Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii / Rossiiskaia akademiia nauk, Gerontologicheskoe obshchestvo最新文献

The auditory function is one of the components of an eldery person's intrinsic capacity - a set of functional abilities that determine healthy aging. The aim of the study was to assess hearing function as a component of the sensory domain of intrinsic capacity and to determine reference ranges of otological parameters for the age of 60-74 years. In 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Arkhangelsk using a random population sample (n=605). The examination included an assessment of hearing acuity through whisper speech (WS) perception, otoscopy, collection of data on otological history and socio-economic characteristics of the participants. Reference ranges of hearing acuity of the better hearing ear for men and women aged 60-74 years were determined based on the values of the 5th-50th percentiles (P5-P50) of the WS perception distance. In the age of 60-69 years, women had higher P5 and P25 values compared to men, which were leveled off in the 70-74 years age group. Participants aged 70-74 year had reduced P5-P25 values compared to the 60-69 years group. A five-point scale for assessing hearing function in the elderly was proposed, where 1 point (WS perception with the better hearing ear at ≤1 m; ≤P5 for ages 60-74) indicates significant hearing loss, and 5 indicates absolutely normal hearing (WS perception at 6 meters with each ear). The scale can be used to assess hearing function as a part of the complex assessment of intrinsic capacity of an elderly person.

Study of the functional characteristics of working retirees provides an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the economic, socio-psychological and biological factors influencing work in late adulthood. The objective of the present research was to identify the inter-sex characteristics of subjective age (SA) and components of postural balance (PB) in older workers. A total of 30 women and 30 men within the age range of 65-69 who continued working after retirement were screened. SA of the subjects was determined by questioning them about how old they actually felt. For comprehensive analysis of PB components a Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and a Motor Control Test (MCT) on the computer posturographic complex «Smart Equitest Balance Manager» were performed. Comparative assessment of SA did not show any gender-related differences. At the same time, it was established that feeling significantly younger than their chronological age (6 years or more) in people of both sexes had a positive impact on extending working life beyond the age of 64. Analysis of the SOT and MCT indicators did not reveal any sex-related differences in maintaining static and static-dynamic balance, as well as in the sensory and sensory motor foundation of the subjects' postural control. Thus, we did not detect any sex-related differences in perception around ageing; PB components, physical activity and general performance, as well as in risks of cognitive changes in working people aged 65-69. Continued social and labour inclusion in retirement age directly depends on effective postural control both in men and women aged 64 and beyond.

Venipuncture remains the most popular medical manipulation. When choosing the size of the needle for taking blood samples, it is necessary to take into account the condition of the veins in each specific patient, which is especially important for elderly and senile people due to the deterioration of the condition of the veins and the complication of the phlebotomy procedure. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the method of individual selection of needles for venipuncture in elderly and senile people. The study confirms the positive effect of specifying the recommendations for individual selection of needles for phlebotomy in elderly and senile people. The analysis of the process according to the 6 σ system showed a significant increase in quality, which made it possible to increase the financial efficiency of the pre-analytical stage.

In the context of medical practice, melphalan in combination with prednisolone has traditionally been used as the main treatment for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) when high-dose therapy is not an appropriate option. This scientific paper presents an analysis of the results of a study aimed at studying the potential safety and effectiveness of adding a regimen with the inclusion of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) to the standard course of treatment with melphalan and prednisolone in the first six cycles of initial therapy in patients with MM over the age of 65 who had not previously been treated. As part of the study, a group of 45 patients with an average age of 79 years (73-86 years) was formed, where the ratio of men and women was 18:17. Thus, the results of this study confirm the effectiveness of using vel-PLD in these dosages for the treatment of diseases, while emphasizing the percentage of complete disappearance of symptoms, improvement in the quality of treatment.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the elderly not only in our country, but also worldwide. In this regard, the issues of early diagnosis and development of an individualized approach to the treatment of this disease are of particular relevance. When addressing these issues, it is necessary to take into account a number of features in patients of older age groups, which include polymorbidity and polypharmacotherapy in combination with anatomical, physiological and functional age-related changes. These features are primarily reflected in the clinical picture of GERD in elderly patients, which is characterized by a more severe course with predominance of extraesophageal manifestations. Taking into account this fact, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy and subsequent histologic examination is recommended as the first line of diagnostics in patients of this age group. This method allows to suspect the presence of pathological reflux, to determine the degree of damage to the esophageal mucosa and to start therapy as early as possible. Pantoprozone is preferred as a first-line drug in comorbid elderly patients, all other patients are recommended to prescribe other representatives of this group in a standard daily dose. The main goal of early diagnosis and timely prescription of therapy for GERD in elderly patients is to achieve a stable remission, improve the quality of life and prevent the development of GERD.

In the article, the authors continue to study the service sector for the elderly as a segment of the silver economy market. During the expert survey, services were identified that would be advisable to provide to older citizens. In particular, the block «information and innovation type services» is clearly identified. The prospects of establishing medical tourism in the city have been identified, taking into account the resources available in St. Petersburg. The necessity of correcting the current mechanism for obtaining information on the possibilities of social protection and support provided in St. Petersburg in the direction of strengthening its accessibility for the elderly and their families has been established.

The article examines the service sector for the elderly as a segment of the silver economy market. The author's classification of services provided to the elderly is given according to an expanded set of criteria. During the expert survey, medical and social services that are of primary demand among the elderly were identified. Legal services and transportation services came in second place. The underestimation of the factor of psychological support for both the aging process itself and possible concomitant processes was noted.

This article presents a data science review and our own evaluation on bio-element mediated aging of the human body from the point of view of homeodynamics of bioelementome. The study of bio-element basis of aging is currently one of the actively developing fields in gerontology. During postnatal ontogenesis, the bio-elementome shows no signs of stability. Being extremely dependent on endogenous and exogenous circumstances, the levels of macro- and microelements can either remain within the normal range or undergo significant changes, especially with the body aging. These bio-element developments appear to be very important in terms of a large number of currently known molecular, subcellular, cellular, and tissue mechanisms of aging (oxidative stress, loss of proteostasis, excessive telomere attrition, epigenetic landscape alterations, apoptosis, altered intercellular communication, and many others). Better understanding of metabolic pathways of essential bio-elements (intake in the gastrointestinal tract; absorption, including due to interaction with specific transporting proteins; spread through the circulatory system and the entire body; inclusion in specialized macromolecules and participation in their composition in biochemical processes; excretion from the body), as well as realizing their role in the mechanisms of senile tissue and organ involution, and features of age-related homeodynamics can significantly improve existing knowledge on the biology of aging.

The article describes the forms, causes and consequences of insomnia in the elderly. It shows the clinical features of dyssomnic disorders in comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders, as the most common mental pathology of old age. The approaches of Russian and foreign authors to the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia in the elderly are considered. The analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of sleep disorders in old age with comorbid affective disorders is carried out.

The aim of the study is to study the organization of group physical activities for the elderly in social service centers. The work was carried out on the basis of social service centers, where a comprehensive geriatric assessment was carried out for 635 elderly people (average age - 69,2±2,3 years). In addition to the standard recommendations, the patients of the main group were provided with an original multimodal program of group physical exercises 3 times a week for 30 minutes for 3 months. Control points of observation: before the start of the study, after 3 months (at the end of the group exercise program), after 6 and 12 months. All patients were assessed on the scales of motor activity, a 6-minute walking test was performed, the cognitive functions and psychological status of the patient were assessed, and the quality of sleep was determined. An improvement in functional abilities and muscle function has been achieved, which remains stable by 6 months from the start of the program (6-minute walking test 406,2±8,4 m, Montreal test 27,2±0,3 points, p<0,05), by the end of the first year, the indicators decrease respectively to 374,2±6,6 m and to 26,6±0,1 points, but remain above the initial values (p<0,05). In terms of psychological status and sleep quality, the effects achieved remain stable for 12 months. The developed multimodal program of group physical activities in social service centers leads to increased muscle strength, increased walking speed, stabilization of balance function, improved cognitive status, decreased severity of anxiety and depression, and improved sleep quality, which proves the need to repeat it at least once a year.