Aging

Recommended Prerequisites

Degree in the area of health, Cell Biology.

Teaching Methods

This course is organized in conferences and a seminar that follow a discussion period.  To achieve the aims of the course students have to prepare, present and discuss one of the following proposals:

Review of a topic according to bibliographical support

Proposal for a research project

Discuss a scientific paper.

Learning Outcomes

The overall aim of this course is to provide students with competences and skills in the aging process, at the end of the course they should know (1) the genetic and environmental factors, social, mental and stochastic molecular alterations and connective tissue repair in aging (2) the immunoinflammatory system as a model of aging and interface among environment and innate and adquire responses (3) the consequences of aging on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, pharmacological intervention in the elderly, (4) the epidemiological and psycho-social factors in nutrition, food intake and nutritional status, the drug-food interaction in the elderly; (5) interventions to reduce the loss of physical, functional and psychological skills in aging, (6) the use of mathematical and physical models to study the inflammatory pathology of aging, both at laboratory and clinic experiments; (7) apply the previous knowlege in elderly chronic disease.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Epidemiology, Biology and Pathophysiology of Aging - Biomarkers of Aging

Chronic disease of the elderly, a multidisciplinary approach, allergic pathology and osteoporosis

Genetics of aging - the aging omics research

The immunoinflammatory system as a model of aging at the interface between the environment and the innate and acquired responses

Mathematical models in the study of aging pathology -modeling and computational implementation of individual processes: how to get results from a mathematical model

Epidemiological, psychosocial factors in nutrition, food intake and nutritional status, drug-food interactions in the elderly

Promoting physical activity and functionality - physical activity in health promotion and disease prevention

Pharmacology/neuropharmacology in the Elderly - In therapy, which is clinically relevant in the elderly?

Psychosocial changes on Aging -Removing barriers to active aging

Head Lecturer(s)

Anabela Mota Pinto

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Oral presentation of a proposal research project, a review of a topic, discussion of a scientific paper: 100.0%

Bibliography

Brooks-Wilson AR. Genetics of healthy aging and longevity. Hum Genet 2013 Aug 8;DOI: 10.1007/s00439-013-1342-z; Slagboom PE, Beekman M, Passtoors WM, Deelen J, Vaarhorst AAM, Boer JM, et al. Genomics of human longevity; Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci.2011;366:35–42; Bigley AB, Spielmann G, LaVoy ECP, Simpson RJ. Can exercise-related improvements in immunity influence cancer prevention and prognosis in the elderly? Maturitas. 2013;76:51–56; Agrawal A, Gupta S. Impact of aging on dendritic cell functions in humans. Ageing Res Rev. 2011;10:336–345;

Valenzuela RE, Ponce J et al. Insufficient amounts and inadequate distribution of dietary protein intake in apparently healthy older adults in a developing country: implications for dietary strategies to prevent sarcopenia. Clinical Interventions in Aging 2013:8 1143–1148; Bherer L, et al. A Review of the Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on Cognitive and Brain Functions in Older Adults. J Aging Res 2013. Article ID657508.