Journal of Aging Research最新文献

{"title":"Exploring Retirement Concerns of Basic School Teachers in Ghana.","authors":"John N-Yelbi, Dandy George Dampson, Matthew Kojo Namale","doi":"10.1155/jare/3735264","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/3735264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study explored the retirement concerns of basic school teachers in Ghana. It employed a qualitative phenomenological research design. 24 teachers aged 50-55, who were in the pre-retirement stage and approaching statutory retirement of 60, were sampled using the maximum variation sampling technique and interviewed. In-depth semistructured interviews were used to gather data, which were then subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed financial concerns, healthcare issues and social isolation as retirement concerns. The study found that teachers' retirement concerns were centred around three main categories: psychological concerns resulting from anxieties and uncertainties about life after active employment, social concerns about evolving family and social relationships, and financial concerns about financial insecurity in retirement. The study recommends that Ghana Education Service collaborates with financial institutions to enhance teachers' budgeting, pension and savings skills. It suggests organising financial literacy programmes to promote savings and investment diversification. It recommends pre-retirement programmes to improve their emotional preparedness for retirement.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3735264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13420264/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148630534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Associated With Physiological Dysregulation Among US Adults Aged 45 Years and Older: A Nationally Representative Study.","authors":"Vishal Vennu","doi":"10.1155/jare/3289222","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/3289222","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To examine associations of demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors with physiological dysregulation across cardiometabolic, renal, and hepatic functions among United States (US) adults aged 45 years and older using nationally representative data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-March 2020 prepandemic cycle (weighted <i>N</i> ≈ 17,219,945; analytic <i>n</i> = 496). Eight biomarkers representing cardiometabolic (glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides), renal (serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen), and hepatic (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin) functions were standardized using survey-weighted <i>z</i>-scores. They averaged with equal weighting to construct a physiological dysregulation index (PDI). Higher PDI scores indicate greater physiological dysregulation. Survey-weighted multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between PDI and sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Female sex was associated with significantly lower physiological dysregulation compared with male sex (<i>β</i> = -0.302, SE = 0.066, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Physically active individuals also had lower dysregulation scores than inactive individuals (<i>β</i> = -0.186, SE = 0.069, <i>p</i> = 0.007). Overweight (<i>β</i> = 0.108, SE = 0.043, <i>p</i> = 0.012) and obesity (<i>β</i> = 0.191, SE = 0.087, <i>p</i> = 0.028) were associated with greater dysregulation than normal body mass index (BMI).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Female sex and physical activity were associated with lower physiological dysregulation, whereas higher BMI was associated with greater dysregulation. These findings underscore the importance of sex differences and modifiable lifestyle factors, particularly physical activity and adiposity in multisystem physiological burden among older US adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3289222"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13400988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148591810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Role of Sense of Community on Older Adults' Memory Self-Efficacy and Control Beliefs Following an Online Group Memory Intervention.","authors":"Duy P Dao, Carl I Moller, Christina Bryant, Kathryn A Ellis, Kerryn E Pike","doi":"10.1155/jare/1022137","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/1022137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using a mixed-methods design, we investigated the effect of an asynchronous online group intervention for older adults with subjective cognitive difficulties on their memory self-efficacy and control beliefs, in a pre-post single group study. We hypothesized that engaging with online discussion boards would foster a sense of community amongst participants, helping improve self-reported memory self-efficacy and control beliefs. One hundred and twenty-seven community-dwelling adults aged 60-88 years, drawn from the Online Personalized Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) study, completed questionnaires assessing memory self-efficacy, control beliefs, sense of community and usefulness of the discussion boards. The number of discussion board posts was recorded to indicate engagement. Findings revealed significant improvements to memory self-efficacy and control beliefs postintervention. Whilst not all participants reported a strong sense of community, their opinions of the discussion boards were generally favourable, particularly in terms of normalization of memory concerns through sharing with others. Time constraints, limited quality of interactions and decreased engagement were reported to impact both the usefulness of the discussion boards and the development of a sense of community. There are promising implications for the utility of online memory interventions in promoting greater confidence and feelings of control regarding memory ability through psychoeducation, strategy training and in providing reassurance through normalization. <b>Trial Registration:</b> Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12620000979954.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1022137"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13392815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148578259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responses of Physical Performance to the Eight Weeks of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability Exercises in Older Men.","authors":"Seyed Hossein Hosseinimehr, Ali Qaysari, Saber Saedmocheshi, Luiz Eduardo Dias Diniz, Giuseppe Potrick Stefani","doi":"10.1155/jare/2145170","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/2145170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Balance and lower limb muscle strength are essential factors in preventing falls in older adults. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of 8 weeks of dynamic neuromuscular stability (DNS) exercises on static balance, dynamic balance, and lower limb strength in older men. Thirty older men aged 61-76 years were randomly allocated to either a DNS exercise group (<i>n</i> = 15) or a control group (<i>n</i> = 15). The experimental group performed DNS exercises for 8 weeks (3 sessions/week), while the control group received no intervention. Outcomes were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (static balance), Timed Up and Go test (dynamic balance), and Chair Stand Test (lower limb strength) at baseline and postintervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age revealed that the DNS intervention produced significant improvements in all outcomes. The Berg Balance Scale showed an adjusted difference of 3.79 points between groups (<i>F</i> (1, 27) = 38.87, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). The Timed Up and Go test showed an adjusted difference of -0.87 s (<i>F</i> (1, 27) = 10.48, <i>p</i> = 0.0009). The Chair Stand Test showed an adjusted difference of 1.77 repetitions (<i>F</i> (1, 27) = 40.95, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). These improvements remained significant when adjusted for baseline age differences between groups. Eight weeks of DNS exercises significantly improved static balance, dynamic balance, and lower limb strength in older men. These findings suggest that DNS may be an effective intervention for improving balance and strength in the aging population. <b>Trial Registration:</b> Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20260417069089N2.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2145170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13386235/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148549129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Construct Validity of the Life-Space Assessment in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).","authors":"Selina Malouka, Marla Beauchamp, Julie Richardson, Bruce Newbold, Ayse Kuspinar","doi":"10.1155/jare/4755246","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/4755246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Life-space mobility refers to the way individuals maneuver themselves in their home and community and is commonly assessed using the Life-SpaceAssessment (LSA). Before using the LSA, it is important to ensure that it demonstrates validity in the population being used, as culture, built environment, and modes of transportation in different geographical regions can influence mobility. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the convergent, divergent, and known-groups validity of the LSA in community-dwelling Canadian middle-aged and older adults using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated for all measures of convergent (hypothesis: <i>r</i> > 0.5) and divergent (hypothesis: <i>r</i> < 0.3) validity. Known-groups validity was assessed by determining if the LSA can differentiate between people with chronic diseases and a history of falls using measures of clinical significance (i.e., LSA score change of 5 or more points).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample (<i>n</i> = 24,577) had a median LSA score of 86.0. Correlations between the LSA and comparator measures of convergent validity (<i>r</i> = 0.10-0.29) did not meet the hypothesis; however, measures of divergent validity (<i>r</i> = 0.15-0.17) met the hypothesis. For known-groups validity, the LSA can be used to differentiate between those with (median score = 84; interquartile range [IQR] = 72-100) and without (median score = 90; IQR = 74-100) a history of falls among the whole sample. Further, it can be used to differentiate between those with and without chronic conditions, among males and females aged 75+ years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The LSA can be used to differentiate between known groups. However, there is limited evidence of its convergent validity as its relationship with other measures of actual mobility, perceived mobility, and locomotor capacity for mobility was weak. Future studies need to assess the convergent validity of the LSA against different comparator measures before its use among community-dwelling Canadians.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4755246"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13370320/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148455822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hearing Loss in Older Adults: Consistent Determinants Across Two Community-Based Cohorts in Southern China.","authors":"Dian Zhu, Xutong Zhong, Ruiqiang Li, Xianhai Zeng, Lin Xu, Juanjuan Li","doi":"10.1155/jare/4809368","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/4809368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hearing loss (HL) is common in older adults and is associated with substantial functional decline, yet community-based evidence on its determinants remains limited in China, particularly across different methods of hearing assessment.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate associations and predictors of HL among older adults in southern China using audiometric and self-reported assessments, and to compare patterns across two community-based cohorts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were analyzed from 2664 adults aged ≥ 60 years in Shenzhen and 30,518 adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS). Moderate-to-severe HL was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) ≥ 35 dB hearing level in the better-hearing ear, calculated from air-conduction thresholds at 500-8000 Hz. HL was assessed using pure-tone audiometry in Shenzhen and a validated self-reported measure in GBCS. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Extreme gradient boosting with SHAP values was used to assess predictor importance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Older age, male sex, and lower household income were consistently associated with higher odds of HL in both cohorts. In Shenzhen, metabolic disease (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05-1.57) and otitis media (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.63-4.33) were positively associated with HL, whereas thyroid disease showed an inverse association. In GBCS, alcohol consumption (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15-1.43), arthritis (aOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.23-1.52), and stroke (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.06-2.45) were positively associated, while overweight status and nonmanual occupation were inversely associated. Machine-learning analyses consistently identified age, sex, education, income, and chronic diseases as key predictors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HL in older adults shows both shared and cohort-specific associations across assessment methods, highlighting sociodemographic and health-related disparities. Targeted community-based screening and prevention strategies are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4809368"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13338764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148404722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Addressing Sexuality With Older People in Primary Care and Hospitals: A Systematic Review of Professional Perceptions and Experiences.","authors":"Ana Carolina Frias, Anabela Mota-Pinto, Cristina C Vieira, Lélita Santos","doi":"10.1155/jare/9289942","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/9289942","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexuality in older age remains a taboo subject. Little is known about the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals when addressing this topic with older adults. This systematic review, registered in PROSPERO, aims to understand the perceptions, practices, and recommendations of healthcare professionals in primary and hospital care regarding the approach to sexuality and sexual health in older people. The 17 selected studies, conducted in six countries, show that physicians and nurses rarely discuss sexuality with their older patients, often assuming that they are not interested in the topic, but also due to a lack of time and willingness to address it. The studies recommend both initial and continuing education on sexuality and aging, as well as the development of protocols for assessing the sexual health of older people in healthcare settings. The absence of studies from Portugal and the passive role of professionals in promoting the sexual health of older people further reinforce the need for research in this area.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"9289942"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13325741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148375793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of a Rhythmic Drumming and Movement Intervention on Reaction Time in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Nonrandomized Pilot Study.","authors":"Austin S Robinson, Alaine E Reschke-Hernandez, Brittney Moshos, Peter Wright, Greg Walsh, Anne Graff, Carrie Ekins, Sarah Davey, Kiera Wilkinson, Nathan F Johnson","doi":"10.1155/jare/3084489","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/3084489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Driving is often the preferred mode of mobility for older adults in the United States, yet age-related functional declines increasingly compromise driver safety. Driver reaction time is one of the most critical factors related to accident avoidance and is particularly vulnerable to age-related decline. Maintaining a physically active, cognitively engaging lifestyle can help attenuate age-related declines in reaction time, and rhythm-based exercise programs represent one such avenue. This pilot study examined preliminary evidence on whether a 10-week Drums Alive program, a drumming-based aerobic workout program, shows sufficient promise to maintain or improve reaction time for community-dwelling older adults. Participants enrolled in the Drums Alive program were nonrandomly assigned to the intervention condition (mean age = 69.67 years, SD = 5.86). Twelve age- and sex-matched participants from a previously published study served as the stretching comparison condition (mean age = 69.35 years, SD = 5.07). Simple reaction time (releasing accelerator), movement time (moving foot to brake), and total reaction time were recorded during a simulated brake-onset task pre- and postintervention. There was a statistically significant intervention by time interaction for movement time, with Drums Alive participants showing a greater improvement (<i>M</i> = -0.054, SD = 0.061) compared to the stretching group (<i>M</i> = 0.006, SD = 0.044) and total reaction time, with Drums Alive participants showing a greater improvement (<i>M</i> = -0.080, SD = 0.089) compared to the stretching group (<i>M</i> = 0.059, SD = 0.165). No significant group differences were observed for simple reaction time. It is important to design music-based interventions for a specific purpose to support client needs, enhance engagement, and align with evidence-based practices. Our findings suggest that carefully designed music interventions that engage older adults in exercise may help maintain independence by improving driving-related reaction time.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3084489"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13319694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148368310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Physiological Risk Factors for Falls.","authors":"Natalia Reynaldo Sampaio, Gabriela do Nascimento Candido, Ully Alexia Caproni Correa, Tais Gonçalves Soares, Silvia Lanziotti Azevedo da Silva, Juscelio Pereira da Silva, Leani Souza Maximo Pereira, Daniele Sirineu Pereira","doi":"10.1155/jare/2687374","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/2687374","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Objective: To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and falls in community-dwelling older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 278 participants aged 60 or older. Information on clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from a structured interview, depressive symptoms were assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), falls in the previous year were self-reported, and risk of falls was assessed with the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA). Fallers and nonfallers were compared with Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests. A binary logistic model was used to investigate the association between falls and GDS score, followed by a binomial negative regression model to analyze the association of GDS score and the number of falls. Finally, groups of individuals screened positive or negative for depression were compared for risk of falls and each individual's PPA test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Discussion: Fallers presented more chronic conditions, polypharmacy, worse subjective health status and higher GDS scores. Individuals with higher GDS scores presented a higher chance of falling. The number of falls was not associated to the GDS score; however, there was an association between falls and the number of morbidities. Positive screening for depression was associated to a higher risk of falls according to the PPA, as well as to reaction time.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Conclusion: Fallers presented more depressive symptoms, morbidities, polypharmacy, and worse subjective health status. Depressive symptoms do not act directly over the number of falls; nonetheless, those with depressive symptoms presented a higher chance of falling, which may be associated to slower reaction time. Psychological symptoms play an important role in falls, and should, therefore, be considered in identifying older people at risk and in developing prevention programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2687374"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13315820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148361088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-Related Structural-Functional Discrepancy in Muscle Indicators Among Rural Korean Older Women.","authors":"Jaeyong Park, Youngju Song","doi":"10.1155/jare/5833371","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jare/5833371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Age-related loss of muscle mass and function contributes to mobility limitations, loss of independence, and other adverse health outcomes. Structural and functional indicators characterize muscle health but may not change in parallel with advancing age. Evidence from rural populations remains limited. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in structural and functional muscle indicators among rural community-dwelling women and to determine whether age-group differences are greater in functional than in structural indicators.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 211 community-dwelling women aged 50-89 years residing in rural Asan, Korea. Participants were categorized into four age groups (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 years). Structural indicators included skeletal muscle index (SMI), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), thigh circumference (TC), and calf circumference (CF). Functional indicators included handgrip (HG) strength, isometric knee extensor (KE) strength, and the five-times sit-to-stand test (5×STS). Between-group differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and domain-level differences were further examined using a mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA. To facilitate comparison across indicators, variables were normalized to the 50-59 age group (set to 100).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Structural and functional indicators showed different magnitudes of age-related change across groups. HG and KE were lower in older groups and showed larger between-group differences than the structural indicators. In contrast, 5×STS time increased across age groups, from 7.0 ± 1.75 s in the 50-59 group to 15.2 ± 6.60 s in the 80-89 group. Relative SMI decreased to 81.5% of the reference group, whereas the relative index for 5×STS (reciprocal time) decreased to 46.0% (all <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Structural and functional muscle indicators showed divergent age-related patterns among rural community-dwelling women. The performance-based 5×STS demonstrated substantially greater relative differences than structural indicators, supporting the inclusion of functional assessments alongside structural measures for age-stratified evaluation in rural settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":14933,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging Research","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5833371"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13310375/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}