB/5, showing a specific reactivity to this 152kDa antigen in Western blots, was identified. The mAb which reacted with the blunt end of B. bovis in an indirect fluorescent antibody test also reacted to a 152kDa antigen in two other isolates (Nuevo Leon and Yucatan), and a 175kDa antigen in the Huasteca B. bovis isolate from Mexico. Polyclonal monospecific sera from a calf inoculated with mAb-affinity purified 152kDa antigen (Tamaulipas strain) identified B. bovis by the indirect fluorescent antibody test and two antigens of B. bovis (65kDa and 152kDa) in Western blot. Since the epitope reacting to the mAb PB/5 is conserved, this antigen provides a basis for developing a diagnostic test or an immunogen.

Nursing home entry in Germany and the United States.

This paper investigates the transition into a nursing home in old age, using recent panel survey data from Germany and the United States. Among the questions addressed are: what is the incidence of nursing home entry, and how does it vary by age and sex; and to what extent are differentials in nursing home entry attributable to variations in family composition? Although the percentage of older persons living in nursing homes is similar in these two countries, the age-specific rates of movement into them appear to be much lower in Germany than in the USA, possibly due to the effects of public policies. The correlates of nursing home entry appear to be similar across countries as well, although data limitations limit our ability to make definitive comparisons.

Cloning and sequencing of a putative acetylcholinesterase cDNA from Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Using a strategy based on degenerate primers derived from acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from other species, we cloned and sequenced a putative AChE cDNA from the southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). The sequence has a high degree of homology to sequences of AChE from other species reported in the GenBank. The open reading frame of 1,689 bp, corresponding to a deduced sequence of 563 amino acids, has conserved regions and features shared by the AChE family, necessary for its catalytic activity. No differences were found in the putative cDNA sequences from organophosphorus acaricide (OP) resistant and susceptible strains. The results suggest that this putative AChE gene is not involved in resistance to OP compounds as a mutated gene in the resistant strain studied. However, differences were detected, with a probe derived from this cDNA, in DNA fragments after digestion of genomic DNA from different strains with restriction nucleases. This indicates polymorphism in this gene in B. microplus.

A study of the systematics of Theileria spp. based upon small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences.

The systematics of benign and moderately pathogenic Theileria isolates from cattle and deer originating from different geographic regions was undertaken by small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene nucleotide-sequence analysis. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed from these sequences resulted in two major divisions, each with a common ancestor. One major division branches into four relatively divergent groups, including (1) bovine Theileria sp. Type D (USA and Korea), (2) T. mutans Intona and Theileria sp. MSD (Africa), (3) T. cervi (USA), and (4) well-characterized pathogenic Theileria spp. (Africa). The other major division branches into two groups: (1) T. buffeli Warwick and T. buffeli Marula and (2) a second branch of closely related isolates with SSU rRNA gene Types B, B1, C, E, and H. Putative geographically associated diversity was noted only in the Korean bovine Theileria spp. with SSU rRNA gene types C and H and in African T. mutans Intona and Theileria sp. MSD. The current results show that the United States bovine Theileria isolates are not T. mutans because they have T. buffeli Marula (Type A) and/or Type D (species undesignated) SSU rRNA gene sequences. The taxonomic separation of T. buffeli Warwick from African T. mutans is confirmed in this study.

Sequence analysis of the knockdown resistance-homologous region of the para-type sodium channel gene from pyrethroid-resistant Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and degenerate oligonucleotide primers, a partial para-homologous sodium channel cDNA was obtained from the southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). The cDNA sequence encoded the region in which knockdown resistance (kdr)-type mutations have been identified in numerous insect species. Comparison of deduced amino acids from the cDNA sequence showed high similarity with sodium channels from other species, particularly in highly conserved repeat domains of the sodium channel. Analysis of the kdr-homologous region of the genomic DNA sequences from several susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant tick strains did not detect mutations. The result suggests novel mutations in the sodium channel gene or metabolic detoxification may be involved in the resistance to pyrethroids in this tick.