Health Of Community-dwelling Older Adults Research Articles

Effectiveness of artificial intelligence robot interventions on psychological health in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review

Effectiveness of artificial intelligence robot interventions on psychological health in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review

Association between muscle quality and nutritional status among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Decline in muscle quality is associated with poorer health in community-dwelling older adults. Although there is evidence that malnutrition is associated with the decline of muscle quality in older adults, few analyses have considered important factors related to muscle quality. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between muscle quality and nutritional status in community-dwelling older adults, taking into account muscle mass, muscle strength, and amount of physical activity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from a health checkup program in Japan. Participants were older adults aged ≥65 years living in the community who participated in the health checkup program. The data collected were echo intensity, scores on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria, skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, physical activity level, and demographic data. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between muscle quality and nutritional status. Results: Data were analyzed for 50 participants (mean age 77.62 years, standard deviation 6.16 years, 78.0% women). Multiple regression analysis showed that nutritional status affected muscle quality even when various factors were taken into account (B = 6.95, β = 0.31, p = 0.04, 95% confidence interval: 0.01-0.62). Conclusion: The observed association suggests that providing nutritional support for older adults living in the community may be a useful strategy to maintain muscle quality.

Social support and frailty progression in community-dwelling older adults.

Despite the growing evidence regarding the influence of social factors on frailty in older adults, the effect of social support remains unclear. This study aims to assess the association between social support and frailty progression (transition and incidence) in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. Using a cohort study design, 1,059 older adults from the Berlin Initiative Study were followed up for 2.1 years. Multinomial and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of social support using Oslo Social Support Scale-3 with frailty transition and incidence, respectively. Gender differences were explored using stratified analyses. At baseline, frailty prevalence in the study population [mean (SD) age 84.3 (5.6) years; 55.8% women] reached 33.1% with 47.0, 29.4 and 23.6% of the participants reporting moderate, strong and poor social support, respectively. Over the follow-up period, social support was not significantly associated with the frailty transition categories in the adjusted model. Conversely, the adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that participants with poor social support had twice the odds of becoming frail compared to those with strong social support (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.08-3.95). Gender-stratified analyses showed comparable estimates to the main analysis but were statistically non-significant. Our study results underpin the role of social factors in frailty incidence and highlight social support as a potential target for frailty-preventing interventions in older adults. Therefore, it is important to adopt a biopsychosocial model rather than a purely biomedical model to understand and holistically improve the health of community-dwelling older adults.

Association between dysphagia risk and sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesExploring the effects of swallowing function on sleep quality could provide valuable insights into the potential impact of reduced swallowing function on sleep. However, pertinent studies are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between dysphagia risk and sleep health in community-dwelling older adults. MethodsData for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the Shizuoka and Daiko studies conducted as part of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. Information on demographics, overall lifestyle, dysphagia risk, as well as sleep quality, duration, satisfaction, and regularity, was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Dysphagia risk and sleep quality were assessed using the Dysphagia Risk Assessment Questionnaire for the Community-dwelling Elderly and the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for covariates, was employed to assess the association between dysphagia risk and sleep health. ResultsAmong the 3058 participants (1633 males, 1425 females) aged ≥60 years, 28.0 % exhibited dysphagia risk, and 19.1 % reported poor sleep quality. Those with dysphagia risk were more likely to experience poor sleep quality than those without dysphagia risk. In male participants, dysphagia was significantly associated with poor sleep quality, unsatisfactory sleep, and sleep irregularity, but was not significantly associated with unsatisfactory or irregular sleep in female participants. The Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index components—subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction—were associated with dysphagia risk in both sexes. ConclusionsDysphagia risk is associated with sleep quality in older individuals in Japan. Thus, preserving swallowing function may contribute to enhancing sleep quality.

Longitudinal changes in anxiety and depression and their ameliorating lifestyle factors among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lifestyle and mental health of community-dwelling older adults. Physical activity and social interaction are healthy lifestyle factors that can reduce psychological distress among community-dwelling older adults, although their effect may vary by sex. However, it is unclear how the anxiety and depression of older adults living in the community changed when measures were implemented to limit social interactions to control infection, as in the early stages of COVID-19, and what lifestyle factors helped ameliorate psychological distress in each sex. MethodsThis study included 550 participants aged 65 and older, who visited a drug store in Daito, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Baseline questionnaire surveys were conducted from January to April 2021. Follow-up surveys were conducted three months after the baseline survey. We collected data on participants’ anxiety and depression symptoms using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-6 (K6), as well as on their lifestyle factors that may have affected anxiety and depression symptoms. ResultsA total of 520 participants completed the baseline and follow-up surveys. K6 scores did not show a significant difference, while the frequency of social interactions with neighbors, family, and friends increased significantly between the two surveys. Among women participants, more frequent moderate-intensity exercise and family interactions were associated with improved K6 scores. ConclusionsWhen social interactions are restricted for infection control in community-dwelling older adults who are independent in activities of daily living including the ability to go out, social interactions recover over time, but anxiety and depressive symptoms persist. In women, lifestyle factors such as frequent moderate-intensity exercise may help reduce persisted anxiety and depression.

Predictive values of relative fat mass and body mass index on cardiovascular health in community-dwelling older adults: Results from the Longevity Check-up (Lookup) 7+

ObjectivesTo assess the predictive value of relative fat mass compared to body mass index for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and heightened cardiovascular risk in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults from the Longevity Check-up 7+ cohort. Study designRetrospective cross-sectional study. Main outcome measuresHyperlipidemia was defined as total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL or ongoing lipid-lowering treatment. Diabetes was defined either as self-reported diagnosis or fasting blood glucose >126 mg/dL or a random blood glucose >200 mg/dL. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg or requiring daily antihypertensive medications. Heightened cardiovascular risk was operationalized as having at least two of these conditions. ResultsAnalyses were conducted in 1990 participants (mean age 73.2 ± 6.0 years; 54.1 % women). Higher proportions of men than women had hypertension and diabetes, while hyperlipidemia was more prevalent in women. Receiver operating curve analysis indicated relative fat mass was a better predictor of hypertension in women and diabetes in both sexes. Body mass index performed better in predicting hyperlipidemia in women. Relative fat mass thresholds of ≥27 % for men and ≥40 % for women were identified as optimal indicators of heightened cardiovascular risk and so were used to defined high adiposity. Moderate correlations were found between high adiposity or body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and the presence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and heightened cardiovascular risk, while a strong correlation was found with diabetes. Logistic regression analysis highlighted significant associations between high adiposity and increased odds of hypertension, diabetes, and heightened cardiovascular risk. ConclusionsProposed cut-offs for relative fat mass were more reliable indices than the usual cut-offs for body mass index for identifying individuals at heightened cardiovascular risk. Our findings support the role of anthropometric measures in evaluating body composition and the associated metabolic and cardiovascular conditions in older adults.

Association between sleep problems and self-perception of health among community-dwelling older adults: Data from the 2019 national health survey

BackgroundSleep problems in the older adults are often linked to their self-perceived health status, significantly affecting their overall well-being. Investigating this relationship is essential to understand how sleep impacts health perception in older adults and to develop targeted strategies to improve their quality of life and health outcomes. The objective was to verifying the association between sleep problems and negative self-perception of health in community-dwelling older adults. MethodsCross-sectional study, with data from 43,554 older adults participants of the National Health Survey (PNS-2019). The exposure variable was self-report of sleep problems in the last 15 days (difficulty in falling asleep, waking up frequently at night, or sleeping more than usual) and the study endpoints were self-perception of health (positive/negative). Associations were checked using multivariable logistic regression. ResultsOlder adults with sleep problems were 1.92 (95 %CI 1.77; 2.08) more likely to have a negative self-perception of health when compared to older adults without sleep problems. ConclusionsThese findings reinforce the need for programs aimed at reducing sleep problems in older adults, since these are associated with negative self-perceptions of health. A better understanding of these associations may help health care professionals to better control sleep disturbances as well as their outcomes.

LFC study: Protocol for a longitudinal follow-up cohort study on ageing and mental health in community-dwelling older adults in Singapore

The rapid pace of population ageing worldwide has prompted the need to better understand the ageing process. The current study, titled the Longitudinal Follow-up of the CHI (LFC) study, was a 3-year follow-up study of an earlier study titled the Community Health and Intergenerational (CHI) study. The LFC study looked to examine longitudinal changes in their cognitive functioning and psychosocial outcomes across the 3-year period. Additionally, the current study built upon the earlier CHI study by collecting neuroimaging data and exploring the long-term effects of non-pharmacological interventions, which were not examined in the prior study. A total of 653 community-dwelling participants from the baseline CHI study cohort were invited to take part in the LFC study, where they underwent a battery of neuropsychological assessments, psychosocial questionnaires, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan and a voice recording segment. The current study would holistically track longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning and psychosocial outcomes in the ageing population in Singapore. Unique associations between linguistics and neuroimaging data alongside cognitive and psychosocial outcomes would be explored. This study also serves to guide the development of new interventions for older adults and assist in improving the well-being of the local and global ageing population.

Unraveling the role of serum metabolites in the relationship between plant-based diets and bone health in community-dwelling older adults

The potential adverse effects of the plant-based dietary pattern on bone health have received widespread attention. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of plant-based diets on bone health remain incompletely understood. The objective of this study was to identify potential biomarkers between plant-based diets and bone loss utilizing metabolomic techniques in the Taizhou Imaging Study (TIS) (N = 788). Plant-based diet indexes (overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI)) were calculated using the food frequency questionnaire, and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the associations of plant-based diet indexes with bone loss. Furthermore, mediation analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were performed to explore the mediated effects of metabolites on the association of plant-based diets with BMD T-score. Our results showed that higher hPDI and uPDI were positively associated with bone loss. Moreover, nineteen metabolites were significantly associated with BMD T-score, among them, seven metabolites were associated with uPDI. Except for cholesterol esters in VLDL-1, the remaining six metabolites significantly mediated the negative association between uPDI and BMD T-score. Interestingly, we observed that the same six metabolites mediated the positive association between fresh fruit and BMD T-score. Collectively, our results support the deleterious effects of plant-based diets on bone health and discover the potential mediation effect of metabolites on the association of plant-based diets with bone loss. The findings offer valuable insights that could optimize dietary recommendations and interventions, contributing to alleviate the potential adverse effects associated with plant-based diets.

Dose-response effects of exercise on mental health in community-dwelling older adults: Exploration of genetic moderators

Background/Objective(1) Examine the role of exercise intensity on mental health symptoms in a community-based sample of older adults. (2) Explore the moderating role of genetic variation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on the effects of exercise on mental health symptoms. MethodThis study is a secondary analysis of a three-arm randomized controlled trial, comparing the effects of 6 months of high-intensity aerobic training vs. moderate-intensity aerobic training vs. a no-contact control group on mental health symptoms assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and APOE ε4 carrier status were explored as genetic moderators of exercise effects on mental health symptoms. ResultsThe exercise intervention did not influence mental health symptoms. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism did not moderate intervention effects on mental health symptoms. APOE ε4 carrier status moderated the effect of intervention group on perceived stress over 6 months, such that APOE ε4 carriers, but not non-carriers, in the high-intensity aerobic training group showed a decline in perceived stress over 6 months. ConclusionsAPOE ε4 carrier status may modify the benefits of high-intensity exercise on perceived stress such that APOE ε4 carriers show a greater decline in stress as a result of exercise relative to non-APOE ε4 carriers.

Oral health and self-rated health in community-dwelling older adults in Colombia

BackgroundThe relationship between oral health and specific health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or cognitive impairment, has been extensively studied. However, the effect of oral health status on self-rated health has not been assessed. This could be relevant in older people considering that poor self-rated health status and oral diseases are highly prevalent in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the association between different parameters of oral health and self-rated health status (SRHS) in Colombian community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of the SABE-Colombia study performed in 2015. The dependent variable was defined as the SRHS status assessed by the question "Compared with other people, your age: Do you consider your health status to be better, equal, or worse?” We considered four independent variables: total edentulism considering the high prevalence in older people, the GOHAI score to assess self-rated oral health, and the use of fixed and removable dental prostheses as potential modifiers of oral health. An adjusted ordinal logistic regression was performed by each independent variable.ResultsAfter the exclusion of missing data, 17,945 persons were included in the final analysis. A total of 10.6% reported worse SRHS, 37.6% reported equal SRHS, and 51.6% reported better SRHS. The worse SRHS group was older and had a higher proportion of dependence, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. The frequency of total edentulism and the lower mean score of GOHAI were significant in the worse SHRS group. An ordinal logistic regression for each independent variable was performed, finding that edentulism increases the probability of worse SHRS, while the GOHAI and use of removable or fixed dental prostheses increase the probability of better SRHS.ConclusionWe found an association between total edentulism, GOHAI Index, the use of dental prostheses (both removable and fixed), and self-rated health status, showing the relevance of oral health status to self-rated health status independent of comorbidities and geriatric syndromes. This result supports the inclusion of oral health evaluation in comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Self-perception of the neighborhood environment, cognitive impairment and functional limitations in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

AimsIt is important to identify the association between characteristics of the neighborhood environment, cognitive impairment and functional limitations to organize early and effective intervention strategies. MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 308 community-dwelling older adults was conducted. Logistic Regression analyses were performed to verify the associations between self-perceived characteristics of the neighborhood environment (Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale), cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination) and functional limitations (mobility, lower limb muscle strength and balance). ResultsSignificant negative associations were observed: (1) better infrastructure, traffic and safety and mobility limitation; (2) better infrastructure and muscle weakness; (3) better safety and balance limitation; and (4) better streets/sidewalks and cognitive impairment. On the other hand, positive associations were observed between poor safety with mobility limitation and muscle weakness. ConclusionsOur findings contribute to greater knowledge about neighborhood characteristics regarding mental and physical health in community-dwelling older adults.

0744 Self-reported Sleep Quality and Insomnia Symptoms Mediate the Association between Depression and Physical Activity in Older Adults

Abstract Introduction Lack of physical activity (PA) is prevalent and leads to multiple chronic conditions in older adults. Understanding factors contributing to low PA may help develop effective and sustainable PA interventions and promote health in older adults. Depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality have been linked with low PA in older adults. Depression can lead to sleep disturbances. In this study, we tested the association between depression and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults and the possible mediating role of sleep quality in the association. Methods We used baseline data collected from an ongoing randomized clinical trial that aims to improve cognitive health in community-dwelling older adults. Participants’ depressive symptoms and level of PA were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS) and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Sleep quality and insomnia symptoms were measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), respectively. Multiple regression models were used to test the associations between the variables. Baron and Kenny’s approach and the Sobel test were used to examine the mediation effects of participants’ self-reported sleep quality and insomnia symptoms on the association of depression and PA. Results The study sample (n=143) had a mean age of 70 years (SD=6), most were female (n=117, 82%), White (n=77, 54%), and had multiple comorbidities (n=98, 69%). After adjusting for covariates (age, sex, education, income, race, and Body Mass Index [BMI]), higher GDS score was associated with lower PASE (β=-3.58, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -7.08, -0.79). Mediation analyses showed that both sleep quality (indirect effect: B=-1.98, CI: -3.80, -0.15) and insomnia symptoms (indirect effect: B=-1.97, CI: -3.94, 0.00) significantly mediated the relationship between depression and PA. Conclusion Depressive symptoms were associated with reduced PA among older adults. Self-reported sleep significantly mediated this association. Older adults with more depressive symptoms had worse sleep quality and more insomnia symptoms, which were associated with decreased PA. Our findings suggest we pay more attention to sleep health in older adults, and people with depression may benefit from sleep-focused interventions to promote PA and health. Support (if any) R00NR016484

The effects of a magic-based intervention on self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among community-dwelling older adults: a randomised controlled trial.

Magic-based programs have been utilised to enhance well-being across various health aspects. However, there is a lack of studies on whether performing magic tricks can provide mental health benefits for older adults living in the community. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of a magic-based intervention program on self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL), and to examine the relationship between these factors in older adults. Thirty-eight participants, aged 60-90 years, were randomly assigned to either a magic intervention group or a control group. The magic intervention program, tailored for older adults, was conducted for 90 min, twice weekly, over 6 weeks. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF scores were measured and analyzed in both groups before and after the intervention. The magic-based intervention significantly increased self-esteem and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults, with large effect sizes. However, no significant impact on QOL was observed. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between the improvement in self-esteem and the reduction in depressive levels. Despite this, a moderate but significant negative correlation was detected between the post-intervention scores of RSE and GDS-15 in the magic intervention group. The study demonstrated that the magic intervention program was beneficial in promoting mental health in community-dwelling older adults. Implementing magic programs in communities appears to be an effective approach to enhance self-esteem and alleviate depressive symptoms in the older population.

The Impact of Japan's Soft Lockdown on Depressive Symptoms among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

This study investigated the impact of stay-at-home orders on depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was administered to older adults living in Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in July 2020, after the Japanese government declared its first COVID-19 state of emergency and stay-at-home order. In a sample of 1056 people, 69.1% were stay-at-home, and 30.9% were not. Those in the first group were more likely to be women, young-old, or non-workers. In addition, the patients tended to have more diseases. Of the participants, 39.3% had depressive symptoms and 60.7% did not. Multivariate analysis revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with increased frequency of being alone during the daytime (OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.51), less face-to-face contact with friends or acquaintances (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.65, 0.94), increased contact with friends or acquaintances through email/LINE app (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.60), and refraining from going out (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.12, 2.09). These results suggest that quarantine measures related to soft lockdowns may aggravate the mental health of community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, it is necessary to consider macro-level policies.

Polypharmacy and the Change of Self-Rated Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Polypharmacy is associated with poorer self-rated health (SRH). However, whether polypharmacy has an impact on the SRH progression is unknown. This study investigates the association of polypharmacy with SRH change in 1428 participants of the Berlin Initiative Study aged 70 years and older over four years. Polypharmacy was defined as the intake of ≥5 medications. Descriptive statistics of SRH-change categories stratified by polypharmacy status were reported. The association of polypharmacy with being in SRH change categories was assessed using multinomial regression analysis. At baseline, mean age was 79.1 (6.1) years, 54.0% were females, and prevalence of polypharmacy was 47.1%. Participants with polypharmacy were older and had more comorbidities compared to those without polypharmacy. Over four years, five SRH-change categories were identified. After covariate adjustment, individuals with polypharmacy had higher odds of being in the stable moderate category (OR 3.55; 95% CI [2.43-5.20]), stable low category (OR 3.32; 95% CI [1.65-6.70]), decline category (OR 1.87; 95% CI [1.34-2.62]), and improvement category (OR 2.01; [1.33-3.05]) compared to being in the stable high category independent of the number of comorbidities. Reducing polypharmacy could be an impactful strategy to foster favorable SRH progression in old age.

The association between sense of coherence and health outcomes among community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review evidence of the association between the sense of coherence (SOC) and health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Six databases, including PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, CINAHL Plus with full text (EBSCO), OVID, and the Cochrane Library, were thoroughly searched. The checklist developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to assess the quality of the relevant studies. Results: Twenty-nine studies were included in this review. Generally, higher SOC levels are associated with better physical health (less symptom reporting, better functional status, less disability, better daily activity ability, less pain, better sleep quality, and better oral health) and better psychological health (less perceived stress, more positive self-perception of aging, less depression, and less posttraumatic stress reaction) in older adults. Higher SOC levels are also correlated with greater preventive/self-management behaviors ability, subjective well-being, adjustment to aging later in life, cumulative survival, quality of life, life satisfaction, and self-perceived health. Higher SOC levels are a vital mediators or moderators of health in older adults. Conclusions: The SOC is a protective factor for the health of community-dwelling older adults. Interventions targeting improvement in SOC levels should be developed and implemented to facilitate active aging in older adults.

Relationship between self-reported health and neuroticism in older adults: a scoping review

This scoping review aims to identify and map the existing literature regarding the relationship between neuroticism and self-reported health in community-dwelling older adults. We adopted the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis recommendations and followed the PRISMA-SCr when reporting it. The search was performed on ten different databases, including: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane, Embase, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, United States National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Web of Science, Ageline and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde/Centro Latino-Americano e do Caribe de Informação em Ciências da Saúde databases until February 2021. Data screening and extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. We included primary studies with older adults (≥60 years) [participants] that adopted validated instruments to assess neuroticism and selfreported health [concept] in the community [context], published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. We identified 3453 articles and included 15 studies in this review. We extracted the main categories of included studies, characteristics of the participants, methodological issues, and biopsychosocial factors. Outcomes were reported in three sections: Focus of studies; Definitions and measures of neuroticism and self-reported health; Associations with biopsychosocial factors. We found an association between high neuroticism and poor selfreported health. Some biopsychosocial factors may influence this relationship, such as chronic diseases, depression, social support, and a sense of control, which must be considered in future studies to shed light on this topic.

UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS USING SENSING TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract Mobility has been identified as one important ingredient to older adults’ health and well-being and is considered a high priority in the global agenda of healthy and active aging. However, mobility is still a relatively understudied concept in aging research. This symposium, including three empirical studies and one concept paper, presents how different sensing technologies can be utilized to examine mobility, health and well-being in older adults. Using infrared motion sensors and contact sensors, Wu and colleagues examine indoor mobility and show its associations with physical, cognitive, and mental health in community-dwelling older adults living alone. Luo and colleagues use a custom-built mobile GPS sensor and a smartphone-based ambulatory assessment to examine daily mobility and well-being in community-dwelling older adults. They find that a day with larger life space area, more time spent in passive transport modes, and higher number of different locations is associated with higher daily life satisfaction. Similarly, using a GPS sensor combined with a smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment, Kamalyan and colleagues examine life-space mobility, social interactions, and well-being in older adults with and without HIV. They show that prior day’s at-home time is negatively associated with current day’s happiness and that prior day’s social interactions diminishes this association. Jansen presents a project combining sensor-based movement data, GPS-based geolocation data, and experience sampling to investigate relations between life-space mobility and social participation and the role of cultural and climatic differences across several European countries. Hans-Werner Wahl will discuss all papers from an ecological and contextualized aging perspective.

ANXIETY IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS AND ITS RELATED FACTORS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract The rate of infection and magnitude of the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has far exceeded the realm of what most people had previously experienced in their lives. There is an urgent need to ensure that strategies are in place to prevent and reduce anxiety in older adults. The present study aimed to assess anxiety in community-dwelling older adults and the related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. A community-based cross-sectional study was completed in July 2021. The Japanese version of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was used to screen for anxiety symptoms. Demographical data and data for the following five other factors were collected: loneliness, mental well-being, perceived social support, coping behaviors to COVID-19, and fear of COVID-19. The association between anxiety and potential predictors was analyzed using binomial logistic regression. A total of 385 participants aged 65 to 86 years were included in the present study. 17% developed anxiety symptoms. Factors associated with anxiety were age, living alone, loneliness, significant people support, fear of COVID-19, and health monitoring as a COVID-19 coping behavior. Older age, living alone, and significant people support were associated with lower anxiety, and loneliness, fear of COVID-19, and health monitoring as a COVID-19 behavior were associated with higher anxiety in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings can help to develop effective measures for reducing anxiety and will support the development of a psychological intervention for tackling the mental health of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.