Potential cellular and biochemical mechanisms of exercise and physical activity on the ageing process

Exercise in young adults has been consistently shown to improve various aspects of physiological and psychological health but we are now realising the potential benefits of exercise with advancing age. Specifically, exercise improves cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic health through reductions in oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation and modulating cellular processes within a variety of tissues. In this this chapter we will discuss the effects of acute and chronic exercise on these processes and conditions in an ageing population, and how physical activity affects our vasculature, skeletal muscle function, our immune system, and cardiometabolic risk in older adults

Venous and glymphatic drainage of the brain: Brief history of the International Society for Neurovascular Disease

The International Society of Neurovascular Diseases is an International, Interdisciplinary Scientific Organization (ISNVD: www.isnvd.org) devoted to the study of intracranial and extracranial vasculature. Different from other scientific societies, ISNVD is interested also in the investigation of the cerebral drainage, including the venous and glymphatic systems. Moreover, ISNVD promotes studies on: stroke, carotid surgery, neurovascular aspects of neurodegeneration, models of circulation, vasoactive peptides, and basic science. This review summarizes the contribution of the society to the fields above, as well as the history of the annual meetings and the major impact papers promoted by ISNVD

Chronic Hyperglycemia Impairs Endothelial Function and Insulin Sensitivity Via Different Mechanisms in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Background We explored whether chronic hyperglycemia is associated with defects in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in vivo and whether defects in the hemodynamic effects of insulin explain insulin resistance. Methods and Results Vasodilator responses to brachial artery infusions of acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and N G -monomethyl- l -arginine and, on another occasion, in vivo insulin sensitivity (euglycemic insulin clamp combined with the forearm catheterization technique) were determined in 18 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 9 normal subjects. At identical glucose and insulin levels, insulin stimulation of whole-body and forearm glucose uptake was 57% reduced in the IDDM patients compared with normal subjects ( P &lt;.001). The defect in forearm glucose uptake was attributable to a defect in glucose extraction (glucose AV difference, 1.1±0.2 versus 1.9±0.2 mmol/L, P &lt;.001, IDDM versus normal subjects), not blood flow. Within the group of IDDM patients, hemoglobin A 1c was inversely correlated with forearm blood flow during administration of acetylcholine ( r =−.50, P &lt;.02) but not sodium nitroprusside ( r =.07). The ratio of endothelium-dependent to endothelium-independent blood flow was ≈40% lower in patients with poor glycemic control than in normal subjects or patients with good or moderate glycemic control. Conclusions We conclude that chronic hyperglycemia is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in vivo and with a glucose extraction defect during insulin stimulation. These data imply that chronic hyperglycemia impairs vascular function and insulin action via distinct mechanisms. The defect in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation could contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk in diabetes. </jats:p