Effect Of Age Research Articles

Multispectral label-free in vivo cellular imaging of human retinal pigment epithelium using adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy improves feasibility for low emission analysis and increases sensitivity for detecting changes with age and eccentricity.

Adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO) provides a label-free approach to observe functional and molecular changes at cellular scale in vivo. Adding multispectral capabilities improves interpretation of lifetime fluctuations due to individual fluorophores in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). To quantify the cellular-scale changes in autofluorescence with age and eccentricity due to variations in lipofuscin, melanin, and melanolipofuscin in RPE using multispectral AOFLIO. AOFLIO was performed on six subjects at seven eccentricities. Four imaging channels ( ) were used: 473/SSC, 473/LSC, 532/LSC, and 765/NIR. Cells were segmented and the timing signals of each pixel in a cell were combined into a single histogram, which were then used to compute the lifetime and phasor parameters. An ANOVA was performed to investigate eccentricity and spectral effects on each parameter. A repeatability analysis revealed change in lifetime parameters in repeat visits for 532/LSC. The 765/NIR and 532/LSC had eccentricity and age effects similar to previous reports. The 473/LSC had a change in eccentricity with mean lifetime and a phasor component. Both the 473/LSC and 473/SSC had changes in eccentricity in the short lifetime component and its relative contribution. The 473/SSC had no trend in eccentricity in phasor. The comparison across the four channels showed differences in lifetime and phasor parameters. Multispectral AOFLIO can provide a more comprehensive picture of changes with age and eccentricity. These results indicate that cell segmentation has the potential to allow investigations in low-photon scenarios such as in older or diseased subjects with the co-capture of an NIR channel (such as 765/NIR) with the desired spectral channel. This work represents the first multispectral, cellular-scale fluorescence lifetime comparison in vivo in the human RPE and may be a useful method for tracking diseases.

P-505 Clinical rescue rate of abnormally fertilized oocytes and the relationship with patient, embryo and laboratory features

Abstract Study question Which are the main patient, embryonic and laboratory variables associated with a diploid result in abnormally fertilized embryos? Summary answer Embryo diploid constitution is associated with maternal age, trophectoderm and inner cell mass quality as well as pronuclear (PN) number predicted by time-lapse incubator. What is known already In conventional in vitro fertilization cycles, morphological PN evaluation can identify proper fertilization and predict embryo ploidy constitution. Atypical PN patterns like 0PN, 1PN or more than 2PN are associated with ploidy abnormalities. However, we have previously shown that PN number is insufficient to predict embryo ploidy composition, and advanced single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based methodologies for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) detect a significant number of genetically diploid embryos from presumed abnormally fertilized oocytes. In this study, we characterized the diploid rescue rate associated with abnormal PN configurations, uncovering the link between ploidy results and relevant patient, embryonic and clinical/laboratory parameters. Study design, size, duration Retrospective observational study evaluating the association between diploid rescue rate of abnormally fertilized embryos and different patient, embryonic and laboratory features. Embryos were cultured in conventional or EmbryoScope™ time-lapse incubator (Vitrolife) until blastocyst stage and classified according to Gardner embryo grading system. Ploidy assessment was performed on 343 euploid trophectoderm (TE) biopsies collected between January 2021 and November 2023. Results were stratified according to patients age, embryo quality parameters and different laboratory procedures. Participants/materials, setting, methods Multi-center international study involving consenting patients using autologous gametes and undergoing PGT for aneuploidies (PGT-A) combined with ploidy analysis. Ploidy protocol was performed using a validated targeted NGS approach composed of a custom panel of 357 SNPs and a proprietary pipeline of analysis. Reliable ploidy classification was obtained using a combined algorithm strategy based on SNPs allele frequencies. Categorical variables were expressed in percentages. Nominal variables were analysed using the Cochran-Armitage test to detect trends. Main results and the role of chance Among 343 euploid embryos, diploidy rates obtained for 0PN, 1PN, 2.1PN and 3PN groups were 86.8% (n = 118/136;95%CI=79.89-91.96) 43.7% (n = 59/135;95%CI=35.19-52.50), 65.0% (n = 13/20;95%CI=40.78-84.61) and 26.9% (n = 14/52;95%CI=15.57-41.02) respectively. Regarding patient parameters, advanced maternal age, but not paternal age, was significantly associated with lower diploid rescue rates, with a decreasing trend from 72.5% (n = 79/109;95%CI=63.10-80.60) below age 35 to 42.9% (n = 30/70;95%CI=31.09-55.25) above age 40 (p < 0.01). When considering embryo morphological evaluations, Cochran Armitage test revealed a significant link between diploidy rates and TE quality with a decreasing trend going from 72.1% (n = 80/111;95%CI=62.76-80.17) to 52.7% (n = 79/150;95%CI=44.36-60.87) and 45.8% (n = 22/48;95%CI=31.37-60.83) for embryos classified with TE grade as A, B, and C, respectively (p-value<0.01). Similarly, a decreasing trend was reported in relation to inner cell mass (ICM) quality, when moving from grade A (67,1%, n = 94/140;95%CI=58.23-75.33) to grade C (54.8%, n = 17/31;95%CI=36.03-72.68) (p = 0.03). No clear association was reported for embryo expansion degree. Finally, among laboratory variables (oocyte freezing procedure, fertilization method, incubator type), only time-lapse significantly impacted expected diploid results. Overall, if abnormal PN number is confirmed by time-lapse (n = 42 samples), the accuracy in predicting ploidy abnormalities increased from 29.2% (n = 82/281;95%CI=23.93-34.87), in conventional incubators, to 83.3% (n = 35/42;95%CI=68.64-93.03) (p < 0.01). Consequently, expected diploid rescue rate decreased from 65.5% (n = 184/281;95%CI=59.60-71.03) to 16.7% (n = 7/42;95%CI=6.97-31.36) (p < 0.01). Limitations, reasons for caution Parental DNA analysis should be included to rule-out the residual risk of uniparental disomy in diploid embryos. The multi-center nature of the study didn’t support a uniform PN annotation, especially for centers lacking time-lapse observation. Future studies should focus on the clinical follow-up after the transfer of rescued euploid-diploid embryos. Wider implications of the findings We believe we reported the first evidence of maternal age effect on ploidy results in the largest dataset of abnormally fertilized embryos. We revealed a link between ploidy constitution and blastocyst morphological quality, providing important information for patient counselling. Time-lapse incubators offer a more accurate identification of abnormally fertilized oocytes. Trial registration number n/a

Storage Life of Particle-Filled Polymer Composites Considering Aging Effects.

This study investigates the storage life of particle-filled polymer composites (PFPCs) under the influence of aging effects. High-temperature accelerated aging tests were conducted at 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C for various days to analyze the impact of aging time and temperature on the mechanical behavior of the materials. A predictive model for crosslink density was established using the Arrhenius equation, and the relationship between crosslink density and relaxation modulus was determined based on polymer physics theory. On this basis, a viscoelastic constitutive model that incorporates aging effects was developed. Structural analyses of a PFPC column with a length of 2.3 m and outer diameter of 1.8 m were performed using the UMAT subroutine in ABAQUS. Subsequently, a safety margin assessment method based on dewetting strain was employed to predict the storage life of the PFPC column. The results indicate that the aging viscoelastic constitutive model effectively characterizes the hardening effects caused by aging in the composites during storage. The storage life for the PFPC column considering aging effects decreases from 22 years to 19 years compared to models that ignore such effects. This approach provides a reference for estimating the storage life of PFPC columns considering aging effects.

Effect of ageing and priming on seed germination and vigour in onion (Allium Cepa L.)

Effect of ageing and priming on seed germination and vigour in onion (Allium Cepa L.)

The effects of age and gender and elite levels on perceptual-cognitive skills of adolescent badminton athletes.

This study aimed to examine perceptual-cognitive skills across age, gender and elite levels of badminton adolescent athletes. A total of 57 badminton athletes divided into junior high school athletes (age = 13.36 ± 1.14 years, females = 22, males = 11) and senior high school athletes (age = 16.25 ± 0.84 years, females = 11, males = 13) were evaluated using a cognitive component skills approach. Elite levels were classified as semi-elite (n = 29, score = 3.23) and competitive elite (n = 28, score = 5.84) levels. Each group completed a cognitive test, including an evaluation of their capacity for Corsi block-tapping (CCT) and spatial priming tasks (SPT). No gender effects were found in the perceptual skills of the adolescent players, and the age effect was consistent across gender. For the elite levels, the perceptual-cognitive skills of SPT of reaction time was performed equally in the groups of semi-elite and competitive players, however, in the CCT Span of working-memory (WM), competitive-elite players outperformed semi-elite players. We found that perceptual-cognitive skills of WM play crucial roles in the open-skill sports of badminton. Thus, when developing advanced skills to higher elite levels in adolescent players, perceptual-cognitive skills should be considered.

The effects of age, mature oocyte number, and cycle number on cumulative live birth rates after planned oocyte cryopreservation.

To examine the effects of age, mature oocyte number, and cycle number on cumulative live birth rates after planned oocyte cryopreservation (OC), with the goal of developing a patient counselling tool. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with ≥ 1 autologous oocyte thaw at our university-affiliated fertility center before 12/31/2023. Patients were included if they (1) had a live birth or ongoing pregnancy > 12weeks from OC, or (2) used all oocytes and euploid/untested embryos from OC. Primary outcome was cumulative live birth / ongoing pregnancy rate (CLBR). 527 patients with 1 OC cycle, 149 patients with 2 OC cycles, and 55 patients with ≥ 3 OC cycles were included. Overall CLBR was 43%. CLBR was > 70% among patients who thawed ≥ 20 mature oocytes that were cryopreserved at age < 38years. Multiple logistic regression showed that age at first OC and total number of mature oocytes thawed independently predicted CLBR, but number of OC cycles did not. Patients must be counselled that younger age at OC and more mature oocytes improve CLBR. However, additional OC cycles do not independently improve CLBR. Our results can help patients decide whether to pursue additional OC cycles to obtain more oocytes.

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Property of Cu–Cr–Zr–ZrB2 Composites Subjected to Cryorolling and Aging Treatment

A new strategy has been developed to combine the nanotwins and dual‐scale particles into copper matrix composites and the comprehensive properties of Cu–1Cr–0.3Zr–1ZrB2 exhibit excellently with the addition of intermediate aging and cryorolling. The effects of different deformation processes on the evolution of microstructure, room temperature, and elevated‐temperature mechanical properties are investigated. The result demonstrates that the number of nanoscale Cr precipitates increases obviously after intermediate aging. The nanosized Cr precipitates impede the movement of grain boundaries and dislocations, resulting in the refinement of deformation bands and the dislocation tangle. The combined effect of intermediate aging and cryorolling also improves the formation of nanotwins, which plays an important role in enhancing the tensile strength of composites. The tensile strength, elongation, and conductivities of the composites subjected to two‐step cryorolling reach 653 MPa, 8.02%, and 79.51% IACS, respectively, showing an optimum comprehensive property. In addition, the stable nanotwins and the uniform distribution of dual‐scale particles inhibit the recrystallization process at elevated temperatures, contributing to improving the mechanical behavior at elevated temperatures and heat‐resistant performance of composites.

Effect of Quenching and Aging on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Welded Joints Obtained by Laser Welding of Titanium and Aluminum Alloys

Effect of Quenching and Aging on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Welded Joints Obtained by Laser Welding of Titanium and Aluminum Alloys

Neuroretinal Alterations in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: An Updated Meta-analysis.

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are characterized by major symptomatic, cognitive, and neuroanatomical changes. Recent studies have used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to investigate retinal changes in SZ and BD, but their unique and shared changes require further evaluation. Articles were identified using PubMed and Google Scholar. 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. Diagnostic groups were proband (SZ/BD combined), SZ, BD, and healthy control (HC) eyes. Meta-analyses utilized fixed and random effects models when appropriate, and publication bias was corrected using trim-and-fill analysis ("meta" package in R). Results are reported as standardized mean differences with 95% CIs. Data from 3145 patient eyes (1956 SZ, 1189 BD) and 3135 HC eyes were included. Studies identified thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL, overall and in 2 subregions), m-Retina (overall and all subregions), mGCL-IPL, mIPL, and mRPE in SZ patients. BD showed thinning of the pRNFL (overall and in each subregion), pGCC, and macular Retina (in 5 subregions), but no changes in thickness or volume for the total retina. Neither SZ nor BD patients demonstrated significant changes in the fovea, mRNFL, mGCL, mGCC, mINL, mOPL, mONL, or choroid thicknesses. Moderating effects of age, illness duration, and smoking on retinal structures were identified. This meta-analysis builds upon previous literature in this field by incorporating recent OCT studies and examining both peripapillary and macular retinal regions with respect to psychotic disorders. Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrated both peripapillary and macular structural retinal abnormalities in people with SZ or BD compared with HCs.

Postoperative Visual Function of Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lenses Versus Monofocal Lenses.

To assess the effects of intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt, as well as age, on postoperative visual function (corrected distance visual acuity [CDVA] and contrast sensitivity) by comparing an extended depth-of-focus IOL using higher order aspheric optics against a monofocal IOL from the same platform. This retrospective observational study targeted patients without other eye diseases who underwent surgery to implant the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue or the monofocal IOL Tecnis OptiBlue 1-Piece (J&J Vision) during cataract surgery from November 2021 to December 2022. The effects of age, axial length, IOL decentration, tilt, and corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs) on the postoperative 5 m CDVA and area under log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) under photopic and scotopic conditions were evaluated within 3 months of surgery. No significant difference was found in postoperative CDVA between the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue group (n = 61 eyes) and the Tecnis OptiBlue 1-Piece group (n = 35 eyes), but AULCSF was significantly better in the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue group for photopic (1.58 ± 0.13 vs 1.46 ± 0.18; P = .002) and scotopic (1.71 ± 0.11 vs 1.59 ± 0.19; P = .002) eyes. Multivariate analysis showed a negative correlation between AULCSF and IOL decentration and age in the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue group (P < .01), with no significant correlation with tilt, axial length, and corneal HOAs. The Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue yielded significantly better contrast sensitivity under photopic and scotopic conditions than the Tecnis OptiBlue 1-Piece. However, it is important to consider the effects of IOL decentration and age when evaluating the contrast sensitivity of the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(7):e499-e505.].

Sex, Age, and Patient Experience in Cardiologist Reviews: A Large-Scale Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Analysis

BackgroundPatients are increasingly using online reviews to evaluate cardiologists. Online reviews can provide insights into factors driving patient satisfaction. Little is known about the effects of age and sex on the patient experience with cardiologists. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to apply natural language processing techniques on online reviews to determine the factors underlying positive and negative patient experiences and the effects of age and sex on the patient experience with cardiologists. MethodsMixed effects logistic regression and sentiment analysis were applied to online cardiologist reviews from Healthgrades between 1998 and 2023. The results were then analyzed by sex and age to show trends with respect to rating statistics, sentiment analysis, and frequency of 2-word phrases. ResultsThere were 100,334 online reviews of 9,461 cardiologists. Female cardiologists received lower average ratings compared to male cardiologists and were 34.5% less likely to receive a positive review (OR: 0.655; 95% CI: 0.481-0.893; P = 0.015). Older cardiologists received lower average ratings compared to younger cardiologists (4.145 ± 0.908 vs 4.348 ± 0.795; P < 0.01). Positive reviews were associated with time spent with patients (OR: 1.383; 95% CI: 1.251-1.528; P < 0.01), answering questions (OR: 2.622; 95% CI: 2.324-2.959; P < 0.01), and patients feeling they could trust their providers’ decisions (OR: 2.285; 95% CI: 2.053-2.543; P < 0.01). ConclusionsPositive reviews were associated with cardiologists being comprehensive and patients feeling a sense of trust in the relationship. There was a difference in ratings based on age and sex with female and older cardiologists receiving lower ratings.

Aging suppression in Multistrip Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers for high counting rate experiments

A long term operation of Multi-Strip Multi-Gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MSMGRPC) with gas mixtures based on C2H2F4 and SF6 leads to aging effects observed as depositions on the surface of the resistive electrodes, especially in the region of the spacers used for defining the gas gaps between the resistive electrodes. The observed higher noise rate and dark current has a negative impact on the performance of the chamber and leads to an increase of the data volume in a free running readout mode operation. MSMGRPC prototypes designed with a direct gas flow through the gas gaps and minimization of the number of spacers in the active area were developed as mitigation solution. Three new prototypes of different granularities were assembled using fishing line as spacers and investigated for aging effects. Although a significant reduction in the dark current and dark counting rate was evidenced, noise rate localized around the fishing line spacers, even though reduced, still remains. In this paper, a new generation of direct flow chambers based on discrete spacers is presented. The results of their aging investigations show that, even at lower gas flows, the aging effects become negligible.

Effects of endogenous testosterone on oscillatory activity during verbal working memory in youth.

Testosterone levels sharply rise during the transition from childhood to adolescence and these changes are known to be associated with changes in human brain structure. During this same developmental window, there are also robust changes in the neural oscillatory dynamics serving verbal working memory processing. Surprisingly, whereas many studies have investigated the effects of chronological age on the neural oscillations supporting verbal working memory, none have probed the impact of endogenous testosterone levels during this developmental period. Using a sample of 89 youth aged 6-14 years-old, we collected salivary testosterone samples and recorded magnetoencephalography during a modified Sternberg verbal working memory task. Significant oscillatory responses were identified and imaged using a beamforming approach and the resulting maps were subjected to whole-brain ANCOVAs examining the effects of testosterone and sex, controlling for age, during verbal working memory encoding and maintenance. Our primary results indicated robust testosterone-related effects in theta (4-7 Hz) and alpha (8-14 Hz) oscillatory activity, controlling for age. During encoding, females exhibited weaker theta oscillations than males in right cerebellar cortices and stronger alpha oscillations in left temporal cortices. During maintenance, youth with greater testosterone exhibited weaker alpha oscillations in right parahippocampal and cerebellar cortices, as well as regions across the left-lateralized language network. These results extend the existing literature on the development of verbal working memory processing by showing region and sex-specific effects of testosterone, and are the first results to link endogenous testosterone levels to the neural oscillatory activity serving verbal working memory, above and beyond the effects of chronological age.

The effect of parental age on the quantity and quality of offspring in Syngnathus typhle, a species with male pregnancy.

Parental age impacts offspring quantity and quality. Most prior research focused on maternal age. Since in most organisms the mother produces the costly eggs plus provides all or most parental care, it is difficult to distinguish maternal effects mediated via the egg from later maternal care. Here, we addressed the effects of parental age on offspring in Syngnathus typhle, a pipefish with male pregnancy. The divide between one parent producing the eggs and the second parent being the exclusive provider of parental care facilitates a distinction between the effects of parental age on egg quality versus parental age on early development. We fully reciprocally crossed young and old mothers and young and old fathers and assessed impact of parental age combination on offspring number, offspring size, and offspring gene expression patterns. Neither parental combination significantly influenced offspring size or male gestation duration; however, they influenced the number of offspring. Paternal, but not maternal, age strongly affected the offspring gene expression. Offspring from old fathers exhibited substantial changes in the expression of genes related to cell cycle regulation, protein synthesis, DNA repair, and neurogenesis. Our findings thus highlight the importance of gestation, as opposed to gamete production, in shaping the parental contribution to offspring development.

Study of the effect of synthesis temperature and thermal aging on structural, dielectric properties and phase composition in NiO/NiAl2O4 composite ceramics

In modern materials science, a considerable amount of research is focused on obtaining new ceramic materials to create efficient functional elements. Acquiring highly efficient and stable ceramic catalysts for alternative energy is an important task that demands an urgent solution. Solving this problem as fast as possible is essential, as it will facilitate the development of new technologies that can prevent future energy crises. Nickel oxide (NiO) and spinel with the composition NiAl2O4 are excellent candidates as high temperature catalysts used in alternative energy applications. This paper studies the synthesis of NiO/NiAl2O4 composite ceramics and the effect of high-temperature aging on their phase composition, crystalline properties, and dielectric characteristics. The study found that the phase composition and microstructure of the ceramics remain unchanged after several thermal aging cycles at 700 °C. However, the crystalline parameters and low-frequency dielectric characteristics may fluctuate significantly depending on the duration of aging. The observed variations were predominantly influenced by the microstructural features of the composite ceramics. As the average grain size increased and the phase transformations were completed, the crystalline parameters and low-frequency dielectric characteristics reached a stable state without further alteration. For NiO/NiAl2O4 ceramics with a sintering temperature of 1500 °C, the highest shrinkage, low dielectric loss values and acceptable hardness were observed, indicating that the fabricated ceramics are suitable for mechanical processing. In general, the obtained composite ceramics show high temperature stability and are well-suited for use as functional elements in hydrogen energy applications.

Mapping the cell-type-specific effects of ageing in the human cortex.

Mapping the cell-type-specific effects of ageing in the human cortex.

Effects of Age, Burn, and Amount of Physiotherapy Services on the Developmental Status of Children under 5 Years of Age with Burn Injuries using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire

Effects of Age, Burn, and Amount of Physiotherapy Services on the Developmental Status of Children under 5 Years of Age with Burn Injuries using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Nanovesicles Carry microRNA with Nephroprotective Proprieties Regardless of Aging.

The effects of aging on the paracrine mechanism and in the production and action of MSCs-EV and their cargos of miR-26a and siRNA-26a for the treatment of tubular renal cells under nephrotoxicity injury remain unelucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MSCs-EV of different ages and their ability to deliver the cargos of miR-26a and siRNA-26a to target renal tubular cells affected by nephrotoxicity injury. In a model of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, renal tubular cells treated with MSCs-EV expressing or not expressing microRNA-26a were analyzed. Western blotting was utilized to evaluate cell cycle markers, and MTT assay was utilized to evaluate auto-renovation capacity. Tubular cells under nephrotoxicity injury showed decreased proliferative capacity, but the treatment in the tubular renal cells under nephrotoxicity injury with MSCs-EV expressing microRNA-26a showed nephroprotective effects, regardless of EV age. While the treatment with EV-mediated siRNA-26a failed to preserve the nephroprotective effects equally, regardless of age. Mesenchymal stromal cell nanovesicles carry microRNA with nephroprotective proprieties regardless of aging.

Effect of aging on the structure and mechanical properties of austenite stainless steel N50 alloyed with nitrogen, niobium and vanadium

In this study, the austenitic, corrosion-resistant N50 steel alloyed with different nitrogen, niobium and vanadium content was investigated. This steel is used in the production of high-strength, cryogenic pipes. The production process for these pipes involves aging at 650 °C–665 °C for 50–100 h. Therefore, steels were examined in their as-delivered state, after aging at 650 °C, 100 h and after solid solution heat treatment. The structure of the steel was analyzed using optical and scanning microscopy, tensile and impact strength tests were conducted at room temperature and at −196 °C. It was found that the total volume fraction of the precipitated phase after aging is more dependent on the total concentration of nitride-forming elements—Nb and V, than on nitrogen. Aging does not affect the basic operational properties at room temperature, but it can significantly affect toughness at −196 °C.

Impacts of population aging on bank loan portfolios: Evidence from China

We investigate the impacts of population aging on bank lending using micro-level data from the Chinese banking industry. We find that an aging population significantly reduces the volume of bank lending. The underlying mechanism driving this trend comes from a reduction in bank deposits and a decline in banks' risk-taking. At the same time, population aging induces a structural change in banks' loan portfolios. Banks are strategically reducing the share of their loan portfolios exposed to the greater risks associated with an aging population; additionally, they utilize cross-regional operations to lessen the adverse effects of aging. The contractionary effect of population aging on bank lending is more pronounced for non-state banks and banks in highly competitive markets. These findings highlight the importance of considering population aging in assessing both the aggregate volume and the structural composition of bank loans.