The World of the Elderly: Aging-Related Diseases of Bone, Muscle, and Cartilage

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Orthopedics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2024 | Viewed by 1632

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, “Policlinico Tor Vergata” Foundation, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome Italy
Interests: osteoporosis; osteoarthritis; fragility fracture; bone biology; bone healing; aging; bone metabolism; age-related bone diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It has been known for some time that population aging is accelerating rapidly: according to data in the literature, in 2004, the world population over the age of 65 was 461 million, and this is expected to increase to 2 billion by 2050. This event inevitably correlates with an increase in aging-related diseases, which will require the adequate planning and delivery of health and social care. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis rank among the major aging-related diseases, as during this process, there is a decrease in the strength and quality of bone tissue which can sometimes accompany the concomitant tissue degeneration of articular cartilage typical of osteoarthritis, which can occur both in old age and in adulthood, around 40-50 years of age. A decrease in bone mineral density, very frequently, is needed in parallel with a progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, a scenario which characterizes a newly defined syndrome known as osteosarcopenia. In addition, osteometabolic disorders also include osteomalacia, characterized by a defect in matrix mineralization which means the bone lacks sufficient amounts of minerals and consequently makes it fragile and susceptible to fractures, malformations, and pain. Numerous molecular mechanisms have been identified which may be potentially involved in the onset and progression of these diseases. According to recent evidence, cellular senescence plays a key role in this context, as the accumulation of senescent cells appears to impair the ability of tissues to regenerate, establishing a state of chronic low-grade inflammation typical of these pathologies, which, associated with aging, is called inflammaging. The purpose of this Special Issue is to direct research toward a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the major aging-related pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, focusing on the investigation of potential new mechanisms underlying the onset of these pathologies, especially those that prominently involve cellular senescence, investigating both clinical aspects, related to diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and basic science.

Prof. Dr. Umberto Tarantino
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • osteoporosis
  • sarcopenia
  • osteoarthritis
  • osteomalacia
  • fragility fracture
  • bone biology
  • muscle biology
  • cartilage biology
  • cellular senescence
  • inflammaging
  • genetic/epigenetic factors in bone metabolism
  • therapeutic treatment
  • prevention strategies
  • clinic complications

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 935 KiB  
Article
Discovering the Physio-Pathological Mechanisms of Interaction between Bone Mineral Density, Muscle Mass, and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Female Older Adults through Structural Equation Modeling
by Simone Perna, Clara Gasparri, Sabika Allehdan, Antonella Riva, Giovanna Petrangolini, Cinzia Ferraris, Davide Guido, Tariq A. Alalwan and Mariangela Rondanelli
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(6), 2269; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12062269 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1274
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relation between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), as a proxy for metabolically unhealthy obesity, muscle, as a proxy for muscle quality and sarcopenia, and bone, as a proxy for bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Other variables, such metabolic [...] Read more.
This study aims to examine the relation between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), as a proxy for metabolically unhealthy obesity, muscle, as a proxy for muscle quality and sarcopenia, and bone, as a proxy for bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Other variables, such metabolic syndrome, nutritional status, number of diseases, kidney and liver function and inflammation were assessed as direct or indirect effects. This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) in a sample of 713 older women (mean age 82.1 ± 6.3). The results indicate a positive statistically significant association between bone and muscle mass (β = 0.195, <0.001) and nutritional status and muscle mass (β = 0.139, p < 0.001), but negative association between age with muscle mass (β = −0.509, p < 0.001) and nutritional status (estimates: −2.264, p < 0.001). A negative association between VAT and muscle mass was also reported (β = −1.88, p < 0.001). A negative statistically significant association was reported between bone mineral density and functional status (β = −1.081, p < 0.001), and a positive association between functional status and muscle mass (β = 9.000, p < 0.001). In addition, functional status was positively statistically associated with cognitive performance (β = 0.032, p < 0.001). The SEM method demonstrates that the VAT, muscle mass and bone mineral density are associated, but the form of the relation is different in relation to different factors, such as nutritional status, mental and functional status, age, and number of pathologies, having different impacts on metabolic outcomes. SEM is a feasible technique for understanding the complex mechanisms of frailty in the elderly. Full article
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