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Lau BHP, Pat LYC, Siu JCY, Shum ENY. Positive Aspects of Caregiving in Familial Care for Nonagenarians and Centenarians: Findings from Hong Kong Centenarian Study. J Appl Gerontol 2024:7334648241261462. [PMID: 38902873 DOI: 10.1177/07334648241261462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobo Hi-Po Lau
- Department of Counselling & Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong
| | - Lian Ying-Chun Pat
- Department of Counselling & Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong
| | - Joey Chung-Yue Siu
- Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Saint Francis University, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Ngai-Yin Shum
- Department of Counselling & Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong
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2
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Shum ENY, Lau BHP, Cheung KSL, Chan CLW, Siu JCY, Luk JKH, Kwan JSK, Chan GMY, Pat LYC, Martin P. Multiple Roads to Success: A Latent Class Analysis on Successful Ageing Among Hong Kong Near-Centenarians and Centenarians (NCC). Int J Aging Hum Dev 2023:914150231208681. [PMID: 37904549 DOI: 10.1177/00914150231208681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ngai-Yin Shum
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bobo Hi-Po Lau
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Evidence-based Practice and Research (CIEBPR), Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen Siu-Lan Cheung
- Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Mindlink Research Centre, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Joey Chung-Yue Siu
- Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong, China
| | - James Ka-Hay Luk
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fung Yiu King Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Lian Ying-Chun Pat
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peter Martin
- Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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Woo JH, Bae SM. The Association Between Depression and Death Anxiety Among Older Adults: Moderating Effect of Ego-Integrity. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2022:302228221115586. [PMID: 35861200 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221115586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study verifies the relationship between depression and death anxiety in older adults and the moderating effect of ego-integrity on this relationship. The survey was conducted with 236 participants aged 65 years and older through a combination of online and offline surveys. The final data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS 2.16. The main findings of this study are as follows: First, depression in old age was positively related to anxiety about death. Second, the moderating effect of ego-integrity was observed on the relationship between depression and death anxiety. Third, on examining the moderating effect of each sub-variable of ego-integrity, the moderating effect of satisfaction with one's life was observed to be significant. Conversely, the moderating effect of attitude toward life and acceptance of old age was not significant. The results of this study are meaningful in examining the moderating effect of ego-integrity on the relationship between depression and death anxiety. Furthermore, the results of this study can provide basic data for the development and application of psychological intervention programs for older adults experiencing psychological problems due to depression and death anxiety in old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hee Woo
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, Cheonan-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Man Bae
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, Cheonan-si, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, College of Health Science, Dankook University, Cheonan-si, Republic of Korea
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Toye F, Jenkins C, Barker K. Understanding the experience of living well, beyond the age of 85 years: a qualitative analysis using themes from a meta-ethnography. Age Ageing 2021; 50:2238-2245. [PMID: 34673923 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afab179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increase in life-expectancy is not necessarily matched by an increase in quality of life. OBJECTIVE (1) To explore the quality of life of patients over the age of 85 in the second decade following unicompartmental knee replacement surgery (2) To understand the usefulness of a priori themes from an evidence synthesis as a framework for primary qualitative analysis. DESIGN Qualitative Research. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach, using a priori themes as sensitising concepts. PARTICIPANTS Adults over the age of 85 who were part of an outcomes study in the second decade following unicompartmental knee joint replacement. METHODS Semi-structured interviews in people's homes. Transcripts were coded and data sorted using a priori themes as sensitising concepts. Data that did not fit these themes, or that added nuance, were analysed thematically through constant comparison. RESULTS We interviewed seven white women and five white men, aged 85-100. Data resonated with a priori themes and supported additional themes that help us to understand older peoples' experience: (1) losing our autonomy can be challenging, so be kind; (2) we must take care of our own bodies and the NHS; (3) I am more afraid of not dying. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that health outcomes for older people should incorporate measures of participation and well-being; they highlight the importance of kindness in healthcare; they indicate that older people do not want to place additional burden on the NHS, and this can act as a barrier to care; they support the need for open conversations about dying well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine Toye
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX37LD, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Cathy Jenkins
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Karen Barker
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX37LD, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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Sau-wa Mak V. Technologies and dietary change: the pharmaceutical nexus and the marketing of anti-aging functional food in a Chinese society. FOOD AND FOODWAYS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/07409710.2021.1984523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Sau-wa Mak
- Department of Sociology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, North Point, Hong Kong
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Araújo L, Teixeira L, Afonso RM, Ribeiro O. To Live or Die: What to Wish at 100 Years and Older. Front Psychol 2021; 12:726621. [PMID: 34566812 PMCID: PMC8460866 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.726621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown that will to live is a strong predictor for survival among older people, irrespective of age, gender, and comorbidities. However, research on whether life at age 100 is perceived as worth living is limited. The available literature has presented evidence for good levels of positive attitudes and life satisfaction at such an advanced age, but it has also suggested that a longing for death is common. This study aimed to add to the existing data on this matter by exploring centenarians' will to live and the associated factors. The sample comprised 121 centenarians (mean age, 101 years; SD, 1.63 years), 19 (15.7%) of whom were males, from two centenarian studies (PT100). Answers to open questions were analyzed to identify the centenarians' will to live and the reasons behind it. Three groups were created (willing to live longer, not willing to live longer, no clear positioning) and further analyzed in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, health status, social functioning, and well-being. Of the total sample, 31.4% expressed willingness to live longer, 30.6% did not, and 38% presented no clear positioning. The presence of the Catholic religion (God) was referred for centenarians in all three groups. Annoyance, uselessness, loss of meaning, disconnection, and loneliness were the most common justifications for being reluctant to live longer. Positive valuation of life and good self-rated health, followed by having a confidant and reduced pain frequency, were the factors associated with being willing to live longer. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the psychological functioning of individuals with exceptional longevity, particularly concerning the factors behind willingness to live at such an advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Araújo
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto-Aveiro, Portugal.,Department Psychology and Educational Sciences, School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
| | - Laetitia Teixeira
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto-Aveiro, Portugal.,Department of Population Studies, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rosa Marina Afonso
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto-Aveiro, Portugal.,Department Psychology and Education, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Oscar Ribeiro
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto-Aveiro, Portugal.,Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Wong PTP, Yu TTF. Existential Suffering in Palliative Care: An Existential Positive Psychology Perspective. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2021; 57:924. [PMID: 34577847 PMCID: PMC8471755 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57090924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inadequacies of the current healthcare system and needs a paradigm change to one that is holistic and community based, illustrated by the healing wheel. The present paper proposes that existential positive psychology (PP 2.0) represents a promising approach to meet the rising needs in palliative care. This framework has a twofold emphasis on (a) how to transcend and transform suffering as the foundation for wellbeing and (b) how to cultivate our spiritual and existential capabilities to achieve personal growth and flourishing. We propose that these objectives can be achieved simultaneously through dialectical palliative counselling, as illustrated by Wong's integrative meaning therapy and the Conceptual Model of CALM Therapy in palliative care. We then outline the treatment objectives and the intervention strategies of IMT in providing palliative counselling for palliative care and hospice patients. Based on our review of recent literature, as well as our own research and practice, we discover that existential suffering in general and at the last stage of life in particular is indeed the foundation for healing and wellbeing as hypothesized by PP 2.0. We can also conclude that best palliative care is holistic-in addition to cultivating the inner spiritual resources of patients, it needs to be supported by the family, staff, and community, as symbolized by the healing wheel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T. P. Wong
- Department of Psychology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Timothy T. F. Yu
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada;
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Xu X, Zhao Y, Gu D, Pei Y, Wu B. Health Behaviors and Self-Reported Oral Health among Centenarians in Nanjing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7285. [PMID: 34299735 PMCID: PMC8304003 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The role of health behaviors in oral health conditions in individuals of extremely old age remains understudied. This study included 185 participants aged 100 years or older from the Nanjing Centenarians Study (NCS) to examine the associations between health behaviors and oral health and investigate the potential moderating role of education and living arrangements in such relationships. The oral health status as an outcome included the self-reported oral health status and edentulous status. Health behavior variables included smoking, eating fruits, eating vegetables, participating in leisure activities, and practicing oral hygiene behaviors. Sociodemographic characteristics and health status were considered as confounders. Descriptive statistics, ordinal regression, and logistic regression models were used to address the research questions. Results showed that better oral health was reported by centenarians who were non-smokers, participated in more leisure activities, and practiced higher frequency of oral hygiene behaviors. Those who ate fruits daily and practiced more frequently oral hygiene behaviors were more likely to be dentate. The positive association of oral hygiene behaviors was stronger for centenarians who were formally educated and co-resided with family members. The results suggest that effective interventions should consider health behaviors and living arrangements in this growing population to improve their oral health status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xu
- Population Research Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210042, China;
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Population Research Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210042, China;
- Ginling College, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Danan Gu
- Independent Researcher, New York, NY 10010, USA;
| | - Yaolin Pei
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA;
| | - Bei Wu
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA;
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Fabio RA, Gallo R, Colombo B. Physical and mental health in the oldest-old: a mixed-methods study on a southern Italy sample. Aging Clin Exp Res 2021; 33:1549-1556. [PMID: 32705588 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01659-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The world's aging population has been constantly increasing in the last decades, causing the number oldest-old individuals to increase. AIMS The present study aims to explore the different variables that contribute to the oldest-old wellbeing using a mixed-methods approach, including self-reports, standardized measures, and semi-structured interviews. METHODS Thirty-nine oldest-old (90-103) from southern Italy were involved in the study, together with a control sample of younger individuals (51-71) from the same families. RESULTS Data suggest that the oldest-old have better mental health, higher resilience, and more optimism than younger individuals. High resilience seems to be the key variable that promotes the overall wellbeing. DISCUSSION The oldest-old tend to have better mental health, higher resilience and more optimism than younger individuals. CONCLUSIONS Wellbeing in the oldest-old appeared to be promoted by the sense of belonging and life purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Angela Fabio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, ME, Italy
| | - Roberta Gallo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, ME, Italy
| | - Barbara Colombo
- Neuroscience Lab, Champlain College, Burlington, VT, 05402, USA.
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10
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Fang EF, Xie C, Schenkel JA, Wu C, Long Q, Cui H, Aman Y, Frank J, Liao J, Zou H, Wang NY, Wu J, Liu X, Li T, Fang Y, Niu Z, Yang G, Hong J, Wang Q, Chen G, Li J, Chen HZ, Kang L, Su H, Gilmour BC, Zhu X, Jiang H, He N, Tao J, Leng SX, Tong T, Woo J. A research agenda for ageing in China in the 21st century (2nd edition): Focusing on basic and translational research, long-term care, policy and social networks. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 64:101174. [PMID: 32971255 PMCID: PMC7505078 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
One of the key issues facing public healthcare is the global trend of an increasingly ageing society which continues to present policy makers and caregivers with formidable healthcare and socio-economic challenges. Ageing is the primary contributor to a broad spectrum of chronic disorders all associated with a lower quality of life in the elderly. In 2019, the Chinese population constituted 18 % of the world population, with 164.5 million Chinese citizens aged 65 and above (65+), and 26 million aged 80 or above (80+). China has become an ageing society, and as it continues to age it will continue to exacerbate the burden borne by current family and public healthcare systems. Major healthcare challenges involved with caring for the elderly in China include the management of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), physical frailty, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, with emerging challenges such as providing sufficient dental care, combating the rising prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among nursing home communities, providing support for increased incidences of immune diseases, and the growing necessity to provide palliative care for the elderly. At the governmental level, it is necessary to make long-term strategic plans to respond to the pressures of an ageing society, especially to establish a nationwide, affordable, annual health check system to facilitate early diagnosis and provide access to affordable treatments. China has begun work on several activities to address these issues including the recent completion of the of the Ten-year Health-Care Reform project, the implementation of the Healthy China 2030 Action Plan, and the opening of the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders. There are also societal challenges, namely the shift from an extended family system in which the younger provide home care for their elderly family members, to the current trend in which young people are increasingly migrating towards major cities for work, increasing reliance on nursing homes to compensate, especially following the outcomes of the 'one child policy' and the 'empty-nest elderly' phenomenon. At the individual level, it is important to provide avenues for people to seek and improve their own knowledge of health and disease, to encourage them to seek medical check-ups to prevent/manage illness, and to find ways to promote modifiable health-related behaviors (social activity, exercise, healthy diets, reasonable diet supplements) to enable healthier, happier, longer, and more productive lives in the elderly. Finally, at the technological or treatment level, there is a focus on modern technologies to counteract the negative effects of ageing. Researchers are striving to produce drugs that can mimic the effects of 'exercising more, eating less', while other anti-ageing molecules from molecular gerontologists could help to improve 'healthspan' in the elderly. Machine learning, 'Big Data', and other novel technologies can also be used to monitor disease patterns at the population level and may be used to inform policy design in the future. Collectively, synergies across disciplines on policies, geriatric care, drug development, personal awareness, the use of big data, machine learning and personalized medicine will transform China into a country that enables the most for its elderly, maximizing and celebrating their longevity in the coming decades. This is the 2nd edition of the review paper (Fang EF et al., Ageing Re. Rev. 2015).
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Affiliation(s)
- Evandro F Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway; The Norwegian Centre on Healthy Ageing (NO-Age), Oslo, Norway; Department of Hypertension and Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, China; Institute of Geriatric Immunology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 510632, Guangzhou, China; Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Chenglong Xie
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Joseph A Schenkel
- Durham University Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences, Durham, United Kingdom.
| | - Chenkai Wu
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, 215316, Kunshan, China; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, 27710, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Qian Long
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, 215316, Kunshan, China.
| | - Honghua Cui
- Department of Endodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, China; Oral Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, China.
| | - Yahyah Aman
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway.
| | - Johannes Frank
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway.
| | - Jing Liao
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China; Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Institute of State Governance, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Huachun Zou
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China; Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ninie Y Wang
- Pinetree Care Group, 515 Tower A, Guomen Plaza, Chaoyang District, 100028, Beijing, China.
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Xiaoting Liu
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Tao Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, 518083, Shenzhen, China; China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, 518120, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Zhangming Niu
- Aladdin Healthcare Technologies Ltd., 25 City Rd, Shoreditch, London EC1Y 1AA, UK.
| | - Guang Yang
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, SW3 6NP, UK; and National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Qian Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Guobing Chen
- Institute of Geriatric Immunology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 510632, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)& Peking Union Medical University (PUMC), 5 Dondan Santiao Road, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Hou-Zao Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)& Peking Union Medical University (PUMC), 5 Dondan Santiao Road, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Lin Kang
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao.
| | - Brian C Gilmour
- The Norwegian Centre on Healthy Ageing (NO-Age), Oslo, Norway.
| | - Xinqiang Zhu
- Department of Toxicology, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China; The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, 322000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
| | - Na He
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of Ministry of Health, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Tao
- Department of Hypertension and Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Sean Xiao Leng
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5505 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Tanjun Tong
- Research Center on Ageing, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Beijing, China.
| | - Jean Woo
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Au DWH, Woo J, Zaidi A. Extending the Active Ageing Index to Hong Kong Using a Mixed-Method Approach: Feasibility and Initial Results. JOURNAL OF POPULATION AGEING 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12062-020-09275-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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12
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Sahinoz T, Sahinoz S. Investigation of healthy living strategies in elderly who achieved to live long and healthy. Pak J Med Sci 2020; 36:371-375. [PMID: 32292436 PMCID: PMC7150393 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.36.3.1838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the lifestyles, healthy living strategies and socio-cultural characteristics of elderly people who lived long and healthy. Methods This study was a cross-sectional study. This study was conducted on 472 elderly patients, aged 80 years and over, selected by random sampling method. The socio-demographic characteristics and daily living activities of the elderly were determined by face to face interview technique using the "Elderly Questionnaire" developed by the researchers in 2018. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results Based on the average age (84) of the elderly in the research group, it was seen that they were able to exceed the average life expectancy of their fathers (72) and mothers (73). It has been found that the participants live 11-12 years longer than their parents. It was also found that more than half (51.9%) of the elderly have the habit of walking regularly every day. It was determined that the elderly mostly consumed vegetables and fruits (88.5%), milk and dairy products and meat, respectively. Conclusion The elderly stated that natural and healthy nutrition, working and staying away from stress in the top three places as the reason of their long and healthy life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turgut Sahinoz
- Dr. Turgut Sahinoz, M.D., Public Health Specialist, Assist. Professor, Department of Health Management, Ordu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Altinordu, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Saime Sahinoz
- Prof. Dr. Saime Sahinoz, M.D., Public Health Specialist, Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, Gumushane University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Merkez, Gumushane, Turkey
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Toye F, Jenkins C, Barker KL. The Experience of Living to an Extreme Age: A Meta-Ethnography. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2020; 30:3-22. [PMID: 31631748 DOI: 10.1177/1049732319880537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Advances in health care mean that we can now treat diseases that once cut lives short. However, the increase in life expectancy has not been matched by improvements in quality of life. The World Health Organization warns us that all countries should prepare to meet the challenges of an aging population and this is integral to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This may require a shift in attitude toward aging. We aimed to use meta-ethnography to explore the experience of adults living beyond the age of 80. Our conceptual model illuminates the phenomenon of connection in older age and reflects on the paradox of time: ephemeral, yet interminable. Our findings encourage us to reflect on the influence of enlightenment philosophies that underpin the desire for autonomy at all costs. Our study challenges the stereotypes of old age and has the potential to influence people's perspectives toward aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine Toye
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Jenkins
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Karen L Barker
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Zhang Y, Tan X, Si G, Huang Y. Physical, cognitive, behavior, and negative emotion in older adults living in China: a national population-based survey. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2019; 12:593-601. [PMID: 31440108 PMCID: PMC6679676 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s217458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have concentrated on predictors of exceptional longevity, however, relevant studies have rarely extended to other fields of functioning. To date, little is known about what contributes to the experience of negative emotion in a very old population. Objective We aimed to provide a comprehensive key domain of functioning, including physical, cognitive, behavior, and negative emotion in older adults (OAs), followed by determination of predictors of negative emotion. Methods Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 2570 Chinese OAs (aged 60 and above) from the 2014 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Physical function was assessed using activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) measures. Cognitive function was assessed by the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (mMMSE). Participants' behavior included smoking, drinking, exercise, physical labor, and social activities. Negative emotion was assessed using four items on affective experiences to create an index of emotional well-being. The associations between various covariates and multiple health outcomes were examined using Pearson's correlation. Multiple linear regressions were established to verify significant variables associated with respondents' negative emotion. Results The mean age was 80.20 years (SD=8.60). The mean ADL total score of the sample was 17.78 (SD=0.89), mean IADL total score was 21.93 (SD=3.69), the mean mMMSE total score was 21.63 (SD=2.23), the mean negative emotion total score was 8.89 (SD=2.64). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that negative emotion was associated with self-perceived low economic status, poor self-rated health condition, poor sleep quality, low IADL function, less regular exercising, living in rural, and being female. Conclusion Limited physical functioning and social resources in rural residence may restrict the outpouring of emotion in OAs. Nevertheless, further intensive studies are warranted to provide guidance for the development of better living environment for this elderly population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Tan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanglin Si
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuwei Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China
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Wu L, Zeng T, Zinellu A, Rubino S, Kelvin DJ, Carru C. A Cross-Sectional Study of Compositional and Functional Profiles of Gut Microbiota in Sardinian Centenarians. mSystems 2019; 4:4/4/e00325-19. [PMID: 31289141 PMCID: PMC6616150 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00325-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sardinia, Italy, has a high prevalence of residents who live more than 100 years. The reasons for longevity in this isolated region are currently unknown. Gut microbiota may hold a clue. To explore the role gut microbiota may play in healthy aging and longevity, we used metagenomic sequencing to determine the compositional and functional differences in gut microbiota associated with populations of different ages in Sardinia. Our data revealed that the gut microbiota of both young and elderly Sardinians shared similar taxonomic and functional profiles. A different pattern was found in centenarians. Within the centenarian group, the gut microbiota was correlated with the functional independence measurement of the host. Centenarians had a higher diversity of core microbiota species and microbial genes than those in the young and elderly. We found that the gut microbiota in Sardinian centenarians displayed a rearranged taxonomic pattern compared with those of the young and elderly, featured by depletion of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale and enriched for Methanobrevibacter smithii and Bifidobacterium adolescentis Moreover, functional analysis revealed that the microbiota in centenarians had high capacity for central metabolism, especially glycolysis and fermentation to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), although the gut microbiota in centenarians was low in genes encoding enzymes involved in degradation of carbohydrates, including fibers and galactose.IMPORTANCE The gut microbiota has been proposed as a promising determinant for human health. Centenarians as a model for extreme aging may help us understand the correlation of gut microbiota with healthy aging and longevity. Here we confirmed that centenarians had microbiota elements usually associated with benefits to health. Our finding of a high capacity of glycolysis and related SCFA production represented a healthy microbiome and environment that is regarded as beneficial for host gut epithelium. The low abundance of genes encoding components of pathways involved in carbohydrate degradation was also found in the gut microbiota of Sardinian centenarians and is often associated with poor gut health. Overall, our study here represents an expansion of previous research investigating the age-related changes in gut microbiota. Furthermore, our study provides a new prospective for potential targets for gut microbiota intervention directed at limiting gut inflammation and pathology and enhancing a healthy gut barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wu
- Division of Immunology, International Institute of Infection and Immunity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Tiansheng Zeng
- Division of Immunology, International Institute of Infection and Immunity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Rubino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - David J Kelvin
- Division of Immunology, International Institute of Infection and Immunity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Ciriaco Carru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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16
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‘Just another day’: the lived experience of being a hundred years old for ten New Zealanders. AGEING & SOCIETY 2019. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x19000072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of extended longevity as perceived by centenarians. Centenarians (people over 100 years of age) are the fastest growing group of the ageing population in developed countries. Ten centenarians aged between 100 and 106 years, living in the Lower North Island of New Zealand, participated in the study. The biographical narrative interpretive method of inquiry guided data collection through face-to-face interviews, and thematic analysis was subsequently undertaken. Four themes were identified: (a) ‘becoming a centenarian: ‘Just another day’; (b) ‘growing up in a privileged environment’ that revealed four sub-themes: ‘having freedom and choice’, ‘being loved and nurtured’, ‘living healthy lifestyles’ and having ‘good education prospects’; (c) ‘unique opportunities in adult life’; and (d) ‘positive ageing and celebration of longevity’. The centenarians spoke nonchalantly about their experience of turning 100 and positive personalities were prominent features of the participants, who all expressed a sense of acceptance and satisfaction with life and contentment with living in the present, a feature throughout their lives that was ongoing and at an intergenerational level. This study has provided further insights into the existing literature on longevity and through the narratives of the centenarians has demonstrated the value of Erikson's psycho-social stages of development and Tornstam's theory of gerotranscendence when considering positive ageing.
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Komatsu H, Yagasaki K, Kida H, Eguchi Y, Niimura H. Preparing for a paradigm shift in aging populations: listen to the oldest old. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2018; 13:1511768. [PMID: 30157720 PMCID: PMC6116671 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2018.1511768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Current healthcare systems are not suitable for serving future societies in which the oldest old are commonplace. The objective of this study was to understand what the oldest old care most about in their daily lives. METHODS Semi-structured in-depth interviews and thematic analysis were used. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in 17 elderly residents (≥ 95 years) of Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan from July to November 2017. RESULTS Three themes emerged from the interview responses: "unshakable beliefs and social ties," "natural acceptance," and "my day-to-day life with precious moments." The oldest old strongly believe in diligence and compassion and maintain strong relationships with people around them. Despite their small social networks, they are concerned about future society. They accept their selves and their lives, including their impending deaths. Despite their functional decline, they control their lives by making very small decisions. They live on a moment-to-moment basis, cherishing simple events. CONCLUSION Maintaining autonomy through making small decisions and enjoying small pleasures are important to the oldest old. Understanding the needs of the oldest old is the first step towards developing optimal geriatric care for an aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Komatsu
- a Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care , Keio University , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Kaori Yagasaki
- a Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care , Keio University , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Hisashi Kida
- b Department of Neuropsychiatry , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Yoko Eguchi
- b Department of Neuropsychiatry , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Hidehito Niimura
- b Department of Neuropsychiatry , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan
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Mixed-methods quantitative-qualitative study of 29 nonagenarians and centenarians in rural Southern Italy: focus on positive psychological traits. Int Psychogeriatr 2018; 30:31-38. [PMID: 29229012 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610217002721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This was a study of positive psychological traits in a group of rural Italians aged 90 to 101 years, and their children or other family members. DESIGN Mixed-methods quantitative (standardized rating scales) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) study. SETTING Study participants' homes in nine villages in the Cilento region of southern Italy. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-nine nonagenarians and centenarians and 51 family members aged 51-75 years, selected by their general practitioners as a part of a larger study called CIAO (Cilento Initiative on Aging Outcomes). METHODS We used published rating scales of mental and physical well-being, resilience, optimism, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Qualitative interviews gathered personal narratives of the oldest-old individuals, including migrations, traumatic events, and beliefs. Family members described their impressions about the personality traits of their older relative. RESULTS Participants age ≥90 years had worse physical health but better mental well-being than their younger family members. Mental well-being correlated negatively with levels of depression and anxiety in both the groups. The main themes that emerged from qualitative interviews included positivity (resilience and optimism), working hard, and bond with family and religion, as described in previously published studies of the oldest old, but also a need for control and love of the land, which appeared to be unique features of this rural population. CONCLUSIONS Exceptional longevity was characterized by a balance between acceptance of and grit to overcome adversities along with a positive attitude and close ties to family, religion, and land, providing purpose in life.
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Cheung KSL, Lau BHP. Successful aging among Chinese near-centenarians and centenarians in Hong Kong: a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach. Aging Ment Health 2016; 20:1314-1326. [PMID: 26313933 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1078281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study applied a multidimensional model on a continuum to examine successful aging (SA) and investigated whether SA is associated with biomedical and psychosocial-demographic factors among Hong Kong Chinese near-centenarians and centenarians. METHOD A cross-sectional data analysis was performed on a geographically representative sample of 120 near-centenarians and centenarians with an age range of 95-108 years. We developed an integrated and cumulative Successful Aging Index (SAI) based on participants' performance in four dimensions: (1) physical and functional health (PF), (2) psychological well-being and cognition (PC), (3) social engagement and family support (SF), (4) economic resources and financial security (EF). To examine the criterion validity of SAI, we conducted a multiple binary logistic regression with interviewer-rated health. A multiple regression model was ran to investigate the independent biomedical and psychosocial-demographic correlates of SAI. RESULTS Results show that only 5.8% of participants attained SA in all four dimensions. PF had the least achievers, whereas the proportion was the highest in PC. SAI was significantly associated with interviewer-rated health and a high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Living with family or friends, high level of optimism, fewer diseases, and barriers to social activities were independent predictors of SAI score. CONCLUSION In the light of the lack of consensus on the constituents and assessment of SA especially among very old adults, our findings add to the extant literature by underscoring the importance of the multidimensional nature and the utility of an integrated and cumulative-based assessment of SA at the extreme of longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Siu-Lan Cheung
- a Department of Social Work and Social Administration and Sau Po Centre on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Bobo Hi-Po Lau
- a Department of Social Work and Social Administration and Sau Po Centre on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
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20
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21
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Lau BHP, Kwan JSK, Cheung KSL, Martin P. Depression Moderates the Frailty-Subjective Health Link among Chinese Near Centenarians and Centenarians. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2016; 24:753-61. [PMID: 27423304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2016.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Very old adults may be physically frail, but they do not necessarily experience poor subjective health. The authors hypothesized that the relationship between frailty and subjective health is moderated by depression for very old people. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, a survey administered was by a face-to-face interview to 129 community-dwelling older adults aged 95-108. Measurements included the five-item FRAIL scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale Short-Form (GDS), and a subjective health rating. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to test the moderation effects, adjusting for age, gender, living arrangement, perceived socioeconomic status, and cognition. RESULTS The interaction effect between frailty and depression was significant. Inspection of the simple slopes revealed that those who were more depressed had a more negative frailty-subjective health relationship. There was no significant moderation effect for a withdrawal-apathy-vigor dimension of the GDS. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a protective psychological mechanism may enable very old adults to maintain an optimistic view of their health despite their increasing physical and functional limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobo Hi-Po Lau
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Karen Siu-Lan Cheung
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration & Sau Po Centre on Ageing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Peter Martin
- Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
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22
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Kato K, Zweig R, Schechter CB, Barzilai N, Atzmon G. Positive attitude toward life, emotional expression, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms among centenarians and near-centenarians. Aging Ment Health 2016; 20:930-9. [PMID: 26114814 PMCID: PMC5048681 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1056770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Favorable attitudes, emotions, personality characteristics, and self-rated health have been associated with successful aging in late life. However, less is known regarding these constructs and their relationships to mental health outcomes in the oldest old persons. This study examined cross-sectional relationships of these psychological factors to depressive symptoms in centenarians and near-centenarians. METHODS A selected sample of Ashkenazi Jewish older adults aged 98-107 (n = 54, 78% female) without significant cognitive impairment participated. Cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental Status Examination, positive attitude toward life and emotional expression by the Personality Outlook Profile Scale (POPS), self-rated health by participants' subjective rating of their present health, and depressive symptoms by the Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS Results demonstrated inverse associations of the positive attitude toward life domain of the POPS and self-rated health with participants' levels of depressive symptoms even after adjusting for the effects of history of medical illnesses, cognitive function, and demographic variables. Additionally, participants with high levels of care showed higher levels of depressive symptoms. Path analysis supported the partially mediating role of positive attitude toward life in the relationship between self-rated health and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION These findings emphasized the important roles of positive attitudes and emotions as well as self-rated health in mental health outcomes in the oldest old. Although, limited by its cross-sectional design, findings suggest these psychological factors may exert protective effects on mental health outcomes in advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Kato
- Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center / NYU Langone Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, 760 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA
| | - Richard Zweig
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. (718)430-3958.
| | - Clyde B. Schechter
- Department of Family and Social Medicine and Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. (718)430-2754.
| | - Nir Barzilai
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. (718)430-3144.
| | - Gil Atzmon
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. (718)430-3628.
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Brodaty H, Woolf C, Andersen S, Barzilai N, Brayne C, Cheung KSL, Corrada MM, Crawford JD, Daly C, Gondo Y, Hagberg B, Hirose N, Holstege H, Kawas C, Kaye J, Kochan NA, Lau BHP, Lucca U, Marcon G, Martin P, Poon LW, Richmond R, Robine JM, Skoog I, Slavin MJ, Szewieczek J, Tettamanti M, Viña J, Perls T, Sachdev PS. ICC-dementia (International Centenarian Consortium - dementia): an international consortium to determine the prevalence and incidence of dementia in centenarians across diverse ethnoracial and sociocultural groups. BMC Neurol 2016; 16:52. [PMID: 27098177 PMCID: PMC4839126 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-016-0569-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Considerable variability exists in international prevalence and incidence estimates of dementia. The accuracy of estimates of dementia in the oldest-old and the controversial question of whether dementia incidence and prevalence decline at very old age will be crucial for better understanding the dynamics between survival to extreme old age and the occurrence and risk for various types of dementia and comorbidities. International Centenarian Consortium – Dementia (ICC-Dementia) seeks to harmonise centenarian and near-centenarian studies internationally to describe the cognitive and functional profiles of exceptionally old individuals, and ascertain the trajectories of decline and thereby the age-standardised prevalence and incidence of dementia in this population. The primary goal of the ICC-Dementia is to establish a large and thorough heterogeneous sample that has the power to answer epidemiological questions that small, separate studies cannot. A secondary aim is to examine cohort-specific effects and differential survivorship into very old age. We hope to lay the foundation for further investigation into risk and protective factors for dementia and healthy exceptional brain ageing in centenarians across diverse ethnoracial and sociocultural groups. Methods Studies focusing on individuals aged ≥95 years (approximately the oldest 1 percentile for men, oldest 5th percentile for women), with a minimum sample of 80 individuals, including assessment of cognition and functional status, are invited to participate. There are currently seventeen member or potential member studies from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Initial attempts at harmonising key variables are in progress. Discussion General challenges facing large, international consortia like ICC-Dementia include timely and effective communication among member studies, ethical and practical issues relating to human subject studies and data sharing, and the challenges related to data harmonisation. A specific challenge for ICC-Dementia relates to the concept and definition of’abnormal’ in this exceptional group of individuals who are rarely free of physical, sensory and/or cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Brodaty
- Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Claudia Woolf
- Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Psychogeriatric Mental Health and Dementia Service, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Stacy Andersen
- New England Centenarian Study, Geriatrics Section, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nir Barzilai
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA.,Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Carol Brayne
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Karen Siu-Lan Cheung
- Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.,Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Maria M Corrada
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - John D Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Catriona Daly
- Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yasuyuki Gondo
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Clinical Thanatology and Geriatric Behavioral Science, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Bo Hagberg
- Gerontology Research Centre, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nobuyoshi Hirose
- Centre for Supercentenarian Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Henne Holstege
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Alzheimer Centre, Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Centre, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Kawas
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kaye
- Department of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia
| | - Bobo Hi-Po Lau
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Ugo Lucca
- Laboratory of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Marcon
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.,AAS 1 Triestina, Trieste, Italy
| | - Peter Martin
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, USA
| | - Leonard W Poon
- Institute of Gerontology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Robyn Richmond
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jean-Marie Robine
- National Institute on Health and Medical Research, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Ingmar Skoog
- Department of Psychiatry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Melissa J Slavin
- Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jan Szewieczek
- Department of Geriatrics, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Mauro Tettamanti
- Laboratory of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - José Viña
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia and INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Thomas Perls
- New England Centenarian Study, Geriatrics Section, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. .,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia.
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Jopp DS, Park MKS, Lehrfeld J, Paggi ME. Physical, cognitive, social and mental health in near-centenarians and centenarians living in New York City: findings from the Fordham Centenarian Study. BMC Geriatr 2016; 16:1. [PMID: 26729190 PMCID: PMC4700778 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-015-0167-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite their strong increase, the population of the very old, including near-centenarians and centenarians, represent an unstudied and underserved population. Available studies mostly concentrate on predictors of exceptional longevity, but rarely extend their focus to other areas of functioning. Also, little is known about what contributes to experiencing a quality life in very old age. The present population-based study aims at providing a comprehensive picture of key domain of functioning, including physical, cognitive, social and mental function in very old individuals and to determine predictors of mental health indicators. METHODS A total of 119 individuals aged 95 to 107 living in private dwellings and residential care facilities were recruited based on the New York City Voters Registry. Participants answered questions regarding their health and activities of daily living. Their cognitive functioning was determined using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Global Deterioration Scale. Social resources were measured with number of children and the Lubben Scale. Mental health was assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. RESULTS An unexpectedly large proportion of the sample lived in the community. On average, cognitive functioning was high. Although five diseases were reported on average, participants reported good health. Functional status was reduced. Most participants had at least one person for communication/social support. On average, depression was below cut-off, and most participants reported high life satisfaction. Regression analyses indicated that individual differences in depression were associated with subjective health, IADL and relatives support. For life satisfaction, subjective health, ADL and number of children were most important. Demographic characteristics, number of illnesses or cognitive status were not significant. CONCLUSIONS Despite reduced levels of physical functioning and social resources, very old participants were in good mental health suggesting high resilience and ability to adapt to age-associated challenges. That a large proportion of them lived in the community further highlights their desire for leading an autonomous life, which may have been facilitated by New York service culture. More research is necessary to provide guidance for the development of well-suited services for this very old population.
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Fang EF, Scheibye-Knudsen M, Jahn HJ, Li J, Ling L, Guo H, Zhu X, Preedy V, Lu H, Bohr VA, Chan WY, Liu Y, Ng TB. A research agenda for aging in China in the 21st century. Ageing Res Rev 2015; 24:197-205. [PMID: 26304837 PMCID: PMC5179143 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
China is encountering formidable healthcare challenges brought about by the problem of aging. By 2050, there will be 400 million Chinese citizens aged 65+, 150 million of whom will be 80+. The undesirable consequences of the one-child policy, rural-to-urban migration, and expansion of the population of 'empty nest' elders are eroding the traditional family care of the elders, further exacerbating the burden borne by the current public healthcare system. The challenges of geriatric care demand prompt attention by proposing strategies for improvement in several key areas. Major diseases of the elderly that need more attention include chronic non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders. We suggest the establishment of a home care-dominated geriatric care system, and a proactive role for researchers on aging in reforming geriatric care through policy dialogs. We propose ideas for preparation of the impending aging burden and the creation of a nurturing environment conducive to healthy aging in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evandro Fei Fang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Ageing, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Morten Scheibye-Knudsen
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Ageing, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Heiko J Jahn
- Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld 33615, Germany.
| | - Juan Li
- Center on Aging Psychology, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Li Ling
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Sun Yat-sen Center for Migrant Health Policy, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Hongwei Guo
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Xinqiang Zhu
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, and Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Victor Preedy
- Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences Division, School of Medicine, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
| | - Huiming Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Ageing, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Ageing, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Wai Yee Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yuanli Liu
- Peking Union School of Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100006, China; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Tzi Bun Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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