Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging: Difference between revisions

The '''[[Jean Mayer]] Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging''' ('''HNRCA'''), located in [[Boston, Massachusetts]], is one of six human nutrition research centers in the United States supported by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agricultural Research Service]]. The goal of the HNRCA, which is managed by [[Tufts University]], is to explore the relationship between nutrition, physical activity, and healthy and active aging.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/Business/Business.htm?modecode=19-50-00-00 |title=Partnering with Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging |access-date=2013-05-15 |archive-date=2013-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095802/http://www.ars.usda.gov/Business/Business.htm?modecode=19-50-00-00 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/about/mission/|title=Evidence- based research on healthy active aging through nutrition|publisher=}}</ref>

The HNRCA is one of the largest research centers in the world studying nutrition and physical activity in healthy and active aging and the prevention of age-related disease.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/28/garden/center-studying-diet-s-links-to-aging.html | work=The New York Times | title=Center Studying Diet's Links To Aging | date=December 28, 1983}}</ref> It has made significant contributions to U.S. and international nutritional and physical activity recommendations, public policy, and clinical healthcare.<ref name="usda.gov">{{cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/recovery/boston.htm?pf=1|title=USDA Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging , Boston, Massachusetts}}</ref> These contributions include advancements in the knowledge of the role of dietary calcium<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/27/us/study-finds-calcium-helpful-to-older-women.html | work=The New York Times | title=Study Finds Calcium Helpful to Older Women | date=September 27, 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=161786|title= EFFECT OF DIETARY PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS ON CALCIUM EXCRETION IN HEALTHY OLDER MEN AND WOMEN }}</ref> and vitamin D in promoting nutrition and bone health,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/0418030-epidemiology-nutrition-and-problems-of-aging.html|title=EPIDEMIOLOGY, NUTRITION AND PROBLEMS OF AGING - JEAN MAYER USDA, HNRCA AT TUFTS UNIV|website=www.reeis.usda.gov}}</ref> the role of nutrients in maintaining the optimal immune response<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=234162|title=Effect of Age on Susceptibility to Salmonella typhimurium Infection in C57BL/6 Mice: Role of the Immune System}}</ref> and prevention of infectious diseases, role of diet in prevention of cancer, obesity research,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar06/research0306.pdf |title=ARS National Research Program on Obesity|date=March 2006|magazine=Agricultural Research}}</ref> modifications to the Food Guide Pyramid,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pages.shanti.virginia.edu/ollibesmart/tufts-myplate-for-older-adults/|title=Tufts MyPlate for Older Adults|url-status=}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref> contribution to USDA nutrient data bank, advancements in the study of [[sarcopenia]], heart disease,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/nutritionclinic/handouts/newsletters/BerrySeason.pdf |title=Berry Season|access-date=2013-05-15 |archive-date=2014-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114193012/http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/nutritionclinic/handouts/newsletters/BerrySeason.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> vision, brain and cognitive function,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/neuroscience-and-aging/nutrition-and-neurocognition/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926013759/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/neuroscience-and-aging/nutrition-and-neurocognition/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2013|title=Neuroscience and Aging Lab - Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|date=26 September 2013|publisher=}}</ref> front of packaging food labeling initiatives,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=8710|title=Partners : USDA ARS}}</ref> and research of how genetic factors impact predisposition to weight gain<ref name="usda.gov"/> and various health indicators.

Research clusters within the HNRCA address four specific strategic areas: 1) Cancer, 2) Cardiovascular Disease, 3) Inflammation, Immunity, and Infectious Disease and 4) Obesity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/|title=Research Teams}}</ref>

Essential scientific core services provided within the HNRCA are Biostatistics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/biostatistics-unit/|title=Biostatistics and Data Management Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> Comparative Biology Unit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/comparative-biology-unit/|title=Comparative Biology Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> Dietary Assessment Unit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/dietary-assessment-unit/|title=Dietary Assessment Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> Functional Genomics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/functional-genomics-core/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523234714/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/functional-genomics-core/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2013|title=Functional Genomics Core - Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|date=23 May 2013|publisher=}}</ref> Mass Spectrometry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/mass-spectrometry-unit/|title=Mass Spectrometry Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> Metabolic Research Unit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/metabolic-research-unit/|title=Metabolic Research Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> and Nutrition Evaluation Laboratory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/nutrition-evaluation-laboratory/|title=Nutrition Evaluation Laboratory - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref>