Carla Helena Augustin Schwanke

The purpose of this study was to define the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) of the elderly of Southern Brazil and its association with energy, macronutrients and micronutrients intake. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 186 elderly aged 60 and older of the Geriatric Service of São Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Dietary data were collected by two 24-hour recalls, and diet quality was assessed by HEI adapted to the Brazilian population. The HEI total score was divided into three categories: inadequate diet (below 51 points), diet needs improvement (between 51 and 80 points), and healthy diet (over 80 points). The results showed that the mean HEI score was 58.8±10.5 points (ranging from 31.4 to 79.8). Most elderly (74.2%) showed a diet that needed modification and no elderly individual had a healthy diet. The quality of the diet was associated with greater intake of carbohydrates, and lower intake of total lipids, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and sodium. Consumption of vitamins C and D and calcium was shown to be positively correlated with the quality of the diet. Less than 1.1% of the elderly consumed a varied diet. The findings suggest that the diet of the majority of the elderly needs improvement, reinforcing the importance of care in relation to adequate nutrition in this population, and can help in guiding the activities and programs of nutritional education and public policies that stimulate increasingly healthy eating.

Objectives: This protocol aims to explore the relationship between lifestyle and brain health biomarkers, assess the effects of a multifaceted intervention, and identify factors linked to brain resilience in middle-aged adults. Methods: Adults aged 40–59 years from Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil without neurodegenerative or severe psychiatric disorders will be included. The study consists of 3 phases: (1) online questionnaires assessing 7 brain health domains (general health, physical activity, cognition, social life, purpose, sleep, and nutrition); (2) clinical and functional assessments through biomarker collection, using instruments such as a P-WALK 2.0 baropodometric platform, a Cybex isokinetic dynamometer, an InBody 770, an OMRON sphygmomanometer, the Short Physical Performance Battery, and the Timed Up and Go test; (3) a 16-week randomized trial with 4 weekly sessions of strength and aerobic training. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted. Statistical analyses will include t-tests, ANOVA, regressions, and normality tests, using IBM SPSS Statistics, with significance set at p < 0.05. The study has been approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee (No. 7.323.434) and was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Expected results: Brain health biomarkers should improve, especially in individuals with lower cognitive reserve, and we expect to identify modifiable factors associated with neuropsychological decline. Relevance: Midlife is a critical window for targeting brain health due to its relevance in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. This study seeks to support public health strategies promoting cognitive resilience.

O mundo acadêmico tem se dedicado a compreender e incorporar o modus operandi da Ciência Aberta (CA) às práticas de produção e disseminação do conhecimento científico. A Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura (UNESCO) apresenta a CA como um movimento que busca tornar o conhecimento científico disponível, acessível e reutilizável, com base em eixos temáticos que incluem o acesso aberto, a disponibilização de dados e de códigos, a infraestrutura compartilhável, o engajamento com a sociedade e a integridade científica. O rápido avanço da ciência exige que as práticas de CA sejam adotadas e consolidadas ao longo de todo o ciclo da pesquisa científica. Por isso, é importante que os periódicos científicos se comprometam com a adoção de boas práticas de CA. Este documento representa um manifesto dos editores de periódicos nacionais dedicados à publicação de investigações e artigos científicos sobre o envelhecimento, em nome da adoção e da implementação dos princípios de CA em seus processos editoriais.

This narrative review discusses the relationship between structural changes in the skin and mitochondrial function during aging and evaluates emerging therapeutic interventions targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. An analysis of 49 scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted using descriptors including “skin aging,” “mitochondrial dysfunction,” “oxidative stress,” and “cutaneous senescence,” and articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Additional research was conducted using terms related to therapeutic interventions, including “mitochondrial therapies AND skin aging OR cutaneous aging.” Original research articles were included based on thematic relevance, recency, and scientific rigor. The reviewed studies suggest that oxidative stress, mainly from mitochondrial metabolism, is a primary cause of skin cell senescence. Mitochondrial dysfunction emerges as a central mechanistic hub linking oxidative stress, mitochondrial genome instability, chronic low‐grade inflammation (inflammaging), and the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) to age‐related structural and functional skin alterations. Mitochondria maintain skin homeostasis through cell proliferation, differentiation, and genetic material synthesis. With advancing age, mitochondrial DNA copy number declines significantly, while reactive oxygen species production increases, thereby compromising cellular energy metabolism. Emerging mitochondrial‐targeted therapeutic strategies, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ⁺ ) precursors, coenzyme Q10 supplementation, senolytics, and modulators of mitochondrial quality control, show promising effects on skin aging parameters in preclinical and early clinical studies. However, current evidence is based on small clinical trials with short follow‐up periods, and long‐term safety data remain limited. Therefore, while mitochondria are not the sole source of oxidants, growing evidence indicates that oxidative stress‐driven mitochondrial dysfunction represents a priority pathogenic mechanism in skin aging. The clinical translation of mitochondrial‐targeted therapies represents an innovative opportunity for anti‐aging strategies, although the validation of standardized biomarkers and longitudinal safety investigations remains critical for clinical implementation.

Ao longo de sua trajetória, o Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia (IGG) da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) consolidou-se como referência na produção de conhecimento e na qualificação dos cuidados voltados ao envelhecimento humano.

Objetivo: Descrever a evolução da proporção de pessoas idosas (60 anos ou mais) e de pessoas idosas longevas (80 anos ou mais) no Brasil e em suas cinco grandes regiões, no período de 1970 a 2060. Métodos: Foram utilizados dados dos Censos Demográficos e projeções populacionais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), analisando a proporção dessas faixas etárias em relação à população total. Resultados: Entre 1970 e 2022, a proporção de pessoas idosas passou de 5,1% para 15,8%, com projeção de atingir 32,2% em 2060. A proporção de pessoas idosas longevas evoluiu de 0,5% para 2,2% no mesmo período e está projetada para alcançar 8,4% em 2060. O crescimento dessas proporções foi consistente em todas as regiões do país, com destaque para o aumento mais expressivo entre os indivíduos com 80 anos ou mais. Conclusão: O Brasil encontra-se em um processo acelerado de envelhecimento populacional, com tendência de intensificação nas próximas décadas, reforçando a necessidade de políticas públicas voltadas à saúde, previdência e inclusão social da população idosa.

Introduction: Frailty is a condition that predisposes older adults to adverse outcomes such as institutionalization, hospitalization, and mortality. Detecting and managing frailty are essential in gerontological care. Although numerous diagnostic and screening tools are described in the literature, few can be used directly by patients, their caregivers, or healthcare professionals. One such tool is the Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale (PFFS). Objective: To present the protocol for the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the PFFS instrument for Brazilian Portuguese. Methods: This study will be conducted in two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation and (2) validation. In the content validity phase, nine participants will be included: three older adults, three caregivers, and three healthcare professionals. Statistical analysis will be performed using Finn’s coefficient. In the concurrent validity phase, 141 individuals will participate, distributed equally among older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals (47 in each group). The statistical analysis will include Pearson/Spearman correlation tests and Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient. Expected Results and Relevance: As a self-administered tool that can be easily completed by different individuals involved in the care of older adults, including the older adults themselves, its cross-cultural adaptation and validation for the Brazilian context may significantly contribute to comprehensive elderly care and the promotion of healthy aging.