Gerontology最新文献

{"title":"Cognitive Impairments in Patients with Hearing Loss: A Cross-Sectional Study from an Audiological Clinic.","authors":"Rebecca K Hendel, Mie Lærkegård Jørgensen, Abigail Anne Kressner, Asmus Vogel","doi":"10.1159/000552521","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000552521","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Previous studies have provided evidence for an association between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Patients with hearing loss may vary from the general population on several parameters that could influence their cognitive functions, including severity of hearing loss, age, and educational level. But to what extent cognitive impairments, as measured by clinical cognitive tests, are present in patients with hearing loss as compared with community samples have rarely been examined. Such studies would help determine whether specific attention to cognitive dysfunction should be provided as part of comprehensive hearing healthcare. This study sought to examine cognitive impairments in patients with hearing loss as compared with community-dwelling older adults across a range of cognitive domains.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants included a sample of patients from an audiological clinic (N = 83) and a community sample of older adults (N = 39). Performance on clinical cognitive tests were compared between groups using standard t tests or Mann-Whitney's U test. On each cognitive test, the proportion of individuals with impaired performance was classified. Impaired performance corresponded to a score at or below the 5th and 10th percentile cut-offs of Danish normative data. Among individuals in the clinical sample who showed cognitive impairment on at least one cognitive test, the proportion of individuals without subjective memory complaints was identified.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients in the clinical sample performed significantly worse than the community sample on cognitive tests measuring processing speed, working memory, executive functions, verbal memory, and visuo-constructive abilities. In the clinical sample, 10%-15% of the patients were classified with impaired performance when applying the 5th percentile cut-off, and more than 15% were classified as impaired when applying the 10th percentile cut-off. Among patients in the clinical sample with impaired cognitive performance, 43.5% reported no memory problems.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients from an audiological clinic had significantly worse performance across a range of cognitive tests when compared to a community sample, and 10%-15% had performance in the impaired range. These results emphasize that cognitive deficits are common in patients from an audiological clinic and that self-reports might not be reliable for identifying memory problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"559-570"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147971939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variations in Frailty Perceptions between Patients and Physicians.","authors":"Teck Soon Seah, Yan Tong Chin, Johnathan Loh, Ru-San Tan, Louis L Y Teo, Jie Jun Wong, Angela S Koh","doi":"10.1159/000551199","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000551199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>\"Frailty\" is frequently used by healthcare professionals; however, self-perception of frailty, also known as \"perceived frailty,\" remains ambiguous and subjective. Such perceptions by physicians influence the design of treatment plans; alternatively, patients' self-perception also affects their acceptance of said plans. We performed a literature review to evaluate differences in perceived frailty between physicians and patients.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>A no-restriction, comprehensive literature search was conducted over 3 months in PubMed to identify relevant peer-reviewed studies, focussing on the concept of perceived frailty. Two independent reviewers screened the citations for inclusion. One reviewer then extracted and analysed the data descriptively to map the available evidence. Quantitative and qualitative syntheses were performed. We examined papers written on the topic of frailty and excluded those that did not assess for perceived frailty among patients or physicians. A total of 20 papers were included and data were extracted for N = 27,342 patients and physicians in aggregate. In the domain of physical frailty, more physicians perceived patients as frail (N = 1,262, 56.09%) compared to patients' self-perception (N = 1,004, 43.59%). Alternatively, more patients perceive themselves as socially frail (58.9%). Regarding ethnicity, most studies focused on Western cohorts (16 studies), followed by three Asian and one multiethnic cohort. Among the eligible studies, more patients in Asia consider themselves frail (N = 1,542, 58.93%) compared to the Western population (N = 1,004, 43.59%).</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>We observed differences in frailty perception between patients and physicians and across different domains. It would be insightful when used as the foundation for future targeted models of educational and communication strategies across multifaceted domains.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"446-455"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147503447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Long-Term Minimal Footwear Use on Fall-Risk and Fall Incidence in Older Adults.","authors":"Erin Futrell, Julia Chevan","doi":"10.1159/000550264","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000550264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Introduction: Foot-related factors, such as plantar foot muscle weakness, hallux valgus, hammer toe, excessive pronation, and foot pain, are known causes of falls in older adults (ages >65). Minimally cushioned footwear may naturally strengthen and provide enhanced sensory awareness to the feet, leading to reduced fall risk. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of long-term minimal footwear use on fall risk and fall incidence in older adults with established fall risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adult volunteers ages >65 were screened for fall risk and randomized into minimal footwear (n = 33) and control (sham intervention, n = 32) groups. Participants performed intervention or control activities 5×/week for 16 weeks and then at least 2×/week for the remainder of the 1-year study. They were measured for fall risk using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) at baseline, 16 weeks, and 1 year. Participants kept written journals of intervention adherence and falls, and were contacted bimonthly to collect details on falls. A mixed-effects linear model analysis was used to measure change in fall risk. The minimal detectable change (MDC) of >3.5 points defined \"meaningful change.\" Fall incidence was analyzed with number of falls per participant, proportion of fallers in each group, and fall rates per person-year. Time-to-first-fall analyses using the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to visualize the cumulative probability of remaining fall-free over the 1-year period. The log-rank test was used to evaluate differences between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Minimal footwear group made significant improvements in Mini-BESTest scores at both follow-up time points (16 weeks: 2.24 points, p < 0.001; 1 year: 2.62 points, p < 0.001) compared to no improvements made by control group (16 weeks: 0.108 points, p = 0.794; 1 year: 0.119 points, p = 0.797). At 16 weeks, 28.6% of minimal footwear group and 3.3% of control group achieved the MDC (p = 0.005). At 1 year, 23.1% of minimal footwear group and 7.4% of control group achieved the MDC (p = 0.111). Fall incidence was not significantly different between groups at 1 year; however, minimal footwear group had fewer falls, a smaller proportion of fallers, and longer time-to-first fall. For the 1-year study duration, 76.9% of minimal footwear group and 51.9% of control group remained fall-free.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Long-term minimal footwear use resulted in meaningful improvements in balance and reduced fall risk in older adults. This type of footwear can be gradually incorporated into daily activities using our progressive schedule or could be included in existing fall-prevention programs. This study was underpowered to detect fall incidence, and we did not see a difference in falls incidence between groups. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"245-257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12904649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145862603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AF-CARE in the Elderly: Implications of the 2024 ESC Guideline on the Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Patients.","authors":"Julian Wolfes, Cora-Alea Colla, Gerrit Frommeyer, Christian Ellermann, Lars Eckardt","doi":"10.1159/000548492","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000548492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is anticipated that demographic trends will result in a notable increase in the number of elderly and geriatric patients globally. Concurrently, atrial fibrillation exhibits a pronounced age-dependent prevalence, thereby anticipating a substantial increase in the number of elderly atrial fibrillation patients. In this context, we have examined the recently published European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on the management of atrial fibrillation from 2024, analyzing their recommendations and implications for atrial fibrillation management in elderly patients, and critically summarized the recent recommendations.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>In summary, it can be stated that the guideline makes age-dependent recommendations in some areas. Such recommendations can be found in particular for the indication for anticoagulation and for switching anticoagulation therapy from VKA to DOAC, or for atrial fibrillation screening. When it comes to rhythm control and catheter ablation, however, there are few age-specific recommendations and the particularities and heterogeneities of this patient group tend to be underrepresented in the guidelines.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>Tailored recommendations for elderly patients can be found in the ESC guidelines on the management of atrial fibrillation for atrial fibrillation screening and anticoagulation. In particular, the recommendations on rhythm control and catheter ablation lack specific recommendations for older patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"54-62"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145488394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Neuroinflammation and Its Role in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction following Spine Surgery.","authors":"Johanna Ruhnau, Jonas Müller, Stephan Nowak, Sarah Strack, Denise Sperlich, Anna Pohl, Jasmin Dilz, Sebastian Rehberg, Taras Usichenko, Klaus Hahnenkamp, Martin Weidemeier, Johannes Ehler, Agnes Flöel, Henry W S Schroeder, Jan-Uwe Müller, Robert Fleischmann, Antje Vogelgesang","doi":"10.1159/000548923","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000548923","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Introduction: Progress in spine surgery has significantly improved the safety of procedures for older patients with disabling spine disease. However, postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remains a concern due to their link with poorer outcomes and higher long-term care risk. This study aimed to determine if pro-neuroinflammatory states accelerate neurodegeneration, contributing to POCD development, and explore whether specific biomarkers could predict POCD risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients (aged ≥ 60 years) scheduled for elective spine surgery between February 2018 and March 2020 were enrolled. Biomarkers tested included IL-6, C-reactive protein, S100 calcium-binding protein β, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, serum neurofilament light chain protein (sNFL), gasdermin D, and soluble ectodomain of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2), measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Cognitive outcomes were assessed using the CERAD test battery at baseline and 3 months postoperatively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Postoperative levels of sTREM2 and gasdermin D were significantly associated with cognitive performance changes 3 months after surgery, particularly in memory function. Higher sTREM2 levels were associated with greater cognitive decline, with six out of twelve CERAD items showing an inverse association (e.g., overall β = -0.010, p = 0.0003). Similarly, higher postoperative gasdermin D levels were linked to worse performance, particularly in recognition memory (e.g., word list recognition β = -0.615, p = 0.032). Additionally, higher preoperative sNFL levels were associated with poorer cognitive outcomes across multiple domains.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights potential associations between neuroinflammation and cognitive decline following spine surgery. Targeting neuroinflammatory pathways could be crucial in mitigating POCD in older patients. Biomarkers may help identify high-risk patients and guide the development of targeted interventions. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"29-40"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12700582/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145336764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Bunion Surgery on Fall Risk: A Nationwide Database Study of 127,990 Older Adults with Hallux Valgus.","authors":"Adam Fleischer, Rachel Albright, Zalak Bhatt, Neveen Abuali, Dyane Tower, Lowell Weil","doi":"10.1159/000551884","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000551884","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The presence of a bunion (hallux valgus) deformity is a recognized risk factor for falls among older adults; however, it is uncertain whether surgical correction of the foot deformity can help mitigate this risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of US adults aged 50 years and over with hallux valgus using commercial, state, and federal healthcare claims obtained from a national database (PearlDiver, Inc.). Patients who underwent bunion surgery were compared to those treated nonoperatively for their bunion deformities from January 2011 to April 2022. Claims-based falls (all-cause) were tracked using diagnosis codes for up to 11 years. Group differences in fall risk were examined using both 1-year and long-term adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and corresponding absolute risks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 127,990 people diagnosed with hallux valgus and 17,406 (13.6%) underwent surgery. The median follow-up time was 2,905 and 2,298 days for the surgery and non-surgery groups, respectively. A smaller proportion of people fell in the surgery versus non-surgery group (5 vs. 8% at 1 year; 16 vs. 21% over total follow-up). Furthermore, after controlling for important covariates, patients who underwent bunion surgery were 16% less likely to fall in the first year (aHR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76-0.92) and 42% less likely to fall over the 11-year follow-up (aHR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.52-0.63) compared to those with uncorrected hallux valgus deformity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Among older adults in whom surgery is already indicated, a potential ancillary benefit may be a reduction in injurious falls over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"438-445"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13112379/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147627507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using Monitoring Technologies to Care for Older Persons: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Switzerland.","authors":"Tenzin Wangmo, Yi Jiao Angelina Tian, Andrea Hans Meyer","doi":"10.1159/000550448","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000550448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Introduction: The aging of the population calls for closer evaluations of gerontechnologies as potential resources to aid in the care of older persons. Despite the wealth of theoretical and empirical works in this area, there exists a dearth of quantitative studies to address this population trend. This paper uses a large weighted sample in Switzerland to understand the factors associated with the acceptance of smart monitoring technologies to care for older persons.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We designed a telephone survey to address the purposes of this study, collecting data on self-rated acceptance of monitoring technologies (wearables and ambient sensors with and without camera), their care situations, perceived relief of caregiving stress through technology use, and the perceived impact of external factors in technology adoption. Statistical analyses included descriptive analysis, multilevel modeling approach, and sequential multiple regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,211 valid responses were obtained for this cross-sectional survey study. Over 80% of participants were willing to accept wearables for locating older persons with dementia as well as for fall detection purposes. Among the respondents, almost 60% were open to using sensors at home to detect changes in the older person, and roughly 35% accepted the use of cameras to recognize fall or pain. Acceptance toward cameras increased significantly with risk of falling and even in relatively private areas of the home when fall risk was perceived. The care situation and technologies' perceived usefulness in addressing caregiver stress explained the most variance related to acceptance of the smart monitoring technologies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Higher acceptance was found for smart wearable devices for elder care purposes compared to the sensors and cameras at home. Presence of actual need such as risk of falling, practical care situations, and an overall emphasis on ensuring the safety of older persons were observed to positively impact the acceptance of technologies. Our findings also impart significance of the role of caregiving stress as a driver to incorporating technical tools in elder care. Further research is necessary to ensure that implementation of monitoring technologies addresses, first and foremost, the needs of the older care recipient. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"315-328"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12948381/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145989207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasound-Derived Anterior Thigh Muscle Thickness as a Marker of Physical Frailty in Geriatric Outpatients.","authors":"Esra Cataltepe, Ayse Fadiloglu, Eda Ceker, Fatih Gungor, Nermin Karakurt, Zekeriya Ulger, Hacer Dogan Varan","doi":"10.1159/000550595","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000550595","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Introduction: Physical frailty in older adults is frequently associated with adverse outcomes, yet most assessment tools rely on subjective or time-consuming measures. This study explores ultrasound-derived anterior thigh muscle thickness (ATMT) as an objective marker for frailty.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 641 patients aged 65 years and older. Comprehensive geriatric evaluations and ATMT measurements by ultrasound were performed. Frailty was diagnosed using the fried frailty phenotype. The association between ATMT and frailty was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants' mean age was 75 ± 6.4 years; 62.9% were women, and 12% were frail. Frail individuals had significantly lower ATMT compared to non-frail counterparts (p < 0.001). ATMT remained independently associated with frailty after adjusting for confounders (β = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90-0.99, p = 0.033). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ATMT predicting frailty was 0.660 (95% CI: 0.62-0.69; p < 0.001). Sex-stratified analyses revealed higher accuracy in men (AUC = 0.757) than in women (AUC = 0.599). The optimal ATMT cut-off was ≤30.5 mm, with a negative predictive value of 90.3%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Ultrasound-derived ATMT offers a simple, radiation-free, and objective method for frailty screening, showing stronger discriminative ability in men and moderate accuracy in women. It may be used as a practical screening measure in combination with other geriatric assessment tools in outpatient settings. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"271-278"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12923248/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146029335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Tooth Loss Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Taipei City: A Prospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Yi-Chao Zhou, Yi-Chang Chou, Yin-Ling Hung, Yen-Jung Chang","doi":"10.1159/000549726","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study assessed the association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and the risk of tooth loss.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From 2005 to 2013, 56,743 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years underwent biennial physical examinations in Taipei. Dental evaluations documented tooth count and TSH levels were measured using a third-generation assay. Participants averaged 3.4 follow-ups over 4.9 years and were categorized into four groups based on plasma TSH concentrations. A generalized estimating equation model analyzed the longitudinal relationship between tooth loss and TSH levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants' mean age was 73.1 years (standard deviation, 6.3), being highest in the clinical hypothyroidism group (74.6 years) and lowest in the euthyroid group (73.0 years). Hypertension and diabetes were more prevalent in the clinical hypothyroidism group. Periodontitis rates were consistent across TSH categories, and 81.5% of participants retained ≥20 teeth, 12.0% had 10-19 teeth, and 6.5% had 1-9 teeth. Severe tooth loss (1-9 teeth) was slightly more frequent in the clinical hypothyroidism group (6.7%), suggesting a potential link between thyroid function and tooth retention. Multivariable-adjusted models found no significant association between subclinical hypothyroidism and tooth loss, whereas clinical hypothyroidism reduced risk (odd ratio [OR] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.74-0.92). Stratified analysis showed this protective effect in those with ≥20 teeth and in individuals aged 65-75 years (OR = 0.79). Conversely, subclinical hypothyroidism increased tooth loss risk in participants aged ≥75 years (OR = 1.12). Sex-stratified analysis revealed 26% lower risk in females with clinical hypothyroidism (OR = 0.74), suggesting age- and sex-specific influences of thyroid function on oral health.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests a link between clinical hypothyroidism and reduced tooth loss, particularly in women and individuals aged 65-75 years. Conversely, subclinical hypothyroidism in persons ≥75 years correlates with greater risk, underscoring the role of thyroid function in geriatric oral health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"191-201"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145687184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community Walking Speed as a New Predictor of Disability Incidence in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Hiroyuki Shimada, Sangyoon Lee, Takehiko Doi, Naoto Takayanagi, Motoki Sudo, Yukari Yamashiro, Yoshifumi Niki, Hidenori Arai","doi":"10.1159/000550778","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000550778","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Walking speed is widely recognized as an informative indicator of physical capability in later life and is frequently used to evaluate mobility and functional health in older adults. Although the measurement of community walking speed (CWS) has been made possible using accelerometers, it is unclear whether discrepancies between laboratory walking speed (LWS) and CWS make a difference in predicting the incidence of future disabilities in older adults. Using data from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Study of Geriatric Syndromes (NCGG-SGS), we examined whether LWS and CWS each independently predict incident disability. The discrepancy was defined as the difference between LWS and CWS, and we further analyzed the characteristics of older adults who exhibited such discrepancies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants comprised 1,631 older adults (mean age = 70 years; 62.7% women). LWS was measured using a WalkWay device that measures the distribution of foot pressure during walking. CWS was derived using a model that estimated gait speed based on composite acceleration calculated from the mean triaxial acceleration within a single gait cycle. Participants were instructed to wear a triaxial accelerometer for at least 14 days. The incidence of disability was prospectively determined for 5 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Cox proportional hazards regression models revealed a statistically significant association between the z scores of LWS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.72) and CWS (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.41-0.83) and disability incidence. There were no statistically significant interactions between LWS and CWS for disability (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.76-1.31). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of the LWS and CWS was 0.752 and 0.709, respectively. Regarding discrepancies between the fast LWS group and the fast CWS group, residual analysis showed that the fast LWS group had a higher proportion of women than the fast CWS group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>LWS and CWS were found to be independently associated with disability. Further research must determine how CWS should be interpreted because participants who showed discrepancies between CWS and LWS did not exhibit a significant association with incident disability. Healthcare providers could use either CWS and LWS as a significant indicator in healthcare practice for older populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"279-288"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}