👤 Fatima Hajj

As individuals age, they undergo both biological and physiological changes that are apparent and expected. Another often overlooked aspect of senescence are the changes in cognition and behaviour. These are often misunderstood or complicated with common neurodegenerative disorders found in the elderly. This chapter acts as an introduction into these cognitive-behavioural changes. There are a variety of methodologies currently employed in the investigation of these changes, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and animal studies. Novel methodologies are being deployed for the analysis of gut-flora interactions with the CNS and how they may impact behavioural changes as our microbiota changes in late-life. Multiple modulatory factors are at play as well, further complicating the multifaceted nature of ageing cognition differences. Sex and genetics are major factors that are associated with age-related behavioural changes. Gross structural and molecular changes in the CNS are also associated with pronounced changes in cognition. Low-grade chronic inflammation, epigenetics and infections also seem to be significant. Neurodegenerative diseases, whilst pathological, work in tandem with natural ageing and present age-related changes in behaviour. The most common changes are summarised and the expression of the previously discussed modulatory factors are presented. Show less

To investigate the potential interaction between genetic background and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, macronutrient intake and physical activity with regard to obesity in a sample of healthy adults. Cross-sectional epidemiological study including 392 adults living in the Mediterranean basin. Data including FFQ, IPAQ and sociodemographic questionnaires were collected via face-to-face interviews. Anthropometric measures were performed and saliva swab for DNA extraction. Two MD scores were calculated to assess the adherence of the population to this pattern. Three single nucleotid polymorphisms (SNPs) related to obesity were studied: FTO, MC4R, MTHFR. FTO rs9939609 is significantly associated with WHR, and MC4R with all phenotypic traits linked to obesity (BMI, WC and WHR). However, MTHFR polymorphism didn't show any significant correlation with anthropometric parameters. Adherence to the MD and high level of physical activity do not seem to protect against the occurrence of overweight and obesity in genetically predisposed subjects. Classic lifestyle interventions are insufficient in addressing the challenging obesity pandemic. Identifying more genetic variants and understanding their interaction with lifestyle will improve the clinical outcome of these variants for risk prediction and personalized nutrition and medical therapy. Also, the MD should undergo a redefinition adapted to each country on the Mediterranean basin in order to organize public health measures for its comeback. Show less

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological activities of the major phytosterols present in argan oil (AO) and in cactus seed oil (CSO) in BV2 microglial cells. Accordingly, we first determined the sterol composition of AO and CSO, showing the presence of Schottenol and Spinasterol as major sterols in AO. While in CSO, in addition to these two sterols, we found mainly another sterol, the Sitosterol. The chemical synthesis of Schottenol and Spinasterol was performed. Our results showed that these two phytosterols, as well as sterol extracts from AO or CSO, are not toxic to microglial BV2 cells. However, treatments by these phytosterols impact the mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, both Schottenol and Spinasterol can modulate the gene expression of two nuclear receptors, liver X receptor (LXR)-α and LXRβ, their target genes ABCA1 and ABCG1. Nonetheless, only Schottenol exhibited a differential activation vis-à-vis the nuclear receptor LXRβ. Thus Schottenol and Spinasterol can be considered as new LXR agonists, which may play protective roles by the modulation of cholesterol metabolism. Show less