Aging and health research最新文献

{"title":"Barriers and enablers to influenza and pneumonia vaccination in older adults in Southwest China","authors":"Yuhan Wang,&nbsp;Tingxuan Zhang,&nbsp;Jinxi Yang,&nbsp;Holly Seale,&nbsp;Lei Guo,&nbsp;Weixi Jiang,&nbsp;Shu Chen,&nbsp;Xin Xia,&nbsp;Lisha Hou,&nbsp;Birong Dong,&nbsp;Chenkai Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Factors influencing influenza and pneumonia vaccine uptake among middle-aged and older adults were currently unclear in Southwest China. We employed a multi-method approach combining complementary quantitative and qualitative approaches, utilizing data from the West China Health and Aging Trend study across four Sichuan Province cities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Questionnaires were administered in-person using electronic tablets at community health centers. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression adjusted for covariates assessed vaccine uptake and associated factors. Qualitative data came from face-to-face semi-structured interviews (48 residents, 7 healthcare providers), and one focus group (7 local health officials). Combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis identified barriers and facilitators of vaccination. Quantitative and qualitative findings were analyzed independently with appropriate methods appropriate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 2039 participants, vaccination rates were low and varied by ethnicity and education. Healthcare provider recommendation was strongly associated with influenza vaccine uptake (aOR=21.18, 95% CI: 16.14–27.79). Qiang individuals were less likely than Han to receive influenza (aOR=0.67, 95% CI=0.49–0.91) and pneumonia vaccination (aOR 0.36, 95% CI=0.22–0.60). Lack of awareness, safety concerns and effectiveness, and unclear vaccine locations hindered uptake. Most older adults prioritized health needs over cost and trusted government-backed vaccines. Qualitative findings underscored family/community support, tailored vaccine education campaigns, and improved healthcare access, particularly in ethnically diverse, low-health-literacy communities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Low vaccine uptake is driven by limited awareness, access barriers, and low perceived need. Strengthening health education, improving vaccine access, and integrating vaccination into routine care are critical to improving vaccine uptake and ensuring equitable healthcare access in multi-ethnic regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 3","pages":"Article 100294"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148958449","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":"Music-based interventions for Alzheimer’s disease in Nigeria: Evidence and gaps in care","authors":"Goodness Boluwatife Adenowo","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and in Nigeria its burden is rising with population ageing while healthcare systems remain poorly equipped for long-term neurocognitive care. Pharmacological therapies offer only modest benefit, creating a need for accessible non-pharmacological approaches. Music-based interventions leverage preserved musical memory and emotional processing pathways, and evidence suggests they improve cognitive engagement, reduce agitation, enhance mood, and ease caregiver burden. However, implementation in Nigeria is constrained by a shortage of trained personnel, absence of structured dementia care programs, and minimal integration into neurology services. This letter argues for culturally adapted, low-cost music-based interventions within Nigeria’s dementia care framework, supported by local research and clinical integration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 3","pages":"Article 100293"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148854417","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":"Forward and backward walking, fall history, and fear of falling: an exploratory study of younger and older adults","authors":"Kelly R. Ylitalo","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Mobility is fundamental to healthy aging. Forward gait velocity (GV) is a well-established measure of fall risk, but fewer studies assess backward GV with respect to fall history and fear of falling in community-dwelling adults.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Independently ambulatory, community-dwelling adults (n=39) completed forward and backward gait assessments and surveys on fall history and fear of falling. Younger adults (n=20) were aged 18-30 years, and older adults (n=19) were ≥60 years. Forward and backward gait were compared by age group and relationships among gait and fall variables were quantified with correlation coefficients.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>One-quarter of adults reported a fall in the previous year. Compared to older adults, younger adults exhibited faster forward GV (138.3 cm/sec ±16.5 vs. 119.3 cm/sec ±23.4; p&lt;0.01) and backward GV (82.6 cm/sec ±18.2 vs. 63.8 cm/sec ±20.7; p&lt;0.01). Among older adults, backward GV was negatively correlated with fear of falling (r=-0.58; p&lt;0.01) and explained a greater proportion of variance in fear of falling compared to forward GV (33.9% vs. 24.8%).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Backward walking is an important yet underappreciated measure of mobility and fear of falling in community-dwelling adults.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 2","pages":"Article 100285"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148241735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate change and brain health in the aging population","authors":"Rui Song ,&nbsp;Xiaowen Zhou ,&nbsp;Ding Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100270","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 2","pages":"Article 100270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148241736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leveraging digital health and artificial intelligence to mitigate social isolation and mental health","authors":"Muhammad Taufan Umasugi ,&nbsp;Endah Fitriasari","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100284","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 2","pages":"Article 100284"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148177850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"State Medicaid spending for long-term services and supports (LTSS) and the self-reported health of spousal caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with dementia","authors":"Zijing Cheng ,&nbsp;Daniel D. Maeng ,&nbsp;Hochang B. Lee ,&nbsp;Elaine L. Hill ,&nbsp;Jennifer M. Reckrey ,&nbsp;Giselle Routhier ,&nbsp;Meiling Ying ,&nbsp;Yue Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To examine the relationships between state Medicaid total Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) expenditures and the LTSS rebalancing ratio (i.e., the proportion allocated to Home- and Community-Based Services [HCBS]) with the self-reported health of spousal caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with dementia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study used multiple data sources, including the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and annual Medicaid LTSS user and expenditure reports. The analytic sample included 1,232 respondent-waves of spousal caregivers who participated in at least one of the seven HRS waves between 2008 and 2020 and provided care for their community-dwelling spouse with dementia. We employed generalized linear models (GLMs) for both bivariate and multivariable analyses, with the outcome of interest being a dichotomous variable for self-reported poor health.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Each additional $1,000 of annual LTSS spending per older adult was associated with a marginally significant 4.2-percentage point reduction in the probability of reporting poor health (Average Marginal Effect [AME] in percentage points [PP] = -4.21, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] = -9.12-0.70, p = 0.093). However, no statistically significant association was observed between the LTSS rebalancing ratio and spousal caregivers’ self-reported health (AME in PP = 2.22, 95 % CI = -2.07-6.49, p = 0.310).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Higher state Medicaid LTSS spending per older adult was moderately associated with better self-reported health among spousal caregivers of individuals with dementia. As the demand for informal caregiving continues to rise, this study underscores the importance of state investments in protecting caregivers’ health and highlights the need to incorporate caregiver-focused assessments into the design and evaluation of LTSS policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100271"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pain and sleep disturbance were negatively associated with function and community mobility after hospitalization","authors":"Susan N. Hastings ,&nbsp;Karen M. Stechuchak ,&nbsp;Kasey Decosimo ,&nbsp;Caitlin B. Kappler ,&nbsp;Daniel Guidot ,&nbsp;Kelli D. Allen ,&nbsp;Amy Webster ,&nbsp;Ashley Choate ,&nbsp;Courtney H. Van Houtven ,&nbsp;Cassie Meyer ,&nbsp;Jaime Hughes ,&nbsp;Cynthia J. Coffman","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The inconsistent nature of functional recovery after hospitalization points to gaps in our understanding of its determinants. The goal of this study was to examine associations between post-discharge pain interference and sleep disturbance on function and community mobility following hospitalization for medical illness.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a larger study evaluating a hospital-based mobility program. Participants were aged ≥60 and within one month of discharge from one of eight Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals between September 2017 and August 2019. Data were collected through telephone surveys. Primary predictors of pain interference and sleep disturbance were measured by PROMIS-4 short forms. Outcomes were function measured by Late-Life Function and Disability Instruments (LLFDI overall function and advanced lower extremity function scores) and community mobility measured by Life Space. For each outcome, separate multiple linear regression models were fit including the key explanatory variables of interest and selected covariates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants (<em>n</em> = 618) were mean age 70.6 years, 95% male, 25% Black, and 34% lived alone; overall eight percent reported being discharged to a nursing home, and 15% being readmitted to the hospital. Overall, 39.9% of participants reported moderate/severe pain interference; of these, approximately half also reported at least some degree of sleep disturbance. Moderate/severe sleep disturbance was endorsed by 19%; of these, more than 75% also experienced some degree of pain interference. In adjusted models, pain interference and sleep disturbance were negatively associated with total function, lower extremity function, and community mobility (P-values &lt;0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In this sample of recently hospitalized older adults, pain interference and sleep disturbance were independently associated with functional limitations and reduced community mobility. Primary care providers should consider assessing for pain and sleep problems during post-hospitalization visits to support optimal functional recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100268"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut microbiota and frailty research (2010–2025): A bibliometric analysis of trends, gaps, and future directions","authors":"Xiaoli Yan ,&nbsp;Li Xu ,&nbsp;Dan Wang ,&nbsp;Shilan Luo ,&nbsp;Chuan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100276","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key modulator of frailty. a systematic bibliometric assessment of this rapidly evolving research domain has been lacking. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the research landscape, intellectual structure, and thematic trends in the field of gut microbiota and frailty.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>1,405 publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection(from 2010 to 2025) using bibliometric tools (VOSviewer and CiteSpace). The analysis evaluated annual publication outputs, international collaborations, journal contributions, and thematic evolution, with particular focus on microbiota-specific methodologies (e.g., 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics) and interventions (e.g., probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><strong>1405 publications related to gut bacteria and aging have been published.</strong>Publication output exhibited exponential growth, increasing from 16 in 2010 to 248 in 2024 (R² = 0.994). The United States(386 papers) and China (<em>n</em> = 364 papers) were the most productive countries, whereas European nations—particularly the Netherlands and France—achieved the highest average citation impact. Thematic progression revealed an evolution from early descriptive studies of microbiome composition to mechanistic investigations of host–microbe interactions and, more recently, clinical trials involving dietary and other interventions. Keyword analysis identified central mechanistic themes such as the gut–brain axis, short-chain fatty acids, and inflammatory biomarkers, alongside emerging topics including post-COVID-19 frailty and exercise-based microbiota modulation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Research investigating the association between gut microbiota composition and frailty is expanding rapidly. To advance mechanistic understanding and support clinical translation, future studies should prioritize the integration of multi-omics data and the implementation of rigorously designed randomized controlled trials to establish causal inference and inform evidence-based interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100276"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Traditional Chinese medicine constitution types and cognitive function in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND)","authors":"Li-qi Hu ,&nbsp;Jia-Zhen Tong ,&nbsp;Li-li Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuan-yuan Jia ,&nbsp;An-Wen Huang ,&nbsp;Da He ,&nbsp;Wei-Feng Hong ,&nbsp;Xu-Jie Zhuang ,&nbsp;Xin-Ming Wu ,&nbsp;Yang-Hui Zhou ,&nbsp;Ming-wang Wang ,&nbsp;Li-Li Gao ,&nbsp;Min Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Imbalances in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution types may contribute to disease onset. Currently, comprehensive research on the distribution of TCM constitution types in VCIND (Vascular Cognitive Impairment No Dementia) is lacking. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the correlations between TCM constitution types and cognition in VCIND patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From February 2024 to February 2025, 163 hospitalized patients diagnosed with VCIND were recruited. They completed the TCM Constitution Questionnaire, which classifies body constitution based on physical structure, physiological function, psychological traits, and response patterns. Cognitive domain scores from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were collected, including visuospatial/executive function, naming, attention/calculation, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All participants had biased constitutions. The main types included Phlegm-dampness constitution: 42 cases (25.77%), Qi-deficiency constitution: 36 cases (22.09%), Blood-stasis constitution: 29 cases (17.79%), and Damp-heat constitution: 24 cases (14.72%). MoCA scores varied across constitution types. Patients with Qi-deficiency and Yang-deficiency had lower scores, while those with Yin-deficiency had higher scores. There were also differences in smoking history and MoCA scores among different constitution types.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Different TCM constitution types were associated with varying cognitive performance. Further understanding the underlying mechanisms of these differences may aid in TCM constitution types identification and help prevent cognitive decline.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AI in dementia care: Opportunities for low resource settings","authors":"Tsimona Dinku Bonger ,&nbsp;Zemichael Getu Alemayehu","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2026.100274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dementia is becoming a growing public health concern around the world, and in low-resource environments like Sub-Saharan Africa, where under diagnosis and lack of access to specialist care are significant challenges, the condition is a growing burden. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the promising tools to aid in the diagnosis, management, and care of dementia; however, its implementation in resource- limited settings requires careful consideration. This letter identifies the possible use of AI to improve early detection with mobile and computerized cognitive screening devices, assist caregivers by using digital technologies, and monitor individuals with dementia. At the same time, it underscores critical challenges, including infrastructural limitations, cultural acceptability, data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias due to underrepresentation of African populations, and weak governance frameworks. Our argument is that to effectively integrate AI into dementia care in Africa, it is important to focus on context sensitive design, ethical oversight, capacity building, and robust local and global partnerships to achieve this goal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100274"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}