Brains of optimistic older adults respond less to fearful faces.

The authors examined the neural correlates of emotion processing and how they relate to individual differences in optimism among older adults. Brain response during processing of fearful faces was measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging in 16 older adults and was correlated with level of optimism. Greater optimism was associated with reduced activation in the fusiform gyrus and frontal regions, which may reflect decreased salience of negative emotional information or better emotion regulation among optimistic individuals. Relationships persisted after taking into account cortical thickness, amygdala volume, and resting perfusion. Findings have potential implications for the promotion of successful aging

Brains of optimistic older adults respond less to fearful faces.

The authors examined the neural correlates of emotion processing and how they relate to individual differences in optimism among older adults. Brain response during processing of fearful faces was measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging in 16 older adults and was correlated with level of optimism. Greater optimism was associated with reduced activation in the fusiform gyrus and frontal regions, which may reflect decreased salience of negative emotional information or better emotion regulation among optimistic individuals. Relationships persisted after taking into account cortical thickness, amygdala volume, and resting perfusion. Findings have potential implications for the promotion of successful aging

Effects of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of the β2 Adrenergic Receptor and of Adenylate Cyclase on Sickle Red Cell Adhesion to Laminin

Abstract Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) gene (ADRB2) on chromosome 5 have been implicated in clinical variability of several cardiopulmonary disorders. Also, Hoppe et al. [2004] have recently found evidence that polymorphisms of ADRB2 correlate with the incidence of stroke in sickle cell disease (SCD). Stimulation of sickle red cell (SS RBC) adrenergic receptors by epinephrine, as well as stimulation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin, activates the B-CAM/LU laminin receptor [Hines et al. 2003]. There is also evidence that activation of B-CAM/LU on SS RBCs occurs in vivo [Zen et al. 2004]. However, SS RBCs from different individuals show variable baseline adhesion to laminin, as well as variable responsiveness to stimulation by epinephrine. We have found that butoxamine, which specifically inhibits the β2AR, blocked epinephrine-induced SS RBC adhesion by 91%, thus implicating β2ARs in activation of adhesion. Thus, we explored whether SNPs of the genes encoding β2AR (the mediator of epinephrine effects) and adenylate cyclase (a downstream effector of β2AR) affect the degree of baseline adhesion to laminin, as well as the degree to which RBCs upregulate adhesion in response to epinephrine. All samples studied were obtained from non-transfused Hb SS patients in steady state. SS RBCs from 14 of 20 patients studied showed increased adhesion in response to epinephrine, with a mean fold increase of 1.98±0.9. These results are similar to those previously described by Hines. Four SNPs of ADRB2 were examined by direct sequencing; two of these reside in the leader sequence, while the other two encode amino acid substitutions. Four intronic SNPs in ADCY6 were studied by Taqman assays. We found that the arg16gly substitution in β2AR is associated with elevation of baseline SS RBC adhesion measured at 1 dyne/cm2: arg/arg=122, arg/gly=149, gly/gly=262 (mean adherent cells/mm2, n=3, 11, 6 respectively, p=0.03 for gly/gly vs arg/arg + arg/gly). However, the arg16gly substitution was not found to be associated with a statistically significant difference either in the maximal adhesion observed after stimulation by epinephrine: arg/arg=116, arg/gly=263, gly/gly=286 (mean adherent cells/mm2), or in the fold increase observed after stimulation. In addition, two linked SNPs (HCV1244841 and RS3730070, r2=0.8) of ADCY6, which is encoded by chromosome 12, also had a statistically significant effect on baseline but not on epinephrine-stimulated SS RBC adhesion to laminin. For HCV1244841, mean baseline adhesion to laminin at 1 dyne/cm2 was 118 and 303 cells/mm2 for AA+AG and GG, respectively (n=13 and 6, p=0.007), while for RS3730070 mean baseline adhesion was 130 and 327 cells/mm2 for CC+CG and GG, respectively (n=15 and 5, p=0.01). However, these ADCY6 SNPs also showed no statistically significant effect on epinephrine-stimulated adhesion. Overall, both the β2AR and ADCY6 polymorphisms appeared to significantly affect baseline adhesion but not epinephrine-stimulated adhesion in this study. We conclude that β2AR and adenylate cyclase polymorphisms affect red cell adhesive function. We theorize that signaling pathway polymorphisms, by affecting baseline activation of SS RBC adhesion, may influence the severity of SCD

From suffering to caring: a model of differences among older adults in levels of compassion.

ObjectiveCompassion is an important contributor to pro-social behavior and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, yet little is known about what factors influence compassion in late life. The aim of this study was to test theories about how past and current stressors and emotional functioning, resilience, and demographic indicators of life experiences are related to compassion among older adults.MethodsOne thousand and six older adults (50-99 years) completed a comprehensive survey including self-report measures of compassion, resilience, past and present stress, and emotional functioning (i.e., stressful life events, perceived stress, and current and prior depression and anxiety), and demographic information. The sample was randomly split, and exploratory and confirmatory regression analyses were conducted testing hypothesized relationships with compassion.ResultsExploratory stepwise regression analysis (n = 650) indicated that participants who reported higher levels of compassion were more likely to be female, not currently in a married/married-like relationship, reported higher resilience levels, and had experienced more significant life events. Age, income level, past and current mental distress, and interactions between resilience and other predictors were not significantly related to compassion. The associations between greater self-reported compassion and being female, having greater resilience, and having experienced more significant life events were supported by a confirmatory stepwise regression analysis (n = 356).ConclusionsOlder women report more compassion than older men. Resilience and significant life events, independently, also appear to facilitate a desire to help others, while current stress and past and present emotional functioning are less relevant. Specificity of findings to older adults is not yet known

From suffering to caring: a model of differences among older adults in levels of compassion.

ObjectiveCompassion is an important contributor to pro-social behavior and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, yet little is known about what factors influence compassion in late life. The aim of this study was to test theories about how past and current stressors and emotional functioning, resilience, and demographic indicators of life experiences are related to compassion among older adults.MethodsOne thousand and six older adults (50-99 years) completed a comprehensive survey including self-report measures of compassion, resilience, past and present stress, and emotional functioning (i.e., stressful life events, perceived stress, and current and prior depression and anxiety), and demographic information. The sample was randomly split, and exploratory and confirmatory regression analyses were conducted testing hypothesized relationships with compassion.ResultsExploratory stepwise regression analysis (n = 650) indicated that participants who reported higher levels of compassion were more likely to be female, not currently in a married/married-like relationship, reported higher resilience levels, and had experienced more significant life events. Age, income level, past and current mental distress, and interactions between resilience and other predictors were not significantly related to compassion. The associations between greater self-reported compassion and being female, having greater resilience, and having experienced more significant life events were supported by a confirmatory stepwise regression analysis (n = 356).ConclusionsOlder women report more compassion than older men. Resilience and significant life events, independently, also appear to facilitate a desire to help others, while current stress and past and present emotional functioning are less relevant. Specificity of findings to older adults is not yet known

Changes in walking associated with perceived neighborhood safety and police-recorded crime: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of changes in perceived safety and police-recorded crime with changes in transport and leisure walking using longitudinal data from Chicago residents participating in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (2000–2012). METHOD: Main exposures included perceived safety (self-reported as feeling safe walking in the neighborhood and reporting violence to be a problem in the neighborhood), and one-year counts of police-recorded crime occurring within a one-mile buffer of participants’ residencies. Main outcomes included transport and leisure walking (self-reported and calculated as total minutes/week across four study visits). Fixed effects models assessed the association of change in perceived safety and police-recorded crime with changes in transport and leisure walking over a 10-year period for 796 adults. RESULTS: No associations were found between changes in perceived safety and either changes in transport or leisure walking. Residing in areas with increases in murder was associated with decreases in transport walking. However, no other associations were found with police-recorded crime. CONCLUSION: There continues to be a need to continue exploring the benefits of cultivating safe neighborhoods that enhance resident health and well-being. Research should continue examining how community initiatives may build safe environments and community identity that promote walking