Medical Bulletin 19/May/2025 - Video

Traditionally, it was believed that lung function increases until it peaks between the ages of 20 and 25, followed by a period of stability and then a decline in later adulthood. However, these assumptions were based on studies that did not comprehensively cover all life stages. The current study overcame that limitation by using an "accelerated cohort design," combining data from over 30,000 individuals aged 4 to 82 years across eight population-based cohort studies from Europe and Australia.

The researchers assessed lung function using forced spirometry, measuring two key indicators: forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). In women, FEV1 peaked around age 20, while in men it peaked around age 23, with no subsequent stable phase.

The study also shed light on the influence of health conditions and behaviors. People with persistent asthma were found to reach peak lung function earlier and maintain lower levels throughout life. In contrast, smoking did not alter peak lung function but led to a more rapid decline starting from age 35.These insights have significant clinical and public health implications. "Early detection of low lung function may allow interventions to prevent chronic respiratory diseases in adulthood," said Rosa Faner, researcher at the University of Barcelona and Clínic-IDIBAPS and the study's last author. The findings emphasize the need for early-life monitoring using spirometry to support respiratory health across the lifespan.

Reference: https://www.isglobal.org/en/-/un-estudio-sugiere-que-la-perdida-de-capacidad-pulmonar-comienza-entre-los-20-y-los-25-anos

Not All Carbs Are Equal: Study Shows Which Ones Help Women Age Better

New Delhi: A new study published in JAMA Network Open has found that higher intakes of high-quality carbohydrates and dietary fiber during midlife are significantly linked to better physical and mental health in older women. The study reinforces the long-term importance of diet quality in promoting healthy aging.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 47,000 women, collected through the Nurses’ Health Study between 1984 and 2016. Participants, who were between 70 and 93 years old by 2016, completed food-frequency questionnaires every four years. These questionnaires provided detailed insights into their intake of total carbohydrates, refined and high-quality carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and measures such as glycemic index and load. High-quality carbohydrates included those from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

Healthy ageing in the study was defined as the absence of 11 major chronic diseases, intact cognitive and physical functioning, and good mental health, as reported by the participants. Among the cohort, 3,706 women met these criteria. The study found that midlife intakes of high-quality carbohydrates and total dietary fibre were associated with a 6 to 37 percent greater likelihood of healthy aging. Conversely, higher consumption of refined carbohydrates and starchy vegetables was linked to a 13 percent lower chance of aging healthily.

"Our results are consistent with other evidence linking consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes with lower risks of chronic diseases, and now we see the association with physical and cognitive function outcomes," said Qi Sun, senior author and associate professor at Harvard. The authors noted the need for more diverse study populations in future research to better understand these associations across different demographic groups.

Reference: Ardisson Korat AV, Duscova E, Shea MK, et al. Dietary Carbohydrate Intake, Carbohydrate Quality, and Healthy Aging in Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2511056. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11056

Midlife Stress Hormone Tied to Alzheimer’s in Women: Study Finds

New Delhi: A new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association has found that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol in midlife are linked to increased amyloid deposition in postmenopausal women, potentially raising their risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying early biomarkers and risk factors for Alzheimer’s before cognitive symptoms appear.

Using data from 305 cognitively unimpaired participants in the long-running Framingham Heart Study, the researchers examined serum cortisol levels in middle-aged individuals with a mean age of 39.6 years and followed their brain health over 15 years. By the end of the study period, they used PET imaging to assess amyloid and tau protein burdens—two key pathological indicators of Alzheimer’s disease. The analysis revealed that elevated cortisol levels were associated with increased amyloid buildup in the brains of postmenopausal women. However, no such association was found in men or with tau burden.

“The results highlight the importance of identifying early risk factors when biomarkers are detectable but cognitive impairment is absent,” said Arash Salardini, MD, associate professor of cognitive and behavioral neurology with the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio. He noted that hormonal changes after menopause may amplify the impact of cortisol on brain health, suggesting a gender-specific vulnerability.

The researchers found that cortisol, a hormone critical to the body’s stress response, may play a more pronounced role in Alzheimer’s disease development in women, particularly after menopause when the neuroprotective effects of estrogen decline. “Our work shows that considering sex and hormonal status in understanding Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis is important and suggests that stress reduction and hormonal interventions may hold promise for Alzheimer’s prevention, especially in at-risk women,” said senior author Dr. Sudha Seshadri, founding director of the Biggs Institute.

The team concluded that cortisol could serve as an early biomarker for Alzheimer’s in women, reinforcing the urgency of targeting risk factors during the disease’s preclinical phase.

Reference: Distinct systemic impacts of Aβ42 and Tau revealed by whole-organism snRNA-seq, Park, Ye-Jin et al., Neuron, Volume 0, Issue 0