title: Health-and disease-related biomarkers in aging research.
abstract: This article focuses on a synthesis of knowledge about healthy aging research in human beings and then synthesized nurse-led research in gerontology and geriatrics that use biomarkers. Healthy aging research has attracted considerable attention in the biomedical and basic sciences within the context of four major areas: (a) genetic variations as an expression of successful or unsuccessful aging; (b) caloric restriction as an intervention to slow the progression of aging; (c) immunological aging; (d) neurobiology of the aging brain. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify nurse-led geriatric-related biomarker research. Nurse researchers who have chosen to integrate biomarkers as part of their research studies have been working in six focal areas, which are reviewed: health promotion within risk populations, cancer, vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, and complementary therapies. The article provides a discussion of contributions to date, identifying existing gaps and future research opportunities.
authors.affiliation: The University of Washington, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, Box 357266, Seattle, WA 98195-7266, USA. hilairet@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Hilaire J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Joachim G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Voss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers