Ageing International最新文献

Increased forgetfulness is often associated with aging and to date there is no well-defined pharmacological intervention to prevent it. Music has shown to be a powerful tool to be used not only in rehabilitation processes but also to study brain function. We here briefly overview the current knowledge about memory decline in aging and the role of music in it. We further present the most recent innovations in neuroimaging research aimed at identifying neurophysiological biomarkers of aging and age-related brain decline by using music. Identifying the brain regions involved in memory processes related to complex temporal information such as the one conveyed by music could provide potential targets to neuromodulatory interventions and be used to improve memory in the older adults.

Both cognitive reserves and physical fitness are cumulatively developed and strengthened over the lifespan through sustained exercise, learning, and socializing. Maintaining optimal cognitive and physical abilities or motor performance is a leading approach for preventing aging-related decline in neurocognitive or neuromotor skills. Older adults with strong bodies and resilient brains are less likely to develop neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases, and can mitigate the negative impact of these disorders on mental and physical well-being. Furthermore, older adults who possess robust physical health and cognitive resilience are less likely to experience falls or traumatic brain injuries. The aim of this scoping review is to understand and integrate the literature on the mutual benefits of physical fitness and cognitive reserves in building a successful or productive aging process. This scoping review employed a focused, evidence-based methodology that required adherence to a structured approach to ensure the identification and inclusion of the most relevant studies. Empirical evidence indicates that older adults who maintain strong physical health and cognitive resilience experience enhanced physical fitness and mental health. From a neuromotor perspective, this review summarizes the key characteristics of cognitive and physical competence in older adults, discusses the behavioral, psychological, and neural factors of optimal aging, while synthesizing research on brain potential and mental hygiene. Finally, suggestions for future research on healthy aging will be presented."

The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal associations between living alone and eight mental health indicators and mortality in ageing adults from 2015 to 2022 in rural South Africa. The analysis utilized data from the South African 7-year longitudinal Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) (analytic sample: n = 3,707, aged 40 years and older). The proportion of living alone was 9.3% in 2015, 10.6% in 2019 and 12.0% in 2022. In the adjusted model, living alone was positively associated depressive symptoms, loneliness, impaired cognition, current tobacco use, and mortality. Compared to not living alone in all three study waves, living alone in one wave and/or two to three waves was positively associated with incident loneliness, incident current tobacco use, and incident current heavy alcohol use. Living alone was positively associated with the prevalence and/or incidence of depressive symptoms, loneliness, impaired cognition, current tobacco use, current heavy alcohol use and mortality. Enhanced screening and management of living alone may reduce mental ill-health in South Africa.

We investigated characteristics and differences in activities of daily living (ADL) disability incidence according to gender, age, and frailty status in 4,985 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years living in Japan. ADL disability is care level ≥ 2 in long-term care insurance. The cumulative care incidence over 6 years was compared. In the 6-year period, 654 older adults exhibited ADL disability. Age effect was most strongly related to ADL disability occurrence, followed by frailty status. Gender differences were observed in the 75–84-year-old pre-frail and robust groups. ADL disability incidence was higher in men, with a higher prevalence of low cognitive function and depression risk; at 75–84 years of age, men became ADL disabled, which was earlier than women. Therefore, gender differences must be considered for older adults in the 75–84-year age group when examining risk of long-term care and frailty as an outcome.

Old age is often marked by a frail physique, low energy, and compromised immunity, exacerbated by various ailments. Cognitive impairment, a neuropsychological disorder, is a growing concern among older adults. To promote good health and well-being, the study aims to identify the contributing factors to cognitive decline within India’s aging population. Data were obtained from the Gateway to Global Ageing portal, specifically the harmonized Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, version A.3 (2017–2021). A total of 27,862 older adults were included in this study. The cognitive measures were adapted from the cognition module of the Health and Retirement Study (SRH). Descriptive statistics, along with binary logistic regression analysis were employed for the study. The data reveals that 89.3% of older adults have normal cognition, while 10.3% experience cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is strongly linked to the oldest-old population and lack of education. Females, particularly in rural areas and with non-traditional marital status are more susceptible. There is an increasing trend of cognitive impairment among scheduled castes, Muslims, BPL, and illiterate households. Furthermore, individuals who lack physical activity (odds ratio 1.48, 95% CI: 1.35–1.61, p-value < 0.001), abstain from yoga/meditation (odds ratio 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07–1.51, p-value < 0.005) and suffer from malnutrition (odds ratio 1.90, 95% CI: 1.54–2.57, p-value < 0.001) face an elevated risk of cognitive impairment. The study recommends implementing a geriatric female caregiving policy to enable early screening and intervention for cognitive impairment. It also emphasizes addressing the needs of older adults, particularly those from economically and socially disadvantaged groups.

The newly termed “emerging adult” family caregivers (ages 18–40) are the new sandwich generation, as they are increasingly providing care to their older family members with chronic, disabling, or other serious health conditions. However, little is known about young adult family caregivers, their attitude toward caregiving, their needs, their mental and health status, and their coping mechanism in the context of sustaining their caregiving role. An integrative review of young and emerging adult family caregivers was conducted to provide an understanding on the experience of family caregiving among young adults.

Measurement of biological age provides a means to quantify the aging process; however, its relationship with quality of Life in middle-aged adults remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between biological age and quality of Life in adults aged 30 to 60 years. This cross-sectional study included participants of both genders. Data collected included sociodemographic information, medical history, anthropometric measurements, vital signs, musculoskeletal tests, subjective well-being assessments, and periodontal and paraclinical evaluations. Biological age was estimated using two. (i) a functional capacity algorithm and (ii) the Klemera-Doubal method. The correlation between biological age and quality of life—assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF)—was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and a multiple Linear regression model. A total of 125 participants were included, with a mean chronological age of 45.1 ± 9.4 years and a mean biological age of 47.1 ± 10 years; 46.4% were women. A significant negative correlation was found between biological age and overall quality of life (r = -0.534, p < 0.001; β = -732.5; 95% CI: -994.7 to -520.3; adjusted R² = 0.399, p < 0.001), as well as across all quality of Life domains. Each year of biological age exceeding chronological age was associated with a 27-point decrease in quality of life score. In conclusion, greater biological aging is associated with lower quality of life in middle-aged adults. Early identification of accelerated aging could lead to timely interventions aimed at improving quality of life and promoting healthy longevity.

Habitual night-time hot spring bathing, which is practiced to improve sleep disorders, is inversely associated with hypertension in adults aged ≥ 65 years. This study aimed to explore a nondrug intervention for insomnia by evaluating the effects of night-time hot spring bathing on sleep quality and quality of life (QOL) in older patients with hypertension. This prospective study evaluated the effects of night-time hot spring bathing on patients with primary hypertension (n = 28) aged 65 years or older (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials registration number: UMIN000051274). Between July 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, participants were invited to a 1- to 3-day sleep promotion experience at our institute, which included night-time hot spring bathing and education on exercise and diet. Participants were encouraged to continue sleep-promoting activities during a 3-month follow-up period; sleep quality and QOL questionnaires were completed at 1 and 3 months post-intervention. There was a significant improvement in sleep quality according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p < 0.001). Patients also reported significantly improved QOL according to the SF-36® 1-month post-intervention and a significant improvement in mental health at both 1 and 3 months post-intervention (p = 0.013). Night-time hot spring bathing was significantly associated with improved sleep quality in older hypertensive patients. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate whether night-time hot spring bathing can prevent diseases associated with sleep disorders in older adults, such as hypertension.

The number of older people diagnosed with dementia is rising in Indonesia. Older people were at risk of missing out on the necessary care and treatment because of a lack of awareness of dementia symptoms and screening. The purpose of this study was to investigate older people’s knowledge of dementia symptoms and the factors associated to their awareness of disorientation as one of early symptoms of dementia in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DI Yogyakarta), Indonesia. This cross sectional study was conducted in 121 community in DI Yogyakarta. A total of 1.010 older people and 121 community health workers (CHWs) were interviewed via telephone. Participants were asked about their knowledge of early symptoms of dementia. Multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to examine factors associated with older people knowledge of the most common dementia symptom known by the older people. In general, this study found that Indonesia older people had low knowledge of early symptoms of dementia. Furthermore, older persons with education of junior high school and higher and participated in social activities had higher knowledge of disorientation as the most recognizable dementia symptoms compare to other variables as indicated by the proportion of 15.9% and 12.8% respectively. Additionally, the regression analysis found an association for both aforementioned variables with the knowledge of disorientation (p < 0.05). The knowledge of early symptoms of dementia among older persons was low. Campaign to disseminate information on dementia awareness is needed to increase the knowledge of older persons of dementia symptoms.

Objective

To assess the association between frailty, malnutrition, and food group intake among older adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1247 adults aged 60 and older who participated in the baseline phase of the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS). Participants were selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Frailty was assessed using both the frailty phenotype and frailty index approaches. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Data on food group intake, sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, activities of daily living, and sleep problems were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 12. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA were used for group comparisons. Multinomial logistic regression models were applied to examine associations, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Based on the frailty index, 16.20% and 73.14% of participants were frail and prefrail, respectively. Poor nutritional status (malnourished or at risk) was observed in 26.54% of participants, and 49.93% of frail individuals had poor nutritional status. Malnourished individuals had significantly higher risks of frailty (RRR = 6.78; 95% CI: 3.39–13.58) and prefrailty (RRR = 2.36; 95% CI: 2.27–4.31). Higher fruit and vegetable intake was inversely associated with frailty. Those in the highest tertile had significantly lower frailty risk: 0.24 (95% CI: 0.12–0.48) for the frailty index and 0.52 (95% CI: 0.30–0.90) for the frailty phenotype. High intake of milk and dairy products also showed a protective effect (RRR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.27–0.78). Other food groups showed no significant association.

Conclusion

Poor nutritional status is strongly associated with increased frailty risk in older adults. Fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake may have protective roles against frailty. Malnourished individuals had reduced intake of all major food groups.