Life Of Elderly Individuals Research Articles

Higher Physical Activity is Associated with Reduced Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Korean Men.

Identifying and managing risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is crucial because it impacts the quality of life of elderly individuals. Lifestyle factors, including physical activity (PA), and their relationship with LUTS have not been well studied. This objective of this study was to investigate the association between PA and LUTS. A total of 7,296 men were included in this cross-sectional study. PA was quantified in metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours per week, and LUTS severity was assessed using the international prostate symptom score. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between PA and LUTS, including voiding and storage symptoms. The average age of the participants was 57.8 years, and the prevalence of LUTS was 41.3%. After adjusting for potential confounders, PA was inversely associated with the prevalence and severity of moderate-to-severe LUTS, showing a dose-response pattern (all p for trend <0.01). Compared to the minimal activity group, which engaged in <5 MET-hours per week of PA, the odds ratios for moderate to severe LUTS were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-0.97) for men engaging in 15-30 MET-hours per week, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.71-0.95) for 30-60 MET-hours per week, and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.84) for ≥60 MET-hours per week. The possible protective effect of PA was still observed in the additional analysis for voiding and storage symptoms showing the same dose-response pattern (all p for trend <0.01). A higher PA level was associated with a lower prevalence and severity of total, voiding, and storage LUTS in a dose-dependent manner in Korean men.

The Coupling of Innovation in Traditional Chinese Cultural Diffusion and Smart Cultural Aging

Abstract Based on the coupled communication of smart elderly care and traditional Chinese culture, this paper proposes four paths of coupled communication, including in-depth communication, innovative cultural forms of communication, precise communication, and promotion of coupled development. Two systematic index systems have been constructed to disseminate traditional Chinese culture and develop smart culture and pension. The data is standardized using principal component analysis to establish the correlation coefficient matrix. The coordination index between the two subsystems is calculated, and the coordination model of the two is created based on the concepts of coordination coefficient and coefficient of variation. The subject area, Province S, is in the third stage of the coupled coordinated development during 2010-2023, with traditional culture dissemination and smart elderly care services coming to a high level, and is in a good development level during 2016-2023, with a coupled coordination degree of 8 or more. Using the VAR model, the effect of coupling development on the quality of life of elderly individuals is analyzed. Impulse response analysis of LNCCD and LNQOE: after LNCCD receives a positive shock, LNQOE shows a sharp shock effect. At this time, the response value is 0.07021, which plays a large positive effect, and then enters into a smooth development. The traditional Chinese culture dissemination and the wisdom culture of old age are in the stage of coupled development.

Upgrading the living Space of the elderly person: towards a healthcare design

Drawing on interdisciplinary insights, this article bridges the gap between medicine and design, aiming to revolutionize elderly care through a comprehensive study of their living-spaces and the UX. Medicine was not interested in artistic/design practices. The latter disciplines converge towards the same interest, which is the improvement of the users’ life quality. The study’s objectives are threefold: Firstly, it aims to enhance the quality of life of elderly individuals by investigating their living-space and ensuring their safety, comfort, and well-being. This involves identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes that can contribute to their overall well-being and comfort in their home environment. Secondly, the study seeks to preserve the autonomy of these persons, safeguarding their ability to perform daily tasks independently and finding ways to support and maintain their self-sufficiency within their living-space. Finally, a crucial goal is to prevent or delay institutionalization, such as moving to a senior living community. By optimizing their environment and support systems, the study aims to enable elderly individuals to age in place safely and comfortably, allowing them to maintain their sense of familiarity and independence in their homes. This article presents a collaboration between a geriatrician and a designer. And it proposes the analytical study of an existing living-space of an elderly person to study the UX of his new needs. Based on this analysis and previous scientific research, we will propose a professional-guide to rehabilitation of this user’s living-space, building on a standardized geriatric examination, to maintain his/her autonomy as long as possible.

An efficient and lightweight multiperson activity recognition framework for robot-assisted healthcare applications

Aging is inevitably associated with a decline in physical abilities and can pose challenges to the social lives of elderly individuals. In long-term care facilities, group exercise is instrumental for keeping elderly residents physically and socially healthy. Accommodating these needs in elderly care can be challenging due to staff shortages and other lacking resources. A robotic exercise coach could be helpful in such contexts. Intelligent human–robot interaction requires accurate and efficient human activity recognition. Several solutions focusing on human activity recognition in healthcare robotics have been proposed. However, multiperson activity recognition remains a challenging task in case of using vision-based or wearable sensors data, and past research has mainly focused on single-person rather than multiperson or group activity recognition. Moreover, the existing state-of-the-art methods for activity recognition mainly use heavyweight Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models to achieve good accuracy. However, these models have certain drawbacks, such as requiring significant computational resources, higher memory and storage needs, and slower inference times. Another challenge is the limited number of publicly available datasets containing few activities for physical activity recognition. In this work, we propose a lightweight, deep learning-based, multiperson activity recognition system for group exercise training of elderly persons. Considering the limited publicly available datasets, we curated a new dataset named the Routine Exercise Dataset (RED), comprising 19 routine exercise activities recommended for elderly persons. The RED dataset has 14,440 samples collected from 19 participants and is one of the most extensive datasets of its kind. We evaluated our proposed activity recognition method based on proposed feature extraction modules and a one-dimensional multilayer long short-term memory network on 16 datasets, including 10 publicly available benchmark activity recognition datasets, an RED dataset, a publicly available dataset combined with RED dataset, and four noise-corrupted RED datasets. The results indicate the efficiency of the proposed method for real-time activity recognition compared to the state-of-the-art methods. The proposed method achieved F1-scores of 98.64%, 97.95%, and 99% on large-scale datasets named UESTC RGB-D, NTU RGB+D, and RED, respectively. We also developed a Robot Operating System (ROS)-based application to deploy our proposed system in a social robot and test it in real-life scenarios.

The effects of regular physical activity on functional balance skills and life quality in elderly individuals

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the effects of physical activity level (e.g., walking, simple exercises on sports equipment, and brisk walking) on functional balance and quality of life in elderly individuals. Patients and Methods: The study included 60 individuals (28 males, 32 females) over the age of 65 years who engaged in regular physical activity (Group 1, n=30) and sedentary individuals who did not engage in physical activity (Group 2, n=30) between January 2023 and July 2023. Mini Mental State Test (MMST), Fall Efficacy Scale (FES), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Standing on One Leg (TAFS), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Elderly (WHOQOL-OLD) were applied to the individuals. Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between Group 1 and Group 2 when their MMST scores were compared (p=0.125). When the relationship between Group 1 and 2 and their balance status was examined, a significant difference was obtained when the results of FES (p=0.001), BBS (p=0.003), TUGT (p=0.014), and TAFS right/left (p=0.003/.004) were analyzed. When the quality of life of Group 1 and Group 2 was evaluated and the subparameters of the WHOQOL-OLD scale used for this purpose were compared, there was a significant difference in autonomy (p=0.001), past, present, and future activities (p=0.001), social participation (p=0.005), and closeness (p=0.013) scores. Conclusion: Regular physical activity was found to be the primary means of health promotion in older adults and an effective intervention to prevent falls, maintain balance, and improve quality of life.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in sarcopenia management: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Sarcopenia frequently occurs with aging and leads to major adverse impacts on activities of daily living and quality of life in elderly individuals. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFAs) supplements are considered promising therapeutic agents for sarcopenia management; however, the evidence remains inconsistent. We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about omega-3 PUFA supplementation in patients with sarcopenia or in those at high risk for sarcopenia. Network meta-analysis (NMA) procedures were conducted using a frequentist model. The primary outcomes were (1) upper-extremity muscle strength and (2) lower-extremity physical function. The NMA of 16 RCTs showed that the high-dose (more than 2.5g/day omega-3 PUFAs) group yielded the greatest improvement in both upper-extremity muscle strength and lower-extremity physical function [compared to placebo/standard care groups, standardized mean difference (SMD)=1.68, 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=0.03-3.33, and SMD=0.73, 95%CI=0.16-1.30, respectively], and the effects were reaffirmed in subgroup analyses of placebo-controlled RCTs or those excluding concurrent resistance training programs. None of the investigated omega-3 PUFAs supplementation was associated with significantly increased skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, or overall body weight. Our findings provide a basis for future large-scale RCTs to investigate the dose effects and clinical application of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in sarcopenia management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The current study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan (TSGHIRB No. B-109-29) and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022347161).

Geriatric syndromes, chronic inflammation, and advances in the management of frailty: A review with new insights.

As people age, geriatric syndromes characterized by frailty significantly impact both clinical practice and public health. Aging weakens people's immune functions, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation that ultimately contributes to the development of frailty. Effectively managing geriatric syndromes and frailty can help alleviate the economic burden of an aging population. This review delves into the intricate relationship among aging, infection-induced inflammation, chronic inflammation, and frailty. In addition, it analyzes various approaches and interventions to address frailty, such as smart rehabilitation programs and stem-cell treatments, offering promising solutions in this new era. Given the importance of this topic, further research into the mechanisms of frailty is crucial. Equally essential is the devising of relevant measures to delay its onset and the formulation of comprehensive clinical, research, and public health strategies to enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale: a translation and validation study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to translate the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale into Chinese and to examine its reliability and validity in a population of older people suffering from chronic constipation.MethodsIn this study, the scale was paraphrased, back-translated, cross-culturally adapted and pre-experimented using the Brislin double translation-back-translation method to create the initial Chinese version of the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale. A convenience sampling method was used to select 564 study participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Liaoning and Shanxi, China, to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale. General information about the study population was using descriptive statistics; item analysis was used to screen the items of the scale. Content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and validation factor analysis were chosen to validate the scales; internal consistency, spilt-half reliability and retest reliability were used determine the reliability of the measurement scales.ResultsThe Chinese version of the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale contains 7 dimensions and 21 items. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale was 0.901 and the range of Cronbach's alpha values for each dimension was 0.707 to 0.918. The split-half reliability of the scale was 0.736 and the retest reliability was 0.763. The exploratory factor analysis showed a KMO value of 0.873 and a Bartlett's spherical test X2 value of 3499.978 (p < 0.001). A total of seven common factors were extracted, namely daily activities, treatment satisfaction, lack of control of bodily function, diet restriction, symptom intensity, anxiety and preventive actions, with a cumulative variance contribution of 77.813%. Each item had a loading value > 0.4 on its common factor. In the validation factor analysis, the model fit results were X2 / df = 1.886, GFI = 0.910, AGFI = 0.874, PGFI = 0.654, IFI = 0.955, TLI = 0.942, CFI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.056 and PNFI = 0.718. The model fit indicators were all within acceptable limits.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the E-CIS has good reliability and validity in the chronic constipation population of elderly individuals. The results of the questionnaire can effectively and comprehensively reflect the impact of chronic constipation on the quality of life of elderly individuals. It provides a meaningful reference for identifying targets for intervention.

Fall Detection Systems Supported by TinyML and Accelerometer Sensors: An Approach for Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Life of the Elderly

Many elderly individuals live alone in their homes, which can lead to significant health and safety concerns due to the risk of falls. Falls not only cause physical injuries but also have social, psychological, and economic impacts that negatively affect the quality of life for older adults. In this context, early detection of falls and implementation of preventive measures are of great importance. Edge computing-based fall detection systems have been developed to effectively address the safety of older adults in such situations. In the present study, a fall detection system is proposed that utilizes edge computing and TinyML technologies, operating on an embedded platform. This system is designed for the interpretation of accelerometer sensor data and processes the data collected through sensors to obtain valuable information. The Edge Impulse platform is used for training an extensive dataset consisting of various fall examples for older adults, allowing the proposed system to achieve a 98.5% recognition accuracy. This cost-effective and user-friendly novel approach combines a portable accelerometer sensor and artificial intelligence software to target early detection and prevention of falls in older adults. This study contributes significantly to the field of edge computing and provides effective solutions to enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals.

Ninjin'yoeito Improves Genitourinary Symptoms in Patients With Frailty.

Introduction In geriatric medicine, there is currently significant attention on frailty, a condition commonly associated with aging and characterized by muscle weakness and other age-related changes. Within the fields of urology and gynecology, conditions such as overactive bladder (OAB) and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) have been identified as crucial concerns due to their negative impact on the quality of life of elderly individuals. In this study, we investigated the potential of Ninjin'yoeito (NYT), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, as a viable treatment option for frailty. Additionally, we hypothesized that NYT may also contribute to the improvement of symptoms associated with OAB and GSM, and potentially help in reducing the dosage of OAB medications. Methods In this retrospective cohort study conducted from November 2016 to November 2022, we created a website describing the relationship between frailty and genitourinary symptoms in frail patients aged ≥ 65 years with GSM who underwent pelvic floor muscle training. The patients were divided into two propensity score-matched groups: NYT group (received NYT for one year) and no-NYT group (did not receive NYT), based on their wishes. The fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight (FRAIL) scale was used to assess frailty status. Urinary symptoms were evaluated using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). Genital symptoms were investigated using the vaginal health index score and vulvodynia swab test. The value of each score was obtained before (T0) and 12 months after (T12) treatment, and the difference (ΔT0/T12) was calculated. Results During the study period, 985 outpatients visited our clinic, of whom 725 were considered frail/pre-frail; 402 women with frailty/pre-frailty (mean age 77.5 ± 6.49 years) were included, with a median follow-up of 14.5 months. The NYT and no-NYT groups had 220 and 182 patients, respectively. After propensity score matching, each group had 159 patients. ΔT0/T12FRAIL scale score was significantly higher in the NYT group (0.13 ± 0.37) than in the no-NYT (0.01 ± 0.10) group (p=0.001.) However, urinary symptoms improved in the NYT group more than in the no-NYT in terms of the following parameters: ΔT0/T12OABSS (NYT: 0.89 ± 1.65; no-NYTl: 0.36 ± 1.14, p=0.001) and ΔT0/T12ICIQ-SF score (NYT: 1.51 ± 1.75; no-NYT: 0.42 ± 1.18, p<0.001). Genital symptoms were better in the NYT group in terms of ΔT0/T12VHIS (NYT: 0.58 ±1.08; no-NYT: 0.21 ±0.65, p<0.001). The vulvodynia swab test showed improvements in left para-hymen evoked pain in both groups. In the NYT group, 5% of the patients underwent antimuscarinic drug dose reduction for overactive bladder treatment. NYT use was not associated with significant side effects, and only 0.6% of patients reported drug allergies. Conclusion NYT improved activity levels in frail/pre-frail patients. Moreover, NYT use improved various genitourinary symptoms experienced by patients with frailty/pre-frailty. Treatment with NYT may reduce the dose of overactive bladder medications. The anticholinergic load-reducing effect of NYT may help solve the problem of polypharmacy.

A Helping Hand to the Elderly: Securing Their Freedom through the HAIE Framework

The life expectancy of the elderly has substantially increased compared to earlier times. The primary factors are greater awareness of nutrition, the environment, and personal hygiene. Advances in science and technology have also extended the lifespans of the aging population. Traditional care methods are inadequate to address this situation. To maintain the socioeconomic structure, there is a need for the integration of advanced frameworks. In this context, we propose a smart framework called human activity Internet of Things-enabled environment (HAIE) to provide a non-human assistive environment that helps the elderly live independently. Research into aging in place and assistive environments has focused on modernized environments, largely neglecting the impact of technology on the lives of elderly individuals who stay at home. This work addresses the gap by integrating advanced technologies, such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT). The inclusion of IoT facilitates a smart and automated environment for the elderly. Cloud integration enables the storage of large volumes of data for further analysis and the identification of patterns for future advancements. It also introduces the concept of accessing data from anywhere, on any device, at any time. To validate this work, two primary parameters were considered: accuracy and latency. Through simulation, the proposed HAIE model has demonstrated an accuracy of 93% out of 100 attempts and a latency of 84.35 ms for the deployed case studies under the HAIE framework.

Cognitive function and its influencing factors in chinese with advanced age: An observational study based on comprehensive geriatric assessment

AbstractBackgroundCognitive impairment is an age‐related clinical problem that has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of elderly individuals. Hence, it is necessary to identify and intervene the factors affecting cognitive impairment early. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional, multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic process used to evaluated the medical, psychosocial, and functional abilities of older adults. This study aimed to evaluated the cognitive function and to explored the risk factors in the old elderly in Chongqing, southwest China by analyzing the CGA assessment data.MethodA cross‐sectional study was conducted in 551 inpatients aged 80 years or older of Department of Geriatrics in The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from July 2017 to August 2018. Participants were measured with CGA to assess the physical condition, cognition, mental health status, fatigue, nutrition, and presence of geriatric syndromes. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). The factors associated with cognitive function were analyzed with independent sample t‐test, chi‐square test, and rank‐sum test. The relationship between cognitive impairment and risk factors was examined with logistic regression analysis.ResultAmong the 551 subjects, 313 (56.8%) had different degrees of cognitive impairment. The cognition function was obviously correlated with literacy (z = ‐3.294,P&lt; 0.001), diabetes (x² = 6.862,P&lt; 0.009), nutrition (z = ‐3.466, P&lt;0.001), GDS‐5 (x² = 25.955, P&lt;0.000). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.117, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1048–1.190), no diabetes (OR = 0.628, 95% CI:0.400–0.984), normal GDS‐5 (OR = 2.417, 95%CI: 1.568–3.000), and malnourished (OR = 2.481, 95%CI:1.159–5.313) were significantly associated with cognitive function.ConclusionOur results suggest that age, poor literacy, diabetes, depression and malnutrition are significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Therefore, improving nutritional status, controlling blood glucose and regulating emotions have positive regulatory effects on cognitive function of the older elderly.

An Enhanced Ensemble Deep Neural Network Approach for Elderly Fall Detection System Based on Wearable Sensors

Fatal injuries and hospitalizations caused by accidental falls are significant problems among the elderly. Detecting falls in real-time is challenging, as many falls occur in a short period. Developing an automated monitoring system that can predict falls before they happen, provide safeguards during the fall, and issue remote notifications after the fall is essential to improving the level of care for the elderly. This study proposed a concept for a wearable monitoring framework that aims to anticipate falls during their beginning and descent, activating a safety mechanism to minimize fall-related injuries and issuing a remote notification after the body impacts the ground. However, the demonstration of this concept in the study involved the offline analysis of an ensemble deep neural network architecture based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) and existing data. It is important to note that this study did not involve the implementation of hardware or other elements beyond the developed algorithm. The proposed approach utilized CNN for robust feature extraction from accelerometer and gyroscope data and RNN to model the temporal dynamics of the falling process. A distinct class-based ensemble architecture was developed, where each ensemble model identified a specific class. The proposed approach was evaluated on the annotated SisFall dataset and achieved a mean accuracy of 95%, 96%, and 98% for Non-Fall, Pre-Fall, and Fall detection events, respectively, outperforming state-of-the-art fall detection methods. The overall evaluation demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed deep learning architecture. This wearable monitoring system will prevent injuries and improve the quality of life of elderly individuals.

HOW QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS LIVING AT HOME OR IN NURSING HOMES IS RELATED TO MULTI-PURPOSE ACTIVITIES?

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of multi-purpose activities on the quality of life of elderly individuals living either in a nursing home or in their own homes. Sixty-seven volunteers aged &gt;60 were surveyed: 34 living in a nursing home and 33 living at-home. Participants performed activities consisting of physical, cognitive tasks, and handicrafts twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each participant completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey both before and after the program, and the results were compared between the groups. At the completion of the program, the general health, vitality, physical functioning, physical role, energy level, and social functioning parameters of the survey of the at-home group were better than were those of the nursing home group. When the data of both groups were compared, an improvement in the social functioning, general health, physical functioning, energy level, and mental health parameters were seen for the at-home group, but not among the nursing home participants. Companionship enabled easy and effi cient performance of activities of at-home participants, thereby positively affecting their quality of lives. Цель исследования — определение влияния многоцелевой деятельности на качество жизни пожилых людей, живущих в доме престарелых или в собственном доме. Были опрошены 67 добровольцев старше 60 лет: 34 проживали в доме престарелых и 33 — дома. Участники выполняли задания, состоящие из физических, когнитивных задач и рукоделия, 2 раза в неделю в течение 12 нед. Каждый участник заполнил краткий опросник о состоянии здоровья из 36 пунктов как до, так и после программы, и результаты сравнивали между группами. По завершении программы показатели общего здоровья, жизнеспособности, физического функционирования, ролевого физического функционирования, уровня энергии и параметры социального функционирования у обследованных в домашней группе были выше, чем в группе в домах престарелых. При сравнении данных у обеих групп улучшение социального функционирования, общего здоровья, физического функционирования, уровня энергии и параметров психического здоровья наблюдали в группе, находившейся дома, но не в домах престарелых. Дружеское общение позволило легко и эффективно выполнять задания участникам, проживающим дома, тем самым положительно влияя на качество их жизни.

The Senolytic Drug Fisetin Attenuates Bone Degeneration in the Zmpste24 -/- Progeria Mouse Model.

Aging leads to several geriatric conditions including osteoporosis (OP) and associated frailty syndrome. Treatments for these conditions are limited and none target fundamental drivers of pathology, and thus identifying strategies to delay progressive loss of tissue homeostasis and functional reserve will significantly improve quality of life in elderly individuals. A fundamental property of aging is the accumulation of senescent cells. Senescence is a cell state defined by loss of proliferative capacity, resistance to apoptosis, and the release of a proinflammatory and anti-regenerative senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The accumulation of senescent cells and SASP factors is thought to significantly contribute to systemic aging. Senolytics-compounds which selectively target and kill senescent cells-have been characterized to target and inhibit anti-apoptotic pathways that are upregulated during senescence, which can elicit apoptosis in senescent cells and relieve SASP production. Senescent cells have been linked to several age-related pathologies including bone density loss and osteoarthritis in mice. Previous studies in murine models of OP have demonstrated that targeting senescent cells pharmacologically with senolytic drugs can reduce symptomology of the disease. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of senolytic drugs (dasatinib, quercetin, and fisetin) to improve age-associated degeneration in bone using the Zmpste24-/- (Z24-/-) progeria murine system for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). We found that the combination of dasatinib plus quercetin could not significantly mitigate trabecular bone loss although fisetin administration could reduce bone density loss in the accelerated aging Z24-/- model. Furthermore, the overt bone density loss observed in the Z24-/- model reported herein highlights the Z24 model as a translational model to recapitulate alterations in bone density associated with advanced age. Consistent with the "geroscience hypothesis," these data demonstrate the utility of targeting a fundamental driver of systemic aging (senescent cell accumulation) to alleviate a common condition with age, bone deterioration.

Effect of Hemibridge with Ball and Balloon Exercise on Balance, Gait Speed, Fear of Fall, and Quality of Life in Elderly – A Randomized Controlled Trial

Context: Hemibridge with ball and balloon exercise causes co-contraction of the core, pelvic floor muscles, and lower limb muscles. However, limited data exist about the efficacy of these exercises in elderly individuals. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hemibridge with ball and balloon exercise on balance, gait speed, fear of falls, and quality of life in elderly individuals. Settings and Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care center and old age homes. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-six (n = 36) elderly individuals were randomly allocated to the control and experimental groups. The control group received conventional balance training, while the experimental group received hemibridge with ball and balloon exercises with conventional balance training exercises. The outcome measures were the Timed-Up and Go test (TUG), 4-m gait speed (4MGS) test, Short Falls-Efficacy Scale (SFES), and RAND 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Both groups received treatment for 3 weeks with three sessions a week. Statistical Analysis: The test used for between-group analysis was the Mann–Whitney U-test and for within-group analysis was the Wilcoxon matched-pair test. Results: The between-group results for TUG, 4MGS test, and SFES for the experimental group showed a statistical significance compared to the control group. However, the results of the RAND SF-36 health survey for the experimental group were not statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusion: Hemibridge with ball and balloon exercise with conventional balance exercises showed beneficial effects on balance, gait speed, fear of falls, and quality of life for the elderly.

Predictors of death in hospitalized elderly patients with COVID-19 in Mashhad, Iran, in 2021: A historical cohort study

Objective: The present study aimed to identify predictive factors for mortality among elderly individuals infected with COVID-19. Methods and Materials: This historical cohort study was conducted from July to December 2021 in the specialized departments for COVID-19 patients at one of the hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. Data were collected from the medical records of 404 elderly patients. Sampling was conducted using the convenience sampling method. Data were gathered through a demographic and clinical checklist developed by the researcher. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The mortality rate among elderly individuals was 25% (n = 101). Multiple regression analysis revealed significant associations between mortality and age (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38, 0.88; P = 0.011), level of consciousness (HR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.50; P &lt; 0.001), and SpO2 (HR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.92; P = 0.022). The probability of survival after the 19th day of hospitalization was 50%. Conclusions: Determining predictors of death allows for early identification of elderly individuals at risk and enables the health-care team to provide more effective care, ultimately saving the lives of elderly individuals by allocating appropriate facilities and equipment.

Another perspective on lumber spinal stenosis treatment: Should exercise be added to pre-surgical treatment?

Background/Aim: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a disease that affects the quality of life of elderly individuals. Most patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis try physical therapy before opting to undergo surgery. The effect of pre-surgical exercise treatment is unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of pre-surgical exercise treatment on functionality, quality of life, and balance. Methods: Patients between the ages of 40 and 70 who were scheduled for surgery based on a diagnosis of LSS were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups for which exercise therapy was added to the first group before the surgery, and the control group followed in the normal process. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory (BDI and BAI, respectively), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), static and dynamic balance measurements holding hands on and off on the balance device (SBHON, DBHON, DBHOFF) and the SF-36 quality of life scale tests were administered pre-operatively and eight weeks post-operatively, and the results were compared between the two groups that did and did not exercise before surgery. Results: Post-operative SBHON values were found to be significantly lower in the exercise group compared to the other group (P &lt; 0.001). While no differences between pre- and post-operative BBS, DBHON, and DBHOFF values in the non-exercising group were detected, a favorable significant difference in the exercising group was found (all P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The addition of pre-surgical exercise therapy to patients can lead to improvements in the success of surgery and contribute to the functionality of patients with LSS diagnosis.

Sarcopenia: An Age-Related Multifactorial Disorder.

Sarcopenia is a disease characterized by a gradual decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength that accompanies the normal aging process. The disease is associated with various adverse health outcomes in the geriatric population, such as prolonged hospital admission, disability, poor quality of life, frailty, and mortality. Factors involved in the development of age-related sarcopenia include anorexia, hormone level alterations, decreased neural innervation, low muscular blood flow, cytokine dysregulation, altered mitochondrial activity, genomic instability, intracellular proteolysis, and insulin resistance. Understanding the underlying mechanisms may facilitate the development of efficient prophylactic and therapeutic strategies to improve the quality of life in elderly individuals. Thus, the present review highlights literature regarding the mechanism of sarcopenia development in elderly patients.

Oral health-related multiple outcomes of holistic health in elderly individuals: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Along with an aging population, exploring the impact of oral health on holistic health and determining exact outcomes in elderly individuals are important in both scientific research and clinical practice. Significant increase in the number of systematic reviews shows that oral health can directly or indirectly affect the overall health of elderly people physically, mentally and socially. To systematically collate, appraise, and synthesize the current evidence, we carried out an umbrella review of the impacts of oral health on holistic health in elderly individuals. A systematic reviews and meta-analyses search was performed in the major databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from inception to February 1, 2022, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses was referred to assess methodological quality, and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, assessment, Development, and Evaluation working group classification) was used to assess the quality of evidence for each outcome included in the umbrella review. Out of 1,067 records, a total of 35 systematic reviews were included. Respiratory diseases, malnutrition, age-related oral changes, frailty, cognitive impairment, depression and poor quality of life were identified as seven key outcomes that affect the physical, mental and social health of elderly individuals. Meanwhile, three intervention measures of oral health were summarized as (i) more rigorous and universal scales, (ii) dental cleaning and denture installation, and (iii) improving self-awareness regarding oral care. Evidence showed that oral health can significantly affect holistic health, and the diverse oral diseases directly lead to multiple health outcomes in elderly individuals. Clear high-quality evidence revealed that oral health is strongly associated with seven health outcomes covering physical, mental, and social levels, which directly corresponds to holistic health, and impacts the quality of life of elderly individuals. Such the results remind the importance of oral care in public health, and further studies need to be conducted to verity more specific association between oral health and other chronic diseases. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier: CRD42022315315.