{"title":"Is height loss in adulthood associated with health in later life among the 1946 UK Birth Cohort (NSHD) participants?","authors":"Katarina L. Matthes, Kaspar Staub","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Height increases as a product of physical growth until adulthood, then is stable between the ages of 20 and about 40, after which most people lose height as they biologically age. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between height in childhood and relative height loss in adulthood, and to examine the association between height loss and health at older age.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from one of the oldest ongoing cohort studies, the National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD, 1946 UK Birth Cohort) were analysed. In total, 2,119 study participants were included who completed the nurse home visit during the 24<sup>th</sup> and most recent available follow-up examination at age 69. Linear regression models were used to estimate the association between measured height in childhood years relative height loss between ages 36 and 69. Logistic regression models using generalized additive models were calculated to estimate the probability of worse health at age 69 (chronic disease score, general health status, osteoarthritis, and pain while walking) in association with height loss.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Between the ages of 36 and 69, men lost an average of 2.0 cm and women 2.4 cm. Women lost significantly more height than men (<em>p</em> < 0.001). The taller the participants were at a young age, the more height they lost in adulthood. There was a significant association between height loss in adulthood and general health, chronic disease score (in men), osteoarthritis (in men), and walking pain at age 69. These findings largely persisted after adjusting the models for overweight, sociodemographic information, and lifestyle factors earlier in life.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Height loss seems to be associated with deteriorating health as people age. Height measurement and assessment of height loss could potentially be part of regular examinations after the age of 40 to monitor general health status, especially in the case of severe height loss.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143562208","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":"Interventions of cognitive impairment in older adults: A comprehensive review","authors":"Shivani Chib, Kajal Sharma, Randhir Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100223","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143464794","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":"Evaluation of Minds in Motion, a fitness program for people living with dementia and their caregivers","authors":"Pria Nippak , Jocelyn Badali , Julien Meyer , Housne Begum , Nalini Sen , Mya Rana-Nippak","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Fitness is associated with better physical and mental outcomes in people living with dementia (PWD). This study evaluated Minds in Motion, a program designed to improve the physical fitness of PWD and their care partners (CP).</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Participants completed an 8-week program combining exercise and mindfulness recreational activities. Data were collected through a retrospective mixed-method design. Participants, staff, and volunteers completed data collection.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants experienced significant improvements in chair stands (+12.9%), bicep curls (+17.2%), and 8 feet up & go (+10.5%) but not in the chair sit and reach exercise. Almost all of the participants (99%) enjoyed the program and staff and volunteers (99%) self-reported improvement in their skills in working with people with dementia, with a strong reduction in the proportion of staff and volunteers disclosing “very limited skill” in dealing with PWD, from 15 to 18% to 9–12% of respondents.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study, as an extension of the pilot, concluded that Minds in Motion program had a positive impact on PWD and CP's physical functioning following the program fitness training combined with mindfulness recreational activities, which aligned with their reported program satisfaction. The “sit and reach” exercise, may not be appropriate for them. Together, these findings highlight how fitness programs can assist PWD and CP with improved functioning through strength building.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377299","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":"Premorbid and current intellectual performance reflects different backgrounds in patients with Parkinson's disease","authors":"Hidetomo Murakami, Machiko Kezuka, Junnosuke Ozawa, Kaoru Matsuoka, Tatsuya Nakanishi, Atsushi Ishida, Naohito Ito, Mizuki Kanemoto, Mitsuru Kawamura","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There is growing interest in targeting Parkinson's Disease (PD) at an earlier stage, especially before emergence of motor symptoms. Cognitive dysfunction is a non-motor symptom in PD, whereas the Japanese version of the National Adult Reading Test (JART) is a validated battery to estimate the premorbid intellectual quotient (IQ). Therefore, the results of JART and current cognitive assessment after onset of PD may reflect different background factors. The goal of the study was to compare factors correlated with estimated premorbid intellectual performance using JART and current cognitive function after onset of PD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Current motor symptoms (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale; UPDRS Part III) and cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA) were assessed in 48 patients with PD. Premorbid IQs (verbal IQ: VIQ, performance IQ: PIQ, and full scale IQ: FIQ) were estimated using JART. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for background factors (current age, years of education, UPDRS Part III, and levodopa equivalent dose of prescribed drugs (LED)) with MoCA scores and estimated IQs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Estimated VIQ (<em>r</em> = 0.451, <em>p</em> = 0.001), PIQ (<em>r</em> = 0.445, <em>p</em> = 0.002) and FIQ (<em>r</em> = 0.453, <em>p</em> = 0.001) were significantly correlated with years of education that was fixed until adolescence (i.e. 20 s). MoCA was significantly correlated with current age (<em>r</em>=−0.401, <em>p</em> = 0.005) and UPDRS part III (<em>r</em>=−0.374, <em>p</em> = 0.009), both of which continue to progress gradually after onset of PD. In multiple regression analyses, these correlations were significant and independent.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Premorbid and current intellectual performance reflect different background factors in patients with PD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143204997","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}
Kenneth M. Madden , Boris Feldman , Graydon S. Meneilly
{"title":"Baseline shock index and baroreflex function in older adults","authors":"Kenneth M. Madden , Boris Feldman , Graydon S. Meneilly","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2025.100220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Elevations in shock index (SI), defined as heart rate (HR)/systolic blood pressure (BP) are less discriminative of impending shock in older adults. We hypothesized baroreflex dysfunction as a potential explanation for lower baseline SI in older adults. 52 older adults (29 women, 23 men, age ≥ 65; mean age 77.8 ± 0.9 years) were recruited. SI, the modified shock index (MSI, HR/mean BP), and the age corrected SI (Age * SI) as well as baroreflex function (using the sequence method) was measured at baseline. SI (Standardized <strong>β</strong> = 0.392, <em>p</em> = 0.005), MSI (Standardized <strong>β</strong> = 0.385, <em>p</em> = 0.006) and Age * SI (Standardized <strong>β</strong> = 0.431, <em>p</em> = 0.002) showed significant positive associations with BRS<sub>up</sub>. Age * SI also showed a significant positive association with BRS (Standardized <strong>β</strong> = 0.329, <em>p</em> = 0.019). Autonomic dysfunction is associated with lower SI in older adults, potentially masking circulatory instability.</div><div>ClinicalTrials.gov ID <span><span>NCT01914133</span><svg><path></path></svg></span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100220"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128478","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 deprivation cascade hypothesis of dementia","authors":"Timothy Daly","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are significant disparities in dementia risk and care burden in the global population. This review provides evidence of the effects of deprivation, understood as the absence of environmental resources required for brain health. Deprivation increases dementia risk and care burden due to biological, environmental, and social dimensions of risk. It is hypothesized that the major mediator between deprivation and dementia is reduced educational and professional attainment. It argues for structural interventions centered around improved attainment, particularly for girls and women across the globe, improved funding for primary and social care, and a rights-based approach to brain health to improve access to these resources and thereby reduce dementia disparities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127880","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 discrimination and depression among older adults in South Korea: Moderating effects of exercise","authors":"Hyun Kang , Emily S. Ihara","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study examines the association between perceived age discrimination and depression among South Korean older adults and whether regular exercise can moderate this association. There has been a noticeable rise in ageism in both the media and the society during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived age discrimination can lead to an internalization of ageist attitudes and stereotypes, resulting in decreased self-efficacy and increased negative emotions, which negatively impact on the health of older adults. While regular exercise has been shown to boost self-esteem and enhance positive self-perceptions of aging, its potential as an intervention against the psychological impact of age discrimination is under-explored.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using data from 9,920 participants (aged 65+) in the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans, depression was regressed on age discrimination controlling for age, gender, education, marital status, self-rated health, employment status, and activities of daily living (ADLs). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the moderating effect of exercise.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Higher levels of perceived age discrimination were directly associated with higher levels of depression. Regular exercise significantly moderated this relationship, reducing the negative impact of perceived age discrimination on depressive symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Considering the rise of ageism in South Korea, regular exercise can serve as an important mechanism for combating ageism by effectively managing stress and enhancing self-resilience. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting exercise as a potential strategy to mitigate the detrimental mental health effects of age discrimination, particularly in the post-pandemic era.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100218"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127881","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}
Maren M. Hawkins , Noelani M. Winters , Khadejah Bloomfield , Nina Familiant , Esmeralda Santacruz Salas , Lucy Mkandawire-Valhmu , Peninnah Kako , Young Cho , Paul Florsheim , Derek Johnson , Lance Weinhardt
{"title":"“Your soul will rest in the fresh air” health-influencing factors among older adult Russian and Spanish-speaking (im)migrants in Southeastern, Wisconsin, United States","authors":"Maren M. Hawkins , Noelani M. Winters , Khadejah Bloomfield , Nina Familiant , Esmeralda Santacruz Salas , Lucy Mkandawire-Valhmu , Peninnah Kako , Young Cho , Paul Florsheim , Derek Johnson , Lance Weinhardt","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Older adult immigrants experience unique factors that influence their health within the context of the place.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this Community-Engaged Participatory Narrative Inquiry Photovoice project, we examined factors impacting the health and wellbeing of older adult Russian and Spanish-speaking immigrants in Wisconsin.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>(1) <em>The Environment</em> - <em>Your soul will rest in the fresh air</em>, and (2) <em>Social Support - You think you are by yourself but you're not alon</em>e, and (3) <em>Outsiderness – We're human.</em></div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The built environment in which this study took place positively impacted participants self of well-being, while feelings of otherness contributed to perceptions of being permanent outsiders.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Place-specific factors affected the health of older adult immigrants in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 2","pages":"Article 100214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143828883","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}
Jacqueline Erdkamp , Julia Alo , Hee-Jin Jun , Antoinette Domingo
{"title":"Effects of using the Step2Bed on bed transfer time, forces, balance and perceived effort in older adults","authors":"Jacqueline Erdkamp , Julia Alo , Hee-Jin Jun , Antoinette Domingo","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Step2Bed (S2B) is an adjustable step stool with a handrail that can improve safety during entry and exit from higher beds. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare bed entry and exit time, ground reaction forces (GRF), balance and perceived effort of older adults with and without the S2B. Thirty-five participants transferred on and off a plinth while using the S2B with handrail (S2B+H), without handrail (S2B-H), and without the S2B (control). Egress time was significantly less when using the S2B+H compared to control (<em>p</em> < 0.001). S2B trials resulted in smaller ground reaction forces (all <em>p</em> < 0.05). Perceived effort was significantly less when using the S2B (all <em>p</em> < 0.05). These results show that the Step2Bed may increase ease of bed transfers and safety, promoting aging-in-place.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127879","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}
Shafi Hashmath Ulla Khan , Al Anoud Al Fehaidi , Wasim Akram , Irshad Badarudeen , Mahmoud Ahmed Refaee , Noorudeen Kunnunmal , Asma Abbas , Osama Idris , Sheela Umakanth , Hanadi Al Hamad
{"title":"Study of predictors of mortality among older residents with pneumonia in Qatar's long-term care facilities","authors":"Shafi Hashmath Ulla Khan , Al Anoud Al Fehaidi , Wasim Akram , Irshad Badarudeen , Mahmoud Ahmed Refaee , Noorudeen Kunnunmal , Asma Abbas , Osama Idris , Sheela Umakanth , Hanadi Al Hamad","doi":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is widely recognized that older adults are at an increased risk of contracting pneumonia, which may lead to significant adverse outcomes, including increased rates of morbidity and mortality. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to identify the common factors that contribute to the mortality secondary to pneumonia in older individuals in long-term care facilities. Of the 326 admitted patients, 147 were aged over 65 years, and 51 were diagnosed with pneumonia. Of these 51 cases, only 19 met the inclusion criteria: 15 (79 %) died while 4 (21 %) survived over a 2-year follow-up period. White blood cell (WBC) count (<em>p</em> = 0.05) emerged as a significant predictor of mortality, while pneumonia was notably associated with the development of pressure ulcers (<em>p</em> = 0.08). Further research must be conducted to confirm these findings and uncover interventions designed to lower mortality rates among this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72129,"journal":{"name":"Aging and health research","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100216"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127878","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}