Capacity Of Elderly People Research Articles

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE AND LOWER HEMOGLOBIN A1C AND FRONTAL BRAIN ATROPHY IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE AND LOWER HEMOGLOBIN A1C AND FRONTAL BRAIN ATROPHY IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Factors related to functional capacity in community‐dwelling elderly

Background: The objectives of this study were to clarify the relationship between functional capacity and background factors in community‐dwelling elderly people.Methods: Study subjects were 1070 community‐dwelling persons aged 65 and older in 2001 who could provide complete responses to questionnaires regarding functional capacity. All subjects were enrolled from the April 2001 resident registry of Nomura‐cho in Ehime prefecture. Functional capacity was measured using the 13 items of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) index for competence (instrumental self‐maintenance, intellectual activity, social role).Results: Subjects consisted of 472 men (mean age ± standard deviation, 73 ± 6.5 years) and 598 women (75 ± 7.6 years). Functional capacity decreased with age. In particular, functional capacity was markedly decreased in women at highly advanced ages. Multiple logistic regression analysis of functional capacity showed that significantly independent explanatory variables included younger age, good financial condition, participation in community activities, regular physical exercise, absence of prescription medication, absence of hearing impairment, absence of cognitive impairment and physical independence.Conclusion: These results indicate that good financial condition, participation in community activities, regular physical exercise, absence of prescription medication, absence of hearing impairment, absence of cognitive impairment and physical independence are important for maintaining functional capacity in elderly people. Early preventive measures are necessary to combat decline in functional capacity, particularly in women at highly advanced ages.

The association of socio-economic factors with physical and mental capacity in elderly men and women

The association of socio-economic factors with functional capacity has received less research attention than their association with diseases and mortality. However, functional capacity is an important measure of health and independence in the elderly. This study explores the associations of socio-economic factors with physical and mental capacity as measured in laboratory tests and on the basis of self-report. The data were drawn from the Evergreen project, comprising all persons aged 75 ( N=388) and 80 ( N=291) in Jyväskylä, central Finland. Women with a higher level of education showed better functional capacity on all indicators, among men higher education was only associated with better vital capacity and cognitive capacity. Better perceived financial situation was associated with better functional capacity in both men and women. The association between socio-economic factors and functional capacity remained even when the number of chronic diseases was controlled for. The results lend support to the assumption that socio-economic factors are associated with physical and mental capacity in elderly people.

Assessing testamentary capacity in elderly people.

We discuss the assessment of testamentary capacity (ability to execute a valid will) in elderly people. Such assessment should include evaluation of the person's knowledge regarding the purpose of the will, the extent of the property involved, the legal heirs, and how the property is distributed according to the will. Some conditions may invalidate a will, including insane delusions and undue influence; however, the mere presence of severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or dementia, does not automatically render elderly people incompetent to execute a valid will.

Education for the elderly: New directions in a changing Europe

It will be of paramount importance for a united Europe to integrate older men and women and to establish their position in society. European countries are insufficiently prepared for the individual and collective resources of the elderly. Unfortunately the countries lack institutions capable of supporting a lifelong process of education, including the elderly. Today's elderly people become increasingly aware that because of technological and economic demands and changes in society it is necessary to learn and retrain through the whole of one's life. The strengthening of the community of solidarity in Europe requires not only the promotion of older and younger people learning about each other, but especially the transfer of experience and knowledge among the older people of different countries. The reason for this strident demand for education for the elderly has to be seen in the context of a demographic and structural process of change, which affects almost all European societies. Education for the elderly contributes to connecting experiences and the capacity of elderly people to cope with their situation with up-to-date knowledge and with new strategies for possible solutions. At the same time the educational situation is suited to encouraging and promoting a transfer of knowledge between elderly and younger people and among members (elderly or younger) of different countries.

DECLINE IN SKELETAL MUSCLE MITOCHONDRIAL RESPIRATORY CHAIN FUNCTION: POSSIBLE FACTOR IN AGEING

State III (activated) mitochondrial respiration rates with pyruvate/malate, glutamate/malate, and succinate as substrates were assayed in isolated intact skeletal muscle mitochondria in 29 subjects aged 16-92 years. There was a significant negative correlation between respiration rate and age with all substrates tested. A similar trend was seen for respiratory enzyme activities assayed in muscle homogenate. These findings suggest a substantial fall in mitochondrial oxidative capacity in ageing muscle, which may contribute to reduced exercise capacity in elderly people. Mitochondrial respiratory failure may contribute to the ageing process in other organs.