Hillary B Spangler, David H Lynch, Wenyi Xie, Nina Daneshvar, Haiyi Chen, Feng-Chang Lin, Elizabeth Vásquez, John A Batsis
{"title":"Comparing the Relationship Between Social Determinants of Health and Frailty Status of Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural and Urban Areas in the United States.","authors":"Hillary B Spangler, David H Lynch, Wenyi Xie, Nina Daneshvar, Haiyi Chen, Feng-Chang Lin, Elizabeth Vásquez, John A Batsis","doi":"10.3390/jal6010006","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal6010006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Frailty is a geriatric syndrome of increased physiological vulnerability, decreasing an older adult's ability to successfully cope with health stressors. Social determinants of health (SDOH), including rural residence, can amplify healthcare disparities for older adults due to less accessibility to resources and lead to worse health outcomes. While the impact of rurality on older adult health is well-established, little is known about how the interaction of SDOH and geographical residence impact frailty status in older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Older adults (65+ years) in the National Health and Aging Trend Study (2011-2021) were categorized using Fried's frailty phenotype (robust, pre-frail, frail). Rurality was defined using the 2013 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. Generalized estimation equations with generalized logit link function determined the relationship between SDOH (healthcare access, community support, income, education) and frailty status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of <i>n</i> = 6082 participants (56.4% female), the mean age was 75.12 years (SE 0.10), 1133 (18.6%) lived in rural residence, and 2652 (53.0%) had pre-frailty. Although there was no relationship between geographical residence and frailty status (<i>p</i> = 0.73), we did observe lower associated odds of worse frailty status for those with Medigap insurance coverage (0.81, SE 0.08; <i>p</i> = 0.04) and inconsistent frailty status trends for those of divorced (1.12, SE 0.05; <i>p</i> = 0.007) and never married (0.20, SE 0.03; <i>p</i> < 0.001) status in urban areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that geographic residence may modify the relationship between SDOH and frailty status in older adults, providing novel insight into the complexity of these interactions. This work is important for identifying modifiable areas where additional support interventions may be important for mitigating frailty development and progression for older adults with efforts at both the individual and system levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12889953/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146168220","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}
Emily V Flores, Moyosoreoluwa Jacobs, Peter A Lichtenberg, Vanessa Rorai
{"title":"The relationship between Subjective Cognitive Decline-Financial Interference and excess Spending in Older Adults With and Without Early Memory Loss.","authors":"Emily V Flores, Moyosoreoluwa Jacobs, Peter A Lichtenberg, Vanessa Rorai","doi":"10.3390/jal5040043","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal5040043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objective: </strong>This study examined whether a brief measure combining subjective cognitive concerns and financial interference, termed Subjective Cognitive Decline-Financial (SCD-F), is associated with excess spending behavior in older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Community-dwelling older adults, some with early memory loss and some with no cognitive complaints (<i>N</i> = 150, <i>M</i> age = 72.6) provided 12 months of checking account statements and participated in interviews to clarify aspects of their personal financial behaviors. SCD-F was defined by asking if memory decline was interfering with financial decision making or transactions. A 3-point SCD-F measure was created. Excess spending was determined by whether checking account expenditures exceeded all sources of income. Nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U) and multiple regression models assessed group differences and predictors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Group differences in excess spending were pronounced (<i>H</i>(2) = 15.75, p < .001). Those in the high SCD-F group had a significantly greater likelihood of excess spending (<i>Z</i> = -4.11; <i>r</i> = .43) and higher excess spending percentages (<i>Z</i> = -4.11; <i>r</i> = .43) compared to those with no memory loss. Regression analyses indicated that SCD-F was the strongest predictor of excessive spending (β = .40, t = 5.43, <i>p</i> < .001), even after controlling for age, gender, race, and education (R<sup>2</sup> = .235, <i>F</i>(5,144) = 8.86, <i>p</i> < .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A brief self-report measure, SCD-F, effectively identifies older adults at risk of financial mismanagement, even absent formal cognitive impairment. Monitoring subjective cognitive concerns together with financial interference could enable early intervention. This brief measure may be useful in clinical settings as a screening tool, and in large national surveys.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"5 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12547692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380023","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}
Hillary B Spangler, David H Lynch, Wenyi Xie, Nina Daneshvar, Haiyi Chen, Feng-Chang Lin, Elizabeth Vásquez, John A Batsis
{"title":"Frailty Trajectories and Social Determinants of Health of Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas in the U.S.","authors":"Hillary B Spangler, David H Lynch, Wenyi Xie, Nina Daneshvar, Haiyi Chen, Feng-Chang Lin, Elizabeth Vásquez, John A Batsis","doi":"10.3390/jal5030027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jal5030027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Older adults, aged 65 years and older, develop and experience frailty at different rates. Yet, this heterogeneity is not well understood, nor are the factors, such as geographical residence, that influence different frailty trajectories and subsequent healthcare outcomes. We aim to identify factors that impact older adult frailty trajectories, skilled nursing facility (SNF) placement, and death. Medicare beneficiaries ≥ 65 years from the National Health and Aging Trend Study (2011-2021) with complete data using Fried's frailty phenotype on ≥ 2 occasions (<i>n</i> = 6082) were included in the analysis. Rural/urban residence was defined using Office of Management and Budget criteria. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) helped identify four frailty trajectories: improving, stable, mildly worsening, and drastically worsening. Cox proportional hazard analysis and logistic regression determined the association of social determinants of health (sex, race/ethnicity, education and income level, healthcare and transportation access, and social support) on death and SNF admission, respectively. The mean age was 75.12 years (SE 0.10); 56.4% female, 18.6% (<i>n</i> = 1133) rural residence. In the overall sample, 1094 (23.0%) older adults were classified as robust, 3242 (53.0%) as pre-frail, and 1746 (24.0%) as frail. Urban residence did not modify the relationship between frailty trajectories and SNF placement, nor did geographic residence on death. Higher income was associated with lower odds of a worse frailty trajectory, SNF admission, and a lower hazard of death, all reaching statistical significance. Future work should examine the factors that influence older adult participation in research and the impact of standardizing the definition of geographic rurality on older adult frailty and health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"5 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12372976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981340","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}
Delaram Sirizi, Morteza Sabet, Katelyn Hummel, Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu, Ava Longo, Zahra Rahemi
{"title":"Independent Living for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review of Stakeholder Perceptions and Experiences with Assistive and Socially Assistive Robots.","authors":"Delaram Sirizi, Morteza Sabet, Katelyn Hummel, Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu, Ava Longo, Zahra Rahemi","doi":"10.3390/jal5030034","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal5030034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>(1)Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are a major cause of mortality among older adults globally. The cognitive decline associated with ADRD often reduces individuals' ability to live independently over time, increasing reliance on caregivers. Assistive and socially assistive robots offer a promising means of supporting independent living. This narrative review examined how older adults with ADRD, their caregivers, and healthcare providers perceive and experience interactions with robots.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>(2)Guided by the Population, Phenomenon of Interest, and Context (PICo) framework, five databases were searched. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Extracted data were summarized, and a convergent synthesis integrated qualitative and quantitative findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>(3)Drawing on content analysis, the qualitative findings were organized into three domains: user perceptions and experiences, barriers to adoption, and suggestions for improvement. Quantitative results emphasized usability, usefulness, acceptance, satisfaction, feature preferences, and barriers. While most stakeholders viewed robots as beneficial, acceptance was shaped by factors such as design features, timing of introduction, familiarity with technology, and perceived need.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>(4)This review highlights priorities for future research and development, including personalization, ethical safeguards, and caregiver integration, to improve the acceptance and effectiveness of robot-assisted support for individuals with cognitive impairment.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"5 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13253492/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148254863","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}
Olufisayo O Elugbadebo, Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola, Baiba Berzins, Bibilola Oladeji, Lisa M Kuhns, Babafemi O Taiwo
{"title":"\"<i>Living Through Two Storms</i>\": A Narrative Enquiry of Older Adults' Experiences with HIV/AIDS During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria.","authors":"Olufisayo O Elugbadebo, Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola, Baiba Berzins, Bibilola Oladeji, Lisa M Kuhns, Babafemi O Taiwo","doi":"10.3390/jal5030023","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal5030023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated and intensified pre-existing structural vulnerabilities among older adults living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. Within already overstretched healthcare infrastructures, these individuals faced heightened economic precarity, disrupted HIV care, and pronounced psychosocial distress. Exploring their lived experiences critically advances an understanding of resilience and informs contextually responsive interventions that can mitigate future health crises. This study employed a narrative qualitative approach to explore the lived experiences of older adults (aged 50 and above) attending the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria, during the pandemic lockdown. Purposive sampling guided by maximum variation principles enabled the selection of 26 participants who provided detailed accounts through in-depth interviews. Reflective thematic analysis identified complex narratives illustrating intensified financial hardships, disrupted access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and heightened psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and profound isolation. Conversely, participants also articulated experiences of resilience, manifesting in improved medication adherence, strengthened family bonds, and introspective growth fostered by enforced isolation. These nuanced findings highlights the necessity of developing an adaptive, integrated healthcare interventions that addresses economic vulnerabilities, psychosocial wellbeing, and ART continuity, thereby better preparing resource-constrained health systems to support older adults with HIV/AIDS in future public health crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"5 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12520602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145304958","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}
David H Lynch, Hillary Spangler, Jacob S Griffin, Anna Kahkoska, Dominic Boccaccio, Wenyi Xie, Feng-Chang Lin, John A Batsis, Roger A Fielding
{"title":"Identifying Older Adults at Risk of Accelerated Decline in Gait Speed and Grip Strength: Insights from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).","authors":"David H Lynch, Hillary Spangler, Jacob S Griffin, Anna Kahkoska, Dominic Boccaccio, Wenyi Xie, Feng-Chang Lin, John A Batsis, Roger A Fielding","doi":"10.3390/jal5020019","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal5020019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gait speed and grip strength are widely used measures of physical function in older adults and are predictive of disability, hospitalization, and mortality. However, there is a limited understanding of the long-term trajectories of these measures and which older adults are at the highest risk of functional decline. We used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to identify subgroups of community-dwelling older adults with distinct 10-year trajectories in gait speed and grip strength and to examine the baseline factors associated with these patterns. The sample included 4961 adults aged 65 years and older who completed gait speed and grip strength assessments in 2011 and at least one subsequent wave between 2013 and 2021. Using latent class growth analysis, we identified three trajectories for each measure: worsening, stable, and improving. More than one-third of participants were in the worsening group for at least one measure. In multinomial logistic regression models, lower income, Medicaid coverage, cognitive impairment, and multiple chronic conditions were associated with membership in worsening trajectory groups. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of physical aging and the importance of the early identification of older adults who may benefit from targeted interventions to maintain function and independence over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"5 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931739/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147313260","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":"Participation in Healthy Ageing Centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina Is Associated with Increased Physical Activity, Social Interactions, and Life Satisfaction Among Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Daniela Pamias-Lopez, Tara Keck","doi":"10.3390/jal5010005","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal5010005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The global population is experiencing a demographic shift towards older ages, which has the potential to increase the prevalence of ageing-related diseases and associated healthcare costs. Promoting healthy ageing behaviours, such as physical and social activity, has been shown to reduce disability and frailty among older people and improve their life satisfaction. To this aim, several Healthy Ageing Centres have been established across nine municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support healthy ageing behaviours in older populations. This cross-sectional study hypothesises that participation in these centres will be associated with an increase in healthy behaviours.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This exploratory study compares the behaviours of Healthy Ageing Centre members (<i>n</i> = 399) and non-members (<i>n</i> = 55) to assess if participation in Healthy Ageing Centres is associated with healthy ageing behaviours such as physical activity, social interactions, and life satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Members at Healthy Ageing Centres had a higher life satisfaction, exercised for significantly longer, and engaged in social activities more frequently than non-members. No differences were found in diet, alcohol consumption or loneliness levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The present study highlights the positive behaviours associated with attending Healthy Ageing Centres, suggesting that their establishment in ageing populations could be beneficial for supporting healthy ageing.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"5 1","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7619147/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148254860","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}
Zahra Rahemi, Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu, Sophia Z Shalhout, Morteza Sabet, Delaram Sirizi, Matthew Lee Smith, Swann Arp Adams
{"title":"Disparities in Advance Care Planning Across Rurality, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Cognition Levels: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.","authors":"Zahra Rahemi, Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu, Sophia Z Shalhout, Morteza Sabet, Delaram Sirizi, Matthew Lee Smith, Swann Arp Adams","doi":"10.3390/jal4040028","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jal4040028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We aimed to examine ACP in older adults in the U.S. across different sociodemographic characteristics and cognition levels (N = 17,698).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized two legal documents from the Health and Retirement Study survey: a living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPOAH). We established the baseline trends from 2014 to assess if trends in 2024 have improved upon future data availability. Logistic regression models were fitted with outcome variables (living will, DPOAH, and both) stratified by cognition levels (dementia/impaired cognition versus normal cognition).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Age, ethnicity, race, education, and rurality were significant predictors of ACP (having a living will, DPOAH, and both the living will and DPOAH) across cognition levels. Participants who were younger, Hispanic, black, less educated, or resided in rural areas were less likely to complete ACP.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Examining ACP and its linkages to specific social determinants is crucial for understanding disparities and developing effective educational and interventional strategies to enhance ACP uptake among diverse population groups. Future studies are needed to assess whether disparities have improved over the last decade, particularly as 2024 data become available. Addressing ACP disparities is essential for healthcare professionals to advance research and promote effective practices in geriatric care and aging services.</p>","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"4 4","pages":"394-403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12077597/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144082641","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":"Social Frailty Prevalence among Older People in Hong Kong","authors":"Jed Montayre, Kay Kuo, Ka Man Carman Leung","doi":"10.3390/jal4030016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jal4030016","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The global increase in the ageing population underscores the importance of a holistic approach to gerontological research. Social frailty, a state of vulnerability, is a growing concern that significantly affects the well-being and health outcomes of older people. With Hong Kong projected to have the world’s largest ageing population by 2050, research on social frailty within this demographic is crucial. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of social frailty among older adults in Hong Kong and examine its association with demographic characteristics. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using data from an online survey on older adults in Hong Kong, yielding 200 respondents. The survey encompassed demographic details, the Social Frailty Scale (SFS-8), and health-related factors. Results: Participants were categorized into three groups: social non-frailty (SNF, 41.5%), social pre-frailty (SPF, 34.5%), and social frailty (SF, 24%). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that self-rated health status negatively correlates with social frailty (SF) (r = −0.19, p < 0.001) and the number of diagnosed health conditions (r = −0.29, p < 0.001) but positively correlates with education level (r = 0.14, p < 0.05). Notably, the SPF group exhibited the highest prevalence of high cholesterol, hypertension, visual impairments, and diabetes, followed by the SF and SNF groups. No significant relationship was found between gender and SF, the total number of diagnosed health conditions and SF, or individual chronic diseases and SF. Conclusion: This survey on social frailty among older people in Hong Kong found a higher prevalence of pre-frail and socially frail individuals compared to other regions. While many benefit from strong social support, socially pre-frail and socially frail individuals have reduced interactions, highlighting the importance of social connectedness. The higher incidence of social frailty, especially among the pre-frail, underscores the need to consider Hong Kong’s unique socio-cultural and economic contexts. As the first of its kind in the region, this study paves the way for further research and emphasizes the need for culturally appropriate assessment tools to better understand and address social frailty.","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":"36 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141815038","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}
Tania Madera-Cimadevilla, María Cantero-García, María Rueda-Extremera
{"title":"Music Therapy as Non-Pharmacological Treatment in Alzheimer’s Disease—Effects on Memory—Systematic Review","authors":"Tania Madera-Cimadevilla, María Cantero-García, María Rueda-Extremera","doi":"10.3390/jal4030015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jal4030015","url":null,"abstract":"Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by gradual onset and gradual progression, presenting a wide range of symptoms, with one of its main features being episodic memory impairment, present from the early stages of the disease. Currently, there is no cure for AD, so a multidimensional approach combining pharmacology with other non-pharmacological treatments is recommended to halt or delay cognitive and functional decline in patients. In this regard, music therapy emerges as a promising non-pharmacological treatment for memory in patients with AD, as musical memory appears to be preserved, retaining the ability to recall familiar songs and the memories associated with them. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the current state of scientific research on the effects of music therapy on the memory of patients with AD in mild and moderate stages. A search was conducted in the Google Scholar, ProQuest, Summon, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, finding 15 articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results seem to support the use of music-based interventions for memory in patients with AD, especially regarding autobiographical memory. However, given the limitations encountered, we consider that the results pave the way for future research rather than providing solid conclusions about their effectiveness.","PeriodicalId":73588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ageing and longevity","volume":" 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141830885","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}