Aging

In a scientific first, researchers from Vanderbilt University and the University of California, San Diego, have generated a high-resolution metabolic “map” of how cells orchestrate glucose processing, revealing a hidden world where organelles and molecular complexes collaborate when responding to a rush of nutrients. This new study, published in Nature Communications, has redefined how glucose metabolism is visualized at the single-cell level. Read More

New Vanderbilt research could inform therapeutic strategies for enhancing thymic function when desired — such as during aging, recovery from radiation therapy or chemotherapy, or other conditions that reduce T cell output. Read More

About 80% of hospital admission electronic records were missing a drug prescribed to an older adult, Vanderbilt researchers found, highlighting the need for a multipronged approach to address medication discrepancies and support safe prescribing practices. Read More

Changes to the bone matrix that occur during aging may point to novel targets for treating osteoporosis. Read More

In budding yeast, accumulation of a certain type of RNA in the nucleus increased life span, offering a new clue to longevity. Read More

A compound found in buckwheat seeds extends the lifespan of worms, Vanderbilt investigators have discovered. Read More

A genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in later life appears to benefit younger adults as they age. Read More

The proteins that control entry and exit from the cell nucleus influence aging, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered. Read More

Alterations of the vestibular system - the part of our inner ear that controls balance - may contribute to bone loss related to both aging and space travel. Read More

The factor ATF4 has a role in the toughness of bone and its resistance to fracture, suggesting new therapeutic targets. Read More

The protein SARM appears to protect cells from inflammation-driven death by stabilizing the nuclear laminin scaffold. Read More

A study of cognitive complaints in older adults showed that memory concerns from both the patient and an informant was most predictive of converting to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia within three years. Read More

A gene associated with cell survival and longevity may protect the kidney from acute injury. Read More

An international group of investigators has identified seven new genetic regions associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of blindness in older individuals. Read More

A gene associated with long life participates in the normal regulation of bone remodeling and may have a role in bone loss associated with aging. Read More

A brain-mapping study has found that people's ability to make decisions in novel situations decreases with age and is associated with a reduction in the integrity of two specific white-matter pathways. Read More

Wearing a nicotine patch may help improve memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published this week by Paul Newhouse, director of the Center for Cognitive Medicine. Read More

The list of aging-associated proteins known to be involved in cancer is growing longer, according to research by investigators at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers hope to uncover the mysteries of early aging in Down syndrome through a new study at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Read More