Sensory and cognitive functions, gait ability and functionality of older adults

Association between older people's health literacy and sociodemographic aspects, functioning, happiness, and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: a preliminary study

PURPOSE

To analyze the association between older people's health literacy and sociodemographic aspects, functioning, happiness, and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This is a preliminary, cross-sectional, analytical, observational study with 37 older adults of both sexes. It used the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria, WHODAS 2.0, SAHLPA-18, WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and Subjective Happiness Scale, estimated the perception of the pandemic through a questionnaire developed by the authors, and performed descriptive analysis, association analysis using the Pearson chi-square test, and Spearman correlation.

RESULTS

Most participants had inadequate functional health literacy (FHL) results. A higher percentage of individuals from social classes C and D-E had inadequate FHL. The low education level was associated with an inadequate FHL. Most participants with adequate FHL reported feeling "calm and relaxed" for more than half the time or all the time. The SAHLPA-18 score was weakly negatively correlated with the Cognition and Self-Care domains of WHODAS 2.0, indicating that better health literacy is associated with better cognitive and self-care conditions.

CONCLUSION

Older people with better health literacy had better cognitive ability, better self-care management, higher education levels, and better quality of life.

Virtual Obstacle Avoidance Strategy: Navigating through a Complex Environment While Interacting with Virtual and Physical Elements

Robotic walking devices can be used for intensive exercises to enhance gait rehabilitation therapies. Mixed Reality (MR) techniques may improve engagement through immersive and interactive environments. This article introduces an MR-based multimodal human-robot interaction strategy designed to enable shared control with a Smart Walker. The MR system integrates virtual and physical sensors to (i) enhance safe navigation and (ii) facilitate intuitive mobility training in personalized virtual scenarios by using an interface with three elements: an arrow to indicate where to go, laser lines to indicate nearby obstacles, and an ellipse to show the activation zone. The multimodal interaction is context-based; the presence of nearby individuals and obstacles modulates the robot's behavior during navigation to simplify collision avoidance while allowing for proper social navigation. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the proposed strategy and the self-explanatory nature of the interface. The volunteers were divided into four groups, with each navigating under different conditions. Three evaluation methods were employed: task performance, self-assessment, and observational measurement. Analysis revealed that participants enjoyed the MR system and understood most of the interface elements without prior explanation. Regarding the interface, volunteers who did not receive any introductory explanation about the interface elements were mostly able to guess their purpose. Volunteers that interacted with the interface in the first session provided more correct answers. In future research, virtual elements will be integrated with the physical environment to enhance user safety during navigation, and the control strategy will be improved to consider both physical and virtual obstacles.

The effect of mobility-related anxiety on walking across the lifespan: a virtual reality simulation study

Older adults who report a fear of falling are more likely to subsequently fall, yet, some gait anxiety-related alterations may protect balance. We examined the effect of age on walking in anxiety-inducing virtual reality (VR) settings. We predicted a high elevation-related postural threat would impair gait in older age, and differences in cognitive and physical function would relate to the observed effects. Altogether, 24 adults (age (y) = 49.2 (18.7), 13 women) walked on a 2.2-m walkway at self-selected and fast speeds at low (ground) and high (15 m) VR elevation. Self-reported cognitive and somatic anxiety and mental effort were greater at high elevations (all p < 0.001), but age- and speed-related effects were not observed. At high VR elevations, participants walked slower, took shorter steps, and reduced turning speed (all p < 0.001). Significant interactions with age in gait speed and step length showed that relatively older adults walked slower (β = - 0.05, p = 0.024) and took shorter steps (β = - 0.05, p = 0.001) at self-selected speeds at high compared to low elevation settings. The effect of Age on gait speed and step length disappeared between self-selected and fast speeds and at high elevation. At self-selected speeds, older adults took shorter and slower steps at high elevation without changing step width, suggesting that in threatening settings relatively older people change gait parameters to promote stability. At fast speeds, older adults walked like relatively younger adults (or young adults walked like older adults) supporting the notion that people opt to walk faster in a way that still protects balance and stability in threatening settings.

Are the spatiotemporal gait parameters at different walking speeds capable of predicting variations in cognitive status by the mini-mental state examination?

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported the association between cognition and gait; however, most are limited to investigating gait in just one speed, usually the self-selected one, and commonly, only the general score of cognitive tests is used.

AIMS

Investigate the relationship between the spatiotemporal gait parameters at different speeds (self-selected and fast walking speeds) and cognitive status in older adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study. Two hundred and ninety-five older adults (70.9 ± 7.2 years; 82.3% women) were evaluated according to cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) and spatiotemporal gait parameters.

RESULTS

Data analysis indicates that the spatiotemporal gait parameters (stride length, step time, and single support time) were able to predict cognitive status, assessed by the MMSE general score and its subdomain (temporal and spatial orientation) at both walking speeds.

CONCLUSIONS

The spatiotemporal gait parameters were associated with cognitive status, assessed by the MMSE (general score and temporal and spatial orientation), regardless of the walking conditions. The model's variance was significant and with a large effect size. Stride length and step time were identified as the variables with the best explanatory factors. Therefore, it is concluded that greater cognitive performance is associated with longer stride lengths and faster step times.

Association between physical activity and physical and functional performance in non-institutionalized Mexican older adults: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Aging is an independent risk factor for deterioration in functional capacity. Some studies have reported that physical activity (PA) improves functional capacity and physical performance among older adults (OA). Thus the objective of the present study was to assess the longitudinal association between PA and functional and physical performance in non-institutionalized OA.

METHODS

A longitudinal analysis using data from the Frailty, Dynapenia and Sarcopenia in Mexican adults (FRADYSMEX, by its Spanish acronym) cohort study was conducted. PA was assessed through the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) instrument. Functionality was measured with the Barthel index and the Lawton and Brody scale, while physical performance was measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). To evaluate the association between the level of PA and physical and functional performance as a continuous variable, a linear regression of mixed effects was performed. To assess PA and dependence in basic activities of the daily life (BADL), instrumental activities of the daily life (IADL), and low physical performance (PP), generalized estimation equation models [to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)] were computed.

RESULTS

Older people who performed moderate to vigorous-intensity PA had a lower risk of dependence in IADL (OR = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.10, 0.80) and lower risk of low PP (OR = 0.18; 95%CI: 0.11, 0.58) compared to those in lower categories of PA.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults living in the community who perform PA of moderate to vigorous intensity have a lower risk of dependence in BADL and IADL and have a lower risk of low PP.

Global functionality and associated factors in the older adults followed by Home Care in Primary Health Care

Objective:

to analyze the association of global functionality with the main functional systems and the sociodemographic variables of older adults followed by Home Care in Primary Health Care.

Method:

a cross-sectional study with 124 older people developed through home interviews. Functionality was assessed by Basic Activities of Daily Living (Barthel) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (Lawton and Brody); the main functional systems were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Exam, by the Timed Up and Go test, by the Geriatric Depression Scale (15 items), and questionnaire with sociodemographic variables. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied (Poisson Regression).

Results:

46% of the older adults showed moderate/severe/total dependence for basic activities and instrumental activities had a median of 12. In the multivariate analysis, there was an association between moderate/severe/total dependence on basic activities with cognitive decline (p=0.021) and bedridden/wheelchair users (p=0.014). Regarding the dependence on instrumental activities, there was an association with age ≥80 years (p=0.006), single/divorced marital status (p=0.013), cognitive decline (p=0.001), bedridden/wheelchair (p=0.020), and Timed Up and Go ≥20 seconds (p=0.048).

Conclusion:

the decline in cognitive and mobility was associated with poor functionality in basic and instrumental activities. The findings highlight the need to monitor Home Care for these individuals and serve as guidelines for health actions.

Relationship between family functionality and the quality of life of the elderly

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the correlation between family functionality and the quality of life of the elderly.

METHOD

Sectional and correlational study conducted with 692 Brazilian elderly between July and October 2020. The elderly filled three instruments: biosociodemographic, family APGAR and WHOQOL-Old. The tests Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analyzed the data. The study considered a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05) for all analyses.

RESULTS

The elderly with mild and severe family dysfunction presented worse quality of life when compared to the elderly with a functional family. All facets of quality of life correlated positively with family functionality.

CONCLUSION

Family functionality is positively correlated with the quality of life of the elderly, therefore requiring the inclusion of the family in health care plans to identify potential family stressors early and plan interventions to solve the problems raised.

Prevalência e fatores associados à polifarmácia em pessoas idosas de uma área rural

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência e fatores associados à polifarmácia em pessoas idosas de uma área rural. Método Estudo transversal, quantitativo, realizado com pessoas idosas residentes de uma área rural no município de Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brasil (n=80). Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se um questionário estruturado. Considerou-se como variável dependente a polifarmácia e, como variáveis independentes as características sociodemográficas, de estilo de vida, presença de doenças crônicas, autopercepção em saúde, quedas no último ano, sugestivo de comprometimento cognitivo e nível de fragilidade. Realizou-se teste de qui-quadrado e regressão logística. Resultados A prevalência de polifarmácia foi de 40,0%. A maioria era do sexo feminino (52,5%), com idade entre 60 e 74 anos (61,2%), cor branca (76,2%), casados (62,5%), e ensino fundamental incompleto (66,2%). A polifarmácia esteve associada ao nível de fragilidade (OR=3,73;IC95%=1,09-12,74; p=0,036), indicativo para sarcopenia (OR=5,02; IC95%=1,39-18,13; p=0,014) e diabetes (OR=9,20; IC95%=2,37-36,05; p=0,001). Conclusão Verificou-se alta prevalência de polifarmácia nas pessoas idosas residentes na zona rural, sendo essa condição atrelada a fatores inerentes ao maior grau de fragilidade, indicativo de sarcopenia e diabetes.