Arch Med Sci
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Previous studies have examined the correlation between hyperandrogenemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in women and showed contradictory results. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between testosterone level and Fatty Liver Index (FLI), as a surrogate marker for NAFLD, in a cohort of postmenopausal women. ⋯ Bioavailable testosterone is independently associated with FLI in postmenopausal women.
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Sense of control over life has been shown to have protective health effects in studies that have mostly enrolled White middle class individuals. It is unknown, however, whether populations differ in the protective health gain associated with sense of control over life. This study compared a nationally representative sample of Black and White older adults for protective effects of sense of control over life on short-term risk of all-cause mortality in the United States. ⋯ In the United States, Black older adults do not gain a survival benefit associated with high levels of sense of control over life, as do their White counterparts. It is not clear why sense of control over life translates into survival for Whites but not for Blacks.
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Pain is the most common complaint of elderly people. In Poland, no large studies on the prevalence of chronic pain in the elderly were conducted until recently. ⋯ Polish elderly most frequently complained of low back and lower limb pain. In respondents reporting many sites of pain, an increase in the intensity of pain was observed. Elderly patients with chronic pain often use medical care.
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It is commonly considered that cognitive abilities decrease with age, especially with respect to processing and psychomotor speed. It is an interesting issue whether, apart from the ageing process, the undergoing of menopause itself deteriorates cognitive functions, compared to women at reproductive age. Hopes for improvement of cognitive functions were pinned on the use of menopausal hormone therapy. ⋯ The article presents current knowledge concerning the effect of estrogens on the central nervous system, especially the role of ERα polymorphism, with respect to foreseeing benefits from the use of exogenous estrogens for cognitive functions. At the present stage of research, ERα appears to be poorly specific; nevertheless, it may be an important instrument for the classification of peri- and post-menopausal patients in the group where therapy with the use of estrogens may bring about benefits in terms of prevention and treatment of cognitive disorders. It also seems necessary to conduct prophylactic, screening examination of cognitive functions in post-menopausal women, in order to identify those at risk of the development of dementia.
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Genetic factors contribute to the variation of human life span which is believed to be more profound after 85 years of age. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of 5 gene polymorphisms between nonagenarians, centenarians and average individuals. ⋯ According to survival status, there is differentiation in the prevalence of both studied FOXO3A gene polymorphisms. The study group had half of the C alleles compared with the control group and centenarians less frequently had the T allele of both FOXO3A gene polymorphisms compared with nonagenarians. No difference was found between groups according to TERT, IGFBP3 and ADIPOQ gene polymorphisms. It seems that some polymorphisms may be significant in prolonging our lifespan. Nevertheless, confirmation in additional study populations is needed.