Ageing International最新文献

Older people value their independence and prefer to live in an environment they are familiar with and can benefit substantially from vital communities. The objective of this study is to examine the theorised contribution of vital communities to successful ageing in place, as increasing numbers of older people in western societies, are living longer independently at home, while their need for support gradually increases. A modified Delphi study was conducted and consisted of two stages. In the first stage, we conducted two panel discussions in order to develop statements representing the theorised contribution of the features of vital communities to the key themes of ageing in place. This was followed by the second stage which had three online Delphi rounds, and which aimed to reach a consensus among 126 international experts concerning the theorised contribution. The findings of this study showed a consensus among the experts about aspects that show the positive contribution with regard to the aim of vital communities (quality of life, belonging), and all the key themes of ageing in place (place, technology, social networks, support, personal characteristics). However, experts nuanced the theorised contribution of the mechanisms and typical characteristics of vital communities and the key theme of technology. According to the experts, whether technology contribute depends on the skills of older people and the type of technology. The findings of this study imply that vital communities could facilitate older people to age in place for as long as possible, while maintaining their quality of life.

It is thought that age is an important factor in hopelessness and death anxiety, particularly in older adults during an epidemic disease like COVID-19, where death rates are high. This study was conducted to examine hopelessness and death anxiety in patients aged 65 and over who were diagnosed with COVID-19. The study was conducted between March and April 2021 in a pandemic hospital specially designated to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, with 100 patients who agreed to participate in the study. Personal information form, Beck hopelessness scale and Death anxiety scale were used to collect data. The mean Beck Hopelessness score of the patients was 6.57 ± 3.085 and the mean Death Anxiety Scale was 9.16 ± 2.242. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of Beck hopelessness and education level (p = 0.001) and between the mean scores of Beck hopelessness and age (p = 0.037) of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who are aged 65 and over. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the ages of the patients and their mean scores on the death anxiety scale (p = 0.023), and between the mean scores of the death anxiety scale and the condition of having a chronic disease (p = 0.001). In the light of the obtained data, certain social services can be put into practice to reduce/prevent the affection of the epidemic on older adults people.

This study examined racial and ethnic disparities in self-reported cognitive difficulty among older adults in New York City and whether physical health, family structure, and individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) partially accounted for the association between race and ethnicity and self-reported cognitive difficulty. This study merged data from the American Community Survey 2019 and New York City Community District Profiles. Cognitive difficulty was measured by a dichotomous variable indicating whether a respondent self-reported having cognitive difficulty. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to examine the research questions. Results suggested that Latinos/Hispanics had the highest odds of reporting cognitive difficulty across groups. Physical health and individual SES were common attributes linked to disparities among Latinos/Hispanics and Blacks compared to Whites. Neighborhood SES contributed to the disparity for Latinos/Hispanics, whereas family structure was a unique attribute for Blacks. No significant factor was identified for disparities between Asians and Whites. Our findings shed light on intervention directions to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in cognitive difficulty.

Purpose of the Research

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between physical activity and risk of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults.

Methods

This was a longitudinal study based on a subset of UK Biobank data consisting of 1,918 participants (902 men and 1,016 women, mean age 56 years) who had no sarcopenia at baseline based on the criteria of European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). The participants were assessed again after 6 years at follow-up, and were categorized into no sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, or sarcopenia using EWGSOP2. Physical activity was assessed at baseline using 7-day acceleration data that were analysed to obtain physical activity dose at different intensities. Multinominal logistic regression was employed to examine the association between the incidence of sarcopenia and physical activity dose, between baseline and follow up, controlled for other factors at baseline including age, sex, BMI, smoking status, intake of alcohol, vitamin D and calcium, history of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, secondary osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes.

Results

Among the 1918 participants with no sarcopenia at baseline, 230 (69 men and 161 women) developed probable sarcopenia and 37 (14 men and 23 women) developed sarcopenia at follow-up. Logistic regression models showed that increase in physical activity dose at moderate-to-vigorous intensity significantly reduced the risk of sarcopenia (odds ratio=0.368, p<0.05), but not probable sarcopenia (odds ratio=0.974, p>0.05), while physical activity dose at light or very light activity intensity were not associated with the risk of sarcopenia or probable sarcopenia (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Physical activity at moderate-to-vigorous intensity could reduce risk of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults.

No other studies have investigated the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on discrimination, attitudes, empathy, and body perception toward older adults. The study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on discrimination, attitudes, empathy, and body perception in older care students. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with a total of 53 older adult care students. Participants were randomized to the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group (CBTG) (n: 25) and Control Group (CG) (n: 28). Participants in the CBTG group received a four-module training on discrimination, attitudes, empathy, and body perception in terms of older care. Individuals were assessed before and after the intervention with the Ageism Attitude Scale (ADAS), the Kogan Scale of Attitudes Toward Older People (KAOP), and the Children’s Cognitive, Affective and Somatic Empathy Scales (CASES). A significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the KAOP score (p < 0.05). The KAOP score of CBTG increased significantly after the intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant improvement was observed in the ADAS (Negative discrimination towards older adults) score of the individuals in the intervention group (p < 0.05). The ADAS-negative discrimination score of the individuals in the CBTG group was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Cognitive-behavioral training improved students’ attitudes toward older adults and negative discrimination. CBT is an effective method for improving discrimination and attitudes towards older adults.

Maintaining functional ability is an essential prerequisite for healthy ageing and might be of critical importance for reaping the benefits of lifespan extension. This study aims to explore the relationship between functional ability and survival in the Croatian older adults aged 85 years and over. Study included 250 residents of 11 public long-term care facilities whose mobility and independence were followed-up during a ten-year period. The relation of functional ability to lifespan was explored by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression. From the time of initial interview, the study participants lived on average 4.4 years (full range being 12 years), and less than one year elapsed from the beginning of immobility or dependence until death. Mean age at death was 92.5 years, while the average age at the beginning of immobility or dependence was 91.6 years. The survival was related to their level of mobility and independence, with longer survival being attributed to women. Nevertheless, a lower proportion of men were at the end of their life completely dependent on other people’s care. The main two findings of this study are: (a) the levels of mobility and independence, as well as gender, are independent predictors of the number of surviving years for the 85 + aged care homes residents; and (b) they are, on average, completely dependent on professional care for a very short time period until their death. The presented evidence could bring valuable information for social and healthcare planning, and impact everyday gerontologic and geriatric practice.

This study is a systematic review addressing cognitive frailty, measurement instruments, and their impact on comprehensive care for older adults between 2013 and 2023. It seeks to identify findings on the distribution of studies in relation to year, country of publication, and methodology employed, as well as the instruments available to measure cognitive frailty and the scientific evidence supporting its assessment in midlife. We included studies published between 2013 and 2023 that addressed the topic of cognitive frailty and measurement instruments in midlife, excluding papers that did not provide primary data. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Twenty-one studies were identified, of which three presented new instruments for measuring cognitive frailty, eleven focused on the validation and comparison of psychometric properties, and seven examined the assessment of frailty in midlife. Research on instruments for measuring cognitive frailty has grown in the last five years, concentrating on high- and upper-middle-income countries, with a quantitative and cross-sectional methodological approach. Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of scales such as FRAIL and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator predominate, demonstrating efficacy and validity in community settings. Only three studies validate Frailty Indices using longitudinal data in middle-aged population. The review highlights the efficacy and validity of existing instruments, as well as the growth in cognitive frailty research. Strengths include growing research and instrument validation; however, it is limited to high- and upper-middle-income countries. The review suggests increased attention to cognitive frailty, with new instruments incorporating cognitive components, which could improve assessment in midlife.

Investigate the risk factors for frailty in Iranian older adult outpatients. In this cross-sectional study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 364 outpatients aged 60≥ at a geriatric clinic and health centers. The study included an assessment of demographic characteristics, polypharmacy, Fried Frailty Index, and various parameters from the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), including Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT), Body Mass Index (BMI), Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Assessment of other geriatric syndromes involved eye and hearing impairments, incontinency, pain, sleep disorders, fall, and vertigo. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS ver.27.0. A notable correlation was observed between sex, physical dependency, depression, polypharmacy, and BMI with frailty. Several geriatric syndromes including pain, incontinency, eye-impairments, vertigo, falls, and sleep disorders were found to be linked with frailty. The older adults with polypharmacy, hearing-impairment, incontinency, depression, dementia, and pain were shown to have a higher likelihood of developing frailty. Among the Fried Frailty indicators, low grip strength and weight loss in male, slow walking speed in female, and exhaustion in both gender exhibited a significant association with age. The older adults with pain had a 4.39 times higher risk of frailty compared to those without pain (p < 0.001, 95% CI = 2.31-8.36). This study found that frailty was associated with sex, physical dependency, depression, polypharmacy, obesity, and various geriatric syndromes including pain, vertigo, incontinency, falls, sleep disorders, eye and hearing impairment, and polypharmacy in older outpatients.

Sense of coherence (SOC) explores how individuals perceive and manage life, focusing on their ability to use available resources to overcome challenges and maintain or improve their health. However, understanding of the concept of SOC and its relationship to health among older Nigerians remain unknown. This study investigated the SOC and associated factors among older adults attending a geriatric facility in southwestern Nigeria. A cross-sectional study of 384 older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) were recruited at the Geriatric centre. Data were obtained using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained research assistants, we utilized the SOC adapted scale of Antonovsky’s SOC-13 scale. Other measures include their spirituality, cognition, depression, functional disability, quality of life, family relationship, and level of frailty, which were assessed using the spirituality index of well-being, six-item screener, Geriatric depression scale, Barthel’s independence activities of daily living, Family relations scale, Short-form 12-item and self-assessment of frailty tools, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted at α_0.05. The mean age was 70.3 ± 6.9 years, and 226 (58.9%) were females. The total mean SOC score was 42.96 ± 2.80, and the mean scores for the domains of SOC were ‘comprehensibility’ (16.68 ± 1.44), ‘manageability’ (14.43 ± 1.88), and ‘meaningfulness’ (11.84 ± 1.19). The predictors of stronger SOC were having fewer children alive (β = -0.100), lower depression score (β -0.117), higher self-rated health (β = 0.103) and a higher level of spirituality (β = -0.335). This study revealed that lower depression, better self-rated health, and higher spirituality were linked to a stronger sense of coherence among older Nigerians. Understanding these factors aids designing interventions to enhance SOC and health outcomes. The findings advocate for the prioritization of mental health and spiritual care in Nigerian geriatric services.