Are centenarians successful agers? Evidence from China

Multiple Roads to Success: A Latent Class Analysis on Successful Ageing Among Hong Kong Near-Centenarians and Centenarians (NCC)

Notwithstanding the oldest-old cohort being the fastest-growing population in most ageing societies, characterizing successful ageing in adults of advanced age, such as nonagenarians and centenarians, remains challenging. This study investigated the successful ageing subphenotypes using the data from Hong Kong Centenarian Study 2. Between April 2021 and September 2022, 146 family caregivers of community-dwelling older adults aged 95 or above were interviewed by phone. Latent class analysis identified three classes-Overall Frail (46.6%) with poor mobility, cognitive and functional health, Nonambulant (37.0%) but good functional health, and Robust (16.4%) with overall good health-from 11 indicators based on caregivers' reports. Although we found a low prevalence of fulfillment of all indicators of successful ageing, our findings will help care professionals appreciate the heterogeneity underlying partial successful ageing in this vulnerable cohort for segmented and targeted healthy longevity interventions.

Intrinsic capacity loss rates and protective factors among individuals aged 80 years and older in Chinese nursing homes: A latent class analysis

Prior to this cross-sectional study, the intrinsic capacity (IC) loss rates and protective factors in nursing homes for individuals aged 80 and older remained unexplored. Analysing 434 participants, this study found 86.9 % of individuals experienced the loss of at least one IC domain, with detailed losses in locomotion, vision, vitality, hearing, psychological, and cognitive capacities at rates of 83.2 %, 52.8 %, 50.9 %, 46.5 %, 44.9 %, and 44.0 %, respectively. Following latent class analysis (LCA), five distinct IC impairment patterns were noted, with locomotor impairment emerging as a central component across most classes. IC protective factors for persons aged 80 years and older included financial stability, being male or younger within the cohort, junior high school or higher education, being married, no smoking history, manageable comorbidity levels, minimal medication use, good sleep, and not using assistive devices. Based on these five classes, this study provides a potential practical framework alongside recommendations for IC care strategies in the oldest-old, emphasising the importance of locomotor function in maintaining the overall IC.

Positive Aspects of Caregiving in Familial Care for Nonagenarians and Centenarians: Findings from Hong Kong Centenarian Study

Caregiving for the fast-growing but vulnerable oldest-old population may involve distinct challenges but also gratification. We analyzed quantitative and qualitative data from family caregivers of community-dwelling older adults aged 95 or above in Hong Kong. Quantitative analysis of 143 caregivers revealed that higher age, dependence on basic activities of daily living, independence on instrumental activities of daily living, and intact hearing ability of the older adults, and absence of a domestic helper and better self-rated health of the caregivers were associated with more positive aspects of caregiving. Qualitative analysis of the 96 caregivers who mentioned at least a positive aspect from their caregiving identified three themes: acquiring caregiving skills, fulfilling family love and obligation, and preparing for graceful aging. Our findings elaborated the nature and mechanism of caregiving gains against the unique backdrop of exceptional longevity and the Chinese cultural expectations of filial piety.

Successful aging and its subtypes in centenarians: The Chinese experience

This editorial comments on the article by Lu et al