Towards a comprehensive public health response to population ageing

Wild capuchin monkeys as a model system for investigating the social and ecological determinants of ageing

Studying biological ageing in animal models can circumvent some of the confounds exhibited by studies of human ageing. Ageing research in non-human primates has provided invaluable insights into human lifespan and healthspan. Yet data on patterns of ageing from wild primates remain relatively scarce, centred around a few populations of catarrhine species. Here, we introduce the white-faced capuchin, a long-lived platyrrhine primate, as a promising new model system for ageing research. Like humans, capuchins are highly social, omnivorous generalists, whose healthspan and lifespan relative to body size exceed that of other non-human primate model species. We review recent insights from capuchin ageing biology and outline our expanding, integrative research programme that combines metrics of the social and physical environments with physical, physiological and molecular hallmarks of ageing across the natural life courses of multiple longitudinally tracked individuals. By increasing the taxonomic breadth of well-studied primate ageing models, we generate new insights, increase the comparative value of existing datasets to geroscience and work towards the collective goal of developing accurate, non-invasive and reliable biomarkers with high potential for standardization across field sites and species, enhancing the translatability of primate studies.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Understanding age and society using natural populations'.

Impact of physical activity on life satisfaction among middle-aged and older adults in China: A longitudinal national study

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the impact of physical activity on life satisfaction in middle-aged and older adults in China. Utilizing longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2015 and 2018, a total of 6484 participants aged 45 or older were included in the analysis.

METHODS

Data were collected on sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle variables, physical activity, and life satisfaction. Physical activity was categorized into 3 levels: low (71%), moderate (25%), and high (4%). Ordinal logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to examine the effect of baseline physical activity on life satisfaction, including the examination of interaction effects.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, gender, education, marriage, residence, smoking, alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health at baseline (2015), compared to the moderate-intensity physical exercise group, those in the low-intensity group experienced significantly lower levels of life satisfaction on follow-up (2018). In the subgroup analyses, a significant negative effect of low-intensity physical activity on life satisfaction was found in all groups regardless of age, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol use, sleep duration, weight, presence of chronic diseases, or self-rated health.

CONCLUSION

These results support the promotion of physical exercise to enhance life satisfaction among middle-aged and older adults in China.

Shuttle Time for Seniors: The Impact of 8-Week Structured Badminton Training on Markers of Healthy Aging and Evaluation of Lived Experiences-A Quasi-Experimental Study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Engagement in sport offers the potential for improved physical and psychological well-being and has been shown to be beneficial for promoting healthy aging. Opportunities for older adults to (re)engage with sport are limited by a paucity of age-appropriate introductory sports intervention programs. As such, the study evaluated the efficacy of a newly designed 8-week badminton training program (Shuttle Time for Seniors) on markers of healthy aging and the lived experiences of participation.

METHODS

Forty-three older adults assigned to a control (N = 20) or intervention group (N = 23) completed pre-post assessment of physical and cognitive function, self-efficacy for exercise, and well-being. Focus groups were conducted for program evaluation and to understand barriers and enablers to sustained participation.

RESULTS

Those in the intervention group increased upper body strength, aerobic fitness, coincidence anticipation time, and self-efficacy for exercise. Objectively improved physical and cognitive functions were corroborated by perceived benefits indicated in thematic analysis. Shuttle Time for Seniors was perceived as appropriate for the population, where the age-appropriate opportunity to participate with likeminded people of similar ability was a primary motivator to engagement. Despite willingness to continue playing, lack of badminton infrastructure was a primary barrier to continued engagement.

CONCLUSION

Shuttle Time for Seniors offered an important opportunity for older adults to (re)engage with badminton, where the physical and psychosocial benefits of group-based badminton improved facets important to healthy aging. Significance/Implications: Age-appropriate introductory intervention programs provide opportunity for older adults to (re)engage with sport. However, important barriers to long-term engagement need to be addressed from a whole systems perspective.

Prevalence of Unwanted Loneliness and Associated Factors in People over 65 Years of Age in a Health Area of the Region of Murcia, Spain: HELPeN Project

Background/Objectives: Population aging poses many challenges to public health, highlighting loneliness and social isolation as severe problems that affect the physical and mental health of older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these became aggravated. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of loneliness and its relationship with social isolation, depression, cognitive deterioration, sleep quality, and the level of physical mobility and functioning of older adults in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia. Methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was performed. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65, living in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia, and not being institutionalized. The following variables were evaluated: sociodemographic variables, loneliness (UCLA scale), social isolation (DUFSS), depression (GDS), cognitive deterioration (Pfeiffer), sleep quality (PSQI), and mobility (Barthel index). A univariate and multivariate regression model was created to examine how the dependent variable was related to the independent variables. Results: A total of 102 older adults participated in the study. Of these, 31.4% perceived unwanted loneliness and 14.7% low social support. The multivariate regression analysis showed that social isolation, geriatric depression, and cognitive deterioration were significant predictors of loneliness. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of developing multifaceted interventions that address not only social isolation but also other interrelated factors such as depression, cognitive deterioration, and sleep quality. The strategies should be centered on community programs and support networks. It is fundamental to perform longitudinal studies to better understand the causal relationships between these variables.

Gender disparities in multi-state health transitions and life expectancy among the ≥50-year-old population: A cross-national multi-cohort study

Background

Understanding how disability progresses with ageing is important for shaping policies aimed at improving older adults' quality of life, especially when considering the global trends in ageing, life expectancy (LE), and gender disparity. We aimed to assess the health transition probabilities of daily living activities and their implications on LE and gender gaps in global middle-aged and elderly populations.

Methods

In this multi-cohort study with a sample of 74 101 individuals aged ≥50 years, we analysed data from six international cohorts: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in the USA, the Mexican Longitudinal Study of Ageing (MHAS), the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We estimated probabilities between robust health; disabilities related to instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (BADL); and mortality through multi-state Markov models. We included gender as a covariate in the models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), while we calculated LE within the distinct health states of robust health, IADL disabilities, BADL disabilities, and mortality using the stochastic population analysis for complex events (SPACE) microsimulation.

Results

Women had higher progressions to disability (IADL: HR = 1.392; BADL: HR = 1.356) compared to men, who conversely showed lesser progression from IADL to BADL disability (HR = 0.856) and lower mortality rates (span of HRs = 0.232-0.692). LE at age 50 favoured women (32.16-38.22 years) over men (28.99-33.58 years), yet they spent more time in states of disability. We otherwise observed significant regional and gender disparities in healthy LE.

Conclusions

We identified ageing patterns in which longer lives are often coupled with extended periods of disability. Pronounced gender and regional differences indicate a need for targeted health interventions to address inequities and improve seniors' quality of life. Our findings highlight the necessity for policy interventions focussed on health equity to more completely respond to the demographic shift towards older populations.

[What needs do experts and future Physical Activity and Sport professionals perceive to promote healthy aging? Professionals and students' views]

INTRODUCTION

Physical activity acts as an adjuvant in the treatment of numerous diseases and in the promotion of healthy aging. Increasing longevity entails an increase in the demand for professionals who prescribe physical activity, specifically physiotherapists and physical-activity educators.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of a group of third- and fourth-year Physiotherapy students (n=9) and Sport Sciences students (n=5), and experts who work with older adults (n=3) about their knowledge of the older adult population and healthy aging. The secondary objectives were to: (a) explore what knowledge future professionals need about physical activity programming and about physical activity programs aimed at maintaining and improving health among older adults; (b) explore what would be the best methodology to acquire such knowledge; and (c) explore whether a relationship is perceived between knowledge about the older adult population and motivation to work with this population group.

METHODS

Two discussion groups with students and three interviews with experts were conducted. Discussion groups and interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through a reflexive thematic analysis, following the steps described by Braun and Clarke (2021).

RESULTS

Three themes were identified from the discussion groups: (1) conception and ideas about older adults, (2) skills and knowledge perceived as important, and (3) proposals for motivational intervention addressed to the older population. Four themes were identified from the interviews with experts: (1) characteristics of the future professional, (2) physical activity programs for older people: the recipe for success, (3) the role of enjoyment as key to success, and (4) barriers/obstacles along the path.

CONCLUSION

Students of both degrees and experts believe that more practical training opportunities are needed, to enable students to interact with the older population and get to know their needs, motivations, and barriers, to increase physical activity levels in this population group.

The prevalence, characteristics, and psychological wellbeing of unpaid carers in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND

This study sought to describe the characteristics of unpaid carers in the UK and assess levels of depression, anxiety, and mental health treatment seeking behaviours in this population.

METHODS

Data was derived from Wave 9 (n = 2790) of the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) study, a longitudinal survey of adults in the UK. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the characteristics of unpaid carers, association between caregiver status and psychological wellbeing, and caregiver-specific factors associated with risk of poor psychological wellbeing.

RESULTS

Approximately 15% (n = 417) of the sample reported providing unpaid care. Younger age, having three or more children in the household, and lower income were identified as significant correlates of caregiver status. Unpaid caregivers were at increased risk of depression or anxiety and mental health help-seeking. Unpaid caregivers who were younger, lived in households with one or two children, and had a lower income were at greater risk of depression or anxiety and engaging in mental health help-seeking. Caring for an individual with a terminal illness, long-term illness, learning disability or difficulty, mental health problems, physical disability, and other were linked to increased risk of depression or anxiety, while caring for someone with a learning disability increased risk of mental health help-seeking.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that at least one in eight people in the UK provide unpaid care, and that those who provide unpaid care have a far higher risk of experiencing depression or anxiety and seeking mental health treatment. The identification of risk factors associated with these mental health outcomes will facilitate the identification of those in most need of support.

Social inequity in ageing in place among older adults in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries: a mixed studies systematic review

BACKGROUND

Most older adults wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age. Despite this widespread preference, disparities in health outcomes and access to healthcare and social support may create inequities in the ability to age in place. Our objectives were to synthesise evidence of social inequity in ageing in place among older adults using an intersectional lens and to evaluate the methods used to define and measure inequities.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed studies systematic review. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and AgeLine for quantitative or qualitative literature that examined social inequities in ageing in place among adults aged 65 and older in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. Results of included studies were synthesised using qualitative content analysis guided by the PROGRESS-Plus framework.

RESULTS

Of 4874 identified records, 55 studies were included. Rural residents, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants and those with higher socioeconomic position and greater social resources are more likely to age in place. Women and those with higher educational attainment appear less likely to age in place. The influence of socioeconomic position, education and social resources differs by gender and race/ethnicity, indicating intersectional effects across social dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Social dimensions influence the ability to age in place in OECD settings, likely due to health inequalities across the lifespan, disparities in access to healthcare and support services, and different preferences regarding ageing in place. Our results can inform the development of policies and programmes to equitably support ageing in place in diverse populations.

Implementation and evaluation of a system for assessment of the quality of long-term management of patients at a geriatric hospital

BACKGROUND

The increasing aging population presents a significant challenge, accompanied by a shortage of professional caregivers, adding to the therapeutic burden. Clinical decision support systems, utilizing computerized clinical guidelines, can improve healthcare quality, reduce expenses, save time, and boost caregiver efficiency.

OBJECTIVES

1) Develop and evaluate an automated quality assessment (QA) system for retrospective longitudinal care quality analysis, focusing on clinical staff adherence to evidence-based guidelines (GLs). 2) Assess the system's technical feasibility and functional capability for senior nurse use in geriatric pressure-ulcer management.

METHODS

A computational QA system using our Quality Assessment Temporal Patterns (QATP) methodology was designed and implemented. Our methodology transforms the GL's procedural-knowledge into declarative-knowledge temporal-abstraction patterns representing the expected execution trace in the patient's data for correct therapy application. Fuzzy temporal logic allows for partial compliance, reflecting individual and grouped action performance considering their values and temporal aspects. The system was tested using a pressure ulcer treatment GL and data from 100 geriatric patients' Electronic Medical Records (EMR). After technical evaluation for accuracy and feasibility, an extensive functional evaluation was conducted by an experienced nurse, comparing QA scores with and without system support, and versus automated system scores. Time efficiency was also measured.

RESULTS

QA scores from the geriatric nurse, with and without system's support, did not significantly differ from those provided by the automated system (p < 0.05), demonstrating the effectiveness and reliability of both manual and automated methods. The system-supported manual QA process reduced scoring time by approximately two-thirds, from an average of 17.3 min per patient manually to about 5.9 min with the system's assistance, highlighting the system's efficiency potential in clinical practice.

CONCLUSION

The QA system based on QATP, produces scores consistent with an experienced nurse's assessment for complex care over extended periods. It enables quick and accurate quality care evaluation for multiple patients after brief training. Such automated QA systems may empower nursing staff, enabling them to manage more patients, accurately and consistently, while reducing costs due to saved time and effort, and enhanced compliance with evidence-based guidelines.

Impact of lower-respiratory tract infections on healthcare utilization and mortality in older adults: a Swedish population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have an immediate significant impact on morbidity and mortality among older adults. However, the impact following the infectious period of LRTI remains understudied. We aimed to assess the short- to long-term impact of LRTIs on hospitalization, mortality, and healthcare utilization in older adults.

METHODS

Data from the Swedish National Study of Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K) was analyzed, with data from 2001 to 2019 for mortality and 2001-2016 for healthcare utilization. LRTI-exposed participants were identified and matched with LRTI-nonexposed based on sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, and functional and clinical characteristics. Statistical models evaluated post-LRTI hospitalization risk, days of inpatient hospital admissions, healthcare visits, and mortality.

RESULTS

567 LRTIs-exposed participants during the study period and were matched with 1.701 unexposed individuals. LRTI-exposed individuals exhibited increased risk of hospitalization at 1-year (HR 2.14, CI 1.74, 2.63), 3-years (HR 1.74, CI 1.46, 2.07), and 5-years (HR 1.59, CI 1.33, 1.89). They also experienced longer post-LRTI hospital stays (IRR 1.40, CI 1.18, 1.66), more healthcare visits (IRR 1.47, CI 1.26, 1.71), specialist-care visits (IRR 1.46, CI 1.24, 1.73), and hospital admissions (IRR 1.57, CI 1.34, 1.83) compared to nonexposed participants over 16-years of potential follow-up. Additionally, the 19-year risk of mortality was higher among LRTI-exposed participants (HR 1.45, CI 1.24, 1.70). Men exhibited stronger associations with these risks compared to women.

CONCLUSIONS

LRTIs pose both short- and long-term risks for older adults, including increased risks of mortality, hospitalization, and healthcare visits that transpire beyond the acute infection period, although these effects diminish over time. Men exhibit higher risks across these outcomes compared to women. Given the potential preventability of LRTIs, further public health measures to mitigate infection risk are warranted.

Gerontology in Public Health: A Scoping Review of Current Perspectives and Interventions

The intersection of gerontology and public health is increasingly vital due to the global aging population and its implications for health systems. This scoping review aims to map existing literature on gerontology within public health, identify current perspectives, and evaluate interventions tailored to the needs of older adults. A systematic search was performed using predefined keywords across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. The review included 42 studies that employed various designs, all focusing on public health interventions targeting the aging population.  Key findings indicate a pressing need to integrate gerontological principles into public health practice, recognizing the heterogeneous nature of older adults and the significance of social determinants of health. Interventions ranged from preventive health measures and chronic disease management programs to health promotion activities and caregiver support, including the application of technology to improve health outcomes. However, there was a notable lack of research on diverse populations and mental health interventions. The review also uncovered critical gaps in the literature, such as economic barriers to care access and the necessity for comprehensive policies addressing the aging population's diverse needs. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the importance of a multidimensional approach to effectively addressing older adults' health needs. While several effective interventions exist, there is an urgent need to tackle identified gaps, particularly concerning diverse populations and mental health, to enhance overall health strategies for the aging demographic.

Association between serum α-Klotho levels and osteoarthritis prevalence among middle-aged and older adults: an analysis of the NHANES 2007-2016

BACKGROUND

As individuals age, the prevalence of osteoarthritis tends to increase gradually. α-Klotho is a hormone renowned for its anti-aging properties. However, the precise role of serum α-Klotho in osteoarthritis is still not fully comprehended.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2007 to 2016. Serum α-Klotho levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Osteoarthritis was assessed through self-reported questionnaires. Through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, smooth curve fitting, threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analyses, we delved into the potential association between them.

RESULTS

The study encompassed a cohort of 10,265 participants. In fully adjusted models of multivariate logistic regression analysis, we identified a negative correlation between serum ln α-Klotho and OA (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.91, p = 0.003). When stratifying serum α-Klotho levels into tertiles, individuals in the highest tertile exhibited a 26% reduced risk of OA compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73-0.97, p = 0.014). Subsequent analyses indicated a linearly negative association. In subgroup analyses, we explored the relationship between serum ln α-Klotho and osteoarthritis across diverse populations, revealing the persistence of this association in the majority of subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Serum α-Klotho levels exhibit a significant negative linear correlation with the prevalence of osteoarthritis in middle-aged and elderly populations in the United States.

Multi-polygenic prediction of frailty highlights chronic pain and educational attainment as key risk and protective factors

Frailty is a complex trait. Twin studies and recent Genome-Wide Association Studies have demonstrated a strong genetic basis of frailty but there remains a lack of genetic studies exploring genetic prediction of Frailty. Previous work has shown that a single polygenic predictor - represented by a Frailty polygenic score - predicts Frailty, measured via the frailty index, in independent samples within the United Kingdom. We extended this work, using a multi-polygenic score (MPS) approach to increase predictive power. Predictor variables - twenty-six polygenic scores (PGS) were modelled in regularised Elastic net regression models, with repeated cross-validation, to estimate joint prediction of the polygenic scores and order the predictions by their contributing strength to Frailty in two independent cohorts aged 65+ - the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936). Results showed that the MPS explained 3.6% and 4.7% of variance compared to the best single-score prediction of 2.6% and 2.2% of variance in ELSA and LBC1936 respectively. The strongest polygenic predictors of worsening frailty came from PGS for Chronic pain, Frailty and Waist circumference; whilst PGS for Parental Death, Educational attainment, and Rheumatoid Arthritis were found to be protective to frailty. Results from the predictors remaining in the final model were then validated using the longitudinal LBC1936, with equivalent PGS scores from the same GWAS summary statistics. Thus, this MPS approach provides new evidence for the genetic contributions to frailty in later life and sheds light on the complex structure of the Frailty Index measurement.

The current status of health care indices and functional independence among older adults: data from HelpAge international-jordan study

BACKGROUND

Health services should anticipate the changing pattern of illnesses associated with population aging to promote healthy aging.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate health indices and chronic illnesses and their relationship with functional independence in community Syrian refugees & Jordanian elderly.

METHODS

A stratified sample of 1,718 community older adults aged ≥ 60-year-old from four major Jordanian governorates was interviewed in this cross-sectional study. Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living was utilized to assess functional status. Data were analyzed using STATA 15.

RESULTS

Despite the similarities in baseline function, Syrian refugees had more multimorbidities but less active health insurance, accessibility to healthcare services and availability of medications and medical devices than Jordanians. Two-thirds had multimorbidities; with heart diseases, musculoskeletal conditions, hypertension, and diabetes being the most commonly reported chronic illnesses. Females had significantly more multimorbidities, and functional dependence, yet less education, income and accessibility to healthcare services. The mean Katz Index score was 4.99 ± 1.61. Significant predictors of functional dependence included increasing age, lower level of education, and some chronic illnesses.

CONCLUSION

National inclusive plans to support vulnerable older adults especially refugees and older women, provide health insurance, enhance access to health care facilities, and manage chronic medical illnesses comprehensively are urgently needed to improve independence of community-living older adults and to promote healthy aging.

Social activities in multidomain dementia prevention interventions: insights from practice and a blueprint for the future

Introduction

Social activities are important for health and act as a driver of cognitive reserve during aging. In this perspective paper, we describe challenges and outline future (research) endeavors to establish better operationalization of social activities in multidomain interventions to prevent dementia.

Body

We first address the lack of conceptual clarity, which makes it difficult to measure engagement in social activities. Second, drawing from our experience with the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), we discuss social activities in multidomain dementia prevention interventions. Using qualitative data from the Multimodal Preventive Trial for Alzheimer's Disease (MIND-ADmini), we reflect on participant experiences with social activities. Third, we address the potential and challenges of digital solutions in promoting social activities in interventions for dementia prevention. Finally, we share insights from a workshop on digital technology, where we consulted with individuals with and without cognitive impairment who have been involved in three European projects (i.e., EU-FINGERS, Multi-MeMo, and LETHE).

Discussion

Based on these insights, we advocate for research that strengthens and accelerates the integration of social activities into multidomain interventions for dementia prevention. We propose several ways to achieve this: (a) by conducting mixed methods research to formulate a broadly accepted definition and instructions to measure social activities; (b) by focusing on promoting engagement in social activities beyond the intervention setting; and (c) by exploring the needs and preferences of older adults towards digitally-supported interventions and co-design of new technologies that enrich in-person social activities.

Closing the loop in minimally supervised human-robot interaction: formative and summative feedback

Human instructors fluidly communicate with hand gestures, head and body movements, and facial expressions, but robots rarely leverage these complementary cues. A minimally supervised social robot with such skills could help people exercise and learn new activities. Thus, we investigated how nonverbal feedback from a humanoid robot affects human behavior. Inspired by the education literature, we evaluated formative feedback (real-time corrections) and summative feedback (post-task scores) for three distinct tasks: positioning in the room, mimicking the robot's arm pose, and contacting the robot's hands. Twenty-eight adults completed seventy-five 30-s-long trials with no explicit instructions or experimenter help. Motion-capture data analysis shows that both formative and summative feedback from the robot significantly aided user performance. Additionally, formative feedback improved task understanding. These results show the power of nonverbal cues based on human movement and the utility of viewing feedback through formative and summative lenses.

Incontinence and homelessness

The fundamental principles of why specific people become homeless, can be grounded in a simple rationale or founded within sophisticated reasoning. For instance, people who suffer from substance abuse, addiction, alcohol, gambling, have mental health concerns or financial difficulties may be susceptible to homelessness. It is also identified that persons who experienced violence in their childhood or abuse by a partner are at a higher risk of becoming homeless. Homelessness knows no ethnic, cultural, religious or gender boundaries, and can impact all individuals' health and well-being. A health problem and worldwide phenomenon that affects all cohorts of the population, including the homeless, is urinary incontinence. The aim of this article is to increase the awareness of incontinence and highlight the impact it has on the lives of people that experience homelessness.

[Healthy life expectancy: a critical look at the benefits and potential of the demographic health indicator]

Demographic ageing yields many societal consequences that depend strongly on the health status of the population. Special indicators have been developed for tracking and assessing population health, which are referred to with the overarching term healthy life expectancy (HLE). The derivation of HLE is intuitive and easily comprehensible. However, an overly simplistic interpretation hides the extreme complexity inherent in adding the health dimension to the life table. This makes HLE compared to classic life expectancy (LE) extremely sensitive to certain conceptual and methodological features. In the article, this is presented in more detail for three aspects: the underlying definition of health, the choice of survey data as a basis for estimating health status, and the reporting behavior of survey participants. It is shown that the impact on HLE can be enormous, leading to considerable bias in the interpretation of levels and trends, but also in the analysis of differences between populations. Nevertheless, the extension of classical LE to HLE is an important achievement that must not be abandoned. Therefore, the article also discusses ways in which the HLE indicator could be made more robust and reliable. Until this is achieved, however, the high methodological sensitivity of HLE must not be ignored if it is used to assess the health status of populations and as a basis for health policy measures.

Effects of Different Types of Physical Activity on Respiratory Health Parameters in Elderly Males: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Population aging is a global phenomenon associated with declines in muscle mass, physical activity levels, and respiratory health among elderly individuals. Despite evidence suggesting the benefits of physical activity on respiratory function, there is limited research examining its effects on lung function in the Indian elderly population. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of different intensities of physical activity on respiratory health parameters among apparently healthy elderly males aged 60-80 years. Participants were categorized into walking, swimming, and sedentary groups based on their level of physical activity. Anthropometric measurements, cardiovascular parameters, respiratory endurance tests, and spirometry were conducted to assess lung function. Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests to compare the groups. Results Age, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference were similar across groups, but the waist-to-hip ratio was higher in the sedentary group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not differ significantly, while the pulse rate was lower in the swimming group. The sedentary group exhibited lower respiratory endurance, with a significantly reduced 40 mmHg endurance test and maximum expiratory pressure compared to the walking and swimming groups. Spirometry results showed significant improvements in various parameters, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory flow 25% (FEF-25), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) in the walking and swimming groups compared to the sedentary group. Conclusion Regular physical activity, particularly walking and swimming, appears to positively influence respiratory health parameters among elderly males. Engaging in these activities may enhance respiratory muscle strength and lung function, potentially mitigating age-related declines in pulmonary function and promoting overall well-being.

Worldwide cohort studies to support healthy ageing research: data availabilities and gaps

BACKGROUND

Population ageing is a transforming demographic force. To support evidence-based efforts for promoting healthy ageing, a summary of data availabilities and gaps to study ageing is needed.

METHOD

Through a multifaceted search strategy, we identified relevant cohort studies worldwide to studying ageing and provided a summary of available pertinent measurements. Following the World Health Organization's definition of healthy ageing, we extracted information on intrinsic capacity domains and sociodemographic, social, and environmental factors.

RESULTS

We identified 287 cohort studies. South America, the Middle East, and Africa had a limited number of cohort studies to study ageing compared to Europe, Oceania, Asia, and North America. Data availabilities of different measures varied substantially by location and study aim. Using the information collected, we developed a web-based Healthy Ageing Toolkit to facilitate healthy ageing research.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive summary of data availability enables timely evidence to contribute to the United Nations Decades of Healthy Ageing goals of promoting healthy ageing for all. Highlighted gaps guide strategies for increased data collection in regions with limited cohort studies. Comprehensive data, encompassing intrinsic capacity and various sociodemographic, social, and environmental factors, is crucial for advancing our understanding of healthy ageing and its underlying pathways.

Sexual health among the oldest old: a population-based study among people aged 85 years and older in Stockholm, Sweden

Background

Sexual health is an important contributor to the well-being and life satisfaction of people aged ≥85 years, known as the oldest old. However, little is known about sexual health in this population.

Aim

To examine aspects of sexual health among the oldest old and explore its associations with sociodemographic, health-related, and lifestyle factors.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study including 183 individuals aged ≥85 years who were residents in Stockholm County, Sweden. Responders (response rate, 63%) were interviewed on a range of health, sociodemographic, and lifestyle parameters, including aspects of sexual health. Participants' responses to the sexual health items were reported as proportions with 95% CIs. Associations were examined with multivariable logistic regression.

Outcomes

We examined sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, problems related to sexual health, and inquiries on sexual health by a health care provider.

Results

Twelve percent of participants (95% CI, 8%-17.6%) were sexually active, and 63.9% (95% CI, 56.5%-70.9%) were satisfied with their sexual lives during the past year. A third (35%; 95% CI, 28.4%-42.2%) reported at least a problem related to sexual health. Only 2.2% (95% CI, 0.6%-5.5%) were asked about sexual health by a health care provider, while 8.2% (95% CI, 4.7%-13.2%) identified a need for such an assessment. Yet, 85.2% (95% CI, 79.3%-90.0%) indicated no need for their sexual health to be evaluated by a health care provider. Being partnered was positively associated with sexual activity (adjusted odds ratio, 9.13; 95% CI, 2.53-32.90), whereas having strong social support was positively associated with being satisfied with one's sexual life (adjusted odds ratio, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.53-5.74).

Clinical Implications

Health care providers should be proactive in assessing the sexual health of the oldest individuals.

Strengths and Limitations

A representative sample of an underresearched population was used in this study. However, the generalizability of our findings may be restricted due to the small sample. To maintain statistical power from a relatively small sample, we might have lost explanatory power. Given the observational cross-sectional nature of the data, we cannot draw causal inferences based on the observed associations.

Conclusions

A 10th of participants were sexually active, and the majority were satisfied with their sexual lives. Although many participants reported problems related to sexual health, few expressed the need to discuss sexual health with health care providers. Future studies should explore potential barriers to addressing sexual health and unmet health care needs among the oldest old.

Revitalizing neurosurgical frontiers: The EANS frontiers in neurosurgery committee's strategic framework

Introduction

The field of neurosurgery faces challenges with the increasing involvement of other medical specialties in areas traditionally led by neurosurgeons. This paper examines the implications of this development for neurosurgical practice and patient care, with a focus on specialized areas like pain management, peripheral nerve surgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery.

Research question

To assess the implications of the expanded scope of other specialties for neurosurgical practice and to consider the response of the EANS Frontiers in Neurosurgery Committee to these challenges.

Materials and methods

Analysis of recent trends in neurosurgery, including the shift in various procedures to other specialties, demographic challenges, and the emergence of minimally invasive techniques. This analysis draws on relevant literature and the initiatives of the Frontiers in Neurosurgery Committee.

Results

We explore a possible decrease in neurosurgical involvement in certain areas, which may have implications for patient care and access to specialized neurosurgical interventions. The Frontiers in Neurosurgery Committee's role in addressing these concerns is highlighted, particularly in terms of training, education, research, and networking for neurosurgeons, especially those early in their careers.

Discussion and conclusion

The potential decrease in neurosurgical involvement in certain specialties warrants attention. This paper emphasizes the importance of carefully considered responses by neurosurgical societies, such as the EANS, to ensure neurosurgeons continue to play a vital role in managing neurological diseases. Emphasis on ongoing education, integration of minimally invasive techniques, and multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for maintaining the field's competence and quality in patient care.

Global evidence of inequality in well-being among older adults

BACKGROUND

By 2030, the UN expects 1.4 billion older adults and 2.1 billion by 2050. By 2050, 80 percent of older persons will live in developing nations. This demographic shift will present new challenges and opportunities in several areas, including health, migration, employment, and social safety nets. This study's aims were to: (1) present novel evidence on the trends and determinants of well-being and well-being inequality among older people around the world; and (2) highlight variation across World Bank development groups.

METHODS

The study utilizes individual-level survey data from nine waves of the Gallup World Poll (2009-2017), which is representative of about 99.5% of the global population. First, we report country-level panel evidence on well-being and well-being inequality for adults over 60 years of age. Second, we estimate regressions to identify the individual-level determinants of well-being and well-being inequality.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that average levels of happiness vary little over time. This holds for all World Bank development groups. In contrast, we show that inequality in well-being increases for all categories except in high-income countries. Examining the factors that influence well-being and well-being inequality reveals the particular importance of income, social ties, and health. We also reveal gender differences in global well-being; women tend to be happier than men. Lastly, whereas variations in inequity-causing factors are minimal when comparing older to younger individuals, they vary substantially when comparing across development groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that rather than focusing on the average level of well-being among older people, governments should consider the full distribution of well-being. This requires a special emphasis on health, social networks, and education, as well as the assessment of distributional impacts in policy proposals.

Spatial-temporal distribution patterns and influencing factors analysis of comorbidity prevalence of chronic diseases among middle-aged and elderly people in China: focusing on exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

OBJECTIVE

This study describes regional differences and dynamic changes in the prevalence of comorbidities among middle-aged and elderly people with chronic diseases (PCMC) in China from 2011-2018, and explores distribution patterns and the relationship between PM2.5 and PCMC, aiming to provide data support for regional prevention and control measures for chronic disease comorbidities in China.

METHODS

This study utilized CHARLS follow-up data for ≥ 45-year-old individuals from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018 as research subjects. Missing values were filled using the random forest machine learning method. PCMC spatial clustering investigated using spatial autocorrelation methods. The relationship between macro factors and PCMC was examined using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression, Ordinary Linear Regression, and Geographically Weighted Regression.

RESULTS

PCMC in China showing a decreasing trend. Hotspots of PCMC appeared mainly in western and northern provinces, while cold spots were in southeastern coastal provinces. PM2.5 content was a risk factor for PCMC, the range of influence expanded from the southeastern coastal areas to inland areas, and the magnitude of influence decreased from the southeastern coastal areas to inland areas.

CONCLUSION

PM2.5 content, as a risk factor, should be given special attention, taking into account regional factors. In the future, policy-makers should develop stricter air pollution control policies based on different regional economic, demographic, and geographic factors, while promoting public education, increasing public transportation, and urban green coverage.

Determinants of intention to conceal tuberculosis status among family members: an analysis of seven Sub-Saharan African countries

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), accounting for about 25% of global TB cases. In several communities, TB diagnosis, treatment, and control have become a critical challenge, largely due to the intention to conceal TB status among family members. It is therefore crucial to understand the factors associated with the intentions to conceal TB status among family members in SSA.

METHODS

This quantitative study utilised data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The objective was to examine the factors associated with the intention to conceal the TB status of family members. The sample consisted of 58,849 individuals aged 10 years or older from seven SSA countries. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess the associations between TB status concealment and various socio-demographic and economic variables.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of TB status concealment intentions for the seven countries was 28.0% (95% CI: 27.6-28.4). Malawi and Eswatini accounted for the highest (47.3%) and lowest (3.0%) prevalence of TB concealment intentions respectively. TB status concealment intentions decreased with increasing age (p < 0.001). Living in rural areas was associated with lower odds of intending to conceal the TB of family members compared to living in urban areas (aOR = 0.92; p = 0.008). Higher education levels were associated with lower odds of TB status concealment intentions (aOR = 0.50; p < 0.001) compared to lower education levels. As participants wealth index increased, the odds of TB status concealment intentions decreased (aOR = 0.83; p < 0.001). Country of residence also showed significant associations with individuals in Ghana (aOR = 4.51; p < 0.001), Lesotho (aOR = 2.08; p < 0.001), Malawi (aOR = 4.10; p < 0.001), Namibia (aOR = 4.40; p < 0.001), and Sao-Tome and Principe (aOR = 5.56; p < 0.001) showing higher odds of TB status concealment intentions compared to Eswatini.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings conclude that several social determinants of health, including age, urbanicity, education, and wealth contribute to TB status concealment intentions for family members. Considering these factors is important for designing targeted interventions to improve TB control in the sample. In light of the unavailability of cultural variables in the dataset, future research can leverage qualitative approaches to conduct a more comprehensive exploration of the cultural factors linked to TB status concealment intentions in the population.

The effect of glycine administration on the characteristics of physiological systems in human adults: A systematic review

Functional decline of physiological systems during ageing leads to age-related diseases. Dietary glycine increases healthy lifespan in model organisms and might decrease inflammation in humans, suggesting its geroprotective potential. This review summarises the evidence of glycine administration on the characteristics of eleven physiological systems in adult humans. Databases were searched using key search terms: 'glycine', 'adult', 'supplementation'/ 'administration'/ 'ingestion'/ 'treatment'. Glycine was administered to healthy and diseased populations (18 and 34 studies) for up to 14 days and 4 months, respectively. The nervous system demonstrated the most positive effects, including improved psychiatric symptoms from longer-term glycine administration in psychiatric populations. While longer-term glycine administration improved sleep in healthy populations, these studies had small sample sizes with a high risk of bias. Larger and long-term studies with more robust study designs in healthy populations to examine the effects of glycine administration on preventing, delaying or reversing the ageing process are warranted.

Biological and Physical Performance Markers for Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

Dementia is a major cause of poor quality of life, disability, and mortality in old age. According to the geroscience paradigm, the mechanisms that drive the aging process are also involved in the pathogenesis of chronic degenerative diseases, including dementia. The dissection of such mechanisms is therefore instrumental in providing biological targets for interventions and new sources for biomarkers. Within the geroscience paradigm, several biomarkers have been discovered that can be measured in blood and that allow early identification of individuals at risk of cognitive impairment. Examples of such markers include inflammatory biomolecules, markers of neuroaxonal damage, extracellular vesicles, and DNA methylation. Furthermore, gait speed, measured at a usual and fast pace and as part of a dual task, has been shown to detect individuals at risk of future dementia. Here, we provide an overview of available biomarkers that may be used to gauge the risk of cognitive impairment in apparently healthy older adults. Further research should establish which combination of biomarkers possesses the highest predictive accuracy toward incident dementia. The implementation of currently available markers may allow the identification of a large share of at-risk individuals in whom preventive interventions should be implemented to maintain or increase cognitive reserves, thereby reducing the risk of progression to dementia.

Turkish adaptation, reliability, and validity of the detection test for language impairments in adults and the aged

There is no quick, valid, and reliable screening tool in Turkish that can be used for screening language disorders associated with major neurocognitive disorders (MND). To fill this gap, we designed three distinct studies. In the first study, we adapted the Detection Test for Language Impairments in Adults and the Aged into the Turkish language (DTLA-Tr). In the second study, we collected data from 175 Turkish individuals to determine the normative data of the DTLA-Tr. In the last study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the DLTA-Tr by comparing 17 healthy individuals with 17 patients with Alzheimer's disease and determining its test-retest reliability. As a result of Study 1, the DTLA was adapted to the Turkish adult population. In Study 2, the normative data of the DTLA-Tr were provided. The results of this study indicated a positive correlation between educational level and DTLA-Tr total score. The results of Study 3 showed that the DTLA-Tr has high predictive validity and good test-retest reliability. The DTLA-Tr is a valid and reliable tool for assessing language abilities in both adults and the elderly. The findings of this study have significant implications for the evaluation of language in Turkish-speaking patients with MND.

Prevalence of functional dependence and chronic diseases in the community-dwelling Brazilian older adults: an analysis by dependence severity and multimorbidity pattern

BACKGROUND

Despite the advancements in knowledge about health care for older adults, essential gaps persist regarding the effects of chronic diseases as epidemiological markers of the state of functional dependence. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of moderate and severe functional dependence in Brazilian older adults and its association with chronic diseases and verify the multimorbidity patterns by dependence status.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analytical study used data from 11,177 community-dwelling Brazilian older adults from the 2013 National Health Survey conducted in Brazil. The dependent variables were moderate and severe functional dependence in basic activities of daily living (BADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). The independent variables were defined based on the questions applied to measure each morbidity in a self-reported manner and asked, "Has a doctor ever diagnosed you as having (each disease)? Multimorbidity was simultaneously considered present for older adults with ≥ 2 chronic morbidities. The association between functional dependence on BADLs and IADLs separately by severity and the independent variables was verified from crude and adjusted estimates of the point prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals using the regression model Poisson with robust variance. To group diseases into patterns, exploratory factor analysis was used.

RESULTS

The prevalences of moderate and severe BADL dependence were 10.2% (95% CI, 9.6-10.7) and 4.8% (95% CI, 4.4-5.2), respectively. Moderate and severe IADL dependence prevalences were 13.8% (95% CI, 13.1-14.4) and 15.6% (95% CI, 14.9%-16.2), respectively. When changing the condition from moderate to severe dependence in BADLs, in the presence of other mental illnesses and stroke, the probability of dependence increased more than four times in the case of other mental illnesses and more than five times for stroke. There was a linear trend for dependence severity, both moderate and severe, whereas, for severe dependence on IADLs, this same factor maintained a linear trend toward an increase in probability as the number of diseases simultaneously increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic diseases are associated with functional dependence, with greater emphasis on mental illnesses and stroke in severe disability, considering their acute adverse effects.

Persistence of antibody to 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine: a 5-year prospective follow-up cohort study

BACKGROUND

Pneumococcal vaccines are effective in preventing pneumococcal diseases in adults. The evaluation of the antibodies persistence to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) could provide evidence on PPV23 revaccination.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Adults aged ≥ 60 years were selected and vaccinated with PPV23 in Shanghai, and followed up for 5 years with blood samples collection of a 1-year interval. The geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of the IgG against 23 pneumococcal serotypes covered by PPV23 were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The antibodies to 23 pneumococcal serotypes among different groups was analyzed using statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 517 participants completed all six visits over a 5-year period (2013-2018). The GMC of 23 serotypes in adults aged ≥ 60 years decreased slowly after PPV23 vaccination compared to baseline pre-vaccination (P < 0.05), except serotype 3. Additionally, the multiplicative increase in the antibody concentration after PPV23 vaccination was greater, and the antibody levels of serotypes 1 and 6B were significantly higher at visit 5 than at visit 4 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The pneumococcal antibodies in elderly after PPV23 vaccination could sustain high levels over long-term follow-up, which suggested that the interval of revaccination with PPV23 in elderly should be at least 5 years after the first vaccination.

Socioeconomic inequalities in health and healthcare utilization among the elderly in Brazil: results from the 2019 National Health Survey

OBJECTIVES

To assess socioeconomic-related inequalities in health and healthcare utilization among the elderly in Brazil.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional nationally representative household-based survey.

METHODS

We evaluated the Brazilian National Health Survey data collected in 2019. We computed the prevalence of measures of health conditions and healthcare utilization by age-bracket and markers of socioeconomic status-income, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity-among individuals aged 60 or older. We further employed logistic regression models, adjusted for a wide set of covariates, to estimate the relationship between socioeconomic status and those outcomes.

RESULTS

Higher-income and more educated individuals exhibit better health conditions compared to their lower-income and less-educated counterparts within each age bracket. Results from regression models showed strong associations with income and educational attainment for most health conditions: health status, physical activity, difficulties with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, and depression. For most conditions, weaker or no associations with race/ethnicity were found. Individuals in the highest income quintile and that completed higher education also had higher odds of having consulted a physician, while high-income individuals had lower odds of having received emergency care at home.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study highlight the significant socioeconomic inequalities in the health of the elderly population in Brazil. The substantial and pervasive nature of these inequalities stresses the need for action to address them.

The effect of body mass index on self-rated health in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Health promotion for middle-aged and older people has received a lot of attention recently in the context of healthy aging. Furthermore, it is unclear how body mass index (BMI) presently affects self-rated health (SRH), a reliable and representative indicator of health.

METHODS

This study used longitudinal follow-up data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Systematic collection of information on the socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health status of the subjects. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between BMI and SRH, and gender-specific variations were examined. Subgroup analysis was used to examine interactions, and the results of the research stability were demonstrated.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, gender, education level, marital status, place of residence, number of chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, smoking, depressive symptoms, and SRH at baseline, it was found that obesity grade 1 and obesity grade 2 were good contributors to SRH compared to normal weight individuals, and this association was different in males and females. According to the results of the subgroup analyses, those under 65 years old, with junior high school or less education, with a spouse, residing in a city, having one chronic disease, and not smoking or drinking, respectively, all had stable positive associations between obesity and SRH.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that obesity may be associated with good SRH. Teams of healthcare professionals should revisit the potential impact of obesity among middle-aged and older adults and focus on developing prevention strategies for morbid obesity.

Hidalgo B, Aroke EN. Neighborhood Environment and Epigenetic Age: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Interest in how the neighborhood environment impacts age-related health conditions has been increasing for decades. Epigenetic changes are environmentally derived modifications to the genome that alter the way genes function-thus altering health status. Epigenetic age, a biomarker for biological age, has been shown to be a useful predictor of several age-related health conditions. Consequently, its relation to the neighborhood environment has been the focus of a growing body of literature.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe the scope of the evidence on the relationship between neighborhood environmental characteristics and epigenetic age.

METHODS

Using scoping review following methods established by Arksey and O'Malley, we first defined our research questions and searched the literature in PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE. Next, we selected the literature to be included, and finally, we analyzed and summarized the information.

RESULTS

Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Most studies examined deprivation as the neighborhood characteristic of interest. While all studies were observational in design, the articles included diverse participants, including men and women, adults and children, and multiple ethnicities. Results demonstrated a relationship between the neighborhood environment and epigenetic age, whether the characteristic of interest is socioeconomic or physical.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, studies concluded there was a relationship between neighborhood characteristics and epigenetic age, whether the characteristic of interest was socioeconomic or physical. However, findings varied based on how the neighborhood characteristic and/or epigenetic age was measured. Furthermore, a paucity of investigations on physical characteristics was noticeable and warrants increased attention.

Determinants and indicators of successful aging as a multidimensional outcome: a systematic review of longitudinal studies

Background

Successful aging (SA) has been coined as a term to describe the multidimensional aspects associated with achieving optimal combination of physical and mental health along with social well-being health, mental and social well-being at older age. In recent years there has been an increased interest in understanding the role of determinants of SA, such as demographic, biological, behavioral, psychological and social factors. To synthesize the recent evidence, we conducted a systematic review of longitudinal studies on a range of determinants and indicators of SA defined as a multidimensional outcome.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science for finding eligible papers published between August 2016 and June 2023 was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Registration number: CRD42021250200). The web-based automated screening tool-Rayyan-was used for title and abstract screening. The study quality was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool.

Results

A total of 3,191 records were initially identified using the predefined search strategy. Out of 289 articles selected for full text screening, 22 were found eligible and included in the review. A variety of factors have been explored in relation to SA, ranging from socio-demographic factors, nutrition, lifestyle, biological pathways, psychological health, and well-being. Overall, the results of recent studies have confirmed the role of metabolic health, adherence to healthy dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, physical activity, non-smoking, and higher socio-economic status as main factors associated with higher odds for SA. Emerging research highlights the role of psycho-social factors and early life health as determinants of SA.

Conclusion

In summary, this review highlights the importance of healthy living and monitoring metabolic risk along with sustaining psychological well-being in adult life as major determinants of SA. Further methodological and research work on SA would pave the way toward development of adequate health promotion policies in aging societies.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021250200, CRD42021250200.

Changes in the preoperative ocular surface flora with an increase in patient age: A surveillance analysis of bacterial diversity and resistance to fluoroquinolone

PURPOSE

This study analyzed the relationship between patient age and the prevalence and fluoroquinolone susceptibility of gram-positive cocci from the ocular surface flora before ophthalmic surgery.

METHODS

This surveillance study included scraped samples from the conjunctival sac of 8923 eyes of 5490 patients (70.0 ± 13.7 years) without ocular infection before ophthalmologic surgery between August 2018 and December 2020. A review of microbiological records regarding patient age was used to determine the number of isolates and gram-positive species obtained, as well as their fluoroquinolone susceptibility. Fluoroquinolone susceptibility was determined using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols of broth microdilution. Statistical analysis was performed using a generalized additive model and a log-linear model.

RESULTS

In total, 9,894 bacterial isolates obtained from scraped samples from the patients were analyzed. The detected species were Staphylococcus epidermidis (31.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.1%), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (3.9%), Enterococcus faecalis (5.8%), Corynebacterium species (31.7%), and Cutibacterium acnes (7.5%) and others. The number of species isolated from the ocular surface was increased at the rate of 1.018 per 10 years of age (p < 0.0001). S. epidermidis, S. lugdunensis, E. faecalis, and Corynebacterium species were isolated more often with an increase in patient age. The levofloxacin resistance ratio of methicillin-sensitive S. epidermidis and Corynebacterium species increased at the rate of 1.204 and 1.087 respectively with a 10-year increase in age (both p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Gram-positive bacteria in the ocular surface flora (OSF) exhibited gradual changes in diversity and fluoroquinolone resistance with an increase in patient age. It is important to monitor the OSF of the patients before ophthalmologic surgery to prevent refractory ocular postoperative infection.

Ageing, sport and physical activity participation in Scotland

Aim

As sport and physical activity are vital to support extended health spans, this study aimed to analyse the current trends in sports participation and physical activity rates among individuals aged 65 years and older in Scotland. Data were compared with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) guidelines and analysed the influence of key factors on participation rates.

Methods

The study used data from the Scottish Health Survey and the Scottish Household Survey (2019) to investigate self-reported participation in physical activity and sports across different age groups. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were used to analyse the relationships between participation rates and influencing factors. Participation data for Parkrun events in Scotland were also analysed for the years 2008-2018.

Results

The study found a clear decline in sports participation with age, with a steep decline after the age of 65, particularly in women. The majority of participation among individuals aged 65+ was in walking, with a sport participation rate of only 31.2% when walking was excluded. Physical activity and sport participation was lower in women across all age ranges but particularly so in the 75+ age group. The most popular sporting activities in the older age group were keep fit/aerobics, swimming and golf. Additionally, the study found that social deprivation had a major impact on sports participation rates, with the most deprived households exhibiting the lowest participation levels irrespective of age. The prevalence of loneliness was lower among individuals who participated in sports or adhered to the CMO guidelines for moderate/vigorous physical activity and strength-building exercises.

Discussion

The findings of this study have implications for promoting physical activity and sports participation among older adults, particularly in deprived communities. This study highlights the importance of balance exercises within sport and the need for more targeted efforts to increase participation rates among older adults. The study also emphasizes the positive impact of sports participation on reducing loneliness among older adults. Overall, the findings suggest the need for ongoing efforts to promote physical activity and sports participation among older adults to improve their overall health and well-being.

Effects of a Clinical Simulation-Based Training Program for Nursing Students to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness in the Elderly: A Quasi-Experimental Study

INTRODUCTION

The population of older adults is rapidly increasing worldwide, presenting both prospects and complexities for society and healthcare professionals to maximize the functional capacity of this age group. Social isolation and loneliness significantly affect this population. The objective was to determine the effectiveness, satisfaction, and perceptions of the simulation-based education practices of a training program for nursing students, which was created to palliate the social isolation and loneliness of older adults.

METHOD

A quasi-experimental study was conducted with nursing students who participated in an online training program using teleservice based on high-fidelity clinical simulation. The program included asynchronous theoretical training and synchronous practical training using an online platform. Five scenarios were designed using simulated phone calls to address the social isolation and loneliness of older adults.

RESULTS

Twenty-five nursing students participated in the program, and they had a mean age of 27.44, with 76% of them being women. After the training program, the participants showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) with respect to their knowledge and attitudes towards older adults, and the program was adapted to the best educational practices in simulations.

CONCLUSIONS

Simulation-based online training efficiently improved the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students towards older adults, improving their ability to address social isolation and loneliness. The high satisfaction and adhesion to the best educational practices underline the usefulness of high-fidelity online simulations, especially in situations in which face-to-face training is not feasible, and accessibility and equilibrium could be guaranteed between work and personal life.

The relationship of perceived discrimination in healthcare and future falls among community-dwelling older persons from an English longitudinal cohort

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to examine the relation between the perceived discrimination suffered by older adults aged 60 and over during a healthcare encounter and its effects on the likelihood of falling 4 and 8 years later.

METHODS

To identify discrimination, we used the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) data collected in 2010-2011 (wave 5) that asked respondents about feeling discriminated against by doctors or at hospitals in the past year. Falls were assessed by the question: "Have you fallen down in the last two years?" in subsequent waves. We performed longitudinal analyses using the 2014-2015 (wave 7) and 2018-2019 (wave 9) follow-ups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios of falling.

RESULTS

At baseline, 707 (15.1%) of all respondents experienced healthcare discrimination. Those suffering from discrimination in health care had 64% higher chances of falling 4 years later (odds ratio: 1.637, 95% confidence interval: 1.131-2.368) compared to those who did not, adjusting for age, sex, marital status, wealth, ethnicity, education levels, self-perceived health, depressive symptoms, and difficulties with basic and/or instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL) and difficulties with walking. After 8 years, the effect was not statistically significant. Older age was the only significant detrimental factor at both 4 and 8 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding discrimination in health care is important to enable safe and welcoming environments for the timely future use of services. These results remind us of the physical risk and the complex panorama of bio-psychosocial determinants involved in tackling discrimination over time.

Prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of selected noncommunicable diseases among the general population of Cyprus: A large population-based cross-sectional study

Background

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCDs among the population of Cyprus and to identify the distribution of the socioeconomic and demographic determinants among individuals with the most frequent NCDs.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using stratified sampling. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the presence of NCDs were collected through a standardized questionnaire. The diseases were classified using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

Results

In total, 1140 individuals participated in the study, among whom 590 (51.7%) had at least one chronic disease. The most prevalent NCDs were hyperlipidemia (17.4%), hypertension (12.9%), and thyroid diseases (8.4%). We identified more males than females with hyperlipidemia aged 25-44 years old and >65 years old (p = 0.024), more males compared to females with hypertension (p = 0.001) and more females compared to males with thyroid diseases (p < 0.001). Individuals with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were more likely to be married, to have completed a higher education, and to have a high annual income.

Discussion

In Cyprus, the majority of the general population had at least one NCD. Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and thyroid disease are relatively common, even at younger ages, highlighting the need for the development of public health programs aimed at addressing and preventing NCDs.

Who Bears Responsibility for the Post-Acute Older Adult: Patient, Family or State?

AIM

This study explores the perceptions of hospital discharge coordinators on the issues raised for the post-acute older adult and their family, using the lens of assisted decision-making and advance directives.

BACKGROUND

New legislation has been developed in Ireland to support assisted decision-making and advance directives that is largely consistent with other countries around the world. The Assisted Decision-Making Act of 2015 was fully commeced in April 2023, following lengthy debate. However, there is a lot of professional uncertainty regarding how to support and integrate Advance Healthcare Directives and assisted decision-making into the care of adults and into the role of nurses working in the community.

METHODS

Utilising a qualitative approach, this study conducted a series of five focus groups, with 23 participants, across the South-East of Ireland. Thematic analysis was used to interpret results. The 32-item consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist was utilised.

FINDINGS

The central finding in this study concerned the locus of control, as well as findings on burden of care and the role of the nurse. A stark incongruence of beliefs among patient, family and State was identified.

CONCLUSION

Nurses must learn to circumnavigate the complex terrain involved in supporting the older adult's advance decision-making and advance healthcare directives.

Technologies for frailty, comorbidity, and multimorbidity in older adults: a systematic review of research designs

BACKGROUND

Frailty, neurodegeneration and geriatric syndromes cause a significant impact at the clinical, social, and economic level, mainly in the context of the aging world. Recently, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), virtual reality tools, and machine learning models have been increasingly applied to the care of older patients to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and interventions. However, so far, the methodological limitations of studies in this field have prevented to generalize data to real-word. This review systematically overviews the research designs used by studies applying technologies for the assessment and treatment of aging-related syndromes in older people.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guidelines, records from PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically screened to select original articles in which interventional or observational designs were used to study technologies' applications in samples of frail, comorbid, or multimorbid patients.

RESULTS

Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies used diagnostic accuracy designs to test assessment procedures or retrospective cohort designs to build predictive models. A minority were randomized or non-randomized interventional studies. Quality evaluation revealed a high risk of bias for observational studies, while a low risk of bias for interventional studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of the reviewed articles use an observational design mainly to study diagnostic procedures and suffer from a high risk of bias. The scarce presence of methodologically robust interventional studies may suggest that the field is in its infancy. Methodological considerations will be presented on how to standardize procedures and research quality in this field.

Quantitative systematic review of the transformational leadership style as a driver of nurses' organisational commitment

AIMS

To explore the association between nurses' perceptions of their nurse manager's transformational leadership style and nurses' organisational commitment.

DESIGN

Narrative systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

The CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, PubMed, Business Source Complete, Cochrane Library, along with OpenGrey t were systematically searched for observational studies written in English, between January 2009 and December 2020.

REVIEW METHODS

This systematic review is based on the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook, and PRISMA-P. Two reviewers independently selected studies. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies.

RESULTS

Seven cross-sectional studies with 2885 participants were included. Six studies reported that the transformational leadership style was positively related to nurses' organisational commitment, and the remaining study reported a negative association.

CONCLUSIONS

Six studies were found that the transformational leadership style is a driver of nurses' organisational commitment. Only one study reported that transformational leadership style negatively associated with acute care nurses' organisational commitment. However, the negative finding is less valid, as the study data indicates that the nurse managers' ineffective transformational leadership style in the acute care unit or the culture influence, which may have influenced the results.

IMPACTS

It provides the guideline, recommendation, and important evidence to support nursing managers adopting the transformational leadership style to promote nurse retention helping to alleviate the nursing shortage. This is beneficial to the well-being of the nurse. Meanwhile, this can help the health organisation reducing the cost of nurses' turnover and recruiting new nurses. It is also good for address future ageing population healthcare problem in the long term.

Dietary antioxidants and lifespan: Relevance of environmental conditions, diet, and genotype of experimental models

The rise of life expectancy in current societies is not accompanied, to date, by a similar increase in healthspan, which represents a great socio-economic problem. It has been suggested that aging can be manipulated and then, the onset of all age-associated chronic disorders can be delayed because these pathologies share age as primary underlying risk factor. One of the most extended ideas is that aging is consequence of the accumulation of molecular damage. According to the oxidative damage theory, antioxidants should slow down aging, extending lifespan and healthspan. The present review analyzes studies evaluating the effect of dietary antioxidants on lifespan of different aging models and discusses the evidence on favor of their antioxidant activity as anti-aging mechanisms. Moreover, possible causes for differences between the reported results are evaluated.

Microvesicle-Mediated Tissue Regeneration Mitigates the Effects of Cellular Ageing

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), comprising microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes (Exos), are membranous vesicles secreted by cells which mediate the repair of cellular and tissue damage via paracrine mechanisms. The action of EVs under normative and morbid conditions in the context of ageing remains largely unexplored. We demonstrate that MVs, but not Exos, from Pathfinder cells (PCs), a putative stem cell regulatory cell type, enhance the repair of human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) co-cultures, following both mechanical and genotoxic stress. Critically, this effect was found to be both cellular age and stress specific. Notably, MV treatment was unable to repair mechanical injury in older co-cultures but remained therapeutic following genotoxic stress. These observations were further confirmed in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) co-cultures of increasing cellular age. In a model of comorbidity comprising co-cultures of HDFs and highly senescent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) VSMCs, MV administration appeared to be senotherapeutic, following both mechanical and genotoxic stress. Our data provide insights into EVs and the specific roles they play during tissue repair and ageing. These data will potentiate the development of novel cell-free therapeutic interventions capable of attenuating age-associated morbidities and avoiding undesired effects.

Socio-economic status and trajectories of a novel multidimensional metric of Active and Healthy Ageing: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Healthy ageing research largely has a unidimensional focus on physical health, negating the importance of psychosocial factors in the maintenance of a good quality-of-life. In this cohort study, we aimed to identify trajectories of a new multidimensional metric of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA), including their associations with socio-economic variables. A latent AHA metric was created for 14,755 participants across eight waves of data (collected between 2004 and 2019) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), using Bayesian Multilevel Item Response Theory (MLIRT). Then, Growth Mixture Modelling (GMM) was employed to identify sub-groups of individuals with similar trajectories of AHA, and multinomial logistic regression examined associations of these trajectories with socio-economic variables: education, occupational class, and wealth. Three latent classes of AHA trajectories were suggested. Participants in higher quintiles of the wealth distribution had decreased odds of being in the groups with consistently moderate AHA scores (i.e., 'moderate-stable'), or the steepest deterioration (i.e., 'decliners'), compared to the 'high-stable' group. Education and occupational class were not consistently associated with AHA trajectories. Our findings reiterate the need for more holistic measures of AHA and prevention strategies targeted at limiting socio-economic disparities in older adults' quality-of-life.

Effect of Yoga on Frailty in Older Adults : A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Yoga, a multicomponent mind-body practice, improves several domains of physical and psychological health and may affect frailty in older adults.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the available trial evidence on the effect of yoga-based interventions on frailty in older adults.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central from their inception to 12 December 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of yoga-based interventions, including at least 1 session of physical postures, on a validated frailty scale or single-item markers of frailty in adults aged 65 years or older.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two authors independently screened articles and extracted data; 1 author assessed risk of bias with review from a second author. Disagreements were resolved through consensus and as-needed input from a third author.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirty-three studies (n = 2384 participants) were identified in varied populations, including community dwellers, nursing home residents, and those with chronic disease. Yoga styles were primarily based on Hatha yoga and most often included Iyengar or chair-based methods. Single-item frailty markers included measures of gait speed, handgrip strength, balance, lower-extremity strength and endurance, and multicomponent physical performance measures; no studies included a validated definition of frailty. When compared with education or inactive control, there was moderate-certainty evidence that yoga improved gait speed and lower-extremity strength and endurance, low-certainty evidence for balance and multicomponent physical function measures, and very low-certainty evidence for handgrip strength.

LIMITATION

Heterogeneity in study design and yoga style, small sample sizes, and reporting deficiencies leading to concerns for selection bias.

CONCLUSION

Yoga may affect frailty markers that are associated with clinically meaningful outcomes in older adult populations but may not offer benefit over active interventions (for example, exercise).

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

None. (PROSPERO: CRD42020130303).

Differences in Factors Influencing Deprescribing between Primary Care Providers: Cross-Sectional Study

Deprescribing is a notable approach to improve medication management, but few healthcare systems recognize it. To introduce a new practice, it is important to examine the factors influencing the provision of a new or elaborate cognitive service within the desired setting. This study explores the perceived barriers and facilitators of deprescribing by primary healthcare providers, and identifies the factors associated with a willingness to suggest deprescribing. A cross-sectional survey was conducted (in Croatia, between October 2021 and January 2022) using a validated comprehensive healthcare providers' opinions, preferences, and attitudes towards deprescribing (CHOPPED) questionnaire. A total of 419 pharmacists and 124 physicians participated. Participants showed a high willingness to deprescribe, with significantly higher scores in physicians than in pharmacists (5.00 (interquartile range-IQR 5-5) vs. 4.00 (IQR 4-5), p < 0.001). Pharmacists had significantly higher scores in seven out of ten factors (knowledge, awareness, collaboration facilitators, competencies facilitators, healthcare system facilitators, collaboration barriers, competencies barriers) while in the remaining three factors (patient facilitators, patient and healthcare system barriers) there was no difference in scores. The strongest positive correlation with willingness to suggest deprescribing was found with the collaboration and healthcare system facilitators factors for pharmacists (G = 0.331, p < 0.001, and G = 0.309, p < 0.001, respectively), and with knowledge, awareness, and patient facilitators factors for physicians (G = 0.446, p = 0.001; G = 0.771, p < 0.001; and G = 0.259, p = 0.043, respectively). Primary healthcare providers are willing to suggest deprescribing but face different barriers and facilitators. For pharmacists, the most important facilitators were extrinsic, while for physicians they were more intrinsic and patient related. The stated results provide target areas which one could focus upon to help to engage healthcare providers in deprescribing.

Association between serum manganese and serum klotho in a 40–80-year-old American population from NHANES 2011–2016

Objectives: Manganese is one of the essential trace elements that are required by the human body. Klotho protein is a classic anti-aging marker. The association between the levels of serum manganese and serum klotho in individuals between the ages of 40–80 in the United States remains unclear.

Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2011–2016) in the United States. We performed multiple linear regression analyses to investigate the association between the levels of serum manganese and serum klotho. Furthermore, we performed a fitted smoothing curve according to a restricted cubic spline (RCS). Stratification and subgroup analyses were performed for further verification of the results.

Results: Weighted multivariate linear regression analysis showed that serum manganese levels were independently and positively associated with serum klotho levels (β = 6.30, 95% confidence interval: 3.30–9.40). Kruskal–Wallis test showed that participants with higher manganese quartiles had higher serum klotho levels (Q1: 808.54 ± 256.39 pg/mL; Q2: 854.56 ± 266.13 pg/mL; Q3: 865.13 ± 300.60 pg/mL; and Q4: 871.72 ± 338.85 pg/mL, p &lt; 0.001). The RCS curve indicated that the association between the levels of serum manganese and serum klotho was non-linear. Furthermore, a significantly positive association was found between serum manganese and serum klotho levels in the majority of subgroups.

Conclusion: A non-linear and positive association was found between the levels of serum manganese and serum klotho in individuals aged 40–80 in the United States according to the NHANES (2011–2016).

Life Course Predictors of Young Men Surviving to Age 90 in a Cohort Study: The Manitoba Follow-up Study

The purpose of this study was to identify factors at various time points in life that are associated with surviving to age 90. Data from men enrolled in a cohort study since 1948 were considered in 12-year intervals. Logistic regression models were constructed with the outcome of surviving to age 90. Factors were: childhood illness, blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), chronic diseases, and electrocardiogram (ECG) findings. After 1996, the Short Form-36 was added. A total of 3,976 men were born in 1928 or earlier, and hence by the end of our study window in 2018, each had the opportunity of surviving to age 90. Of these, 721 did live to beyond his 90th birthday.The factors in 1948 which predicted surviving were: lower diastolic BP, lower BMI, and not smoking. In 1960, these factors were: lower BP, lower BMI, not smoking, and no major ECG changes. In 1972, these factors were lower BP, not smoking, and fewer disease states. In 1984, these factors were lower systolic BP, not smoking, ECG changes, and fewer disease states. In 1996, the factors were fewer disease states and higher physical and mental health functioning. In 2008, only higher physical functioning predicted survival to the age of 90. In young adulthood, risk factors are important predictors of surviving to age 90; in mid-life, chronic illnesses emerge, and in later life, functional status becomes predominant.