E. A. Marakhovskaya

Atherosclerosis is an age-related immune-metabolic disease in which lipid retention, endothelial dysfunction, innate immune activation, and vascular remodeling interact over decades. In older adults, inflammaging, mitochondrial dysfunction, defective autophagy/mitophagy, and cellular senescence may lower the threshold for persistent inflammasome activation in the vascular wall. The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are central to this process because they convert sterile danger signals, including cholesterol crystals, oxidized lipids, mitochondrial stress, and disturbed flow, into caspase-1 activation, IL-1β and interleukin-18 (IL-18) maturation, pyroptosis, endothelial dysfunction, macrophage activation, and plaque destabilization. Clinical proof-of-concept from IL-1β blockade supports inflammatory targeting in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but direct cytokine inhibition leaves upstream inflammasome-prone states insufficiently addressed. This narrative review synthesizes evidence published from 2010 to 2026, together with older landmark studies, on mechanistic, translational, and clinical links between the NLRP3/IL-1β axis and age-related atherosclerosis. Traditional Chinese medicine-derived formulas and isolated natural compounds are considered because they may modulate upstream priming, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, autophagy, lipid handling, macrophage polarization, endothelial pyroptosis, and inflammasome-associated cytokine release. However, most data remain preclinical, and translation requires stronger causal validation, chemical standardization, pharmacokinetic characterization, age-relevant models, and systematic safety assessment.

Background. Healthy, good quality sleep is one of the necessary conditions for achieving longevity and improving survival. Numerous general population studies have revealed a relationship between some sleep-related habits and mortality, but the results of similar studies conducted in older age groups are not so unambiguous. Aim. To study the impact of sleep-related habits on 5-year survival in subjects aged ≥75 years. Materials and methods. The study included 223 subjects (24% men) aged 75–98 years (median 87 years) who lived in Moscow and Moscow region and were undergoing preplanned inpatient treatment at the Russian Gerontology Research and Clinical Center in 2011–2013. Upon admission to hospital, the patients were surveyed using a specially developed questionnaire in order to assess social and behavioral factors such as lifestyle, habits, diet, and physical activity. The sleep-related questionnaire included the following: (i) bedtime; (ii) wake-up time; (iii) nighttime sleep duration; (iv) daytime napping. After discharge, the patients were under follow-up for 5 years. Deaths from all causes were recorded. Results. During the 5 years of follow-up (median 3.63 years), 88 (39.5%) people died. Accordingly, the 5-year survival rate was 60.5%, and the mean survival time was 4.44 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.19–4.71] years. The study demonstrates that most of the subjects went to bed at 22:00–00:00 (65%), woke up 6:00–8:00 (58%), had a daytime nap (61%), and 68% of the participants had a nighttime sleep duration of between 7 and 9 h. Univariate regression analysis shows that a late (after midnight) bedtime, waking up after 8:00, and a long (≥10 h) nighttime sleep are associated with a 1.7–2.1-fold increased risk of death over 5 years. On the contrary, an early (before midnight) bedtime, waking up between 4:00 and 8:00, and nighttime sleep of 5–9 h, are associated with a 43–52% decreased risk of death over this period. Daytime napping had no effect on 5-year survival. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrates that age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02–1.17; p = 0.019), early (before midnight) bedtimes (HR 0.55; 95% CI: 0.31–0.97; p = 0.040), and 5–9 h nighttime sleep duration (HR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26–0.76; p = 0.003) are independent predictors of 5-year survival. Conclusions. In subjects aged ≥75 years who lived in Moscow and Moscow region, early (before midnight) bedtime and moderate (5–9 h) nighttime sleep duration are independent predictors of 5-year survival and are associated with a 45 and 56% reduction in the risk of mortality, respectively, which indicates that sleep may be a geroprotective factor.

BACKGROUND. Physical activity is one of the key lifestyle factors influencing emotional well-being, cognitive function, and aging rate. Studying these associations in a healthy Russian population provides valuable insights for personalized interventions in longevity medicine.

BACKGROUND. Healthy, good quality sleep is one of the necessary conditions for achieving longevity and enhancing survival. Numerous general population studies revealed a relationship between some sleep-related habits and mortality, but the results of similar studies conducted in older participants are not so unambiguous.AIM. To study the impact of sleep-related habits on the 5-year survival rate in participants aged ≥75 years.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study included 223 participants (24% men) aged 75–98 years (median age: 87 years) who lived in Moscow and the Moscow region and were receiving routine inpatient care at the Russian Gerontology Clinical Research Center in 2011–2013. At admission, patients were surveyed using a specially developed questionnaire in order to assess social and behavioral factors such as lifestyle, habits, diet, and physical activity. The questionnaire included the following sleep-related items: 1) bedtime; 2) wake-up time; 3) nighttime sleep duration; 4) daytime napping. After discharge, patients were under follow-up for 5 years. Cases of all-cause mortality were registered.RESULTS. During 5 years of follow-up (median: 3.63 years), 88 (39.5%) people died. Accordingly, the 5-year survival rate was 60.5%, and the mean survival time was 4.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.19–4.71] years. The study demonstrated that the most of the participants went to bed at 10–12 p.m. (65%), woke up at 6–8 a.m. (58%) and had a daytime napping (61%), and 68% of the participants had the duration of nighttime sleep within 7–9 h. Univariate regression analysis showed that late (after midnight) bedtime, waking up after 8 a.m., and long (≥10 h) nighttime sleep were associated with a 1.7–2.1-fold increase in the risk of death over the next 5 years. On the contrary, early (before midnight) bedtime, waking up between 4–8 a.m., and nighttime sleep for 5–9 h were associated with a 43–52% decrease in the risk of death over this period. Daytime napping had no effect on the 5-year survival rate. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.09; 95% CI 1.02–1.17; p = 0.019), early (before midnight) bedtime (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.31–0.97; p = 0.040) and 5–9 h nighttime sleep duration (HR 0,44; 95% CI 0.26–0.76; p=0.003) were independent predictors of the 5-year survival rate.CONCLUSION. In participants aged ≥75 years, who lived in Moscow and the Moscow region, early (before midnight) bedtime and medium (5–9 h) nighttime sleep duration are independent predictors for the 5-year survival rate and are associated with 45% and 56% reduction in the mortality risk, respectively, suggesting that a proper sleep may be a geroprotective factor.

Sleep, as a fundamental requirement for the body’s well-being, plays a crucial role in various essential biological processes. Aging is one of the natural biological processes that affects all functions of the human body. The relationship between sleep and aging has been the subject of significant interest of researchers in recent years. The work discusses modern views on the role of sleep in the aging processes and its geroprotective potential. The work provides data on studying the effect of sleep disorders on hallmarks of aging. The influence of sleep deprivation, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on nine hallmarks of aging according to the classification developed by López-Otín et al., is discussed: genomic instability, telomere attrition, loss of proteostasis, epigenetic alterations, dysregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, cellular senescence, and altered intracellular communication. Data on somnological biomarkers and their relationship to the brain age index are also provided, and the influence of sleep on the formation of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, is discussed. One of the sections is a review of published data on the significance of circadian rhythms in the development of neurodegeneration and aging processes. The use of light therapy and melatonin is considered as a geroprotective methods. In conclusion, the work discusses the importance of developing the area of gerontosomnology.

Sleep, being a fundamental requirement for the body’s well-being, plays a crucial role in various essential biological processes. Aging is one of the natural biological processes that affects all functions of the human body. The relationship between sleep and aging has been a subject of significant interest of researchers in recent years. The article discusses modern views on the role of sleep in the aging processes and its geroprotective potential. The article provides data on the study of the effect of sleep disorders on hallmarks of aging. The influence of sleep deprivation, insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on nine hallmarks of aging according to the classification developed by López-Otín et al., is discussed: genomic instability, telomere attrition, loss of proteostasis, epigenetic alterations, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, cellular senescence and alter intracellular communication. Data on somnological biomarkers and their relationship to the brain age index are also provided, and the influence of sleep on the formation of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, is discussed. One of the sections is reviews data on the significance of circadian rhythms in the development of neurodegeneration and aging processes. The use of light therapy and melatonin is considered as geroprotective methods. Finnely, the article discusses the importance of developing gerontosomnology.

Sleep disorders are more prevalent among older individuals in comparison to younger individuals, leading to a deterioration in quality of life and functional status. These conditions are recognized as significant geriatric syndrome. Viewing sleep disorders through the framework of geriatric syndrome facilitates the recognition of this issue as an interconnected element within a range of agerelated conditions, often displaying a bidirectional association. Consequently, this perspective supports the formulation of a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. This article discusses the pathogenesis of sleep disorders in older individuals, the main types of sleep disorders, geriatric and neurogeriatric syndromes, and the psychosocial factors linked to sleep disorders in the older population. It also covers methods for diagnosing and managing sleep disorders based on modern approaches.

Aim. To examine the relationship between vitamin D levels and the prevalence and severity of depression in people aged ≥90 living in the nursing homes.Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 351 people (25% men) aged 90-104, with a median age of 92, who were permanently residing in Moscow nursing homes. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was used to detect depression, with possible depression diagnosed at a score of 5. Vitamin D (25-hydroxycalciferol) levels were determined in blood serum using chemiluminescence analysis on microparticles, with normal levels ranging from 30 to 100 ng/ml.Results. Depression is diagnosed in 67,2% of the oldest old. Vitamin D levels range from 3 to 36 ng/ml (median 6, interquartile range 5-8), and less than 1% of those with the highest vitamin D levels have a vitamin D deficiency. The absolute median difference in vitamin D between the oldest with and without depression is 2 ng/ml (pConclusion. Associations between vitamin D and the presence and severity of depression among the oldest old living in the nursing homes in Moscow have been identified.