Higher Proportion Of Older Adults Research Articles

Developing urban infrastructure constructions for increasing e-commerce sales: the moderating roles of aging population

PurposeThe aging population, a higher proportion of older adults (aged 65+), is considered a global and severe problem, while the information systems (IS) literature on detecting the relationship between the aging population and the development of electronic commerce (e-commerce) is limited and insufficient. Hence, the main objective of this paper is to examine whether an aging population can moderate the effect of infrastructure constructions on e-commerce sales and whether an aging population can affect e-commerce sales.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the relationship between the aging population and e-commerce sales, this study proposes two potential influential mechanisms: moderating the effects of infrastructure development on e-commerce sales and direct influence. Subsequently, a sample of 31 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2019 is utilized to conduct regression analyses in order to examine these hypotheses.FindingsThe findings suggest that the development of urban transportation infrastructure and network constructions can significantly contribute to the enhancement of e-commerce sales, and the influence cannot be affected by aging population. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that an aging population can have a positive effect on e-commerce sales.Practical implicationsThe findings can inform future infrastructure constructions by assessing the potential of infrastructure projects to boost e-commerce sales and examining whether this effect varies in an aging population context.Originality/valueThe findings substantiate the pivotal role of older adults in the e-commerce industry. Moreover, the obtained results establish a positive relationship between an aging population and e-commerce sales, thereby offering diverse perspectives on existing theories.

A genome‐wide association study in Puerto Ricans suggests new risk loci for Alzheimer disease

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer disease (AD) is the fourth leading cause of death in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican (PR) population has a high proportion of older adults (18%, over > 65), with 12.5% of them suffering from ADThese statistics highlight the need to investigate the genetic risk factors underlying AD in the PR population, as it could lead to the development of targeted treatments and therapies. Moreover, the ancestrally admixed makeup of the PR population provides an opportunity to assess the role of the European (∼67%), African (∼20%) and Amerindian (∼13%) ancestry in AD risk. We performed genome wide association analysis (GWAS) using whole genome sequence data to identify genetic risk/protective factors associated with AD in the PR population.MethodThe PR dataset includes WGS and phenotype data from 640 individuals, comprising 335 AD and 305 cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls. To account for the population substructure, we calculated the global ancestry (principal components) using EIGENSTRAT. We performed GWAS analyses with a generalized linear mixed‐model using the SAIGE software. The model included genotype, sex, age, and principal components (population substructure) as fixed effects and genetic relationship matrix as a random effect. The genetic relationship matrix was calculated based on genomic data and accounted for the relatedness among the individuals in the dataset.ResultWe identified four suggestive significant loci (P<1×10−6) associated with the risk of AD in PRs: NACC2 (pv = 4.8×10−7) on chromosome 9, SCN8A (pv = 9.3×10−7) on chromosome 12, FOXK2 (pv = 9.9×10−7) on chromosome 17, and APOEe4 (pv = 6.8×10−8) on chromosome 19. Eight additional AD loci with the same lead marker from European GWAS study (Bellenquez et al.) showed nominal significance: FERMT2 (pv = 6.2×10−3), TREM2 (pv = 8.0×10−3), CLU (pv = 1.8×10−2), RASGEF1C (pv = 2.4×10−2), ADAM17 (pv = 3.5×10−2), DOC2A (pv = 4.3×10−2), GRN (pv = 4.4×10−2) and SORL1 (pv = 5.1×10−2).ConclusionThis study identified three suggestive novel significant loci (NACC2, SCN8A, and FOXK2) associated with AD risk in PRs. In addition, GWAS study on PRs with a high proportion of European ancestry was able to replicate nine AD loci previously identified in European studies. These findings provide new insights into the genetic architecture of AD in the PR population.

German longitudinal prescription database (LRx): Description ofcharacteristics, use in pharmacoepidemiological research, and limitations .

Large databases have played a critical role in pharmacoepidemiological research in the last decade, with this role likely to gain further importance in the future. The aim of the present paper is to describe the characteristics, the recent use, and the limitations of the German longitudinal prescription (LRx) database. The LRx database contains patient-level data on prescriptions collected in retail pharmacies, corresponding to ~80% of prescriptions reimbursed by statutory health insurance funds in Germany. The LRx database includes a higher proportion of older adults and women compared to the overall German population with statutory health insurance. Coverage per family of drugs ranges from 71.8% for antiepileptics to 94.7% for urological agents. Multiple pharmacoepidemiological studies based on the data from the German LRx database have been published in the last years on topics such as patterns of prescription and treatment adherence and persistence. A large number of disorders have been investigated in this research (e.g., type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and psychiatric conditions). The major limitations of the LRx database are the lack of formal diagnoses and the absence of hospital data. In conclusion, the German LRx database could be a key source of data for future pharmacoepidemiological studies.

Population prevalence of dual sensory loss in community-dwelling US adults 71 years and older: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Existing estimates for the prevalence of dual sensory loss (vision and hearing) among older adults are either based on self-reported measures or aggregated for older age groups. Current and detailed estimates based on objective measures are needed for public health, clinical, and policy decision-making. We estimated the prevalence of dual sensory loss (DSL) using National Health Aging Trends Study (NHATS) Round 11 data (2021). We restricted to community-dwelling adults aged ≥71 years with complete sensory testing data (N = 2579). Hearing loss was defined by a 4-frequency (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) pure tone average for the better-hearing ear (>25 decibel hearing level). Vision loss was defined by the presence of distance, near (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution >0.30), or contrast sensitivity loss (log contrast sensitivity <1.55). Participants were categorized into three groups: no sensory loss, single sensory loss (vision or hearing loss), and DSL (hearing and vision). Sensory loss prevalence was estimated by age group and sociodemographic characteristics. In weighted analyses, among older Medicare beneficiaries (53% female, 7% Black, 6% Hispanic), 28% had no sensory loss and 22% had DSL. Prevalence of DSL increased with age. Most adults aged ≥90 years experienced DSL (59%), as opposed to single (39%) or no sensory loss (2%). DSL prevalence was greater among older adults with low education attainment (34%) and household income (43%). A higher proportion of older adults with a college education (17%), or from wealthier households (16%), had no sensory loss. One in 5 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥71 years have DSL, increasing to 3 in 5 for those aged ≥90 years. Prevalence is higher among older adults with low education attainment and from low-income households, characteristics associated with low treatment. Policies increasing access and affordability of vision and hearing care could benefit millions of older Americans experiencing sensory loss.

Protein intake, distribution, and sources in community-dwelling older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand

BACKGROUND: To maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis (MPS), older adults should consume≥1.2 g/kg body weight (BW) of high-quality protein, evenly distributed across the day ( 0.4 g/kg BW per meal). OBJECTIVES: To investigate protein intake, distribution, and sources in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Data (including a 4-day food record) were obtained from the Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health (REACH) study, a cross-sectional study in adults aged 65 to 74 years. RESULTS: Participants (n = 327, 65.4% female) had a median daily protein intake of 1.16 g/kg BW (males) and 1.09 g/kg BW (females). Over half of participants consumed less than 1.2 g protein/kg BW/day (62% females, 57% males). Protein intake was unevenly distributed throughout the day (CV = 0.48 for males and females) and was inadequate for reaching 0.4 g/kg BW/meal at breakfast and at the mid-day meal (males only). The main sources of protein at breakfast were milk (28%), breakfast cereals (22%), and bread (12%); at the mid-day meal, bread (18%), cheese (10%) and milk (9%); and at the evening meal, meat provided over half the protein (56%). CONCLUSIONS: Protein intake for a high proportion of older adults was less than 1.2 g/kg BW/day, and unevenly distributed through the day. Protein was obtained mainly from cereals and dairy products at breakfast and the mid-day meal, and meat sources at the evening meal.

Epidemiology of Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome in the Kerala Einstein Study: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study.

The southern India state of Kerala has among the highest proportion of older adults in its population in the country. An increase in chronic age-related diseases such as dementia is expected in the older Kerala population. Identifying older individuals early in the course of cognitive decline offers the best hope of introducing preventive measures early and planning management. However, the epidemiology and pathogenesis of predementia syndromes at the early stages of cognitive decline in older adults are not well established in India. The Kerala Einstein Study (KES) is a community-based cohort study that was established in 2008 and is based in the Kozhikode district in Kerala state. KES aims to establish risk factors and brain substrates of motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a predementia syndrome characterized by the presence of slow gait and subjective cognitive concerns in individuals without dementia or disability. This protocol describes the study design and procedures for this KES project. KES is proposing to enroll a sample of 1000 adults ≥60 years old from urban and rural areas in the Kozhikode district of Kerala state: 200 recruited in the previous phase of KES and 800 new participants to be recruited in this project. MCR is the cognitive phenotype of primary interest. The associations between previously established risk factors for dementia as well as novel risk factors (apathy and traumatic brain injury) and MCR will be examined in KES. Risk factor profiles for MCR will be compared between urban and rural residents as well as with individuals who meet the criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Cognitive and physical function, medical history and medications, sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and activities of daily living will be evaluated. Participants will also undergo magnetic resonance imaging and electrocardiogram investigations. Longitudinal follow-up is planned in a subset of participants as a prelude to future longitudinal studies. KES (2R01AG039330-07) was funded by the US National Institutes of Health in September 2019 and received approval from the Indian Medical Council of Research to start the study in June 2021. We had recruited 433 new participants from urban and rural sites in Kozhikode as of May 2023: 41.1% (178/433) women, 67.7% (293/433) rural residents, and 13.4% (58/433) MCR cases. Enrollment is actively ongoing at all the KES recruitment sites. KES will provide new insights into risk factors and brain substrates associated with MCR in India and will help guide future development of regionally specific preventive interventions for dementia. DERR1-10.2196/49933.

Introducing Telemedicine in Italy: Citizens' Awareness of a New Healthcare Resource.

In recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, new technologies have emerged as useful resources in healthcare. Telemedicine services may decrease opportunities for contagion by limiting direct medical contacts; they can lead to greater access to and better quality of care, especially for the elderly and chronically ill patients. However, there are still some difficulties in their widespread use, such as lack of knowledge about the effectiveness and safety of telemedicine; lack of awareness of its existence; privacy issues; and lack of computer literacy. The aim of this study is to assess the awareness of and attitude toward telemedicine in the Italian adult population, considering sociodemographic characteristics and territorial differences in telemedicine service implementation. A questionnaire was administered to Italian citizens from October 2022 to February 2023 using communication and social media in order to collect sociodemographic and health characteristics and data on awareness and use of telemedicine services. Less than half of the respondents (n = 1002) were aware of telemedicine services in their region; most of them did not use the available services due to a preference for in-person visits or lack of need. More than 90% of participants who used these services were satisfied with them. A negative attitude toward telemedicine was found in a higher proportion of older adults. This study demonstrated that, although telemedicine services are active in Italy, a large part of the population ignores its availability. Therefore, further efforts should be made to increase citizens' awareness and the use of telemedicine in our country.

Rural disparities in use of family and formal caregiving for older adults with disabilities.

As federal and state policies rebalance long-term care from institutional settings to home- and community-based settings, reliance on formal (paid) and family (unpaid) caregivers for support at home nationally has increased in recent years. Yet, it is unknown if use of formal and family care varies by rurality. Using the Health and Retirement Study, we describe patterns in receipt of combinations of formal and family home care and self-reported expectation of nursing home use by rurality among community-dwelling adults aged 65+ with functional limitations from 2004 to 2016. Older adults residing in rural areas are more likely to receive any family care than those in urban areas. From 2004 to 2016, a higher proportion of older adults in rural areas receive care from family caregivers exclusively while a lower proportion receive care from formal caregivers exclusively. When examining older adults in urban areas, we find the opposite - a higher proportion of urban adults rely exclusively on formal care and a lower proportion rely exclusively on family care in 2016 compared to 2004. We find that national estimates of sources of caregiving and their changes over time mask significant heterogeneity in uptake by rurality. Understanding how older adults in rural areas are, or are not, receiving home-based care compared to their urban peers and how these patterns are changing over time is the first step to informing supports for family and formal caregivers.

Cognitive decline sensitivity by educational level and residential area: A descriptive study using long-term care insurance dementia registration data in South Korea

In South Korea Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) system, the special dementia rating (SDR) is a registration grading for dementia patients who do not have a physical disability or functional restrictions and is the first applicable registration following the diagnosis of dementia. We investigated the differences in age of registration of SDR and age of dementia diagnosis according to the educational level and residential area. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service dataset. Applications for SDR between July 2014 and December 2016 were identified for participant selection, and 32,352 patients with dementia were included. Educational levels were defined as follows: the illiterate, only-reading, 1 to 6 years, 6 to 12 years, and ≥12 years. Urban residents were those who lived in the city, as ascertained from the Korean administrative district system. The primary outcomes were ages at the time of dementia diagnosis and SDR registration. A lower education level significantly correlated with a higher proportion of older adults, but a higher number of years of education significantly increased with the proportion of males and urban residents (P < .001 for all). A higher education level was inversely associated with the age at diagnosis of dementia (P < .001) and at the registration of SDR (P < .001). Urban residents were diagnosed with dementia at a significantly lower age and registered for SDR earlier than rural residents (P < .001 for both). Both urban and rural residents consistently showed that a higher educational level was associated with lower age at the dementia diagnosis and SDR registration. Patients who were highly educated and living in urban areas were diagnosed with dementia and registered on SDR when they were relatively younger, indicating that cognitive decline sensitivity and medical accessibility are related to earlier dementia diagnosis and registration.

Long COVID-19 Syndrome and Frailty: Cause or Consequence or Both?

Background Many older adults remain vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. They are also often at risk for frailty and poor health outcomes. Aim This exploratory review examines the correlates of long COVID and frailty and their association insofar as the older adult’s wellbeing may be jeopardized. Methods and procedures Articles that emerged between January 1 2022 and 2023 in major electronic data bases that addressed the current topic of interest were sought using the key words: Long COVID and Frailty. Those deemed relevant were duly downloaded, analyzed and summarized in narrative form. Results A high proportion of older adults can be expected to remain vulnerable to COVID-19 long term impacts, plus new variants of infection, along with frailty as both an outcome and mediator. Many too are at risk for persistent long COVID-19 complications and a low life quality if more concerted preventive and rehabilitation efforts to avert frailty early on are not forthcoming in a timely manner. Conclusion Prompt and continuing frailty assessments of older adults at risk for COVID-19 or recovering from this disease, especially those with long COVID manifestations who are frail or may become frail are strongly indicated.

Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated in a Pragmatic Trial: How Do Patients’ Function and Health-Related Quality of Life Change with Treatment?

Background: Over one-third of older adults with AML do not receive chemotherapy because of fear of toxicities and functional decline. This highlights the critical and urgent need to generate knowledge of functional changes following newer treatments. Methods: As a part of a pragmatic single-center phase II investigator-initiated trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03226418), we enrolled older adults (≥60 years) with a new diagnosis of AML. We repeated geriatric assessment (GA) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) before and 3 months after chemotherapy initiation. GA included measures of physical function (e.g. short physical performance battery or SPPB), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. Frailty was defined as impairment in 2 or more domains on geriatric assessment (excluding MoCA). HRQOL was measured using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C-30 (v 3.0). Established cutoffs were used to determine a clinically meaningful change in various measures from baseline to 3 months. Results: 59 eligible patients were enrolled and had median age of 69 years and median KPS of 80. Patients received treatment with predominantly low-intensity chemotherapy (hypomethylating agent +/-venetoclax or midostaurin); six patients received intensive chemotherapy. 56% of patients had ≥2 comorbid conditions, and 69% each had impaired MoCA scores and impaired objective physical function at baseline. Whereas 29% had an established diagnosis of depression or anxiety, 66% had abnormal PHQ-9 with a score of 5 or more. 61% had impaired nutritional screen. A total of 43 patients completed some or all of the optional follow-up assessments at 3 months. Cognitive function or MoCA scores improved (64.5%) or stabilized (9.6%) from baseline to 3 months after treatment (Figure 1). We also noted improvement (51.6%) or stabilization (22.6%) in objective physical function (Figure 2). PHQ-9 scores showed improvement or stabilization in about 90% of patients. Nutritional scores showed variable changes with 40% demonstrating improvement. On HRQOL assessment, global health status score, and role functioning moderately improved from baseline to three-month after enrollment. Longitudinal cognitive function over 3 months differed based on the presence of frailty and multimorbidity (≥2 comorbid conditions) at baseline. Improvement in MoCA scores was noted in 31.8% (95% CI 16.4-52.7%) and 50.0% (95% CI 23.7-76.3%) of patients with versus without baseline frailty. The risk of worsening of cognitive function was 31.5% (95% CI 15.4-54.0%) for patients with multimorbidity at baseline versus 16.7% (95% CI 4.7-44.8%) for those without. Conclusion: We demonstrated an overall improvement or stabilization of functional status and HRQOL in a high proportion of older adults with AML, despite high prevalence of functional impairments and significant comorbidity burden at baseline. These results should encourage oncologists to offer chemotherapy even to older adults with multiple comorbid conditions or poor functional status at the time of diagnosis of AML. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Time change in the distribution of physical activity and its correlates among retired older Swedish adults: a repeated cross-sectional study from a national survey

BackgroundUnderstanding how older adults spend time in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) is crucial to understanding healthy ageing. This study connects 24-h time-use diary records of the daily activities of a sample of Swedish older adults to energy intensities. The aim was to: i) estimate the prevalence of Swedish older adults (aged 65–84 years) who achieved recommended daily levels of physical activity; ii) identify what domains of everyday life contribute to MVPA; and iii) explore socio-demographic factors affecting rates of active living.MethodsWe draw on two Swedish nationally representative samples of time-use diary data from 2000/2001 and 2010/2011. Data covering the duration of all activities performed over two days were combined with activity-intensity information (metabolic equivalent of task [MET] values) to estimate the energy expenditure (MET min) originating from MVPA.ResultsResults indicate that 94.1% of Swedish older adults achieved the WHO-recommended minimum level of daily MVPA in 2010/2011; the share remained unchanged over the period. MVPA performed in natural environments (24.2%), during housework (22.8%), and on everyday walks in one’s local area (18.1%) were dominant domains contributing to energy expenditure. Home maintenance and repairs (8.8%), active transport (9.9%), and physical exercise (8.2%) contributed to a lesser extent. In 2000/2001, total MVPA energy expenditure was associated with gender, housing, living region, and disability; in 2010/2011, except for disability, these associations were no longer significant.ConclusionsThe high proportion of older adults who achieved the recommended level of MVPA, their allocation of MVPA time to diverse domains, and the reduced social distribution over time suggest that elderly people increasingly find their own paths to everyday physical activity. This indicates a need to promote MVPA not only in established ways, such as prescribed training programmes. The importance of active physical activities in natural environments, and of regular walks in the vicinity of home, indicates a need to incorporate healthy ageing considerations in wider urban and regional planning, for example, to increase access to natural environments and urban walkability. Also, older adults’ involvement in household chores, maintenance and repairs, and active transport extends responsibility to new policy areas.

Health literacy among older adults 77+ in Sweden

Abstract Background Health literacy (HL) is an essential component of an individual’s ability to gain access to, understand and use information to improve and maintain good health and is an important prerequisite for managing health and care needs. Therefore, knowledge on older people’s HL is vital to meet the care needs of the rapidly aging population efficiently and equitably. Knowledge on HL in the older population is limited, both in an international perspective and in Sweden. Challenges linked to limited HL are expected to increase with advanced age, emphasizing the importance of conducting a study using a nationally representative sample of older adults. The aim of the study was to explore the level of HL in older adults living in Sweden. Methods A cross sectional study using data from the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD), which is a nationally representative sample of the Swedish population aged 77+ years (N = 1500). SWEOLD covers areas such as health, socioeconomic and social factors. HL is assessed with the communicative and critical health literacy scale. The data was collected through telephone interviews in fall 2021 and spring 2022. Respondents not able to answer themselves were excluded. Results Preliminary results show that 49 % of the participating adults aged 77+ have limited HL. HL was significantly associated with age (77-85 years OR: 1.80; 86+ OR: 3.04), education level (OR: 1.76), vision (OR: 2.40) and cognitive ability (OR: 0.88). HL was not significantly associated with sex. Conclusions These preliminary results shows that a large proportion of Swedish older people might face difficulties related to accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health information in ways which promote and maintain good health, and stresses the importance of examining the topic in greater detail. Key messages • A high proportion of older adults in Sweden have limited health literacy. • Health literacy among older adults in Sweden varies with age, level of education, vision and cognitive ability.

Factors influencing uptake of diabetes health screening: a mixed methods study in Asian population

BackgroundHealth screens are the cornerstones for health promotion and preventive interventions at a community level. This study investigated the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of diabetes health screening in the general population of Singapore.MethodsIn this mixed methods study, participants without diabetes were recruited from the general population. The quantitative phase (n = 2459) included face to face survey of participants selected through disproportionate stratified random sampling. Those who participated in the quantitative survey were then randomly chosen for a one-to-one semi-structured interview (n = 30).ResultsAmong the survey respondents, 73.09% (n = 1777) had attended a diabetes health screening in their lifetime whilst 42.36% (n = 1090) and 57.64% (n = 1328, p < 0.0001) attended the health screens regularly (every 12 months) and irregularly, respectively. A significantly higher proportion of older adults (≥ 40 years) attended regular diabetes health screening compared to younger adults (less than 40 years; 55.59% vs 24.90%, p < 0.001). The top 3 reasons for attending regular health screens were to detect diabetes early, to make lifestyle changes in case of a diagnosis and being health conscious. Qualitative interviews identified similar issues and complex nuances that influenced the uptake of regular diabetes health screening. Several personal factors (laziness, self-reliance, psychological factors, etc.), competing priorities, fatalistic beliefs, affordability, misconceptions about the screens, and appointment related factors (inconvenient location, time, etc.) were identified as barriers, while affordable screens, sense of personal responsibility, perception of susceptibility /risk, role of healthcare team (e.g. reminders and prescheduled appointments) and personal factors (e.g. age, family, etc.) were facilitators. Age, household income, ethnicity and educational level were associated with the uptake of regular diabetes health screening.ConclusionThe uptake of regular diabetes health screening can be improved. Several barriers and enablers to the uptake of diabetes health screening were identified which should be addressed by the policy makers to alleviate misconceptions and create greater awareness of the importance of the programme that will improve participation.

Practical management of older adults with cancer: geriatric oncology in Japan.

Japan has the highest proportion of older adults globally, and the average life expectancy of the Japanese population has increased in recent decades. Given that the incidence of cancer increases with age, it is a major health concern for older adults. However, geriatric oncology is a relatively new field and collaboration between oncologists and geriatricians in Japan is limited. Hence, oncologists and other healthcare professionals engaged in cancer care have not been able to adequately understand geriatric care, and information and experience are insufficient for this specific population. Thus, they may struggle with the assessment and management of older adults with cancer. Recently, several Japanese academic societies for cancer have developed practical guidelines and research policy with regard to geriatric research in older adults with cancer, in addition to organizing symposia and workshops focusing especially on geriatric oncology. Furthermore, because the Japan Geriatrics Society established a discipline committee on cancer, close collaboration between oncologists and geriatricians has grown steadily. Geriatric oncology is currently recognized as an important field of cancer care in Japan. The integration of oncology and geriatric care is anticipated in the near future. However, understanding the aspects of geriatric care and meanings of technical jargons used in geriatric oncology is difficult. Accordingly, this article provides an overview of the current knowledge and recent advancements in geriatric oncology. In addition, it outlines the current status and problems of geriatric oncology in Japan.

Health behaviors and tooth retention among older adults in China: findings from the 4th Chinese national oral health survey

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the association between oral health behaviors and tooth retention among Chinese older adults.MethodsData were used from the 4th Chinese National Oral Health Survey, a nationally representative sample. The sample included 9054 older adults aged 55 to 74. Control variables and oral health behaviors were measured through a questionnaire interview, and the number of remaining teeth and periodontal health were obtained from an oral health examination. A chi-square test was used for univariate analysis. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to explore the association between health behaviors and the number of remaining teeth.ResultsThe average number of remaining teeth in the sample was 24.4 ± 7.7. There was a higher proportion of older adults living in urban areas with 20 or more teeth than those living in rural areas (83.2% vs. 79.4%, P < 0.001); and a higher proportion of individuals with high education levels with 20 or more teeth compared to those with low education levels (P < 0.001). Logistic regression models showed that older adults who used toothpicks `(OR = 3.37, 95% CI 2.94–3.85), dental floss (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.05–3.53), toothpaste (OR = 3.89, 95% CI 3.14–4.83); and never smoked (OR = 1.43 95% CI 1.20–1.70) were more likely to retain 20 or more natural teeth; whereas older adults who had a dental visit were less likely to retain 20 or more natural teeth (OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.39–052).ConclusionGood oral hygiene practices, never smoking, and regular dental visits focusing on prevention are significantly associated with teeth retention. It is critical to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve prevention-oriented oral health care systems.

Feasibility of Cognitive Training in Combination With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in a Home-Based Context (TrainStim-Home): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionWith the worldwide increase of life expectancy leading to a higher proportion of older adults experiencing age-associated deterioration of cognitive abilities, the development of effective and widely accessible prevention and...

Gender differences in positive screen for depression and diagnosis among older adults in Chile

BackgroundDifferent factors are associated with late life depression and diagnosis, including gender. It has also been reported that depression among older people is underdiagnosed. As a result, the mental health needs of this group are insufficiently met. The aim of this study was to explore gender differences in the factors associated with positive screens for depression and self-reported diagnosis among older adults in Chile.MethodsData from 3786 older adults who participated in the Social Protection Survey in 2016 were analysed. PHQ-9 was used to identify screen-positive cases. Self-reported diagnosis of depression was used to determine the proportion of people with a screen-positive result who had received a diagnosis of depression. Logistic regression models were used to determine sociodemographic and health factors associated with depression and underdiagnosis in older men and women.ResultsThe prevalence of a screen-positive result was 20.91% (5.83% major depressive disorder) among men, and 36.38% (12.43% major depressive disorder) among women. 18.77% of men and 34.11% of women with a positive depression screening had received a diagnosis. More educated men were more likely to receive a diagnosis. Older age was associated with a lower probability of diagnosis among older women.ConclusionsOur results suggest that depressive disorders are undiagnosed in a high proportion of older adults in Chile. Gender is a relevant factor in the underdiagnosis of depression in this group. Further research is needed to understand the factors involved in these gaps, to improve detection and provide timely support and treatment.

Digital literacy during the coronavirus pandemic in older adults: Literature Review and Research Agenda

Demographic change in the developed world is leading to a higher proportion of older adults and longer life expectancy. Measures to control the coronavirus disease have affected older adults the most. Social isolation and access to remote health services has been a problem for many people. We have used the method of scientific literature review. The selection of articles was made in accordance with the following inclusion criteria: accessibility, scientificity, content relevance and topicality. After selection, the results were analysed by qualitative content analysis. With the content analysis of twenty scientific articles, we gained an insight into digital literacy of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three content categories were identified: (1) poor digital literacy of older adults, (2) inequality in ICT access, (3) use of ICT reduces the negative impact of social isolation. We note that there is a large digital divide in digital literacy and competences among older adults which expanded during the coronavirus disease pandemic. Several factors, including socio-economic status, internet access and the poor adaptation of ICT for older adults affect digital literacy. Rapid development of remote health and social care, poor digital literacy of older adults and the poor adaptation of ICT for older adults dictate that the problem must be tackled systemically.

Importance of preventive dentistry in the elderly: A personal approach.

Background:Oral diseases and their impact on health and quality of life have now evolved into a polarized epidemiological state in which their incidence is especially affecting the most vulnerable in the population: the elderly, especially those with low incomes economical. On the other hand, the noticeable increase observed in the proportion of older adults in developing countries such as Iraq during the last decades. Such a high proportion of older adults is causing an increase in their stomatological care needs that necessitate dentists to know precisely both the etiological factors, such as the pathogenesis and factors that determine the specificity of oral disorders at this stage of life. Only with this knowledge will professionals be able to face these patients with a modern dentistry based on prevention. The objective of the study was to show the impact of oral health on the quality of life of older adults in Iraq.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Iraqi adults focused on demographic characteristics factors, lifestyle, the Geriatric Oral Health Index, and Oral Health Diagnosis. Data were evaluated using ratios, the Chi-square analysis for the correlation among factors and odds ratios to verify statistical significance at P ≤ 0.05.Results:This research confirms the impact of oral health on the quality of life of older adults in Iraq. Endodontic problems compromise the quality of life of older adults.Conclusion:Oral health problems, especially those of traumatic, endodontic, and periodontal origin, negatively affect the quality of life of older adults in Iraq.