Journal of Aging and Health最新文献

Objective: To determine the associations between muscle-strengthening activity (MSA) and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2973 participants aged ≥55 in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Participants self-reported leisure-time physical activity. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The associations of reported MSA frequency (0-1 vs. ≥2 sessions/week) and volume (zero, low: ≤250, medium: 250-420, high: >420 MET minutes/week) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, defined as MoCA<26) and MoCA total score were examined using logistic and linear regression.

Results: Individuals who participated in ≥2 MSA sessions/week had a significantly higher MoCA total score. Participants with medium MSA volume were significantly associated with lower odds of being classified as MCI and associated with a higher MoCA total score than those with zero volume.

Conclusions: Engaging in MSA is associated with cognitive health among middle-aged and older adults independent of aerobic exercise.

Objectives: This study investigated the association between functional limitations and depressive symptoms among older adults in South Korea, focusing on gender differences in the moderating roles of relationship satisfaction with family, friends, and neighbors.

Methods: Fixed-effect models were applied to five waves of data from the Korean Retirement and Income Study, encompassing 19,180 observations.

Results: Increases in functional limitations were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, regardless of gender. However, the moderating effects of relationship satisfaction differed by gender: For older women, satisfaction with family moderated the association, whereas for older men, satisfaction with friends played a moderating role.

Discussion: The findings suggest tailoring interventions to improve family relationships for women and friendships for men in mitigating depressive symptoms among functionally vulnerable older adults in Korea, where rapid population aging poses significant challenges to protect functional and mental health among older adults.

Objective: Although research has demonstrated the long-term health consequences of childhood adversities, less is known about the long-term impact of positive childhood experiences, such as parental affection.

Method: Using longitudinal data (1995-2014) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we analyze structural equation models estimating direct and indirect pathways from early-life parental affection to changes in later-life cognitive function through relationship quality in adulthood among Black and White older adults (N = 1983).

Results: Analyses revealed significant indirect effects of parental affection on better cognitive function through higher levels of social support (both average social support and family social support) in adulthood in the full sample and among Black respondents. Indirect pathways through relationship strain and through friend support were not significant.

Discussion: This work elevates the importance of promoting positive parental relationships during childhood, with implications for better social relationships in adulthood and cognitive function in later life.

Objectives: Quantifying interdependence in multiple patient-centered outcomes is important for understanding health declines among older adults.

Methods: Medicare-linked National Health and Aging Trends Study data (2011-2015) were used to estimate a joint longitudinal logistic regression model of disability in activities of daily living (ADL), fair/poor self-rated health (SRH), and mortality. We calculated personalized concurrent risk (PCR) and typical concurrent risk (TCR) using regression coefficients.

Results: For fair/poor SRH, highest odds were associated with COPD. For mortality, highest odds were associated with dementia, hip fracture, and kidney disease. Dementia and hip fracture were associated with highest odds of ADL disability. Hispanic respondents had highest odds of ADL disability. Hispanic and NH Black respondents had higher odds of fair/poor SRH, ADL disability, and mortality. PCRs/TCRs demonstrated wide variability for respondents with similar sociodemographic-multimorbidity profiles.

Discussion: These findings highlight the variability of personalized risk in examining interdependent outcomes among older adults.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association of older adults' hearing difficulty status with caregiving time. Methods: We used data from two linked surveys of Medicare beneficiaries and family caregivers. Hearing difficulty was defined by hearing aid use and hearing capacity in functional settings. Weighted multivariable linear regression examined the association between hearing difficulty and caregiving time. Stratified analyses were conducted to investigate the moderation effects of caregiving networks and care recipient's dementia status. Results: Among 3003 caregivers, those who assisted older adults with hearing difficulty were observed to spend greater time providing care (β = 1.18, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.04, 1.32). Stronger associations in magnitude were observed among caregivers without caregiving networks (β = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.56) and assisting older adults without dementia (β = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.06, 1.37). Discussion: Hearing difficulty may contribute to greater caregiving time and remains a potential target for caregiver support programs.

Objectives: This study examined (1) the association of caregiver engagement in physical activity (PA) with their quality of life (QoL) and (2) the moderating effect of caregiver engagement in PA on the relationship between several caregiving stressors and their QoL, among informal caregivers of older adults.

Methods: Multivariable regression was applied to data from 278 adult caregivers, aged 23-90 years, in Singapore.

Results: Engagement in PA by caregivers was positively associated with psychological, social relationships, and environment domains of their QoL. Caregiver engagement in PA also mitigated the negative association between care-recipient mood impairment and QoL of caregivers in the physical health and social relationships domains.

Discussion: QoL of caregivers may be improved or protected by their regular engagement in PA, especially when their care-recipients have mood impairment. Policymakers and practitioners should encourage caregivers to engage in PA and provide them with the necessary support to do so.

Objectives: The current study examined whether informal caregivers performed worse, better, or similar to non-caregivers on cognitive tests of executive functioning and episodic memory over 10 years. Methods: Data were from waves 2 (2003-04) and 3 (2013-14) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 2086). Multiple linear regression models examined whether caregiving at both waves 2 and 3 predicted better cognitive functioning at wave 3, than caregiving at only one time point or no caregiving (reference) while controlling for baseline covariates (i.e., sociodemographic, health, and functional status).

Results: After controlling for covariates, caregiving at both waves was independently associated with better performance in episodic memory (b = .24, SE = .10, p = .013) but not executive function (b = -.06, SE = .05, p = .246). Discussion:The findings partially supported both healthy caregiver and stress process models, indicating caregiving may be associated with better episodic memory but not executive functioning over time among the middle-aged and older adults.

Introduction: Little is known on the potential racial differences in latent subgroup membership based on mental health and cognitive symptomatology among older adults.

Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of Wave 2 data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 1819). Symptoms were depression, anxiety, loneliness, happiness, and cognition. Multiple-group latent class analysis was conducted to identify latent subgroups based on mental health and cognitive symptoms and to compare these differences between race.

Results: Class 1: "Severe Cognition & Mild-Moderate Mood Impaired," Class 2: "Moderate Cognition & Mood Impaired," and Class 3: "Mild Cognition Impaired & Healthy Mood" were identified. Black older adults were more likely to be in Class 1 while White older adults were more likely to be in Class 2 and Class 3.

Discussion: Clinicians need to provide culturally-sensitive care when assessing and treating symptoms across different racial groups.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between intersectional inequities and moral distress among those working in Long-Term Care (LTC) in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and retrospective study. We assessed moral distress, of 1678 respondents, using a modified Moral Distress Scale, and an equivalent distress mitigation score, at the intersections of gender and racial/ethnic identity. Then, we explored which worker attributes were more predictive of intention to leave work. Results: We found notable difference in experiences of moral distress across intersecting identities, including high moral distress scores among Indigenous men and women, and white women. Significant differences in mitigation scores were also found by intersectional identities. Discussion: Moral distress was the most important predictor of intention to leave work. The differences across racial and gender identity groups suggest the need for tailored interventions to address moral distress among LTC providers.

Objectives: We examined associations between social activity restriction and psychological distress and well-being for caregivers of older adults with and without dementia, and if the identified associations are different for the two groups.

Methods: Using data from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving, we identified caregivers of older adults with (N = 541) and without (N = 1701) dementia. Linear regression models were estimated, adjusting for caregivers' age, gender, race, education, relationship to care recipient, and self-rated health.

Results: Restriction in visiting friends and family and attending religious services were associated with higher distress in dementia caregivers. Restriction in visiting friends and family was associated with higher distress and lower well-being in non-dementia caregivers. Any activity restriction had stronger association with distress for caregivers of older adults with versus without dementia.

Discussion: Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions based on caregivers' perceptions of meaningful social activities and dementia-friendly communities to promote social participation.