Journal of Aging and Health最新文献

Objective: Drawing upon the socio-ecological framework, this study examines whether the neighborhood environment moderates the relation between falling frequency and physical activity (PA) behavior among adults 55 years or older. Methods: At baseline, participants (N = 430) reported number of falls during the past 12 months and leisure-time PA during the past month. At follow-up, PA was assessed weekly using the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly for four consecutive weeks. We used the Bike Score^TM, Walk Score®, and Index of Relative Rurality to capture objective attributes of the neighborhood environment. Results: The relation between falling frequency and PA was negative and tended to be stronger for recurrent fallers who lived in a neighborhood environment that was less bikeable, less walkable, and more rural. Discussion: This study offers novel quantitative insights that underscore the importance of examining how personal and environmental factors combine to influence PA behavior in the context of fall prevention and management.

ObjectivesThis paper aims to apply a novel demographic technique to update - and extend to sub-national regions - estimates of the lifetime probability of admission to residential aged care.MethodsMaking optimal use of Australian data sources on aged care usage, mortality and population, this study adopts a two-population life table approach to produce an updated set of national probability estimates and first-time regional estimates.ResultsThe probability of admission generally increases with age: nationally, lifetime probability at age 65 is 50% for women and 37% for men, rising to 55% and 46%, respectively, at age 85. This general pattern varied somewhat across regions.DiscussionThe regional results point to inequities in the uptake of care, thereby informing providers, governments, aged care advocates and anyone interested in equity of access.

Objectives: Hearing difficulty is prevalent in older adulthood and projected to increase via global aging, particularly among men. Currently, there is limited research on how this gender disparity might vary by country. Methods: Using 2018 data (n = 29,480) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) international family of studies, we investigate gender disparities in hearing difficulty among respondents ages 55-89 from the United States (n = 12,566), Mexico (n = 10,762), and Korea (n = 6152) with country-specific ordinal logistic regression models that progressively adjust for demographic, social, and health indicators. Results: In the United States, men's hearing difficulty disadvantage was consistently observed. In Mexico, men's hearing difficulty disadvantage was explained by the interactive effect of gender and age group but resurfaced after adjusting for comorbidities. In Korea, there was consistently no gender difference in hearing difficulty. Discussion: Our results highlight the heterogeneity in older men's hearing difficulty disadvantage among a diverse group of aging countries.

Although research has linked ageism and pain to increased stress in older adults, their influence on stress within the context of pandemics has not been adequately examined. Our objective was to investigate relationships among pain, ageism, and pandemic-related stress in older adults using structural equation modeling (SEM) and mediation analysis. We hypothesized that pain would exert a direct and/or indirect influence on pandemic-related stress, and ageism a direct influence. Data were collected from 486 North American older adults in January 2024. Participants completed measures of pain, ageism, and pandemic-related stress. SEM and mediation analyses yielded evidence suggesting ageism and pain influence pandemic-related stress, although ageism mediated pain's impact on pandemic-related stress. This study underscores how pain and ageism can impact older adults' psychological well-being during pandemics. Findings highlight a potential need for public health interventions to address ageism and pain during future waves of COVID-19 or other global health crises.

BackgroundThis study examined whether patterns of relationship quality between parents and adult children were associated with the onset of ADL disability in later life.Research Design and MethodsUsing data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 8,101), we studied whether support, strain, and patterns of relationships between parents and adult children were related to age of onset of ADL disability among parents.ResultsGreater support from adult children (based on parental report) was associated with later onset of ADL disability, and greater social strain was associated with earlier onset of disability. Compared to high-quality relationships, adverse, indifferent, and ambivalent relationships were associated with an earlier onset of ADL disability over time.DiscussionIt is important to acknowledge the complexity of relationships between parents and their adult children to understand how patterns of quality within these relationships influence ADL functioning in later life among parents.

We investigated the changes in home care clients' vision and hearing over 18 months and examined the role of sensory impairments in maintaining their functioning. We used data from the Finnish Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) database (n = 7013). Sensory impairment status was categorized by type (single or dual) and severity (mild or moderate/severe). The association between sensory impairment and functioning over 18 months was examined using binary logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations. Of 7013 home care clients, 48% had sensory impairment at baseline. Over 18 months, sensory impairment improved in 7% (n = 482) and worsened in 23% (n = 1605) of the clients. Sensory impairments were associated with impaired physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning at baseline. Especially moderate to severe dual impairment was associated with increased impairment in cognitive and physical functioning over time. Sensory impairments should be considered as an integral part of maintaining home care clients' overall health and well-being.

ObjectiveAccelerated biological aging is a plausible and modifiable determinant of dementia burden facing minoritized communities but is not well-studied in these historically underrepresented populations. Our objective was to preliminarily characterize relationships between telomere length and cognitive health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Black/African American (B/AA) middle-aged and older adults.MethodsThis study included data on telomere length and neuropsychological test performance from 187 participants, enrolled in one of two community-based cognitive aging cohorts and who identified their primary race as AI/AN or B/AA.ResultsNested multivariable regression models revealed preliminary evidence for associations between telomere length and cognitive performance, and these associations were partially independent of chronological age.DiscussionSmall sample size limited estimate precision; however, findings suggest future work on telomere length and cognitive health in underrepresented populations at high risk for dementia is feasible and valuable as a foundation for social and behavioral intervention research.

ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the relationship between social connectedness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults, focusing on the impact of technology accessibility and geographic context (urban vs. rural).MethodsData from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) with 2303 participants aged 65 and older were used. Confirmatory factor analysis validated measures of social connectedness and HRQoL, followed by regression analysis to explore their relationship, including the moderating roles of technology accessibility and geographic context.ResultsThe findings indicate a significant positive relationship between social connectedness and HRQoL. However, technology accessibility moderates this relationship only in rural areas, where lower technology access enhances the positive effects of social connectedness on HRQoL.DiscussionThe results suggest that interventions to improve HRQoL among older adults should consider different geographical locations. Notably, promoting in-person interactions is crucial for enhancing the HRQoL of rural older adults.

ObjectivesFew studies have investigated health outcomes associated with arthritis in low-middle-income countries. Our objective was to examine the association between arthritis and all-cause hospitalization and mortality among middle-aged and older adults in Mexico.MethodsOur sample included 12,106 participants aged >50 years from the 2012, 2015, and 2018 waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Logistic regression was used for the associations between arthritis and hospitalization. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used for the association between arthritis and mortality.ResultsArthritis was associated with higher odds of hospitalization (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.09-1.38), but not mortality. Arthritis with physical limitations had the highest odds of hospitalization (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.27-1.73). Arthritis with joint pain (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.10-1.41) and medication use (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.11-1.48) had higher odds of hospitalization.ConclusionAmong middle-aged and older adults in Mexico, arthritis was associated with a high risk of hospitalization.

BackgroundAccurate classification of cognitive impairment in population studies is challenging.ObjectiveTo compare the performance of a diagnostic algorithm with a clinical consensus panel.SampleIn 2016, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) implemented the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol Project (HRS-HCAP) to streamline cognitive assessments for select HRS participants.MethodsThe Manly-Jones HCAP diagnostic classification was used to classify cognitive status as normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia. For this analysis, a consensus panel of five clinicians reviewed 50 cases with high diagnostic uncertainty, each reviewing 30 cases, blinded to the algorithm's classifications.AnalysisDiagnostic concordance was assessed using unweighted and weighted Cohen's kappa (κ).ResultsUnweighted concordance was 70% (35/50), with discordance mostly among MCI cases. Weighted concordance was 84%. Unweighted κ was 0.56 (95% CI 0.30-0.81) and weighted κ was 0.75 (95% CI 0.49-0.91), indicating moderate to substantial agreement between the two methods.