This review examines the role glycerophospholipids (PL) in dairy cow health, with specific focus on phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS). Increasing parity of cows is associated with lower concentrations of plasma PL that contain very long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, which are precursors for prostaglandin synthesis, and have anti-inflammatory roles. Low concentrations of these PL could plausibly contribute to the increased risk of disease, reproductive failure and mortality in older cows. The bioavailability and metabolism of fatty acids may differ among supplements that are predominately neutral lipids, such as triacylglycerol-rich oils, and those bound to PL including pasture, whole or ground oilseeds and fish meal. Hepatic lipidosis can occur during the transition period if there is insufficient very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL) production in the liver to transport lipids into blood circulation. The PC are the primary PL of VLDL and are produced by two main pathways in the liver, the cytidine diphosphate-choline pathway that uses choline as a substrate, and the PE N-methyltransferase pathway that uses PE and methyl-donors as substrates. Co-supplementation strategies that target both pathways may increase PC production over a one-pathway supplementation strategy. The PIs are phosphoinositides precursors, which have broad physiological roles including regulating inflammatory processes and may offer targets for novel treatment and management of disease. Both the PI and PE are precursors to endocannabinoids, important regulators of energy metabolism, immune function and reproduction in mammals. Early findings on the endocannabinoid system in transition dairy cows yielded results that diverge from non-ruminant models. The PS expression on cytoplasmic membranes signals apoptosis, coagulation and contributes to sperm–oocyte recognition. As lipidomic diagnostics become increasingly available, understanding the metabolism of PL will continue to develop and promises to offer novel strategies for optimising cattle health and longevity.

This study investigates the relationship between bilingualism, language use, aging, and interference control using the Color–Word Stroop test task. We examined 158 highly proficient Basque–Spanish bilinguals and 84 Spanish monolinguals (aged 30–80 years) to test whether interference control declines with age and whether bilingual adaptations depend on language use frequency. Language experience was assessed using an adapted Language and Social Background Questionnaire and Color–Word Stroop test interference scores were analyzed by regression models. Results showed that interference control declines with age. Group-level differences between bilinguals and monolinguals were not significant once education was included as a covariate, although a small marginal advantage for bilinguals emerged when using education-adjusted T-scores. Within the bilingual group, higher use of the minority language (Basque) in social contexts was associated with significantly better interference control. Social language use showed a stronger relationship with interference control than home use. These findings highlight that bilingual advantages are not uniform but depend on language use frequency and context, contributing to understanding how bilingual experience shapes cognitive control across the lifespan.

We study private equity involvement (or lack thereof) in the long-term care (LTC) sector and its recent developments in the United States, Ireland and Poland. Based on the similarities and differences across these countries’ LTC systems, which can be treated as ideal types of the variety in typical models of LTC systems, we develop a systematic approach to the analysis of private equity engagement in the sector. Specifically, we define the comparison criteria as follows: the debates about the role and place of private equity in LTC; the extent of private equity investments in LTC; the reasons for private equity entry into the LTC sector; the business strategies of private equity firms; the regulations relative to private equity in LTC. Our case study comparison demonstrates that policy responses to population aging and care needs are deeply political processes, leading to a variety of solutions shaped by institutional legacies, cultural contexts, and the power dynamics between states, markets, and civil society.

Effective strategies are needed to increase the healthy lifespan and prevent age-related diseases in aging populations. Using senescence marker protein 30 knockout (SMP30 KO) mice—models that mimic human vitamin C (vitC) deficiency and exhibit accelerated aging—we investigated the effects of bioactive ceramic processed water (BCP) compared to natural mineral water (MW) and MW supplemented with vitamin C (MW-vitC) on gut microbial communities and hepatic metabolism. Due to pooled fecal sampling (n=1 composite library per group), microbiome results represent descriptive trends in diversity and composition. BCP was associated with discernible shifts in gut microbiota, including increased abundances of beneficial genera, such as Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Allobaculum, and the Muribaculaceae family. PICRUSt2 functional analysis suggested an enrichment in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, vitamin (e.g., retinol) metabolism, and xenobiotic biodegradation pathways. Furthermore, BCP was associated with significantly higher levels of activated hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key energy metabolism regulator, compared to control groups. Although microbiome findings are descriptive due to the study design, these results suggest BCP as a potential dietary intervention to help mitigate age-related metabolic decline and promote healthy ageing.

This study explored the motivations of Catalan older people to engage in political organizations. The sample consisted of 192 people aged 65 and over who were active members of three types of political organizations: neighborhood associations, political parties/trade unions, and single-issue organizations. Their answers to an open-ended question were content analyzed, and a series of Chi-square tests were run to assess the association of the resulting categories with the type of organization in which participants were active. The results show that the motives for engaging in political organizations were mainly focused on introducing changes in the community, although the scope of the changes desired tended to vary. While some participants expressed idealistic motivations, others stated that they become involved in order to stand up for a cause in which they believed. One in six participants was motivated by self-interest, either related to personal growth or to self-protective needs. Motives for participating were related to the type of organization in which participants were active, suggesting that organizations should consider the influence of their own particular context and characteristics in developing recruitment and retention strategies.

This paper investigates the effect of volunteering on quality of life (QoL) in 50+ populations across European countries and Israel. We analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Using the Kendall tau-b correlation coefficients, we show that the extent of effect volunteering has on quality of life is nonlinearly related to the prevalence of volunteering in a given country. The relationship follows an inverted-U-shaped curve. In countries where volunteering is the most popular (Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium) and in countries with the lowest rates (Poland, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Spain), the correlation between volunteering and one’s quality of life is low. The correlation is high in countries with medium levels of volunteering (Austria, Italy, and Israel). Moreover, volunteering affects more internal than external domains of QoL. These new insights extend the discussion started by Haski-Leventhal (Voluntas Int J Volunt Nonprofit Organ 20:388–404, 2009). Our study is correlational, and we do not claim causality.

Many older adults living in a seniors’ residence (SR), especially those living with dementia, will have to be relocated in long-term care (LTC) despite the negative impact of these care transitions on physical and psychological well-being. Using a living lab methodology and focus group methods, a care approach was co-developed in collaboration with a SR and public home care services, to promote aging-in-place and delay relocations in LTC. Outcomes were assessed using Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Integrating best practices like staff training, care reorganization, personalized care based on the residents’ life stories, and stronger collaborations with the home care services, this approach allowed older adults with higher assistance needs to remain within their home. Relocations to LTC were delayed by approximately 3 months. Ultimately, aging-in-place was found to be relevant in providing evolving care to older adults living in a SR, though further studies are needed to document its financial impact.

The Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) is a consortium of 21 twin studies from 5 countries (Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and United States) established to explore the nature of gene–environment interplay in cognitive, physical, and emotional health across the adult lifespan. The combined data from over 145,000 participants (aged 18 to 108 years at intake) has supported multiple research projects over the three phases of development since its inception in 2010. Phases 1 and 2 focused on launching and growing the consortium and supported important developments in data harmonization, analyses of data pooled across multiple studies, incorporation of linkages to national registries and conscription data, and integration of molecular genetic and classical twin designs. IGEMS Phase 3 focuses on developing appropriate infrastructure to maximize utilization of this large twin consortium for aging research.

Maintaining appetite in older adults is important for preventing malnutrition. Previous studies have shown seasonal variations in dietary intake, suggesting that appetite itself may vary with the seasons. Nevertheless, few studies have directly examined seasonal changes in appetite in older adults, particularly those living alone, who are at higher risk of malnutrition. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to identify when appetite declines throughout the year in older adults living alone and with others. Of the 60 adults aged 65 and older who participated in the study, 57 completed the longitudinal study over four seasons. Appetite for each season was assessed using the Simple Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) and the visual analogue scale for hunger, satiety, and expectation of food intake. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment and the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The living arrangements of the participants were determined based on whether they were living alone or with others. The stratified analysis revealed seasonal changes in SNAQ scores exclusively among individuals living alone (p = 0.029, effect size = 0.280), who exhibited diminished appetite during summer compared to winter (p = 0.026, 95% CI: 0.076–1.258). No seasonal variation in appetite or nutritional status was observed in those living with others (p > 0.05). These findings highlight the importance of an approach that considers living arrangement and seasonality to ensure that older people maintain adequate appetite status throughout the year.