Age Gap Research Articles

A Systematic Review of Intimate Partner Violence Protection Order Research: A Decade of Insight

This comprehensive review synthesizes scholarly research on intimate partner violence (IPV) and restraining/protection orders (POs), addressing various dimensions including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and legal issues. Results show ongoing disparities in men’s accessibility to POs despite experiencing IPV at comparable rates to women and men’s experiences continue to be severely underrepresented in research. Similarly, no studies were found regarding the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. Consistent with previous research, gender biases in PO issuances were found, while historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups’ racial and ethnic minorities continue to encounter systemic difficulties. The review also highlights the importance of comprehensive studies on firearm dispossession in IPV contexts and the interplay of legal and extralegal factors influencing PO outcomes and victim experiences. Further, legislative reforms are crucial to address age and gender disparities in accessing POs, with variations in definitions of dating violence and access to specialized courts. Tailored interventions based on offender demographics are critical for effective IPV prevention, requiring further research on diverse populations. Despite progress, barriers to reporting and help-seeking persist, hindering survivor access to support services and legal protection. International studies reveal differing patterns of service utilization and legal outcomes, demonstrating the global challenge of IPV.

The Impact of High Burden Idiopathic Premature Ventricular Contractions in Pediatric versus Adult Populations. A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Idiopathic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) can occur in up to 40% of children with structurally normal hearts. The study aims to assess the impact of high-burden idiopathic PVCs on children in comparison with adults in terms of symptoms, distribution of origin, management strategies, and safety considerations. This is a single-center retrospective cohort study that included patients with frequent PVCs (> 10% burden in Holter monitoring) and categorized by age into adult group (≥ 18years) and pediatric group. Data encompassed demographic profiles, clinical symptoms, echocardiographic findings, electrocardiographic analyses, and one-year follow-up management. A total of 224 PVC cases were collected during a 2-year study (120 children and 104 adults). Syncope occurred significantly more in children than adults (15.8% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.003). In children, the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) free wall was the predominant site (48 patients; 40%), while the septal RVOT was most common in adults (35 patients; 33.7%). Pediatric cases exhibited significantly higher PVCs originating from the outflow tract (92.5% vs. 69.2%; p = 0.001). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between groups regarding the safety, acute, and one-year outcomes of RF ablation. Age disparities were evident in syncope incidence and PVC origin, with no variance in PVC-induced myopathy prevalence or the safety and outcomes of RF catheter ablation between children and adults.

Aging Disparities in Ostomy Surgery.

Little is known about the association between age and fecal ostomy surgery trends over time. We aim to 1) determine the rate of fecal ostomy operations over time and 2) compare rates of colostomy formation between patients older and younger than 65y. Retrospective multi-institutional cohort study of patients ≥18y who underwent colorectal resection between 2003 and 2014 using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition Procedural Codes. A difference-in-difference analysis was performed to evaluate the differences in colostomy formation between age groups. Out of 819,441 adult patients who underwent major colorectal resection, 136,840 (16.6%) required ostomy formation. Median age was 63y (interquartile range 51-74), 50% were female. Overall,82,606 (10.0%) patients underwent a colostomy formation and 54,234 (6.6%) an ileostomy formation. Rates of colostomy formation decreased (13.2%-7.1% in <65 and 14.0%-7.2% in ≥65). Incidence of ileostomy formation increased for both age groups (6.1%-9.9% in <65 and 3.8%-6.3% in ≥65). The difference-in-difference analysis showed that the decline in colostomy formation was less pronounced among the older adult cohort (odds ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.50) than those <65 (odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.41-0.44). Incidence of colostomy formation decreased in both groups over the study period. In contrast, the decline in colostomy formation was slower among older adults. This highlights a significant change in surgical trends across the United States with increasing rates of ileostomy use. Appropriate resource allocation and support are vital to the recovery of this growing surgical patient population.

Trends in incidence and survival in anal adenocarcinoma: A SEER study of racial and age disparities.

1 Background: Anal adenocarcinoma, a rare but increasingly diagnosed malignancy, has demonstrated rising incidence rates, warranting a deeper analysis of its epidemiology and outcomes across demographic factors like race and age. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from SEER database (2000-2020) was conducted. Incidence rates per 100,000 individuals and 5-year survival outcomes were compared across racial groups (White, Black, Asian, Hispanic) and age categories (≤50 years, 51-70 years, &gt;70 years). Additionally, trends were analyzed across two decades: 2000-2010 and 2010-2020. This study investigates epidemiological trends of anal adenocarcinoma, focusing on variations in incidence and survival outcomes by race and age, with specific comparisons between the periods 2000-2010 and 2010-2020. Results: Incidence of anal adenocarcinoma increased from 0.7 per 100,000 in 2000 to 1.6 per 100,000 in 2020. From 2000 to 2010, incidence increased rose 0.7 to 1.0 per 100,000, and from 2010 to 2020, it rose from 1.0 to 1.6 per 100,000. Rates were highest among Black individuals, increasing from 1.5 per 100,000 (2000-2010) to 2.3 (2010-2020), followed by White (1.2 to 1.5), Hispanic (0.8 to 1.0), and Asian populations (0.3 to 0.5). Age-related outcomes showed that in 2000-2010, patients aged ≤50 years had a 5-year survival rate of 75% versus 55% in age 51-70 versus 35% for &gt;70 years. In 2010-2020, these rates dropped to 70%, 50%, and 30% in respective age groups. Racial disparities in survival were evident: Black patients had a 5-year survival rate of 40% (2000-2010) and 35% (2010-2020), significantly lower than White patients, who had rates of 65% (2000-2010) and 60% (2010-2020). Conclusions: The incidence of anal adenocarcinoma has steadily increased from 2000 to 2020, particularly among the Black population, while survival rates have declined. Additionally, survival rates are lower in individuals older than 70 years. Highlighting disparities in incidence and outcomes, further research is essential to uncover the underlying causes and develop targeted interventions to mitigate risks and improve patient outcomes. Keywords: anal adenocarcinoma, epidemiology, race, age, survival rates, disparities. This table summarizes the key trends in anal adenocarcinoma incidence and survival by race and age over the two decades from 2000 to 2020. The increases in incidence, particularly among Black individuals, and the worsening survival rates, especially in older and Black populations, are notable findings from the study. Category 2000-2010 2010-2020 Change (2000-2020) Incidence per 100,000 (Overall) 0.7 → 1.0 1.0 → 1.6 +0.9 Incidence by Race - White 1.2 → 1.5 1.5 → 1.5 +0.3 - Black 1.5 → 2.3 2.3 → 2.3 +0.8 - Hispanic 0.8 → 1.0 1.0 → 1.0 +0.2 - Asian 0.3 → 0.5 0.5 → 0.5 +0.2 5-Year Survival by Age - ≤50 years 75% 70% -5% - 51-70 years 55% 50% -5% - &gt;70 years 35% 30% -5% 5-Year Survival by Race - White 65% 60% -5% - Black 40% 35% -5%

A Study on Psychological Impact of Working From Home of Employees during COVID-19 Pandemic- a Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: With the sudden onset of COVID 19, many organisations introduced a mandatory relocation of workforce from their workplace to their homes bringing in a work from home policy for their employees. The purpose of the study is to examine the positive and negative impact on quality of life of teleworking, thereby assessing the prevalence of psychological distress of employees working in COVID 19. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on Indian - representative survey of selfreported data through an online questionnaire of work from home employees and their responses were analysed using SPSS software. Results: The study findings revealed that out of 2943 total respondents to the questionnaires, 18.9% and 20.2% had agreed and strongly agreed respectively to the statement that, work from home was a chance to break old habits and change routine. The mean positive affect score among those affected with COVID was 20.82 ± 3.71 and for those not affected with COVID was 21.12 ± 3.71. Conclusion: The results indicate age disparities in mental distress, perceived adversities highlighted the discrepancies differed by the area of residence and those affected by the corona virus.

Cross-National Trends in Adolescents Psychological and Somatic Complaints Before and After the Onset of COVID-19 Pandemic

Building on research suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to an exacerbation of deteriorating trends in mental health among adolescents, this paper examined trends in adolescents' psychological and somatic complaints across 35 countries from 2010 to 2022, and tested trends in sociodemographic inequalities in these outcomes between 2018 and2022. Using data from 792,606 adolescents from 35 countries (51% girls; mean age= 13.5; standard deviation 1.6) across four Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), hierarchical multilevel models estimated cross-national trends in adolescent psychological and somatic complaints. We tested whether observed values in 2022 were in line with predicted values based on 2010-2018 linear trends. Finally, moderation effects of age, family affluence, and family structures on the outcomes were tested (2018-2022). Both girls and boys showed substantially higher levels of psychological complaints in 2022 compared with the predicted values. For somatic complaints, higher levels than predicted in2022 were observed only in girls. Moderation analyses revealed an increase from 2018 to 2022 in age gaps and a narrowing in the socioeconomic gap for both outcomes. Also, there was a widening gap between adolescents living with 2 parents and those living in a single parent household in 2022 compared to2018. Cross-national increases in adolescent psychological and somatic complaints were higher than expected in 2022, based on previous trends. Magnitudes of change varied across different sociodemographics groups, with implications for pre-existing mental health inequalities.

Sociodemographic landscape of suspected prostate cancer referrals and diagnoses across North East London.

The objective of this study is to identify healthcare inequities in referrals and diagnoses of suspected prostate cancer (PCa) in an ethnically diverse and socially deprived large urban region. Retrospective cohort study of 2-Week Wait (2WW) suspected PCa patients (n= 12 947) referred to two acute NHS Trusts in North East London (NEL) from February 2019 to August 2023. Sociodemographics, diagnosis and pretreatment staging data were collected from patient records. We examined referral and diagnosis statistics, age at referral, radiological T-stage at diagnosis, levels of deprivation by ethnicity and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on proportion of referrals and diagnoses by ethnicity and T-stage at diagnosis. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of locally advanced (T-stage ≥T3) disease. Of all referrals, 22% were diagnosed with PCa. There were no statistically significant differences in referrals, diagnoses or T-stage of PCa by ethnicity during COVID lockdown versus non-lockdown periods (p> 0.05). Compared to men from any other ethnicity, Black men (from Black British, Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic groups) were diagnosed at a younger age (mean = 65 years), had the highest age-adjusted PCa incidence rate of 149 per 100 000 person-years, were from the most deprived backgrounds, and were diagnosed with the highest proportion of localised PCa (74%). Multivariable analysis of a patient subgroup revealed age bands 71-80 years (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.31-3.07) and >80 (OR 4.27, 95% CI 2.25-8.08) as independent positive predictors of locally advanced PCa, and Black ethnicity as an independent predictor of localised disease (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43-1.00). Limitations of this study include the exclusion of PCa cases diagnosed outside the 2WW pathway, as well as missing data on Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, distant radiological staging and histopathological findings. We identify disparities in PCa incidence, stage and age at presentation, as well as socio-economic deprivation among Black men in NEL. Targeted efforts are needed to mitigate these healthcare inequities.

Housing Prices and Spousal Age Gap: Evidence from the Chinese Housing Boom

Housing Prices and Spousal Age Gap: Evidence from the Chinese Housing Boom

Brain Age as a New Measure of Disease Stratification in Huntington's Disease.

Despite advancements in understanding Huntington's disease (HD) over the past two decades, absence of disease-modifying treatments remains a challenge. Accurately characterizing progression states is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions. Various factors contribute to this challenge, including the need for precise methods that can account for the complex nature of HD progression. This study aims to address this gap by leveraging the concept of the brain's biological age as a foundation for a data-driven clustering method to delineate various states of progression. Brain-predicted age, influenced by somatic expansion and its impact on brain volumes, offers a promising avenue for stratification by stratifying subgroups and determining the optimal timing for interventions. To achieve this, data from 953 participants across diverse cohorts, including PREDICT-HD, TRACK-HD, and IMAGE-HD, were meticulously analyzed. Brain-predicted age was computed using sophisticated algorithms, and participants were categorized into four groups based on CAG and age product score. Unsupervised k-means clustering with brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD) was then employed to identify distinct progression states. The analysis revealed significant disparities in brain-predicted age between HD participants and controls, with these differences becoming more pronounced as the disease progressed. Brain-PAD demonstrated a correlation with disease severity, effectively identifying five distinct progression states characterized by significant longitudinal disparities. These findings highlight the potential of brain-PAD in capturing HD progression states, thereby enhancing prognostic methodologies and providing valuable insights for future clinical trial designs and interventions. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life Expectancy in South Korea, 2019–2022

Objective: This study investigated changes in life expectancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing the contributions of age, sex, and cause of death in 2019 and 2022. Methods: Korea’s simplified life table and cause-of-death statistics from 2019 to 2022 were used to assess mortality changes by age, sex, and cause of death during the pandemic. Joinpoint regression analysis was applied to detect trends, and the Arriaga decomposition method was used to quantify the contributions of age, sex, and cause of death to life expectancy changes. Results: Joinpoint regression identified a slow increase in life expectancy in 2007 and a decline in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Life expectancy decreased markedly for men (−0.36 years per year, 95%CI: −0.68 to −0.03) and women (−0.45 years per year, 95%CI: −0.71 to −0.18). Age-specific contributions revealed declines across age groups, with the steepest reductions in the older population (80 years or older: −0.35 years for men; −0.52 years for women). Women (−0.68 years) contributed more to the decline in life expectancy than men (−0.41 years). COVID-19 ranked as the third leading cause of death in 2022, significantly contributing to the decline in life expectancy among the older population (aged 80 years or older: −0.306 years for men, −0.408 years for women). Women in Korea were more affected than men, reducing the sex-specific gap in life expectancy by 0.3 years. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the life expectancy in Korea, particularly among older adults, with women experiencing a greater decline than men. These findings emphasize the need for targeted public health strategies to address age and sex disparities in future pandemics. Before the pandemic, non-communicable diseases such as malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease dominated Korea’s top 10 causes of death. During the pandemic, however, COVID-19 rose to third place by 2022. Notably, intentional self-harm (suicide) contributed to an increase in life expectancy, suggesting shifts in the relative impact of various causes of death.

Problem‐Solving Skills of Israeli Higher Education Graduates in Tech‐Rich Environments: An Analysis of PIAAC Data

ABSTRACTThe knowledge‐based economy and the information society highlights the importance of developing new competencies for personal, professional and social integration. Problem‐solving in technologically rich environments (PS‐TREs) is one of these competencies. This research examines the relationships between higher education and the PS‐TREs competencies in both professional and daily life contexts, controlling for socio‐personal characteristics (e.g., age and gender). Specifically, we focused on Israeli higher education graduates in comparison to their counterparts, between the ages of 25 and 65 in Israel, using data of 5342 participants in the PIAAC survey dataset. Using logistic regression models, our findings indicate HE graduates acquire higher levels of PS‐TREs, compared to their counterparts. This result is positively mediated through socio‐personal characteristics such as being older or being a woman. Specifically, the probabilities of HE graduates utilising PS‐TREs at work and in daily life are higher than that of participants with lower level of education (3, and 3.27 times higher, respectively). We find gender and age disparities, favouring male and younger participants. The probabilities of females using PS‐TREs at work, and in daily life are lower than male participants (70%, and 67%, respectively). Moreover, each additional year is correlated with a 4% decrease in the likelihood of using PS‐TREs in daily life. Interestingly, the acquisition of higher education (HE) is associated with further narrowing of gaps, particularly in the context of work. This study highlights the importance of HE in reinforcing PS‐TREs skills in adulthood to mitigate social and labour exclusion.

Cross-Sectional Comparison of Structural MRI Markers of Impairment in a Diverse Cohort of Older Adults.

Neurodegeneration is presumed to be the pathological process measure most proximal to clinical symptom onset in Alzheimer Disease (AD). Structural MRI is routinely collected in research and clinical trial settings. Several quantitative MRI-based measures of atrophy have been proposed, but their low correspondence with each other has been previously documented. The purpose of this study was to identify which commonly used structural MRI measure (hippocampal volume, cortical thickness in AD signature regions, or brain age gap [BAG]) had the best correspondence with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) in an ethno-racially diverse sample. 2870 individuals recruited by the Healthy and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities completed both structural MRI and CDR evaluation. Of these, 1887 individuals were matched on ethno-racial identity (Mexican American [MA], non-Hispanic Black [NHB], and non-Hispanic White [NHW]) and CDR (27% CDR > 0). We estimated brain age using two pipelines (DeepBrainNet, BrainAgeR) and then calculated BAG as the difference between the estimated brain age and chronological age. We also quantified their hippocampal volumes using HippoDeep and cortical thicknesses (both an AD-specific signature and average whole brain) using FreeSurfer. We used ordinal regression to evaluate associations between neuroimaging measures and CDR and to test whether these associations differed between ethno-racial groups. Higher BAG (pDeepBrainNet = 0.0002; pBrainAgeR = 0.00117) and lower hippocampal volume (p = 0.0015) and cortical thickness (p < 0.0001) were associated with worse clinical status (higher CDR). AD signature cortical thickness had the strongest relationship with CDR (AICDeepBrainNet = 2623, AICwhole cortex = 2588, AICBrainAgeR = 2533, AICHippocampus = 2293, AICSignature Cortical Thickness = 1903). The relationship between CDR and atrophy measures differed between ethno-racial groups for both BAG estimates and hippocampal volume, but not for cortical thickness. We interpret the lack of an interaction between ethno-racial identity and AD signature cortical thickness on CDR as evidence that cortical thickness effectively captures sources of disease-related atrophy that may differ across racial and ethnic groups. Cortical thickness had the strongest association with CDR. These results suggest that cortical thickness may be a more sensitive and generalizable marker of neurodegeneration than hippocampal volume or BAG in ethno-racially diverse cohorts.

Preserved brain youthfulness: longitudinal evidence of slower brain aging in superagers.

Superagers, older adults with exceptional cognitive abilities, show preserved brain structure compared to typical older adults. We investigated whether superagers have biologically younger brains based on their structural integrity. A cohort of 153 older adults (aged 61-93) was recruited, with 63 classified as superagers based on superior episodic memory and 90 as typical older adults, of whom 64 were followed up after two years. A deep learning model for brain age prediction, trained on 899 diverse-aged adults (aged 31-100), was adapted to the older adult cohort via transfer learning. Brain age gap (BAG), a metric based on brain structural patterns, defined as the difference between predicted and chronological age, and its annual rate of change were calculated to assess brain aging status and speed, respectively, and compared among subgroups. Lower BAGs correlated with more favorable cognitive status in memory and general cognitive function. Superagers exhibited a lower BAG than typical older adults at both baseline and follow-up. Individuals who maintained or attained superager status at follow-up showed a slower annual rate of change in BAG compared to those who remained or became typical older adults. Superaging brains manifested maintained neurobiological youthfulness in terms of a more youthful brain aging status and a reduced speed of brain aging. These findings suggest that cognitive resilience, and potentially broader functional resilience, exhibited by superagers during the aging process may be attributable to their younger brains.

Sex and age distribution of global disease burden of non-rheumatic calcific aortic valve disease from 1990 to 2021.

To analyze sex and age distribution of global disease burden of non-rheumatic calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) from 1990 to 2021. CAVD data 1990-2021 were obtained from the IHME website for Global Burden of Disease (GBD). The prevalence, mortality, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were analyzed by gender and age groups. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC). In 2021, there were 13.32 million CAVD patients and 142 000 deaths caused by CAVD globally. Age-standardized prevalence was higher in males (193.2/105) than that in females (128.9/105). Patients in 65-85 age group accounted for 64.0% of total cases, while those ≥85 years old accounted for 16.1%. From 1990-2021, prevalence increased in both sexes with an AAPC of 0.72% for males and 0.57% for females, respectively. Prevalence grew fastest from 2000-2010, slowed thereafter, and declined from 2015-2021. In those <65 years old, the mortality of males was 2.4 times higher than that of females, while in those ≥85 years old, mortality of females (117.3/105) exceeded that of males (99.1/105). YLD rates increased with age, and were higher in males for all age groups. DALY rates decreased overall but increased in those ≥85 years old, with a greater increase in females. There are significant gender and age disparities in global disease burden of CAVD, with particular concern for the elderly, especially super-elderly females, indicating the need for personalized intervention strategies.

A review of artificial intelligence-based brain age estimation and its applications for related diseases.

The study of brain age has emerged over the past decade, aiming to estimate a person's age based on brain imaging scans. Ideally, predicted brain age should match chronological age in healthy individuals. However, brain structure and function change in the presence of brain-related diseases. Consequently, brain age also changes in affected individuals, making the brain age gap (BAG)-the difference between brain age and chronological age-a potential biomarker for brain health, early screening, and identifying age-related cognitive decline and disorders. With the recent successes of artificial intelligence in healthcare, it is essential to track the latest advancements and highlight promising directions. This review paper presents recent machine learning techniques used in brain age estimation (BAE) studies. Typically, BAE models involve developing a machine learning regression model to capture age-related variations in brain structure from imaging scans of healthy individuals and automatically predict brain age for new subjects. The process also involves estimating BAG as a measure of brain health. While we discuss recent clinical applications of BAE methods, we also review studies of biological age that can be integrated into BAE research. Finally, we point out the current limitations of BAE's studies.

Analysis of faculty readiness for online teaching: assessing impact and adaptability in diverse educational contexts

In recent years, educators have encountered significant shifts in teaching methodologies driven by rapid technological advancements and evolving demands in higher education. This transition has prompted adaptations in teaching practices and digital approaches, resulting in a broader paradigm shift across institutions. This study explores faculty perceptions and attitudes toward emerging pedagogies, focusing on their preparedness for digital and hybrid learning environments and the dynamics of teacher-student collaborative learning in these contexts. The research examines how faculty readiness can enhance adaptation to modern educational demands beyond any specific event or period. Utilising the FROCT scale—measuring readiness through comfort with risk, identity disruption, teaching norms, and equity and tenure norms—this research, conducted among Spanish university teachers, that highlight significant shifts in readiness perceptions after 2 years of compulsory online education. Furthermore, the study identifies gender and age disparities in teachers’ perceptions of online education readiness. These findings contributing to a better understanding of teacher preparation and performance in the post-pandemic educational landscape, specifically in online and blended education, where cognitive, metacognitive, and emotional dimensions play integral roles in fostering socialisation online and collaborative learning between educators and students.

Impacts of donor age and HLA mismatch on HCT outcomes differ according to the donor CMV serostatus in unrelated allo-HCT.

In unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), older and/or HLA-mismatched donors are known risk factors for survival outcomes. In healthy individuals, cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity is associated with impaired adaptive immune systems. We assessed whether the adverse effects of donor risk factors are influenced by the donor CMV serostatus. We analyzed 5836 CMV seropositive patients who received unrelated allo-HCT. We divided the entire cohort into two cohorts according to the donor CMV serostatus: CMV-positive (DP) and -negative (DN). We also stratified each cohort into four groups based on donor age (≥ 40 or < 40) and HLA parity (8/8 or 7/8): Young88, Old88, Young78, and Old78. In the CMV-DP cohort, the Old88 (HR 1.20, P = 0.012), Young78 (HR 1.35, P < 0.001), and Old78 (HR 1.60, P < 0.001) groups were associated with inferior OS compared with the Young88 group. On the other hand, in the CMV-DN cohort, neither donor age nor HLA disparity was associated with inferior OS. The adverse impact of donor age was different between the cohorts (CMV-DP; HR 1.19, P = 0.001, CMV-DN; HR 1.04, P = 0.53; P for interaction 0.070), as was the impact of HLA (CMV-DP; HR 1.34, P < 0.001, CMV-DN; HR 1.08 P = 0.23; P for interaction 0.012). The impacts of donor age and HLA mismatch on OS might differ according to the donor CMV serostatus. In unrelated allo-HCT from a CMV seronegative donor, an HLA-mismatched older donor may be able to be selected without affecting OS.

Age and Gender Disparities in Bladder Cancer: A Cross Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Age and Gender Disparities in Bladder Cancer: A Cross Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Cognitive aging outcomes are related to both tau pathology and maintenance of cingulate cortex structure.

Successful cognitive aging is related to both maintaining brain structure and avoiding Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, but how these factors interplay is unclear. A total of 109 cognitively normal older adults (70+ years old) underwent amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cognitive testing. Cognitive aging was quantified using the cognitive age gap (CAG), subtracting chronological age from predicted cognitive age. Lower CAG (younger cognitive age) was related to slower decline in episodic memory, multi-domain cognition, and atrophy of the midcingulate cortex (MCC). Lower entorhinal cortical tau was linked to slower decline in episodic memory, multi-domain cognition, and hippocampal atrophy. These results suggest that aging outcomes may be influenced by two independent pathways: one associated with tau accumulation, affecting primarily memory and hippocampal atrophy, and another involving tau-independent structural preservation of the MCC, benefiting multi-domain cognition over time. Younger cognitive age (lower cognitive age gap [CAG]) is related to slower cognitive decline. Lower CAG is linked to slower midcingulate cortex (MCC) atrophy. Reduced tau in the entorhinal cortex is related to less hippocampal atrophy and cognitive decline. Structural preservation of the MCC benefits multi-domain cognition over time. Two independent pathways influence cognitive aging: tau accumulation and MCC preservation.

Menopausal hormone therapy and the female brain: leveraging neuroimaging and prescription registry data from the UK Biobank cohort.

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is generally thought to be neuroprotective, yet results have been inconsistent. Here, we present a comprehensive study of MHT use and brain characteristics in middle- to older aged females from the UK Biobank, assessing detailed MHT data, APOE ε4 genotype, and tissue-specific gray (GM) and white matter (WM) brain age gap (BAG), as well as hippocampal and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. A total of 19,846 females with magnetic resonance imaging data were included (current-users = 1,153, 60.1 ± 6.8 years; past-users = 6,681, 67.5 ± 6.2 years; never-users = 12,012, mean age 61.6 ± 7.1 years). For a sub-sample (n = 538), MHT prescription data was extracted from primary care records. Brain measures were derived from T1-, T2- and diffusion-weighted images. We fitted regression models to test for associations between the brain measures and MHT variables including user status, age at initiation, dosage and duration, formulation, route of administration, and type (i.e., bioidentical vs synthetic), as well as active ingredient (e.g., estradiol hemihydrate). We further tested for differences in brain measures among MHT users with and without a history of hysterectomy ± bilateral oophorectomy and examined associations by APOE ε4 status. We found significantly higher GM and WM BAG (i.e., older brain age relative to chronological age) as well as smaller left and right hippocampus volumes in current MHT users, not past users, compared to never-users. Effects were modest, with the largest effect size indicating a group difference of 0.77 years (~9 months) for GM BAG. Among MHT users, we found no significant associations between age at MHT initiation and brain measures. Longer duration of use and older age at last use post menopause was associated with higher GM and WM BAG, larger WMH volume, and smaller left and right hippocampal volumes. MHT users with a history of hysterectomy ± bilateral oophorectomy showed lower GM BAG relative to MHT users without such history. Although we found smaller hippocampus volumes in carriers of two APOE ε4 alleles compared to non-carriers, we found no interactions with MHT variables. In the sub-sample with prescription data, we found no significant associations between detailed MHT variables and brain measures after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Our results indicate that population-level associations between MHT use, and female brain health might vary depending on duration of use and past surgical history. Future research is crucial to establish causality, dissect interactions between menopause-related neurological changes and MHT use, and determine individual-level implications to advance precision medicine in female health care.