The AGE-It project investigates ageing conditions in three Italian regions—Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, and Puglia—representing different socio-economic and cultural contexts. Through a mixed-method approach combining quantitative surveys (n=1631) and qualitative interviews with residential care staff, residents, and family members, the study explores the quality of life, autonomy, housing, mobility, social inclusion, access to services, and subjective wellbeing of individuals aged 65+.

Key findings reveal generally high self-reported health, mobility, and autonomy, but with clear gender and income disparities. Differences between regions are smaller than expected, particularly regarding service accessibility and support structures. While traditional ageing in place is widely preferred, attitudes toward co-housing and assisted living remain cautious, largely due to cultural attachment to family-based care models.

The study identifies critical areas for policy development: improved public transport and mobility services, gender-sensitive health and social policies, and regional strategies for ageing. Moreover, it highlights the potential of digital inclusion and assistive technologies—currently underutilized—to enhance information access, independence, and social connectivity for older adults. The results offer a strong empirical base for rethinking ageing policies and services in Italy and beyond.

Educational inequalities persist, shaping individuals’ opportunities and perpetuating socioeconomic disparities. Research demonstrates how higher socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with increased university enrollment, while geographic isolation further hinders access to education and professional opportunities. Italy’s unique educational landscape—marked by stratified high school tracks and geographic territorial disparities—further complicates these relationships. However, research is limited to the specific influence of parental educational attainment (a proxy for SES) on educational outcomes in Italy. This study investigates how parental education and geographic origin jointly shape university enrollment patterns in Veneto and Sicily, also exploring potential differences by high school diploma type. Using longitudinal micro-data from two administrative sources on the graduates from Italian high schools in the 2021/2022 academic year, we apply a multinomial model to study the interplay between parental education and geographic area of origin in the transition from high school to university. Specifically, we investigate students’ enrollment choices after high school—non-enrollment, in-region university enrollment, or out-of-region university enrollment. Findings show that students whose parents have higher levels of education are significantly more likely to move regions when transitioning from high school to university—particularly if they attended a classical or scientific liceo located far away from a university in their home region.

Background

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality, particularly among the elderly. Recanalization therapies, including thrombolysis and thrombectomy, are essential for restoring blood flow and saving ischemic tissue. However, these interventions may trigger reperfusion injury, leading to blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption, cerebral edema (CE) and adverse functional outcomes. Here we propose a model integrating circulating inflammatory biomarkers with metabolomic and lipoproteomic data able to help clinicians in predicting BBB disruption, CE at 24 h post stroke onset and poor post-stroke functional outcome (Modified Rankin Scale (mRS > 2).

Methods

Peripheral blood from 87 patients was collected at admission and 24 h after stroke onset. The logistic LASSO regression algorithm was employed to identify the optimal combination of metabolites, lipoprotein-related parameters and circulating biomarkers to discriminate the groups of interest at the two time-points.

Results

Multivariable logistic regression models included as covariates: age, sex, onset-to-treatment time, treatment with lipid-lowering medications before stroke, history of heart failure, history of atrial fibrillation and history of diabetes. The regression models showed that methionine, acetate, GlyA and MMP-2 were significant predictors of BBB disruption, methionine, acetate, TIMP-1 and CXCL-10 predicted 24-hours CE, whereas a poor functional outcome at three months was predicted by CXCL-10, IL-12 and LDL-5.

Conclusions

As stroke has a heterogeneous pathophysiology, a personalized approach based on biomarkers, as presented in this study, shown to be effective in tackling patient individual risk and could help in developing novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic neuroprotective strategies for the management of stroke patients.

The global increase in the over-65 population presents new challenges and opportunities in healthcare, particularly in promoting mobility and maintaining functional independence. This article explores the most effective sensor technologies for movement analysis within the context of active ageing, with an emphasis on remote assessment strategies. Drawing on recent literature, we identify smartphones and smartwatches as key tools for gait analysis, thanks to their accessibility and embedded motion sensors. Additionally, smart fitness mats offer precise insights into balance and proprioception. We also explore innovative approaches such as connected ergometers to monitor movement capacity remotely. These tools collectively enable non-invasive, continuous assessments of both capacity and function, supporting autonomy and fall prevention in older adults.

Active ageing (AA) is deemed an up-and-coming holistic framework to design policies and initiatives addressing the needs of older adults (OAs) for a good transition to old age. However, failure to acknowledge that some territories may ensure limited access to the opportunities and resources expected to contribute positively to AA and to take a subjective stance in assessing OAs’ needs may undermine such efforts.

Drawing from a high-dimensional dataset concerning 293 self-sufficient OAs living at home in two underserved rural municipalities of the Piacenza province, we conducted a cluster analysis, which also provided the basis for sampling OAs to be involved in semi-structured interviews (n= 34). By integrating evidence about the measurable and subjective aspects of the ageing process, the study unveiled otherwise undetected sub-groupings lying within the three clusters identified by quantitative analyses. This provided a more nuanced understanding of each sub-group’s distinctive traits (i.e., individual and contextual characteristics, engagement in AA, needs, fears and struggles), as well as of common attitudinal features (namely, an overall contentment with a deficient service provision and widespread unwillingness to anticipate future needs).

Our study shows that mixed-methods approaches to the use of the AA framework may prove valuable for segmenting understudied older populations, making their overlooked needs more visible and easier to translate into actionable interventions. Moreover, our findings suggest that there might be a need to build the participatory and self-advocacy capacity of OAs to pave the way for the implementation of effective AA policy actions.

Aging is the primary risk factor for major human diseases, including cancer. A multiparametric aging profile derived from peripheral blood, encompassing immune senescence, telomere length, thymic output, circulating senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and denervation and sarcopenia markers (CAF, NCAM1), along with emerging biomarkers like TElomeric Repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), provides s a minimally invasive strategy to monitor biological aging and disease outcome in elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. TERRA, a class of long noncoding RNAs transcribed from telomeres, influence telomere dynamics and cellular senescence, but its functional relevance under senescence-inducing conditions remains to be elucidated.

We analyzed 70 elderly CRC patients at the surgery, measuring TERRA transcripts derived from chromosomes 1q-2q-10q-13q (TERRAch1-2-10-13), 15q (TERRAch15), 20q (TERRAch20), and XpYp (TERRAchXY) by qRT-PCR. TERRA levels were evaluated alongside other aging biomarkers: T-cell immunophenotyping (flow cytometry), thymic output and telomere length (qRT-PCR), denervation and sarcopenia markers (ELISA), SASP factors (Luminex platform). All parameters were evaluated in association with clinical outcome.

An aged phenotype, characterized by high levels of senescent CD8 T cells, elevated circulating SASP markers (particularly IL6, IL8, and CXCL-1) and high CAF levels, was associated with worse outcomes. Notably, patients with high levels of TERRA from chromosome 15 exhibited lower percentages of senescent CD8 T cells (p=0.014), higher CD4/CD8 ratios (p=0.038) and significantly lower risk of relapse, progression, or death (HR: 0.369, p=0.028).

To explore TERRA dynamics under senescence-inducing conditions, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were treated in vitro with 40 nM doxorubicin (for 72 hours) or 20 μM BIBR1532, a telomerase inhibitor (for 11 days) to induce senescence. Doxorubicin induced a senescence-like phenotype with a trend in telomere shortening (p=0.114), upregulation of CDKN1A (p=0.002) and CDKN2A (p<0.001), downregulation of LMNB1 (p=0.001), and increased TERRA levels (TERRAch1-2-10-13, p=0.016; TERRAch15, p=0.006; TERRAch20, p<0.001; TERRAchXY, p<0.001). Similarly, BIBR1532-treated PBMCs exhibited a senescence profile with increased CDKN1A (p=0.011), CDKN2A (p=0.0.34), reduced LMNB1 (p=0.023), and elevated TERRA levels (TERRAch1-2-10-13, p=0.040; TERRAch15, p=0.017; TERRAch20, p=0.090; TERRAchXY, p=0.003).

In conclusion, our results identify a peripheral blood-based aging profile prognostic of disease outcome in CRC patients and highlight TERRA as novel potential biomarker of biological aging. The upregulation of TERRA in response to senescence-inducing stimuli, observed in in vitro experiments, suggests a role in cellular defense mechanism against aging-related stress.

As aging populations face rising rates of neurodegenerative and acute diseases, tools to model disease progression are critically needed. We present a novel, explainable framework for longitudinal clustering, designed to capture heterogeneous trajectories in conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and sepsis. Developing a multivariate k-means-based algorithm enhanced with feature selection, LSTM autoencoders and explainability, we identified clinically meaningful subgroups from electronic mental health records. Results highlight early behavioural and cognitive markers predictive of AD progression. Extension to sepsis data uncovered phenotypes linked to poor outcomes, such as elevated Thrombin-Antigen complex (TAT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) levels. This work offers a scalable and explainable approach to modelling disease trajectories, supporting personalized care in aging-related health conditions.

The design of hospital waiting environments significantly impacts patient stress levels and overall healthcare experience. This study explores how spatial configuration, sensory stimuli, and health promotion elements influence perceptions of anxiety and comfort in medical waiting areas. Using a user-centred design approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 48 participants, including healthcare professionals, patients, and accompanying persons. Two use cases were examined: patients undergoing invasive procedures and those attending long-term care, such as diabetes monitoring. Participants evaluated waiting room scenarios, focusing on three key dimensions: spatial layout, sensory elements (e.g., music, art, plants), and health promotion tools. Preferences in spatial configuration were influenced by individual traits, healthcare context, and waiting duration. Shared spaces were favoured for long waits due to the potential for social interaction, while private rooms were preferred for situations involving medical concern. Sensory features were widely appreciated for their ability to distract and soothe, contributing positively to emotional regulation. Participants valued passive health education (e.g., posters, videos) but showed low interest in interactive or physical engagement during waiting. The physical and sensory design of waiting areas plays a critical role in modulating patient stress and improving the healthcare experience. Attention to spatial arrangement, calming sensory input, and non-intrusive health promotion can transform waiting rooms from neutral spaces into supportive environments that enhance emotional well-being and patient satisfaction.

Background

Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in neurodegeneration. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a known marker of systemic inflammation, has been investigated in patients with Alzheimer’s disease though its prognostic value in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression to dementia remains controversial. This study aims at evaluating the NLR as a potential prognostic biomarker for progression to dementia in a sample of individuals with amnestic MCI.

Methods

The study sample included 88 individuals with MCI of amnestic type. Socio-demographic, clinical, functional, neuropsychological and laboratory data of participants were collected. The NLR parameter was assessed at the baseline visit. The follow-up time was 3 years. Participants were censored at the time of the onset of dementia or at drop out from the study (for any reason). The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the Youden Index were applied to determine the best discriminant NLR cutoff value. Based on this value, participants were divided in two groups and rates of dementia were estimated. Cox regression models were used to estimate the predictive effect of NLR on the risk of conversion to dementia. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% Confindence Intervals (CI) were estimated from these models.

Results

The cumulative incidence of dementia was 44% (39 participants), with a mean follow-up of 28.7 months. The optimal threshold of NLR to predict conversion to dementia resulted 2.25, with a sensitivity of 74.4% and a specificity of 65.3% (Youden’s index=0.40, Area Under the Curve (AUC)=0.74). After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, carotid artery disease, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart valve disease, and diabetes, a NLR higher than 2.25 was associated with an increased risk of developing dementia over three years (adj. HR 4.40; 95%CI (2.03-9.54)).

Conclusions

This study found that NLR may serve as a reliable indicator for identifying MCI individuals at high risk of progression to dementia. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings and to assess the potential implementation of this parameter in clinical practice.

A recent study (Almkvist et al, 2024) has reviewed the possibility of new measures obtained from RAVLT, a verbal memory immediate and delayed recall test of a list of word read 5 times (t1 to t5), differentiating groups of people with different degrees of cognitive decline (e. g. Mild Cognitive Impairment vs Dementia). This study explores whether these measures can distinguish between different dementia aetiologies.

95 patients were enrolled at the University Federico II, age ≥ 65 years: Alzheimer’s (AD) (25 patients), Vascular (VaD; 29 patients), vascular mixed AD (23 patients), vascular mixed non-AD (18 patients). Measures were MMSE, ADL, IADL, depressive and anxiety symptoms (HADS), RAVLT: early learning (t1 + t2), late learning (t4 + t5), difference method (t5 – t1), revised total long term ((t2+t3+t4+t5) – 4t1), revised total method short term (t1). Statistical analysis was conducted via SPSS software.

Results showed no difference in MMSE, ADL, IADL, HADS scores between groups. RAVLT results showed worse performances in early learning (p < 0,05; η² = 0,105) for mixed AD as compared to VaD patients; worse performances in late learning (p < 0,05; η² = 0.105), immediate recall (p < 0,05; η² = 0,099) and delayed recall (p < 0,05; η² = 0,091) for AD as compared to VaD patients. No difference was found between groups for the other RAVLT comparisons.

The burden of combined etiologies (AD+VaD) reduces efficiency in the early stages of learning process, while AD patients tend to reach a learning plateau as compared to VaD patients. Possibly, executive abilities might vicariate memory difficulties in AD patients in the early stages; however, concomitant vascular etiology might impair the successful search for learning strategies in initial trials.

Within the context of Italian public discourse, the phenomenon of migration from foreign countries is regarded as a potential solution to the demographic challenge posed by the country's ageing population. The influx of new arrivals has been observed to effect a slowdown in the progressive increase in the average age of the resident population, and consequently, an increase in the number of people of working age. However, it should be noted that the ageing process also affects the foreign population. Despite its continuous growth, this aspect is seldom considered in scientific literature and, most notably, in Italian public discourse. As of 1 January 2025, the foreign population residing in Italy over the age of 60 numbered 591,591 individuals, constituting approximately 11% of the total population without Italian citizenship. This figure signifies a 46% increase compared to the year 2019, when the number of migrants in the aforementioned age group was slightly over 404,000. A comparison of the ageing process of the foreign population with the rest of the Italian population reveals two salient features. Firstly, the foreign population is, on average, still younger, with 32% of residents in Italy aged over 60. Secondly, however, the foreign population is ageing more rapidly, with an overall increase of 8.5% in the over-60s between 2019 and 2024. From this standpoint, the issue of the ageing migrant population will become increasingly significant.

However, the social and economic status of ageing migrants differs greatly from that of Italians. The first aspect of the analysis concerns their presence in the labour market. According to Eurostat data, foreign nationals have a much higher employment rate than native Italians over the age of 60. This is also linked to the specific characteristics of migrant employment, which is concentrated in particular sectors. Consequently, senior migrants are also heavily represented in the domestic sector. As a result, female labour is particularly significant, with national origins mainly limited to certain countries. The research aims to shed light on three issues. The first aspect investigated is the reasons behind the decision to continue working, sometimes even beyond retirement age. Another element concerns job tasks and how they evolve with ageing. A further focus is on migration trajectories, which are a key aspect for understanding future social impacts.

The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants (trade union members, association members, religious community members, and job guidance centre members) and domestic workers over the age of 60 from Ukraine, Romania, Peru, and the Philippines. The semi-structured interviews were recorded on audio media.

In terms of public policy, domestic workers are confronted with two primary issues. The first of these relates to the issue of pension poverty, while the second pertains to access to housing. The decision to continue working is primarily influenced by the issue of pension provisions. As has been stated by a significant number of workers, they continue to work "as long as they can". The contributions made to pension schemes are frequently lower than the amount received in social security pensions. This is due to a number of factors, including undeclared work, working hours that are declared as fewer than the actual number, and low wages. Consequently, in order to circumvent the risk of indigence, the age of retirement is protracted for as long as is feasible. This predicament engenders a form of "trap", characterised by the inability to return to one's country of origin due to inadequate financial resources, compounded by the experience of economic disadvantage in Italy. Another salient issue is that of housing availability; the decision to continue working is also a consequence of the lack of accommodation. This phenomenon can be attributed to two primary factors. Firstly, a significant proportion of domestic workers reside in their employers' residences. Consequently, the loss of employment also entails the loss of their place of residence. Conversely, for those who rent, their pension income is insufficient to cover monthly expenses, compelling them to delay retirement or seek alternative employment during their post-retirement years.

Objectives

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has become an adult disease. The CF patient may present some geriatric complications: chronic hypoxia, chronic inflammation, malnutrition, malabsorption, sarcopenia, anxiety disorders and mood depression. These manifestations were known to be related to the development of alterations in cognitive function. However, there are no studies on large populations of adults with CF that have assessed the cognitive functions (memory, visuospatial skills, language, attention, executive functions) in relation to comorbidities.

Methods

We enrolled 101 CF patients (53F; mean age 42.15 years; FEV₁ 79.18 ± 30.24 % predicted), followed at the CF Adult Centre in Naples. We collected clinical, anamnestic and instrumental data. Cognitive assessment was performed using neuropsychometric tests (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Trail Making Test A and B, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and peripheral venous blood was collected for the assessment of inflammatory indices.

Results

The data analyzed show:

- a direct correlation between the respiratory function (FEV₁) and the index scores referring to the cognitive domain "Attention" of the RBANS scale (r=0.267, p≤0.05);

- a significant correlation between scores in the cognitive domain of "Delayed Recall" and biomarkers of chronic inflammation (IL-6) (r=0.267, p≤0.001).

Conclusion

The presence of several comorbidities, chronic inflammation and chronic hypoxia are among the factors responsible for cognitive impairment in CF adult patients. It is important to introduce the assessment of cognitive performances in the follow-up of CF patients because they may present a risk of developing cognitive deficits earlier than the general population.

While phonemic and semantic verbal fluency have been extensively studied, emotional verbal fluency, requiring the generation of emotion-related words, has received comparatively little attention, particularly in relation to aging. Moreover, the impact of individual differences, such as emotion regulation strategies and cognitive reserve (CR), on emotional fluency across the lifespan remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of age, emotion suppression, and CR on emotional verbal fluency. Forty-three elderly (mean age = 70 years) and 39 young-adults (mean age = 24 years) completed a task requiring the generation of words within specific emotional categories (e.g., happiness, sadness). Older adults performed significantly worse than younger adults overall. Across both groups, participants produced more words for positive than for negative emotions. However, this positivity bias was significantly more pronounced in older adults, who showed marked decline in generating negative emotion words. Emotion suppression was negatively associated with task performance across participants, suggesting that a tendency to suppress emotions may hinder affective word retrieval. Among older adults, higher CR was positively associated with better performance, suggesting a potential protective role. In conclusion, emotional verbal fluency declines with age, especially for negative emotions, and is modulated by individual differences in emotion regulation and CR. These findings underscore the importance of considering these factors in cognitive aging research and in the design of targeted interventions.

Self-Determination Theory distinguishes different forms of human motivation: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivations (external, introjected, identified, integrated). This study explores the dynamic interplay of these different forms of motivation in physical activity among older adults. The research involved 384 older adults, collecting data over a month through four assessment waves. The data were analyzed using graphical vector autoregressive (GVAR) models that allowed the separation of within- and between-person effects and the exploration of temporal associations. Centrality measures were employed to determine the influence and predictability of various motivational factors. The findings reveal a complex interplay of motivational states over time. Intrinsic motivation was uniquely important in predicting physical activity, suggesting the need for personalized, enjoyment-focused strategies to encourage physical activity among older adults. The study highlighted the dynamic nature of motivation in this age group, with significant transitions observed between different forms of motivation, such as from external to introjected, and introjected to integrated regulation. Particularly noteworthy is the centrality of integrated regulation that aligns activity with personal values and goals, playing a crucial role among older adults. The study underscores motivational states' complexity and temporal dynamics, offering valuable insights for designing more effective and sustainable health promotion strategies.

Background

A growing part of literature suggests potential beneficial effects of Animal Assisted Interventions (A.A.I.) on older persons’ well-being, but available data are still limited.

Methods

We describe the case of M.C., an 85-year-old female resident of an assisted living facility participating in a 3-month A.A.I. programme with dogs (1 session/week). Data from a comprehensive geriatric assessment conducted before (T0) and after (T1) the A.A.I. were analysed, including loneliness (6-item De Jong Loneliness Scale), quality of life (SF-36), depression and anxiety (HADS subscales). Minimal clinically important improvements (MCII) in HADS and SF-36 were investigated.

Results

M.C. had preserved autonomy in the basic activities of daily living (6/6 preserved). Her clinical history only included hypertension and dyslipidaemia. At T0, she reported feelings of loneliness (De Jong Scale: 4/6) and mild anxiety (HADS total score 11, anxiety subscale: 9), in the absence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (depression subscale: 4). At T1, she did not report loneliness (De Jong Scale: 0/6) and showed an MCII in the HADS-anxiety subscale (3 points at T1 vs 9 at T0). Moreover, an MCII in the items “mental health” (92% at T1 vs 68% at T0) and “social functioning” (100% at T1 vs 50% at T0) of the SF-36 was observed.

Main Implication

This case report supports the hypothesis that A.A.I. may have beneficial effects on the well-being of older residents of assisted living facilities, with particular reference to loneliness, anxiety and quality of life.

Blood-based biomarkers such as GFAP and NFL are a promising tool in the definition of frailty and progression in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), nonetheless these are not specific to the brain but rather systemic indicators. Attention deficits are a key aspect of PD progression, with subcortical control of implicit attention being disrupted and possibly causing altered cortical function. In this work, plasma GFAP and NFL, brain morphometry and functional connectivity from MRI are combined to study PD cognitive progression and its relations with neurodegeneration and inflammation biomarkers. We hypothesize that the functional connectome of the output node of the subcortical attention control system —globus pallidus— predicts attention deficits, and that alterations within this network can be related to brain morphometry and systemic indices of inflammation and neurodegeneration. No direct link between blood biomarkers and functional connectivity is observed, nonetheless, brain morphometry captures the impact of GFAP/NFL interplay through a specific atrophy pattern, possibly ruling out non-brain components. The presence of this morphometric fingertip correlates with globus pallidus functional centrality within attention networks. Globus pallidus functional connectivity is highly predictive of the presence of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive scores in the attention domain, with cognitively unimpaired patients showing hyperconnectivity towards dorsal and ventral attention cortices, as well as temporal and insular cortices. We hypothesize that high-effort compensatory cortical recruitment in attentional tasks, typically mediated by subcortical regions, helps preserve performance and possibly delays progression to MCI. Morphometry, coupled with blood-based biomarkers and education levels, correlates with the expression of functional alterations.

This study examined the influence of cognitive reserve (CR) and emotional intelligence on cognitive performance in elderly. CR is the brain's ability to cope with age-related decline through flexible neural strategies or alternative networks, linked to greater memory resilience (Stern, 2002). In this study, cognitive load was assessed using the n-back task, CR was measured with the Cognitive Reserve Index (CRIq, Nucci et al., 2012) and emotional intelligence with the Emotion Intelligence Scale (EIS, Schutte et al., 1998). Forty-five participants (mean age = 70 years, SD = 6) completed 1-back and 2-back tasks with facial stimuli varying in age (young, middle, elderly) and emotion (neutral, happy, angry). Performance, assessed through accuracy (ACC) and reaction time (RT), declined significantly in the 2-back condition, with lower ACC and longer RTs (p < .001). Emotionally positive stimuli (e.g., happy faces) facilitated performance. Participants with higher CR achieved greater ACC and RT, particularly in the 2-back condition. Similarly, higher EIS showed faster RT in emotional conditions, especially during the 2-back emotion task. Notably, participants with both high CR and EIS were less affected by increased task demands. These findings confirm the adaptive role of CR in cognitive ageing (Cabeza et al., 2018), suggesting that it helps modulate cognitive load and maintain performance under increased task complexity (Reuter-Lorenz & Park, 2014). Furthermore, EIS enhances performance specifically in emotionally charged contexts, mitigating affective interference. The combined contribution of CR and EIS highlights a synergistic role of cognitive and emotional resources in sustaining executive functioning in elderly.

Aging is a complex biological process involving molecular and functional modifications throughout the organism. This study investigates age-related changes in red blood cell (RBC) membrane proteins using label-free quantitativeproteomics to identify potential biomarkers of biological aging. We developed a three-component fractionation protocol targeting: (1) extracellular membrane proteins via trypsin "shaving", (2) ghost membrane proteins, and (3) cellular debris. The methodology was initially validated on murine models across three age groups (young, adult, geriatric) and subsequently extended to human samples from four age cohorts (20-31, 40-48, 54-62, and 70-80 years).

Mass spectrometry analysis using nanoLC-MS/MS identified 949 proteins, with 457 showing high reliability. Approximately 50% exhibited significant age-related differences (ANOVA p < 0.01). Principal component analysis revealed clear age-dependent clustering. In elderly versus young subjects, 162 proteins were upregulated, primarily involved in carbon metabolism, glycolysis, oxidative stress response, complement cascades, and immune responses. Conversely, 70 proteins were downregulated, mainly associated with cell adhesion, hemostasis, proteasome function, and neurodegeneration pathways.

Key findings include evidence of inflammaging through increased pro-inflammatory proteins (ISG15, haptoglobin), complement-coagulation system dysfunction, and metabolic rearrangements maintaining energy homeostasis. The study demonstrates the feasibility of minimally invasive blood sampling for longitudinal aging studies and establishes RBC membrane proteomics as a promising approach for identifying age-related biomarkers with potential clinical applications in personalized healthcare and early disease detection.

This paper presents a PRISMA-guided systematic review of the gendered impacts of the 2011 Fornero pension reform in Italy, focusing on how the policy affected women’s labor market behavior, retirement access, caregiving responsibilities, financial preparedness, and intergenerational effects. Despite being framed as gender-neutral, the reform disproportionately impacted women due to lower lifetime earnings, career interruptions, and caregiving roles. We screened 397 studies from the Scopus database (2011–2025) and selected 25 that met criteria related to the Fornero reform, the Italian pension context, and gender-differentiated outcomes. Using a gender-audit framework, we classified studies by the centrality of gender analysis and examined key thematic dimensions. Our findings reveal significant gender disparities and a widespread neglect of gender in the literature. We identify major research gaps including the need for qualitative and mixed-method studies, and call for gender-sensitive pension design. This review contributes to policy debates by highlighting how systemic reforms can reinforce or mitigate existing inequalities.

In the field of vital signs monitoring/estimation, remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) has gained significant attention for its potential in continuous non-invasive monitoring. Acquiring subtle changes in skin color associated with blood volume fluctuations, this technology allows vital signs estimation like heart rate, breath rate, blood oxygen saturation and so on. Moreover, the need of wearable sensors is avoided and real-life monitoring using affordable consumer digital cameras is enabled. The implementation of this solution on mobile devices allows to use anywhere, anytime, without the need of complicated configuration and the presence of dedicated specialists. In this work the implementation of an algorithmic pipeline of an rPPG-based system on a target smartphone is represented, to estimate some vital signs (i.e. heart rate, breath rate and blood oxygen saturation). Some performance metrics were used to compare the accuracy of the rPPG estimations with measurements of certified medical devices. Then, a preliminary usability of this solution in elderly people was evaluated using the System Usability Scale and the short version of the User Experience Questionnaire, yielding high usability scores, which indicate a positive user experience. These preliminary findings suggest that the rPPG technology can be effectively deployed on consumer smartphones, offering a cost-effective and accessible alternative for remote health monitoring, fundamentally contributing to the assessment of health status, especially in frail and/or elderly patients. As part of Spoke 8 of the Age-it Project, the solution is currently under experimentation at a health facility, in Padua, with the scientific support of the CNR-Institute of Neuroscience (CNR-IN).

Context and Theoretical Background

Job insecurity has become a central concern in both economics and sociology, particularly in the context of ageing societies and increasingly volatile labor markets. Measuring and understanding its determinants poses both theoretical and empirical challenges, largely due to its latent nature. Traditionally, research on job insecurity has relied on empirical methods aimed at producing practical recommendations for policymakers. However, there is broad consensus that job insecurity is closely influenced by core government instruments -public expenditure, social transfers, and monetary policy tools - which significantly affect the allocative decisions of households and firms (Voon & Ma, 2014). Moreover, private agents continuously adjust their expectations and optimize their choices in response to economic shocks, shaping perceptions of job insecurity (Giannetti et al., 2014). As Lucas (1976) pointed out, due to the non-structural nature of their parameters unrestricted regression models estimated on aggregate data models fail to incorporate structural behavioral feedbacks, implying yield biased and non-informative results. Addressing these theoretical gaps requires a model-based approach with representative agents that explicitly accounts for forward-looking behavior, policy feedback, and information asymmetries.

Methodology

This paper introduces a small-scale, rational expectations New Keynesian model featuring asymmetric information. Public agents (government and central bank) are assumed to be fully informed, while private agents (households and firms) form expectations based solely on past realizations of macroeconomic variables and shocks. Within this framework, job insecurity is modeled as a linear function of two components: a risk component, which is observable and estimable given available information, and an uncertainty component, arising from unobservable shocks (i.e., Knightian uncertainty). The model is calibrated using annual macroeconomic data from Eurostat and individual-level data from the SHARE survey (2004–2022). I estimate the model parameters using Lippi’s (2021) two-step procedure, which first applies Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to isolate structural innovations, then estimates the reduced-form coefficients through High-Dimensional Dynamic Factor Models (HD-DFMs), overcoming biases associated with traditional Structural VAR models.

Expected Results

The model is expected to show that job insecurity is highly sensitive to both idiosyncratic and macroeconomic shocks. In stable periods, the risk component dominates, while in uncertain times, the impact of the unobservable uncertainty component becomes more pronounced. Simulation-based impulse response functions should confirm that different classes of shocks - supply, demand, fiscal, and financial - have heterogeneous and asymmetric effects on perceived job insecurity, validating the importance of both information asymmetry and policy credibility in shaping labor market expectations.

Main Implications

This study offers new theoretical and empirical tools for understanding job insecurity in ageing and shock-prone economies. By decomposing job insecurity into risk and uncertainty components, it becomes possible to target public policies not only to buffer objective risks (e.g., through automatic stabilizers) but also to reduce perceived insecurity stemming from information gaps. Transparent communication strategies, combined with timely fiscal and monetary interventions, can significantly mitigate the adverse welfare effects of economic shocks on workers. The framework also provides a foundation for future analyses linking labor market sentiment to macroeconomic policy design.

The increasing frequency of airborne infectious threats highlights the urgent need for rapid, low-cost, and in-situ detection technologies, particularly in settings with vulnerable populations. Our study presents the development of an optimised protocol for detecting specific airborne pathogens through sampling, nucleic acid lysis, amplification, and signal detection on a portable platform.

The preliminary phase addressed the primary technical challenges such as false positives, non-specific amplification, and low signal intensity. The optimisation process focused on sample preparation, substrate sterilisation, optimising drying parameters and controlling contamination. Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing the reliability of the amplification step to maximise the system's responsiveness to true positive signals. The lysis protocol was optimised to extract sufficient nucleic acids from aerosolised samples, and the signal detection process was calibrated to improve the distinction between negative and positive results.

The protocol was validated under controlled conditions that simulated environmental exposure. The resulting autonomous platform enables real-time detection for public health monitoring purposes.

This approach is proposed as a successful strategy for early intervention, particularly in healthcare and community settings. The device has been developed to improve pathogen detection, with the aim of reducing exposure, improving the response to outbreaks and, ultimately, promoting healthier ageing. The developed protocol provides a concrete example of how technological innovation can support preventive medicine.

Using X-ray diffraction on intact trabeculae and papillary muscles from rat ventricle it has been shown (Morotti et al. 2024 PNAS 121:e2410893121) that at near-physiological temperature, at which most of the myosin motors in diastole lie on the surface of the thick filament folded back on their tails (OFF-state), there is a relation between the twitch peak force (T_p) developed during the systole and the region of thick filament from which motors attach to actin. Here, we tested these hierarchical regionalizations of thick filament activation and motor attachment during a more physiological systolic performance, combining sarcomere level mechanics and X-ray diffraction to measure the structural signals during shortening under different afterloads (T). We find that myosin motors recruitment from the OFF-state progresses from the periphery of the half-thick filament with the increase in T,while motor attachment at low afterload is limited to its central region and spreads toward the periphery for T>0.5T_p, according to cooperative thin filament activation. Comparison of the mechanical output of the afterloaded contraction to that of the isotonic-release contraction shows that for T<0.5T_p the power of the afterloaded contraction is lower, while at higher T it is the same. We conclude that both the thick filament activation and the mechanical performance are tuned to the afterload by the energetically convenient mechanism that integrates thick filament mechanosensing and cooperative thin filament activation. At the organ level these results confirm that the aortic pressure determines the systolic performance. Supported by MUR (PE8, Age-It) and ESRF.

Cellular senescence is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to various physio-pathological processes, including tissue remodeling, embryonic development, and organismal ageing. Senescent cells exhibit the development of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which consists of a complex array of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and matrix-remodeling enzymes modulating the tissue microenvironment, promoting paracrine senescence and supporting the immune surveillance. In addition, SASP can exert detrimental effects, particularly in pathological contexts such as cancer. Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) refers to a senescence state caused among others by anticancer treatments. For instance, the drugs approved for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer (BC), namely cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors, exert their antitumor effects primarily through the induction of senescence. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence suggests that SASP prompted by CDK4/6 inhibitors may paradoxically promote BC progression by enhancing cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression profile induced by CDK4/6 inhibitors in endothelial cells in order to identify candidate SASP factors with potential paracrine effects on BC cells and components of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, we assessed the ability of the CDK4/6 inhibitors abemaciclib, palbociclib, and ribociclib to induce senescence in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), performing the senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining, the telomere length analysis and evaluating established senescence markers. To determine the molecular changes induced by CDK4/6 inhibition in endothelial cells, we also performed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses via RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Differentially expressed genes and proteins were identified by evaluating the response to each CDK4/6 inhibitor. Enrichment analyses revealed significant modulation of biological pathways related to cellular senescence, lysosomal activity, extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation. Notably, among the most up-regulated genes and proteins induced in HUVEC cells by all CDK4/6 inhibitors and associated with the senescence transduction pathway, we identified the Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2 (TGFβ2). As a well-characterized component of the SASP, TGFβ2 demonstrated the ability to facilitate pro-tumorigenic effects in diverse components of the TME, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and macrophages. Overall, our findings suggest that CDK4/6 inhibitor-treated endothelial cells may contribute to the development of a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment through the release of specific SASP factors, including TGFβ2, thus fostering BC progression by the establishment of a permissive niche.

Life expectancy has now increased and become increasingly challenging the treatment of certain pathological conditions in elderly people, such as cancer. Cancer patients are frequently affected by cachexia which clinically manifests as body weight and skeletal muscle mass loss. Interestingly, also aged people exhibit a progressive and generalized decline of muscle functions, defined as sarcopenia. Comprehensively, in older cancer patients, the chances of defeating cancer are very low. Inflammatory changes have recently been related to both cachexia and aging. Previous observations showed that administration of interleukin (IL)-4 to mice bearing the C26 tumor improved cachexia preserving muscle function. Meanwhile, a significant reduction in both IL-13 mRNA (Costamagna et al. 2020) and protein levels has been detected in these mice. Therefore, we propose to investigate whether IL-13 administration is relevant for muscle homeostasis during experimental cancer cachexia.

We used BALB/c mice subcutaneously inoculated or not with C26 tumor cells and then exposed to IL-3 daily. IL-13 administration reduces body weight loss and induces positive effects on muscle mass reduction, on markers of mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis and likely, on protein synthesis. Metabolomic analysis on liver extracts provides evidence that IL-13 has the ability to modulate some metabolites.

These preliminary data suggest that IL-13 could be useful to improve cachexia in tumour-bearing mice and likely to manage other pathological conditions associated with skeletal muscle wasting and inflammation, such as aging-related sarcopenia.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major health concern, especially as people age. A new sensor-based device (SPECTROsensor) working on time-based Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy principle for human Volatilome analysis in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients was designed. The device is planned to be used in a multidisciplinary project SPECTROMIC founded by PRIN 2022 PNRR. In this work project structure and preliminary results on chemical standards and biological samples will be presented. The device will be trained by analytical chemical methods for searching Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and cardiovascular biomarkers in human biofluids.

Cardiovascular patients at various severity levels and healthy controls are being recruited, and multiple body samples (exhaled breath, blood, urine, and cells) are being collected. 3 cohorts of volunteers each will be formed: a) healthy controls, b) CVD patients not requiring revascularization, c) CVD patients requiring revascularization. On the four types of body matrices, VOC analysis will be carried out using standard volatilomics technology, i.e., gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after solid-phase microextraction (SPME-GC/MS).

Volatilomic profiles will be identified, quantified, and used to phenotype CVD and non-CVD patients and to identify potential volatile biomarkers capable of discriminating between CVD patients and healthy controls by correlating the predictive power of dysregulated VOC with that of recognised clinical disease markers.

Acknowledgement

The work was financed by European Community – Next Generation EU, National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) - Mission 4, Component 2, Investiment 1.1 – “Fund for the National Research Program and for Projects of National Interest (PRIN) – (Project: cod. P2022XHNFM - CUP B53D23024130001).

This paper investigates the impact of family reunification policies on the overall and psychological well-being of immigrants, focusing on whether policies that facilitate reunification contribute positively to immigrants' integration outcomes. Drawing on existing literature that highlights the psychological benefits of family presence among immigrant populations, we contribute to this body of research by evaluating the policy effects of Romania's accession to the European Union in 2007, which eased family reunification procedures for Romanians in Italy. Using data from the 2011 ISTAT Survey on the Social Integration of Immigrants in Italy, we employ a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) approach, comparing changes in self-reported well-being between Romanian immigrants who reunited with their spouses before and after EU accession, and a control group of non-Romanian (extra-EU) immigrants who did not benefit from the policy change. Our results indicate that the increased openness to reunification lead to beneficial effects on general or psychological well-being only in case of older immigrants. These findings suggest that while legal facilitation may remove administrative barriers, it does not automatically translate into improved subjective outcomes, potentially due to unmet expectations or integration challenges arising after reunification, factors gradually replaced by a stronger need for emotional support and family assistance in more mature age.

Repeated evidence has reported serum ferritin levels to represent frailty marker, with both high and low values associated with increased vulnerability, according to current knowledges. Nonetheless, the relationship between ferritin levels and severity of frailty has not been adequately studied.

Methods:

311 consecutive patients admitted at the Geriatric Unit of AOU Federico II in Naples were recruited. All participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, followed by calculation of frailty index based on 40 items. † To investigate the association between serum ferritin levels and frailty status, we performed an ordinal multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results:

The participants were predominantly male (188, 60,5%) and presented a mean age of 75 +- 9 years, and were assigned to group of mild (n= 102), moderate (n = 102) or severe (n =107) frailty according to predefined cutoffs of frailty index, by dividing them into tertiles based on the distribution of the number of deficits identified in the frailty index assessment. Increasing serum ferritin levels were associated with a higher probability of belonging to the severe frailty group. However, ferritin concentrations did not significantly influence the likelihood of being in mild frailty group (cluster 1).

Conclusions:

The results of the present study indicate that elevated serum ferritin levels are significantly associated with frailty severity in hospitalized older adults. These findings support the potential role of ferritin as a biomarker of patients at increased risk of advanced and may contribute to ameliorate the risk stratification and the targeted interventions in clinical practice.

Background

Ageing is recognized as a primary and independent risk factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). With advancing age, the myocardium undergoes maladaptive physiological and molecular changes that promote the progressive deterioration of structure and cardiac function, leading to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis, and chronic inflammation. These alterations collectively contribute to increased CVD susceptibility. Emerging evidence identifies oxidative stress as a key driver of cellular senescence, thereby accelerating ageing and promoting the development of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Oxidative stress results from a disruption in redox homeostasis, wherein excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) surpass the neutralising capacity of endogenous antioxidant systems. This imbalance is further aggravated during senescence due to a decline in antioxidant defences. Within this context, selenoproteins—selenium-containing antioxidant enzymes—play a pivotal role in cellular protection against oxidative insults. In particular, the redoxin Selenoprotein T (SELENOT), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein with oxidoreductase activity, plays a critical role in maintaining ER homeostasis, protein glycosylation, and calcium mobilisation. SELENOT is highly expressed during cardiogenesis and is re-expressed in the adult heart following myocardial stress, providing protection against hypertrophy, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Methods

Based on the pivotal and emerging role of SELENOT in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology, we hypothesized that SELENOT may play a protective role in the senescence of human cardiomyocytes and could offer a potential therapeutic strategy against cellular aging. To test this hypothesis, we took advantage of a small mimetic SELENOT peptide, named PSELT, because of its capability of recapitulating the activity of full-length protein through the redox CVSU active motif of SELENOT and we investigated the role of PSELT against Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyocyte senescence, focusing on PSELT impact on cellular viability, DNA damage, oxidative and ER stress markers, and the role of CD36.

Results

In evaluating the protective effects of PSELT in human senescent cardiomyocytes, we found that the peptide effectively counteracted key hallmarks of cellular senescence, including increased β-galactosidase activity, elevated p53/p21 expression, and the upregulation of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) markers such as MMP3, IL-6, and TNF-α. PSELT preserved redox homeostasis by preventing cytosolic and mitochondrial oxidative imbalance and restoring the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Crucially, PSELT reduced DNA damage, evidenced by decreased γH2AX phosphorylation and maintenance of lamin B1 levels, and alleviated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via downregulation of BIP, calnexin, IRE1α, and ERO1α. Notably, SELENOT expression increased in response to senescence, suggesting a redox-sensitive stress-sensing function, and was restored by PSELT. Loss-of-function studies showed that SELENOT deficiency led to cardiomyocyte death and DNA damage, only partially rescued by PSELT, indicating a regulatory SELENOT/PSELT axis. Mechanistically, PSELT, similar to the CD36 inhibitor sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO), suppressed senescence-induced CD36 upregulation. Interestingly, co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated SELENOT-CD36 interaction, supporting the hypothesis that SELENOT physiologically engages with CD36 under both normal and stress conditions.

Main implication of the research

In conclusion, this study highlights the crucial role of SELENOT in maintaining the viability and genomic integrity of senescent human cardiomyocytes, functioning as an “aging-sensing redoxin”. Furthermore, our findings suggest that PSELT/SELENOT-mediated inhibition of CD36, a key player in the pathogenesis of age-related cardiac dysfunction, could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating age-associated cardiac dysfunction. These results provide a strong foundation for future studies investigating the protective effects of this emerging selenoprotein in models of cardiovascular aging.

The indoor built environment exerts a critical influence on human health and well-being, primarily through environmental factors such as air quality, thermal comfort, and lighting. With individuals spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, the quality of these conditions directly affects physiological, psychological, and cognitive outcomes. Poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has been consistently linked to adverse health conditions including Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), chronic respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, sleep disturbances, and diminished cognitive performance (Kubba, 2016). Despite growing awareness, scientific research on these relationships remains fragmented. Much of the operational knowledge exists within frameworks like the WELL Building Standard or WHO guidelines, rather than within a unified scientific structure, limiting the ability to integrate findings across disciplines and apply them effectively in practice. This study reviews five peer-reviewed studies alongside influential grey literature, such as the WHO air quality standards and the Harvard COGfx Study, to assess the current understanding of how indoor environmental factors impact health. A clear evolution in design philosophy is observed—from traditional, uniformly controlled indoor environments toward adaptive models that incorporate personal environmental control systems (Godithi et al., 2018). These systems allow occupants to adjust thermal, lighting, and ventilation parameters to suit individual preferences, thereby enhancing satisfaction and comfort. Air quality is a critical factor in occupant health. High indoor levels of CO₂, VOCs, and PM2.5 are linked to increased risks of headaches, fatigue, allergies, and up to 40% higher asthma incidence. Poor air quality also impairs cognitive function. The COGfx Study (Allen et al., 2016) found that workers in green-certified buildings with improved ventilation performed 61–101% better on cognitive tasks than those in conventional settings. Thermal comfort significantly affects mood, focus, and productivity. Even small deviations from an individual’s preferred temperature range can reduce performance. Due to varying personal needs, personalized thermal control systems are increasingly important in shared environments. Lighting influences circadian rhythms, sleep, and psychological well-being. Daylight and blue-enriched light (~480 nm) improve alertness and mood, especially in workplaces and healthcare settings. WELL-certified buildings with thoughtful lighting design report higher satisfaction and enhanced occupant health. In summary, indoor environmental factors are deeply intertwined with public health outcomes. This review supports the urgent need for a structured, ontology-based framework to map the complex relationships between environmental exposures and health indicators. Such a system would facilitate interdisciplinary knowledge integration, guide evidence-based building design, and inform policies aimed at fostering healthier indoor environments. By translating scientific evidence into actionable frameworks, the built environment can evolve into a proactive agent for health promotion and disease prevention.

The increasing demand for home care among the ageing population calls for new design strategies capable of transforming the home into the primary setting for care provision.
This paper presents preliminary findings from research carried out within the Age-It program by Task 1.3 of Spoke 9, focusing on the adaptability of domestic environments for home care and the integration of assistive technologies.
Based on a person-centred and bio-psycho-social model, the study investigates the interactions among vulnerable users, caregivers, and the domestic environment. It aims to identify spatial and technological requirements essential for effectively supporting home care activities, while ensuring safety, comfort, usability, maintainability, and integration of assistive technologies.
The research has led to the development of specific operational guidelines to support the design process for adapting the spaces most involved in caregiving activities. These guidelines propose alternative technical solutions, which are qualitatively assessed in terms of their impact on the building and compatibility with existing constraints.
The developed guidelines will be integrated into a novel digital tool based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodologies, designed to facilitate multi-criteria simulation and evaluation of various design alternatives.
Overall, the proposed approach aims to foster more informed decision-making processes, encouraging preventive design actions in the creation of "care-ready" environments, rationalising resource use, and extending the lifespan of homes to better support ageing-in-place.

Cohousing emerges as an innovative and effective alternative to sustain Aging in Place, addressing the strong desire of older adults to remain in their familiar environment and community. This study examines the rise of self-managed cohousing initiatives among older adults in Spain, originating from grassroots social movements. These projects redefine aging through collective self-management, solidarity, and mutual support. The study employs a qualitative methodology, analysing five collaborative housing communities located in various Spanish regions, including rural areas facing demographic challenges. It examines the core values underpinning these initiatives, their organizational strategies, and the dynamics of daily life within them.

Key findings highlight older adults’ motivations for choosing collaborative living, primarily the desire for autonomy, social connection, and alternative models of care. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including financial barriers, regulatory constraints, and the complexities of collective decision-making. The interaction between these projects and the public and private sectors is also examined, situating them within broader debates on the commons and feminist theories of social reproduction.

The study, by fostering a comparison between different Aging in Place models and the Italian context, contributes to new reflections on independence needs, self-determination, awareness, and the empowerment of individuals who choose to age in place, providing useful insights for the CASA project (cascade funding Spoke 1 – Age-IT), which aims to develop a vulnerability index for people over 65 in mid-sized cities. Ultimately, it underlines the urgent need for public policies that support and legitimize these models as viable and community-based alternatives for aging.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia among elderly. The disease is characterized by irreversible neuronal degeneration, loss of synaptic connections and cognitive decline. Mitochondrial dysfunctions might induce AD-associated molecular alterations as a consequence of exacerbated oxidative stress. Moreover, the shortening of telomeres could be considered a complementary event associated with aging and neurodenegeration. We investigated the relationship between leukocyte mtDNA Copy Number (mtDNA-CN) levels, leukocyte Telomeres Length (TL) and AD in 224 patients from southern Italy diagnosed with AD and 220 healthy controls matched for sex and age to assess the reliability of these molecular parameters as biomarkers of AD. We observed a significant reduction of leukocyte mtDNA-CN levels in AD patients compared to controls. Moreover, mtDNA-CN levels decreased with age progression in both of our cohorts, with evidence of a more marked reduction in AD patients. We did not observe significant differences in leukocyte TL between AD patients and controls, although older AD patients showed a reduction in TL. We hypothesize that mtDNA depletion could be caused by a progressive decline of the core machine of mitochondrial transcription factors that are not able to balance brain energy intake. Our findings support mtDNA-CN reduction as a potential biomarker of AD risk.

Objectives: Treating neurocognitive symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains highly challenging and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is gaining interest as a potential intervention (Pagali et al., 2024). AD is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive decline in multiple cognitive domains, including executive control and social cognition (Dos Santos et al., 2020). Current models suggest the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a key role as an interface between executive and social cognitive processes (Weissman et al., 2017). The EEG-based Stroop task offers an objective index of cognitive control.

Aims: This sham-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an accelerated protocol (4 sessions/day for 4 days) of theta-burst repetitive TMS (TB-rTMS) applied to the DLPFC in patients with biomarker-confirmed AD.

Materials & Methods: Twelve participants with biomarker-confirmed AD, all at clinical stage 3 (Mild Cognitive Impairment, MCI), underwent four standardized assessment sessions: baseline (T0), after sham stimulation (T1), after active stimulation (T2), and at 60-day follow-up (T3). Clinical, psychiatric, and neuropsychological evaluations were performed at all times. Cognitive and emotional Stroop tasks were administered during high-density EEG recordings to extract event-related potentials (N2, N400, LP). Elettrofisiological Stroop data were compared with an age- and sex-matched healthy control group.

Results: Statistical analyses revealed a non-significant trend toward improved executive and social cognitive performance from T0 to T1, with further gains after active stimulation (T1–T2); an inverse trend is observed at follow-up (T3). EEG data mirrored this pattern; baseline impairment of electrophysiological data was marked by prolonged reaction times and reduced N2 and LP amplitudes, which showed partial normalization post-intervention (T2). Significant and sustained improvements (T1-T3) emerged only in psychiatric symptoms, particularly in depression and apathy.

Discussion: Findings suggest that accelerated TMS over the DLPFC may induce short-term cognitive improvements and longer-lasting mood benefits in AD patients. While cognitive gains were modest and transient, they support the hypothesis that accelerated TMS may modulate executive and social control functions. Mood improvements, notably in domains typically resistant to treatment, persisted at follow-up. These results align with existing literature on TMS in neurodegenerative conditions, indicating differential effects on cognitive and affective domains.

Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that accelerated TMS targeting the left DLPFC may offer transient cognitive benefits and sustained mood improvements in AD. Larger trials are warranted to confirm efficacy and clarify underlying mechanisms.

Background: Aging is a natural process that causes physiological, morphological, and biochemical alterations in tissues and organs, leading to a progressive decline in cellular functions. In the musculoskeletal system, aging is often associated with structural changes at the bone, joint, and muscle levels, contributing to the accelerated progression of osteoarthritis (OA), one of the most prevalent degenerative joint diseases. Physical activity is essential for maintaining musculoskeletal functionality and promoting healthy aging. Irisin (Ir), a myokine released during muscle contraction, has been shown to exert beneficial effects, including the enhancement of metabolism and the stimulation of thermogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of irisin to counteract the progression of morphological and biochemical alterations in degenerated cartilage and the entire organism using a mouse model of early and rapid aging, the Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8).

Methods: forty-five-week-old male SAMP8 mice, randomly assigned to four groups: i) sedentary controls, ii) treated with recombinant irisin (r-Ir), iii) subjected to physical activity, and iv) treated with a combination of r-Ir and physical activity. The intervention consists of intraperitoneal administration of r-Ir and/or a structured physical activity (PA) regimen. Joint pain was monitored weekly using gait analysis (CatWalk system), and circulating levels of Ir were measured by ELISA assay. Post-mortem analyses at 28 days and 3 months included macroscopic anatomical imaging, histological and immunohistochemical assessments, gene expression analysis (qRT-PCR), and mitochondrial functionality studies in cartilage and major organs.

Results: Our data suggest that endogenous irisin can exert a senolytic effect and support joint regeneration even in the absence of exogenous administration, thus confirming the crucial role of physical activity in the prevention and/or delay of aging processes. Systemic levels of Ir, particularly when combined with physical training, are associated with improved outcomes in terms of joint tissue regeneration, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for pain relief and functional improvement in osteoarthritis.

Conclusion: the ELIS-IR project aims to promote an innovative approach by facilitating the translation from preclinical research to clinical application, expanding current knowledge of osteoarthritic processes and establishing the scientific basis for the development of more effective future therapies.

Short abstract: This study aims to understand the topic of age discrimination in different contexts through a Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric analysis using one online database, such as Scopus. A dataset of 266 publications was analyzed through citation and co-citation analysis. Firstly, results show irregular trends in publications and citations over the years; and identify the most active scholarly sources in this research area. Subsequently, co-citation analysis shows a network composed of 5 clusters with 146 items, 1793 links and a total link strength of 2271 in which, after having identified the paper references in Scopus and their correspondence with the papers identified in Vosviewer network, it allowed us to also associate each papers in Scopus to the most suitable thematic cluster; this association was confirmed, then, through a careful reading of the paper itself. This work offers interesting theoretical and practical implications. Scholars could use this study as an initial framework to understand the state of the art of contributions on the topic in literature useful to direct future analyses. In terms of practical implications, this study can represent a framework to better understand the issue of age discrimination and its possible impact on individual well-being and company performances, thereby improving policy-making efforts.

Long Abstract: Age discrimination represents an increasingly discussed and debated topic by scholars and policymakers in different countries and in different sectors. In the literature there are many contributions that defined and studied age discrimination but, to provide a widely shared definition, it is useful to refer to the European Council directive dated 27 November 2000. This directive establishes, in paragraph 2 points a and b, that “a) direct discrimination shall be taken to occur where one person is treated less favorably than another is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation, on any of the grounds referred to in Article 1; b) indirect discrimination shall be taken to occur where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would put persons having a particular religion or belief, a particular disability, a particular age, or a particular sexual orientation at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons” (p. 3).

There are numerous studies that address different aspects of age discrimination in various sectors. Recalling some of these, Drydakis et al. (2023) suggested “that age discrimination might be the result of prejudices for older individuals which, unfortunately, have not been reduced by the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation. Cooperation between firms and employees might be essential for an inclusive workplace environment, as this would allow arguments for reducing ageism, sexism and racism within the labor force to be presented, and solutions developed. These policies should be accompanied by effective laws which can raise the cost of discrimination and discourage employers from practicing discrimination” (pp. 320-321). While Carlsson and Eriksson (2019), through their study, confirmed how, due to the existence of age discrimination, the recall rate decreases starting from the age of forty and becomes very low as retirement age approaches. Furthermore, they demonstrate how age discrimination reaches very high levels especially towards women.

Analyzing the papers published on the topic clarifies the lack of a Systematic Review of the literature accompanied by a Bibliometric study. Moreover, there is an information gap concerning citations and the network of co-citations that may provide a complete picture of discussions and reflections around the topic under investigation. For these reasons, we conducted a Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis employing a quantitative approach that involves citation and co-citation analysis (Social Network Analysis) using VoSviewer as main tool of Social Network Analysis, on the topic of age discrimination in different contexts to also understand the possible impact that it can have on well-being and performances, also considering the possible role of political and organizational support.

Using Scopus as online database for our analysis, we identified 275 results using a search string with keywords derived from the literature and considering, as research areas, Business, Management, Accounting, Economics, Econometrics, and Finance, focusing only on articles. After a screening and eligibility process, aimed at eliminating duplicates, to consider papers written only in English and contributions related to our topic, the final database, for the subsequent analysis, resulted in 266 articles.

We analyzed the trend of publications over the years starting from 1969, year of first publication on the topic in Scopus, to April 2025. The study highlights an irregular trend with peaks reached especially in recent years such as in 2009 (14 publications) and in 2023 (15 contributions). The trend of citations, however, is a very irregular one, highlighting few or zero citations until 1987 and then showing interesting peaks such as that of 2011 with 553 citations. Furthermore, the study aimed at analyzing the most active sources highlights the prevalence of sources such as the “Human Relations” (493 citations), “Gender, Work and Organization” (424), “Journal of Managerial Psychology” (419), “Human Resource Management Journal” (397) and “Journal of Organizational Behavior” (374).

Subsequently, using the Vosviewer software, we conducted co-citation analysis as a form of document coupling which measures the number of documents that have cited any given pair of documents (Culnan, 1987) to better understand the network of scholars who focused on the topic analyzed in this work. In particular, the co-citation analysis, considering the references of the papers detected in Scopus, shows a network composed of 5 clusters with 146 items, 1793 links and a total link strength of 2271. Each cluster contains contributions similar in the way they address the general topic of age discrimination. This allowed us to identify, first of all, 5 topic clusters in Vosviewer, each identified by a different color and a different number of contributions and, subsequently, after having sourced the actual Scopus references and their correspondence with the papers identified in Vosviewer network, it allowed us to also associate each paper in Scopus to the most suitable thematic cluster. Such an association was then confirmed through a careful reading of the paper itself.

The 5 topical clusters identified are:

- “Challenges and opportunities, the consequences (effects) of an aging workforce and population” with 65 contributions and 2099 citations;

- “Diversity and actual and perceived discrimination: the possible consequences and beliefs” (37) (1643);

- “Processes, effects, practices and policies that can influence organizational climate, social identification and attitudes of workers in general and to and from diversity. The social exchange theory” (56) (1456);

- “Discrimination and stereotypes: impact on evaluations and consequences for personnel in the labor market and in recruitment” (78) (1243)

- “How diversity, prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination shape treatment and attitudes by and towards certain groups” (30) (843).

This work offers interesting theoretical and practical implications. Scholars could use this study as an initial framework to understand the state of the art of contributions on the topic in literature useful to direct future analyses. They could enrich their knowledge on the topic. In terms of practical implications, this study can represent a framework to better understand the issue of age discrimination and its possible impact on variables such as well-being and performances. Policymaking may as well benefit from systematizing previous knowledge on age discrimination.

References

1. Carlsson, M., Eriksson, S.: Age discrimination in hiring decisions: Evidence from a field experiment in the labor market. Labour Economics, 59, pp. 173–183, (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2019.03.002
2. COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2000/78/EC, establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation.. Official Journal of the European Communities, 27 November 2000. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2000/78/oj
3. Culnan, M. J.: Mapping the intellectual structure of MIS, 1980-1985: A co-citation analysis. MIS Quarterly: Management Information Systems 11(3), 341-350 (1987). Doi: 10.2307/248680
4. Drydakis, N., Paraskevopoulou, A., Bozani, V.: A field study of age discrimination in the workplace: the importance of gender and race‒pay the gap. Employee Relations, 45(2), pp. 304–327, (2023). DOI: 10.1108/ER-06-2021-0277

The FLOWeR project that develop a Biodynamic Machine Perfusion with the support of AGE-It and POCARNO22 program, concludes his path at the Incubator of the University of Florence and now represents a breakthrough in regenerative and conservative medicine. It is an advanced extracorporeal perfusion system designed to maintain organs and vital tissues outside the human body, allowing for the testing of targeted regenerative treatments before transplantation.

By integrating normothermic and hypothermic perfusion technologies with solutions enriched with antioxidant nanoparticles, the Biodynamic Perfusor enhances the quality and preservation time of organs intended for transplantation, reducing ischemic damage and increasing the chances of a successful procedure.

The project has received awards both at the Biomedical Valley and at the final event of the THE – Tuscany Health Ecosystem program

The system is equipped with smart sensors and control algorithms that monitor the organ’s physiological parameters in real time, automatically adjusting perfusion conditions to optimize preservation and study tissue regeneration effects with the future integration of Artificial Intelligence Datas Analysis.

The Project, developed by Municipia, addresses the complex challenges of population ageing and social vulnerability through a digital, integrated, and data-driven approach. Currently, data on the needs of older adults and the services available to them are often fragmented and poorly integrated, hindering effective vulnerability assessment and targeted intervention planning.

To bridge this gap, a Digital Platform was developed to integrate official databases and open data sources.

Its goal is to monitor the vulnerabilities of individuals aged 65 and over through a multidimensional lens - economic, social, and housing - by systematizing data from certified public sources (e.g., municipal registry, INPS, ISEE, land registry, cadastral data, utility providers) and open data on infrastructure and services (e.g., pharmacies, bus stops, banks).

The Platform enables clustering individuals by fragility level, geospatial analysis, and simulation of intervention scenarios, offering strategic support to local governance through evidence-based policymaking.

The initiative has completed full data mapping, reached 70% of the development roadmap for front and back-end components, and ensures full compliance with data protection regulations. A pilot implementation was carried out with the Municipality of Padua.

This paper presents the methodology, key platform features, initial results, and its potential to inform more inclusive, targeted, and sustainable local policies.

The project exemplifies how technology can enhance collaboration among public authorities, universities, research centres, and private enterprises - enabling timely, coordinated, and effective responses to the needs of an ageing population while promoting territorial equity and fostering a broader ecosystem of social innovation and inclusion.

Introduction:
End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) profoundly affects patients’ quality of life, causing physical frailty and functional decline. Exercise has recently been recognized as an effective therapeutic tool to improve muscle and cardiovascular performance in dialysis patients. The PEHEDAL-ESKD project aimed to assess the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of a structured intradialytic exercise program integrating aerobic and anaerobic approaches within a multidisciplinary framework.

Materials and Methods:
A total of 332 hemodialysis patients (30–70 years old) were randomized into three groups: aerobic training with a cycle ergometer, resistance exercise with elastic bands, and a non exercise control group. Additional subgroups performed home-based training or cognitive exercises. Multidimensional evaluations were conducted at baseline and after six months, including clinical, functional, cognitive, nutritional, and bone parameters. Wearable devices were used for continuous activity monitoring.

Results:
The six-month intervention showed high adherence and satisfaction. Exercise duration on the cycle ergometer increased by +10.2% in the Cycle group, +3.1% in the Elastic group, and decreased by −7.8% in Controls. Similar results were observed for maximum workload (p &lt; 0.001). Handgrip strength improved by +11.3%, +7.1%, and +5.9%, respectively. Dropouts were mainly due to unrelated clinical or logistical causes.

Conclusions:
Preliminary results indicate that adapted physical exercise, especially aerobic training, is feasible, well-tolerated, and effective in improving functional capacity and muscle strength in ESKD patients, supporting its integration into multidisciplinary care pathways.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) damages the vascular endothelium through the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an inflammatory response. Moreover, IRI has emerged as a potent inducer of premature endothelial senescence. Senescent endothelial cells develop a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), characterized by the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, linked to oxidative stress. Polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs), a class of biodegradable nanoparticles with strong redox-scavenging capacity, have shown promising protective effects in oxidative stress-related conditions and could be considered as senescence-protective nanomaterials.

This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and senescence-modulating potential of PDA NPs in a human cellular model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), which mimics IRI. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to 24 hours of hypoxia followed by 6 or 24 hours of reoxygenation. PDA NPs (25 µg/mL) were administered at the onset of reoxygenation. Nanoparticle internalization was confirmed by flow cytometry. ROS levels were quantified using Carboxy-(5-(and-6)-Carboxy-2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein Diacetate and MitoSOX assays, while antioxidant gene expression was assessed by Real-Time quantitative PCR. Enzymatic activity and inflammatory mediators (IL-6, ICAM-1) were evaluated by ELISA.

H/R exposure increased ROS, downregulated antioxidant enzymes and elevated SASP factors. PDA NP treatment significantly reduced ROS levels (−83% total, −51% mitochondrial), restored antioxidant enzyme expression and activity, and lowered inflammatory markers by over 40%. These findings suggest that PDA NPs reduce oxidative stress and inflammation providing a novel therapeutic approach for managing IRI and senescence.