Role of CB1 cannabinoid receptors on GABAergic neurons in brain aging.

Brain aging is associated with cognitive decline that is accompanied by progressive neuroinflammatory changes. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in the regulation of glial activity and influences the progression of age-related learning and memory deficits. Mice lacking the Cnr1 gene (Cnr1(-/-)), which encodes the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), showed an accelerated age-dependent deficit in spatial learning accompanied by a loss of principal neurons in the hippocampus.

Defective adaption of erythrocytes during acute hypoxia injury in an elderly population.

The present study investigated the changes in several erythrocyte oxidative stress biomarkers in hypoxic elderly individuals to analyze the deleterious effects of low oxyhemoglobin saturation in an elderly population. We collected blood samples from one normoxic middle-aged group and two groups composed of individuals older than 75 years of age: one normoxic group and one hypoxic group. Aging appeared to provoke a defective erythrocyte antioxidant defense associated with increased oxidative damage in the elderly population.

Differential inflammatory responses in aging and disease: TNF-alpha and IL-6 as possible biomarkers.

Oxidative stress has been reported to increase during aging and conditions of hypoxia. Although low oxygen saturation has a key role in the development of several age-related diseases, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We analyzed the relationship between aging and hypoxia by examining oxidative stress and inflammation-related cytokines.