Iron species can participate in the Fenton or Fenton‐like reaction to generate oxidizing species that can cause oxidative damages to biomolecules and induce oxidative stress in the body. Furthermore, iron accumulation and oxidative stress have been shown to associate with the pathological progression of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this review, the role of iron species in generating the most deleterious free radical species (ie, hydroxyl radical) and effects of this species in causing oxidative stress in vivo are described. The implications of oxidative stress and the recently recognized cell death pathway (ie, ferroptosis) to AD are addressed. Strategies to combat this neurodegenerative disease, such as iron chelation and antioxidant therapies, and future research directions on this aspect are also discussed.

ObjectiveImpaired glucose tolerance is a factor that can affect locomotive syndrome. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the value of the Two‐Step Test as an index of gait ability in locomotive syndrome. The present study focused on DM patients who did not have diabetic polyneuropathy (DP) and discussed the effect of DM on the Two‐Step value.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study compared the Two‐Step values between DM patients without DP (32 male, 28 female; mean age 62.2 years) and regional residents without DM (25 male, 18 female; mean age 61.8 years).ResultsBody mass index was significantly higher in the DM patients than in the regional residents. The Two‐Step value was lower in DM patients than in individuals without DM among females but not among males. Therefore, the Two‐Step value was lower in female DM patients than in female regional residents of the same age.ConclusionThis study presents a new observation: The gait ability in female DM patients can be impaired, even before the development of DP.

There have been many attempts to assess the elements of age‐ and dementia‐ related neurodegenerative changes in the brain using MRI; however, traditionally assessments focus only on single deficit. Over the past few years, our group has worked to create and validate the Brain Atrophy and Lesion Index (BALI) as an MRI‐based whole‐brain structural degeneration rating scale. The BALI can be used for applications in aging and dementia across the entire brain and can be applied to common clinical MR images. As a whole‐brain structural health assessment, the BALI gives a more representative picture of how the brain ages. During the aging process, multiple elements of degeneration accumulate and interact to overwhelm repair processes and cause high‐level failure in the function of the brain. To reflect this process, the BALI combines the assessment of several neurodegeneration changes into one scale. The BALI evaluation can be performed quickly and has been validated for use by non‐neuroradiology expert raters trained with the method. This review gives a brief overview of the content of the BALI; covers the development, refinement, and application of the method; and provides insights about future development and clinical implementation of MRI‐based whole‐brain health assessment in aging and dementia.

ObjectiveThis cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the characteristics and epidemiology of hyperuricemia in older adults in China and evaluate possible associations between hyperuricemia and sarcopenia.MethodsThree hundred and eighty‐eight study subjects (>60 years old) meeting the inclusion criteria received blood tests and standardized examinations for bone mineral density, muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Data including demographic and clinical characteristic and comorbidity were also collected. All data were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsIn the study population, higher uric acid levels were significantly correlated with higher muscle mass, grip strength, and bone density, but were unrelated to physical performance. When uric acid levels were separated into quartiles and the population was divided by sex, the correlation of uric acid to muscle mass was retained in some quartiles for both men and women, and the correlation to handgrip was only retained for one quartile for men. The correlation to bone density was retained in women in all analyses.ConclusionIn the population as a whole, higher uric acid levels were significantly correlated with higher muscle mass, grip strength, and bone density, but had no relationship to physical performance. Differences between men and women in these relationships need to be studied further.