Function Of Chronological Age Research Articles

The influence of relative pubertal maturity on executive function development in adolescent girls.

A positive association between pubertal maturity as assessed by skeletal development, and specific cognitive abilities has recently been demonstrated in a cohort of adolescent girls. The current study explores the impact of chronological age and relative pubertal maturity on executive function within the same cohort. Relative maturity, determined by the difference between chronological age and skeletal age, establishes the criteria for enrolling participants into average, advanced, or delayed relative maturity subgroups. Performance is assessed using the Numerical Stroop test and analyzed across four conditions, each with varying task requirements related to inhibition and task switching. The effects of chronological age and relative maturity on executive functions are tested by a linear mixed model. Within the examined age-range (12-15 y), a more protracted development was found for inhibition as compared to switching. In line with the previous findings, the results reveal significant development in executive performance as a function of chronological age, and relative maturity also demonstrated significant effect on the development of executing functioning. The significant interaction effect between Chronological Age and Relative Maturity suggests that the degree of interplay between these factors varies across the examined age range. Specifically, relative maturity may have a more noticeable impact on EF functioning in middle adolescence compared to early adolescence.

Age and Auditory Spatial Perception in Humans: Review of Behavioral Findings and Suggestions for Future Research.

It has been well documented, and fairly well known, that concomitant with an increase in chronological age is a corresponding increase in sensory impairment. As most people realize, our hearing suffers as we get older; hence, the increased need for hearing aids. The first portion of the present paper is how the change in age apparently affects auditory judgments of sound source position. A summary of the literature evaluating the changes in the perception of sound source location and the perception of sound source motion as a function of chronological age is presented. The review is limited to empirical studies with behavioral findings involving humans. It is the view of the author that we have an immensely limited understanding of how chronological age affects perception of space when based on sound. In the latter part of the paper, discussion is given to how auditory spatial perception is traditionally conducted in the laboratory. Theoretically, beneficial reasons exist for conducting research in the manner it has been. Nonetheless, from an ecological perspective, the vast majority of previous research can be considered unnatural and greatly lacking in ecological validity. Suggestions for an alternative and more ecologically valid approach to the investigation of auditory spatial perception are proposed. It is believed an ecological approach to auditory spatial perception will enhance our understanding of the extent to which individuals perceive sound source location and how those perceptual judgments change with an increase in chronological age.

Self‐reported history of estrogen hormone therapy differentiates rates of amyloid accumulation (PiB‐PET) relative to males: Findings from the Harvard Aging Brain Study

AbstractBackgroundWomen’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) findings suggest that hormone therapy increases risk of dementia. Conversely, evidence from the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) implicates estrogen hormone therapy (HT) as protective against ß‐amyloid (Aß) burden. We sought to explore if self‐reported HT use is associated with rates of Aß accumulation in an observational sample of clinically‐unimpaired older adults.Method134 participants (Age=73yrs±5.8) underwent at least three timepoints of Pittsburgh compound‐B (PiB)‐PET scans over an average of 9.7 years. Longitudinal PiB‐PET was examined as aggregate neocortical DVR (composite reference region: whole cerebellum + eroded white matter). Concurrent with baseline PiB‐PET, female participants self‐reported if they ever took HT. Participants were thus identified as: females who never used HT (HT‐:n=36), females who have ever taken HT to any extent (HT+:n=42), and males (M:n=56). We examined the relationship between these three groups and longitudinal PiB‐PET using linear mixed models, adjusting for baseline age, and with random slopes and intercepts. Post‐hoc analyses adjusted for APOEε4 status and examined interactions between HT and baseline PiB‐PET on change in PiB‐PET from baseline.ResultWhile we found no significant sex (male/female) difference in PiB‐PET accumulation (t=1.5,p>0.05,Fig 1A), we observed significant HT group differences with HT‐ exhibiting approximately half the PiB‐PET rate of change than M (t=2.3,p=0.02) and HT+ (t=1.8,p=0.07; Fig 1B). There was no significant slope difference between M and HT+ (t=0.32,p=0.75). These differences survived after covarying for APOEε4. A three‐way interaction with baseline PiB‐PET revealed a greater slope difference between HT‐ and M (t=2.1,p=0.04) in those with higher baseline PiB‐PET relative to lower baseline PiB‐PET (Fig 2).ConclusionHT‐ showed significantly slower rates of Aß accumulation than males and a trend‐level slower rate compared to HT+; these differences appear heightened with greater baseline Aß burden. With similar ages across HT groups (p=0.20), these differences did not appear to be a function of chronological age. It remains unclear whether the introduction of estrogen, a mediating commonality, or collider bias is driving these results. Our findings, in conjunction with other studies, suggest the relationship between HT and Aß is complicated and necessitates examination of HT type and duration.

Anthropometric Characterization and Physical Performance by Age and Biological Maturation in Young Tennis Players

The objective was to analyze anthropometric and physical performance variables as a function of chronological age and biological maturity in young Chilean tennis players. The study was observational, cross-sectional, with descriptive and analytical characteristics. Eighty-seven tennis players were evaluated (58 men 15.1 ± 0.8 years and 29 women, 15.3 ± 0.8 years). The measured anthropometric variables were a sprint test of 20m; a modified agility test; a sit-and-reach test and shoulder flexibility; manual grip strength; horizontal jump in feet; a medicine ball throw; a countermovement vertical jump; an abalakov vertical jump and a 20-m shuttle-run test. The growth velocity acceleration peak (APHV), skeletal muscle mass and fat mass were calculated, R2 and standard error of estimate (SEE) were examined. The results show that chronological age explained the anthropometric variables between 1 and 23% in men and 1 and 29% in women; by biological age, variables were explained between 3 and 53% in men and 2 and 42% in women. Of the physical performance variables, chronological age described between 2 and 24% of them in men and 1 and 29% in women; the same were explained by biological age between 1 and 19% in men and 1 and 26% in women. We conclude that anthropometric variables showed a better relationship with biological age, except for volume of fat tissue, while physical performance variables showed low association with both biological and chronological age.

Deep longitudinal phenotyping of wearable sensor data reveals independent markers of longevity, stress, and resilience.

Biological age acceleration (BAA) models based on blood tests or DNA methylation emerge as a de facto standard for quantitative characterizations of the aging process. We demonstrate that deep neural networks trained to predict morbidity risk from wearable sensor data can provide a high-quality and cheap alternative for BAA determination. The GeroSense BAA model was trained and validated using steps per minute recordings from 103,830 one-week long and 2,599 of up to 2 years-long longitudinal samples and exhibited a superior association with life-expectancy over the average number of steps per day in, e.g., groups stratified by professional occupations. The association between the BAA and effects of lifestyles, the prevalence of future incidence of diseases was comparable to that of BAA from models based on blood test results. Wearable sensors let sampling of BAA fluctuations at time scales corresponding to days and weeks and revealed the divergence of organism state recovery time (resilience) as a function of chronological age. The number of individuals suffering from the lack of resilience increased exponentially with age at a rate compatible with Gompertz mortality law. We speculate that due to the stochastic character of BAA fluctuations, its mean and auto-correlation properties together comprise the minimum set of biomarkers of aging in humans.

Development and Psychometric Examination of a Short-Form Dementia Attitudes Scale

With the increase in research related to people directly and indirectly affected by Alzheimer’s Dementia and related disorders (ADRD), there is a need for short, psychometrically-sound instruments to assess the variety of influences on the quality of life for the person with dementia (pwd) and their care partners. We sought to develop and assess a short version of the Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS; O’Connor & McFadden, 2010) for use in such endeavors. Using a sample of 321 adults (Mage = 39.7, range 20 to 70 yrs; 47% female), we surveyed a host of individual characteristics (e.g., age, personality, experience with pwd) and several current measures of attitudes about pwd. Ten days later, 162 of these adults completed a retest of the DAS. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis supported the 2-factor solution reported by O’Connor and McFadden. Internal consistency was acceptable for the Comfort factor (Time 1alpha = .83; T2 alpha = .82) and for the Knowledge factor (Time 1 alpha = .86; Time 2 alpha = .87). These estimates are similar to those in the original report. Due to limitations of coefficient alpha we also used structural equations to examine the regression weights for each item as a function of chronological age and experience. These analyses showed that the factor structure was robust when considering these individual characteristics. Finally, we compared different scale lengths using a series of ROC curves. We discuss our results in the context of providing brief and psychometrically-sound measures for use in large survey studies.

The development of English as a heritage language: The role of chronological age and age of onset of bilingualism

This study explores typically developing bilingual children’s performance in their English as a heritage language. The aim of this study is to advance our understanding of heritage language expectations and the role of chronological age and bilingual exposure. A broad range of receptive and expressive linguistic domains are investigated as a function of chronological age and age of onset of bilingualism. English–Hebrew typically developing bilingual children ( N = 240), ages 60–77 months, were compared to monolingual norms, using seven subtest standardized scores from the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Preschool-2 (CELF-Preschool-2). Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANCOVAs, multiple regression analysis, and post-hoc comparisons were conducted. English heritage language speakers presented with an asymmetric linguistic system influenced by their chronological age and age of onset of bilingualism. Results demonstrated that performance was more advanced for measures that were less reliant on language-specific skills. Measures dependent on grammatical knowledge were vulnerable to limitations but they were within the monolingual norms. In contrast, the lexicon was heavily influenced by bilingualism. These findings contribute to the literature on bilingual linguistic expectations and will have implications for theories of heritage language acquisition and language acquisition in general.

Impact of Aging and the Electrode-to-Neural Interface on Temporal Processing Ability in Cochlear-Implant Users: Amplitude-Modulation Detection Thresholds.

Although cochlear implants (CIs) are a viable treatment option for severe hearing loss in adults of any age, older adults may be at a disadvantage compared with younger adults. CIs deliver signals that contain limited spectral information, requiring CI users to attend to the temporal information within the signal to recognize speech. Older adults are susceptible to acquiring auditory temporal processing deficits, presenting a potential age-related limitation for recognizing speech signals delivered by CIs. The goal of this study was to measure auditory temporal processing ability via amplitude-modulation (AM) detection as a function of age in CI users. The contribution of the electrode-to-neural interface, in addition to age, was estimated using electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) amplitude growth functions. Within each participant, two electrodes were selected: one with the steepest ECAP slope and one with the shallowest ECAP slope, in order to represent electrodes with varied estimates of the electrode-to-neural interface. Single-electrode AM detection thresholds were measured using direct stimulation at these two electrode locations. Results revealed that AM detection ability significantly declined as a function of chronological age. ECAP slope did not significantly impact AM detection, but ECAP slope decreased (became shallower) with increasing age, suggesting that factors influencing the electrode-to-neural interface change with age. Results demonstrated a significant negative impact of chronological age on auditory temporal processing. The locus of the age-related limitation (peripheral vs. central origin), however, is difficult to evaluate because the peripheral influence (ECAPs) was correlated with the central factor (age).

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE AGE, CHRONOLOGICAL AGE, AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN OLDER ADULTS.

Prior longitudinal research suggests that younger subjective age (i.e., feeling younger than your chronological age) predicts better subsequent cognitive functioning and lower dementia incidence independent of chronological age. However, no research has investigated interactions between subjective age and chronological age. This study examined whether older adults with more youthful subjective age performed better on cognitive evaluations than those with older subjective age and whether associations differed as a function of chronological age. Data from 1,047 older adults aged 65 and older from the Health and Retirement Study’s 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Aging Project were analyzed. Separate linear regressions estimated associations between subjective age and factor scores corresponding to five cognitive domains: executive function, episodic memory, language, visuospatial functioning, and processing speed. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics and chronic disease burden. Interaction terms tested whether chronological age modified associations between subjective age and cognition. In the whole sample, younger subjective age was associated with better language. Significant interactions for all five domains revealed that associations were stronger and statistically significant for participants at the oldest chronological ages. The predictive value of subjective age may be highest among the oldest adults. These cross-sectional findings suggest that the oldest adults are most vulnerable to the detrimental effects of feeling older than one’s chronological age, cognitive difficulties are more relevant for subjective age perceptions for the oldest adults, and/or subjective age better reflects consequential physiological deterioration in that group. Future longitudinal research is needed to elucidate these possibilities.

Echolucency-based phenotype in carotid atherosclerosis disease for risk stratification of diabetes patients

AimThe study investigated the association of carotid ultrasound echolucent plaque-based biomarker with HbA1c, measured as age-adjusted grayscale median (AAGSM) as a function of chronological age, total plaque area, and conventional grayscale median (GSMconv). MethodsTwo stages were developed: (a) automated measurement of carotid parameters such as total plaque area (TPA); (b) computing the AAGSM as a function of GSMconv, age, and TPA. Intra-operator (novice and experienced) analysis was conducted. ResultsIRB approved, 204 patients’ left/right CCA (408 images) ultrasound scans were collected: mean age: 69 ± 11 years; mean HbA1c: 6.12 ± 1.47%. A moderate inverse correlation was observed between AAGSM and HbA1c (CC of −0.13, P = 0.01), compared to GSM (CC of −0.06, P = 0.24). The RCCA and LCCA showed CC of −0.18, P < 0.01 and −0.08; P < 0.24. Female and males showed CC of −0.29, P < 0.01 and −0.10, P = 0.09. Using the threshold for AAGSM and HbA1c as: low-risk (AAGSM > 100; HbA1c < 5.7%), moderate-risk (40 < AAGSM < 100; 5.7% < HbA1c < 6.5%) and high-risk (AAGSM < 40; HbA1c > 6.5%), the area under the curve showed a better performance of AAGSM over GSMconv. A paired t-test between operators and expert (P < 0.0001); inter-operator CC of 0.85 (P < 0.0001). ConclusionsEcholucent plaque in patients with diabetes can be more accurately characterized for risk stratification using AAGSM compared to GSMconv.

A Screening Checklist for Play Development in Kannada

Background: Unlike extensive research on the other domains of early childhood assessment, relatively little activity has occurred in the area of play assessment. Play can serve as a valuable tool for assessment and intervention in children with developmental delay. The development of culturally and linguistically appropriate tool is necessary for accurate assessment of a child’s development. Objective: The present study aimed at developing a screening checklist for play development in Kannada for children between 0-4 yearsand to estimate developmental play age as a function of chronological age. Methods and Materials: Present developed checklist consists of 20 yes-no questions which taps play developmental milestones. The checklist was administered on 200 mothers to check the reliability of the questions. The data was analyzed descriptively by calculating the percentage of yes-no responses for all 20 questions. Results: Results suggest that each question had good agreement (>90%), indicating that the questions chosen for checklist provides a reliable baseline for the developmental play skills of children up to 4 years. The developed checklist can be used by pre-school teachers to track play development which helps in early identification of possible indication of developmental delay. Key words: Play development, screening checklist, Kannada checklist

The caloric restriction paradigm

The ability of caloric restriction (CR) to extend lifespan was first reported in 19351. A deceptively simple intervention of reduced calorie intake in the absence of malnutrition, CR impinges directly on the highly complex process that is aging. Investigations into how CR accomplishes these remarkable effects have the potential to determine which processes contribute to disease vulnerability as a function of chronological age, and to identify factors and processes induced by CR that may be harnessed to develop interventions to enhance disease resilience. Studies to date reveal that CR engages a multiplicity of cellular processes, many of which are responsive to a highly interconnected suite of regulatory molecules. One of the emerging themes is the importance of metabolism in aging and delayed aging by CR, raising the possibility that metabolism itself may be a promising target to counter the diseases of aging.

Dispositional optimism and terminal decline in global quality of life.

We examined whether dispositional optimism relates to change in global quality of life (QOL) as a function of either chronological age or years to impending death. We used a sample of 2,096 deceased postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative clinical trials who were enrolled in the 2005-2010 Extension Study and for whom at least 1 global QOL and optimism measure were analyzed. Growth curve models were examined. Competing models were contrasted using model fit criteria. On average, levels of global QOL decreased with both higher age and closer proximity to death (e.g., M(score) = 7.7 eight years prior to death vs. M(score) = 6.1 one year prior to death). A decline in global QOL was better modeled as a function of distance to death (DtD) than as a function of chronological age (Bayesian information criterion [BIC](DtD) = 22,964.8 vs. BIC(age) = 23,322.6). Optimism was a significant correlate of both linear (estimate(DtD) = -0.01, SE(DtD) = 0.005; ρ = 0.004) and quadratic (estimate(DtD) = -0.006, SE(DtD) = 0.002; ρ = 0.004) terminal decline in global QOL so that death-related decline in global QOL was steeper among those with a high level of optimism than those with a low level of optimism. We found that dispositional optimism helps to maintain positive psychological perspective in the face of age-related decline. Optimists maintain higher QOL compared with pessimists when death-related trajectories were considered; however, the gap between those with high optimism and those with low optimism progressively attenuated with closer proximity to death, to the point that is became nonsignificant at the time of death.

Emotional complexity and its effect on psychological distress as a function of chronological age and subjective distance-to-death

Objectives: In light of mixed evidence regarding the associations between age, emotional complexity, and psychological distress, this study examined emotional complexity and its effect on psychological distress as a function of age and subjective distance-to-death.Method: A sample of 188 participants (age range = 29–100) rated their subjective distance-to-death and psychological distress, and reported their emotions across 14 days.Results: Emotional complexity was unrelated to age, but negatively related to feeling closer to death. Moreover, emotional complexity was negatively related to psychological distress among those feeling closer to death.Conclusion: Results suggest that when death is perceived to be nearer, emotional complexity is hampered, yet becomes relevant in buffering psychological distress.

Global quality of life modifies terminal change in physical functioning among older adult women.

the factors that moderate decline in physical functioning as death approaches are understudied. This study aimed to assess death-related decline in global quality of life (QoL) and physical functioning and to test whether baseline QoL moderates terminal decline in physical functioning. four thousand six hundred and fifty-one decedents from the Women's Health Initiative Study (WHI) rated QoL and physical functioning each year throughout 5 years of follow-up. both QoL and physical functioning showed a steeper decline as a function of years to death than as a function of chronological age. Moreover, decedents with higher QoL at baseline showed a less steep decline in physical functioning as death approached than those with lower QoL at baseline. although QoL strongly decreases across the terminal years, its beneficial influence on physical functioning is evident till the very end of life.

A descriptive study of age identity among older adults in China

Cumulative research has indicated that age identity is closely linked to health and well-being, although it remains a mostly unexplored concept among older adults in China. We conducted a secondary data analysis using data drawn from the three waves of the Sample Survey on the Aged Population in Urban/Rural China. Descriptive statistics were used to examine perceived (onset of) old age and feel-age. The results indicate that in 2000, men were perceived to be of old age at 63.70 years, whereas women were perceived to be of old age at 59.95 years. The results also show that 85, 79 and 76% of the respondents reported feeling old in 2000, 2006 and 2010, respectively. However, increasingly more of them began reporting that they did not feel old. The findings show that age identity is not a simple function of chronological age, but that it has its own unique characteristics in reflecting the process of ageing. Finally, this paper discusses the practical and policy implications of these findings.

Socio-Demographic Variables Affecting Well-Being: A Study on Indian Rural Women

The women in Indian villages perform multiple roles that include looking after the various needs of the family members, participating in home bound income generating activities (e.g. animal husbandry, agricultural activities) and holding jobs outside the home. Against this backdrop this study addressed two related goals: (a) to understand the perception of the dual role by the rural women, their work status and preferences and the attitude of their families and society towards women and (b) to explore variation in their well-being as a function of chronological age, level of education and work status. A large sample of 221 rural women (age range 18 to 56 years) drawn from villages of Haryana participated in the study. The relevant data were obtained through interview and observation. The findings showed that family and society appreciated the efforts of the rural women. Age and level of education emerged as significant factors in determining the experience of well-being.

Rationale for full-season dosing for passive antibody prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus

Palivizumab monthly injections throughout the RSV season prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in preterm infants ≤ 35 wGA. However, some RSV guidelines currently recommend stopping palivizumab after 3 months of age in the midst of the RSV season. This article evaluates the need for full-season dosing by reviewing the pharmacokinetic properties of palivizumab and RSV hospitalization (RSVH) risk as a function of chronologic age. Precise human palivizumab protective levels are not established. Clinical trials show significant interpatient variability in palivizumab serum trough concentrations. Partial season dosing is associated with increased risk of RSVH. For late-preterm infants, data suggest that the risk of RSVH remains elevated through at least 6 months of age. Monthly, full-season palivizumab dosing provides the only empirically proven protection from RSVH. In conclusion, late-preterm infants are at significant risk for RSVH through at least 6 months of age and would benefit from dosing throughout the RSV season.

Self-concept development and measurement in children with mild intellectual disabilities

Objective: Using a multi-trait–multi-method technique, self-concept was analysed as a function of chronological age in children with mild intellectual disabilities. Also, relations between reading achievement and self-concept were measured.Methods: Participants were assessed on the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test–Revised, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance and the Self-Description Questionnaire I–Individual Administration.Results: A median split was run to divide participants into younger and older groups; older participants evidenced coefficients that revealed more multidimensionality, stability and discriminant validity. Also, a significant canonical correlation was found between the Harter Pictorial Scale at Time 1 and WRMT-R at Time 2, χ2(8) = 17.99, r = 0.62, p = 0.02.Conclusion: As a whole, these results suggest that children with intellectual disabilities evince self-concept development similar to what would be expected in typically-developing children.

Early metalinguistic awareness of derivational morphology: Observations from a comparison of English and French

ABSTRACTThis cross-linguistic comparison of metalinguistic development in French and English examines early ability to manipulate derivational suffixes in oral language games as a function of chronological age, receptive vocabulary, and year of schooling. Data from judgment and production tasks are presented for children aged between 5 and 8 years in their first, second, or third school year in the United Kingdom and France. The results suggest that metamorphological development is accelerated in French relative to English. The French advantage encompasses knowledge of a broader range of suffixes and a markedly greater facility for generalizing morphological knowledge to novel contexts. These findings are interpreted in relation to the word formation systems of English and French, and the educational context in each country.