Physical Health Of Older Adults Research Articles

Exploring the group heterogeneity in the impact of social cohesion on the walking frequency of older adults in China

BackgroundWalkable neighborhoods are closely related to an increase in walking frequency and the strengthening of social cohesion. These factors, in turn, contribute to lower BMI and other positive health-related outcomes. However, with a rapid increase in aging populations in China and the fact that women are facing more challenges than men as they age, especially mobility challenges because they tend to live longer leading to probabilities to become widowed. Nevertheless, less attention has been paid to understanding the gender difference between these relationships.MethodsBased on a survey of 533 older adults in Dalian, China, this study tried to investigate the intertwined relationship between perceived walkability, social cohesion, walking frequency, and BMI. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) and multiple-group analysis were applied to test the proposed framework.ResultsFirst, results show that gender differences existed among the above interrelationships, and the most substantial gender gap was found in effects of social cohesion on BMI. Second, perceived walkability only has a direct effect (0.149) on walking frequencies for female seniors. Third, although the relationships between perceived walkability and BMI are not directly related in both male and female models, the indirect connection (−0.053) is substituted for female seniors. Besides, the inhibiting effect of walking on BMI, which is −0.511, is also valid for female seniors. Finally, in terms of the role of social cohesion, both the positive impacts of perceived walkability on it (0.225 for males and 0.325 for females) and its promoting effects on walking have been confirmed in male (0.142) and female models (0.103). The negative direct effect of social cohesion on BMI (−0.083) is only confirmed in male seniors.ConclusionInsights derived from this analysis can help bring forward gender-specific interventions to build a more inclusive walkable and social environment to improve the mobility and physical health of older adults.

Machine learning approach to classifying declines of physical function and muscle strength associated with cognitive function in older women: gait characteristics based on three speeds.

The aging process is associated with a cognitive and physical declines that affects neuromotor control, memory, executive functions, and motor abilities. Previous studies have made efforts to find biomarkers, utilizing complex factors such as gait as indicators of cognitive and physical health in older adults. However, while gait involves various complex factors, such as attention and the integration of sensory input, cognitive-related motor planning and execution, and the musculoskeletal system, research on biomarkers that simultaneously considers multiple factors is scarce. This study aimed to extract gait features through stepwise regression, based on three speeds, and evaluate the accuracy of machine-learning (ML) models based on the selected features to solve classification problems caused by declines in cognitive function (Cog) and physical function (PF), and in Cog and muscle strength (MS). Cognitive assessments, five times sit-to-stand, and handgrip strength were performed to evaluate the Cog, PF, and MS of 198 women aged 65 years or older. For gait assessment, all participants walked along a 19-meter straight path at three speeds [preferred walking speed (PWS), slower walking speed (SWS), and faster walking speed (FWS)]. The extracted gait features based on the three speeds were selected using stepwise regression. The ML model accuracies were revealed as follows: 91.2% for the random forest model when using all gait features and 91.9% when using the three features (walking speed and coefficient of variation of the left double support phase at FWS and the right double support phase at SWS) selected for the Cog+PF+ and Cog-PF- classification. In addition, support vector machine showed a Cog+MS+ and Cog-MS- classification problem with 93.6% accuracy when using all gait features and two selected features (left step time at PWS and gait asymmetry at SWS). Our study provides insights into the gait characteristics of older women with decreased Cog, PF, and MS, based on the three walking speeds and ML analysis using selected gait features, and may help improve objective classification and evaluation according to declines in Cog, PF, and MS among older women.

The Different Body Mass Index Does Not Impact Physical Health in Older Adults without Sedentary Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to compare and determine the correlation of BMI on physical health, including muscle strength, balance, and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults without sedentary behavior. A total of 65 older adults without sedentary behavior were recruited and divided into 3 groups on the basis of body mass index (BMI): normal weight (n= 22/group), overweight (n= 22/- group), and obese (n= 21/group). All the older adults were evaluated for upper limb muscle strength using the handgrip strength test, lower limb muscle strength using the sit-to-stand (STS10) test, balance ability using the time up and go (TUG) test, and cardiorespiratory fitness using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The handgrip strength test, STS10 test, and distance of 6MWT showed no difference among the groups (p> 0.05). However, overweight group had a significantly longer duration for the TUG test when compared to normal weight, while obese group had a significantly longer duration for the TUG test when compared with overweight and normal weight groups (p< 0.01). In addition, BMI was positively correlated with the duration of the TUG test. Whereas, the handgrip strength test, STS10 test, and distance of 6MWT were not correlated with BMI. The BMI does not impact upper and lower limb muscle strength or the cardiorespiratory fitness test, except for the ability to balance in older adults without sedentary behavior.

The association of resilience and physical activity in older adults: cross-sectional analyses from the NICOLA study

Abstract Aim As more of the world’s population are living longer, supporting the mental and physical health of older adults is becoming increasingly important in public health. Resilience is a dynamic process encompassing positive adaptation in the face of adverse experiences that would otherwise lead to poor outcomes. The aim of the study is to explore the association between physical activity and resilience in older adults. Subject and methods The data used in this study was taken from the results of the Self Completed Questionnaires and Computer Assisted Personal Interviews from the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A secondary analysis was conducted on a sample of 4040 participants to examine the association between resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) and on moderate/vigorous physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form) through chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests and an ordinal regression being conducted. Results Data was included for 4040 participants, of whom 90% did not meet the recommended moderate physical activity guidelines. The findings of this study indicated that higher resilience levels are associated with higher levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity levels. Conclusion Worryingly, a large percentage of the older adult population are not sufficiently active and this is something that needs to be addressed. The findings suggest that with these low levels of physical activity, interventions should be created to target this population.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet is inversely associated with the osteosarcopenia in older adults

ObjectiveOsteosarcopenia adversely affects the quality of life and physical health of older adults. We sought to explore the association between dietary patterns and osteosarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study from Northeast China, in which, we included older community adults aged 60 and above. Through face-to-face interviews, we collected dietary information from participants using a food frequency questionnaire. Subsequently, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain the dietary patterns of the participants. Through physical examination, we obtained the participants’ information on osteosarcopenia, which was defined by the coexist of osteopenia and sarcopenia. We analysed the association between dietary patterns and dietary compositions with ostesarcopenia.ResultsIn this study, a total of 9429 participants were included, and the prevalence of osteosarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults was 6.2%. PCA identified three main dietary patterns, and the lacto-ovo-vegetarian dietary pattern was inversely associated with osteosarcopenia. Compared to the lowest lacto-ovo-vegetarian quartile (Q1), the Q4 group (OR = 0.64, 95% CI:0.49–0.83) was inversely associated with osteosarcopenia. Through the weighted quantile sum regression model, we also found that the overall effect of the lacto-ovo-vegetarian dietary components was inversely associated with osteosarcopenia (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37–0.92); the largest contributors were vegetables, fresh milk, eggs, and dairy products.ConclusionOverall, we found that a lacto-ovo-vegetarian dietary pattern, particularly the consumption of vegetables, fresh milk, eggs, and dairy products, was inversely associated with osteosarcopenia in older adults. And this might provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of osteosarcopenia.

독거노인 대상 재활프로그램의 효과: 체계적 고찰

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the effects of home visits and rehabilitation programs for the elderly living alone, focusing on domestic and international literature. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Research Information Sharing Service databases for articles published between January 2013 and December 2022. We used a search strategy combining the terms “living alone” AND “old adults” AND “rehabilitation” OR “home visit” OR “program.” Six studies were selected based on their relevance to the research question and were evaluated for methodological quality, intervention program method, and effects of home visits and rehabilitation programs. Results: The average PEDro Scale of the papers was 6.6 points, indicating good quality. The home visit and rehabilitation programs included interventions such as exercise programs with telephone counseling and nutrition management programs, integrated play programs, and home visits. Analysis of the six articles revealed significant improvements in mental and physical health in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that home visits and rehabilitation programs can improve mental and physical health in older adults living alone, emphasizing the importance of these interventions tailored to the individual needs of this population. Future research is needed to provide more robust evidence to guide the planning and selection of these customized programs.

Depression is associated with discoordination between heart rate variability and physical acceleration in older women.

It is well known that depression is closely associated with the autonomic nervous system and physical acceleration (PA), which may cause functional time-deviance between these two parameters. Exploring this relationship is important in sustaining the mental and physical health of older adults in daily life. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between depression and the coordination of parasympathetic nervous activity (PSNA) and PA. The present study was designed to investigate whether the coordination between PSNA and PA is associated with the mental state of healthy volunteers in normal daily lives and the underlying mechanism. In total, 95 adult women were divided into non-older and older groups comprising 50 (aged 20-59 years) and 45 (aged 60-85 years) women, respectively. PSNA and PA data were simultaneously obtained every minute for 24 h during the free-moving day using the ActiveTracer accelerometer. Lag time was determined as the time difference between PSNA and PA, and it was introduced as a parameter of %lag0, which is the percent ratio of the lag = 0 min between PSNA and PA in 1 h. The General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ28) was used to evaluate the effects of psychological distress, including depression. In the hour before sleep, %lag0 was significantly lower in older women (38.7 ± 6.4) who had higher GHQ28 values (subscale D = 0, n = 12) compared with that in older women (19.4 ± 10.5) with lower values (subscale D ≧ 1, n = 33) (p < 0.05). Impairments in coordination between PSNA and PA are significantly associated with depression in older women, particularly in the hour before sleep on free-moving days.

Worry and ruminative brooding: associations with cognitive and physical health in older adults.

Mental health conditions are associated with cognition and physical function in older adults. We examined whether worry and ruminative brooding, key symptoms of certain mental health conditions, are related to subjective and/or objective measures of cognitive and physical (cardiovascular) health. We used baseline data from 282 participants from the SCD-Well and Age-Well trials (178 female; agemean = 71.1 years). We measured worry and ruminative brooding using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Ruminative Response Scale-brooding subscale. We assessed subjective physical health using the WHOQOL-Bref physical subscale, and objective physical health via blood pressure and modified versions of the Framingham Risk Score and Charlson Comorbidity Index. With subjective and objective cognition, we utilized the Cognitive Difficulties Scale and a global composite (modified Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite, PACC5, with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, category fluency, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2, and either the California Verbal Learning Test or the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test). We conducted linear regressions, adjusted for education, age, sex and cohort. Worry and ruminative brooding were negatively associated with subjective physical health (worry: β = -0.245, 95%CI -0.357 to -0.133, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = -0.224, 95%CI -0.334 to -0.113, p < 0.001) and subjective cognitive difficulties (worry: β = 0.196, 95%CI 0.091 to 0.302, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = 0.239, 95%CI 0.133 to 0.346, p < 0.001). We did not observe associations between worry or ruminative brooding and any measure of objective health. Worry and ruminative brooding may be common mechanisms associated with subjective but not objective health. Alternatively, cognitively unimpaired older adults may become aware of subtle changes not captured by objective measures used in this study. Interventions reducing worry and ruminative brooding may promote subjective physical and cognitive health; however, more research is needed to determine causality of the relationships.

ISOTEMPORAL SUBSTITUTION OF 24-HOUR MOVEMENT BEHAVIOR AND FRAILTY STATUS IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Background Properly distributing twenty-four hours (24-h) movement in daily life may provide older individuals chances to prevent frailty. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing sedentary behavior (SB) with light physical activity (LPA) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on risks of pre-frailty and frailty in older adults. Methods We recruited 196 older adults (48.5% men; 80.3 ± 7.1 years old) to wear a triaxial accelerometer on the waist. Pre-frailty and frailty were assessed by a modified version of Fried’s criteria. Isotemporal substitution analysis was performed to investigate the association between 24-h movement and risks of pre-frailty and frailty. Results After adjusting confounding variables, the results also indicated that only reallocating 60minutes of SB per day to MVPA was less likely to have pre-frailty (OR = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.20) and frailty (OR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.36). In addition, each 5-min increment in MVPA from 20 min as part of total physical activity (40 min in LPA) to replace 60 minutes of SB per day resulted in being less likely to have frailty (OR = 0.546, 95% CI= 0.301, 0.992). Conclusions This study demonstrated that using 60-min MVPA to substitute SB daily may theoretically reduce the risk of being pre-frailty and frailty. Moreover, replacing 60-min SB daily with mixed 40-min LPA and 20-min MVPA was able to reduce frailty risks. Therefore, those findings may provide alternative approaches with acceptable intensity and feasibility when promoting the physical health of older adults.

Changes in health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study

Abstract Background COVID-19 measures affected the lives of many older adults. Yet, little is known on changes in health among older adults, especially in periods when COVID-19 measures relaxed. We aimed to assess changes in health of older adults during multiple turning points of the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse differences in changes in health between subpopulations of older adults. Methods This longitudinal study includes data from Dutch older adults (≥65 years) participating in the Lifelines COVID-19 Cohort and consists of seven questionnaires administered every 2-4 months between May ‘20 and October ‘21. The outcomes were quality of life (n = 14,682), physical fitness (n = 14,761) and feelings of isolation (n = 14,611). Changes in health and differences between subpopulations were analysed by multivariable linear mixed-effects models. Fluctuations in COVID-19 measures were described by the Government Stringency Index. Results Changes in quality of life and feelings of isolation of older adults coincided with fluctuations in the stringency of COVID-19 measures. In periods when measures were tightened, quality of life and feelings of isolation decreased and when measures relaxed, they improved. For example, when measures relaxed after the first lockdown in May ‘20, quality of life improved with 0.23 [95%CI: 0.16, 0.29] (p&amp;lt;.001). For physical fitness, changes were characterised by a slight decline of 0.26 [95%CI: 0.15, 0.37] (p=.001) during the study period. Differences in subpopulations were found for feelings of isolation for which differences between men and women congregated after a longer period of relaxed measures with 0.59 [95%CI: 0.49, 0.69] (p&amp;lt;.001). Conclusions Quality of life and feelings of isolation among older adults recover after periods of stringent measures. For physical fitness, the slight but continuing decline suggests a negative impact of COVID-19 measures. Our findings might indicate the need for health policy strategies to mitigate this effect. Key messages • Changes in quality of life and feelings of isolation of older adults coincided with fluctuations in stringency of COVID-19 measures and display recovery after periods of stringent measures. • Changes in physical fitness were characterized by slight decline and did not recover after stringent measures, suggesting an impact of COVID-19 measures on physical health of older adults.

147 PRIME-COG study: grip strength, anthropometrics and cognitive decline

Abstract Background Measurement of hand grip strength is a validated measure of physical strength. While anthropometric measurements including waist, hip and mid-upper-arm circumference, are validated for physical health. Evidence has suggested grip strength and anthropometrics to be associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. The relationship between these variables and risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia was investigated in a cohort of 70–90-year-old men residing in Northern Ireland. Methods The PRIME-COG study is nested within the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME) study. Data collection for PRIME-COG included collection of lifestyle and demographic information. A comprehensive cognitive assessment, anthropometric measurements, and hand grip strength were measured by dementia research nurses from the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network. Logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between hand grip strength and anthropometric measures and the composite cognitive endpoint MCI/dementia. Results Analysis identified that low hand grip strength was associated with MCI/dementia, although this did not reach statistical significance (OR 1.39, p = 0.18). Larger hip circumference was associated with reduced risk of MCI/dementia in the study population (fully adjusted model, OR 0.93, P = 0.01), while BMI was non-significantly associated with an increased risk (OR 1.22, p = 0.58). Conclusion Within the PRIME-COG cohort, low grip strength was associated with a 39% increased risk of MCI/dementia. Whilst not statistically significant, this supports the importance of grip strength as a clinical tool in the assessment of physical health in older adults. Larger hip circumference was significantly associated with a 7% reduced risk of MCI/dementia, while higher BMI was associated with a 22% increased risk, although this was not significant. Results from this study add to the evidence demonstrating the association between cognitive function and physical well-being.

Effect of Group-based Fallproof Program on Balance and Psychological Health of the Elderly With Different Ages

Background and Aims Balance control is needed to walk and function independently. Decreased balance accompanied by fear of falling can have a negative effect on the mental and physical health of older adults. In this study, we aim to assess the effect of group-based Fallproof program on balance and psychological aspects of health in the elderly with different ages. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, the study population consists of all healthy community-dwelling older people in Tehran, Iran. Based to the inclusion criteria, 60 people aged 65-85 years were selected using a convenience sampling method from public recreational centers. They were divided into three age groups: 65-71, 72-78, and 79-85 years. All groups received a group-based Fallproof program for eight weeks, three times a week. The Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised was used to measure psychological problems, and the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale was used to identify balance problems in the pre-test and post-test phases. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of data distribution, and analysis of covariance was used to measure the mean differences between groups The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The results showed a significant improvement in balance and psychological health of all three groups after the intervention (P&lt;0.001). The oldest group showed more significant improvement in all dependent variables when compared to other two groups. Therefore, older adults not only can benefit from exercise-based interventions, but also can achieve better physical and psychological results in short period by participating in group-based Fallproof program. Conclusion Eight weeks of group-based Fallproof program can be effective in improving balance and psychological health of the elderly and can be used along with other training protocols for improving balance problems of older adults.

Associations between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Greece.

Physical activity is an important factor in achieving healthy aging, offering older persons multiple benefits in terms of maintaining and improving their health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity on the quality of life of older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2022, using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A total of 124 people aged 65 and over participated in the survey. The average age of the participants was 71.6 years, and 62.1% were women. Participants showed a moderate quality of life with regard to the physical health dimension (mean score 52.4) and a higher quality of life with regard to the mental health dimension (mean score 63.1) compared to the expected values of the population. Low levels of physical activity were recorded among older adults, reaching a rate of 83.9%. A moderate or high level of physical activity has been found to contribute to a better physical functioning (p = 0.03), vitality (p = 0.02) and general health (p = 0.01). Finally, comorbidity had a negative impact on physical activity (p = 0.03) and quality of life regarding mental and physical health in older adults. The study showed very low levels of physical activity in older Greek adults. The management of this problem, which was intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be a high priority in public health programs focusing on healthy aging, as physical activity affects and promotes many of the basic aspects of quality of life.

Creativity and Aging: The Role of Diversity

Creativity is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “the use of imagination or original ideas to create something” (2012), which is typically conceptualized as an artistic piece of work, but can be an invention, a theory, or even a solution to a problem. Thus, creativity is also relevant in the scientific fields, where the presence of flexible, or divergent, thinking is considered an essential component. Although there is little evidence of differences in creative abilities based on gender and race, lack of representation of women and marginalized racial/ethnic groups in creative fields including art, fashion, film, and music has been documented (Topaz et al 2022). Similarly, fewer than three percent of Nobel science winners are women, and only one woman of color has ever received the award.Creativity, and engagement in creative activities, has received recent interest in the geriatric field, because it is thought that both may play a role in successful aging and enhanced coping during the later years of life. Indeed, participating in creative arts appears to improve quality of life and health outcomes in older adults. However, the literature on creativity and aging has not focused on the potential effects of gender and race diversity. This symposium will examine the theme of creativity and aging, with special emphasis on issues related to diversity. Dr. Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali's presentation will focus on the lives and artistic work of two artists, Carmen Herrera and Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori who, through very different life experiences, maintained a high level of creativity in their later years. The talk will highlight aspects of diversity and equity that impacted on the personal lives and professional careers of these two artists. Dr. Linda Mah will present the recent literature on the impact of aging on creativity to answer the question of whether creativity declines in the later years and discuss the extent to which these changes are modulated by race or gender. Dr. Ruchi Aggarwal will conclude with an overview of the evidence for the potential benefits of creative arts-based interventions on mental and physical health in older adults, with special attention paid to the diversity of participants and potential impact on outcomes. As discussant, Dr. Rita Hargrave will provide commentary on the intersection between aging, race and gender and the process of creativity from her unique perspective as a geriatric psychiatrist with expertise in aging, culture, and wellness, as well as her work in dance and film making. She will also present a brief clip from her documentary "The Last Mambo" which focuses on the history and future of Latin music in the San Francisco Bay Area.This symposium is sponsored by the AAGP Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Action (IDEA) Committee.

INTERSECTIONALITY OF SENSORY LOSS AND RACE: IMPLICATIONS FOR BRAIN AND MENTAL HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Despite recent evidence that sensory loss may increase risk of dementia, mood disorders, and poor physical health in older adults, nearly all research to-date has been conducted in populations that are predominantly White and from high-income countries. This session will investigate the intersectionality of race with sensory loss with a focus on health equity and inclusion of traditionally underrepresented populations. It will evaluate sensory loss across multiple senses, how patterns vary by race, and whether socioeconomic status can explain these differences. In the US, prevalence of impairment in vision, touch, and smell is lower in Whites compared to Black or Hispanics. Interestingly, hearing loss prevalence is lower in Blacks than Whites, but dementia incidence is higher. This session will describe incident dementia risk associated with hearing loss in Black compared to White Americans. It will also address the relationship between dual (hearing and vision) loss and depressive symptoms in India to explore the generalizability of findings to lower middle-income countries. Sensory impairments may intersect with racial discrimination to exacerbate social and health disparities. This session will also describe racial disparities in food insecurity among Americans with vision loss. Finally, we will present results of a randomized controlled trial of an innovative, community-delivered approach to affordable, accessible hearing care. The study represents the largest U.S.-based trial cohort to date of low-income older adults and older African American adults with hearing loss.

Chronic Loneliness, Gender, and Trajectories of Change in Hand Grip Strength in OlderAdults.

This study examined whether exposure to chronic loneliness is associated with a persistent decline in hand grip strength among community-dwelling older adults in Korea, and this association varies by gender. This study analyzed data from 2,570 adults aged 65 or older collected over the course of 7 waves (12years) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006 to 2018 (1,403 women and 1,167 men). Exposure to chronic loneliness was assessed by the experience of loneliness over a period of years, and hand grip strength was measured by an objective diagnostic tool. Gender-stratified fixed effects models were estimated to determine whether the association between chronic loneliness and hand grip strength differs by gender while accounting for time-invariant individual heterogeneity. Chronic loneliness was associated with a persistent decline in hand grip strength in older adults over an extended period of time. Gender-specific analyses revealed that only men continued to experience a decline in hand grip strength up to the fifth and subsequent waves of exposure (b=-1.889). By contrast, for older women, a significant decrease in hand grip strength was observed only in the second wave of exposure (b=-0.690). These gendered trajectories were statistically significant. Chronic loneliness impairs the physical health of older adults in the long run. These physical health consequences of chronic loneliness were more pronounced among older men than older women. The study's findings inform the development of interventions that mitigate the adverse health consequences of chronic loneliness.

The WW‐FINGERS‐SARS‐CoV‐2 initiative: a multinational survey to assess the effects of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Lifestyle and Psychosocial factors relevant to Brain Health

AbstractBackgroundglobal population aging and forecasted trends of modifiable risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) make prevention of these conditions an urgent priority. The World‐Wide FINGERS (WW‐FINGERS) global network of multidomain trials for dementia risk reduction and prevention is at the forefront of efforts to find effective and sustainable solutions for diverse population. The COVID‐19 pandemic has caused changes in the mental and physical health of older adults, which can influence dementia risk and prevention opportunities.MethodsThe WW‐FINGERS‐SARS‐CoV‐2 survey was developed to assess direct and indirect effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic in older adults. The questionnaire measures changes in lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, physical activity), management of chronic noncommunicable diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), and psychosocial factors ‐including depressive symptoms, sleep disorders, social isolation‐ that are relevant to cognition. Both a pen‐and‐paper and a digital version of the survey have been developed in several languages. The digital version is supported through REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), which is used also for harmonized data collection.Results30 countries are participating in the survey. As for January 2022, data have been collected from 20 countries, with 23000+ participants. Local adaptations and piloting were done to optimize implementation in clinical‐based and population‐based settings. Participants are in the at‐risk spectrum for dementia: from normal cognition to pre‐dementia cognitive symptoms. Timing of the survey implementation varies across populations, allowing to capture short, medium and long‐term effects of the pandemic and restrictions measures. Some countries have used the survey to recruit participants in multimodal prevention trials. An updated report of the survey status and main results will be presented.ConclusionThe WW‐FINGERS‐SARS‐CoV2 survey is a joint global action of the WW‐FINGERS network which can inform better care of older adults in the context of a pandemic. The survey is also a valuable tool for pre‐screening of participants for prevention trials, and results can inform adaptions to ensure successful recruitment and adherence in forthcoming multidomain trials for dementia prevention in older adults.

The Associations between Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24-HMG) and Self-Rated Physical and Mental Health in Older Adults-Cross Sectional Evidence from China.

Background: This study determined the prevalence of older adults (aged 60–80 years) meeting the Canadian 24-HMG alone and in combination, and their association with the self-rated physical health and mental health of older adults. Methods: Participants were drawn from 4134 older adults aged 60–80 years (age, 67.37 ± 0.08 years; 46.87% male) from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 2015 database. Mental health and physical health scores were obtained based on self-rated mental health questionnaires and physical health of older adults. The criteria for meeting the 24-HMG were: physical activity time ≥ 150 min/week, sedentary time ≤ 480 min/day, screen time ≤ 180 min/day, sleep time 7–9 h (60–64 years) and sleep time 7–8 h (65 years and above). Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between meeting the 24-HMG guidelines number and category and older adults’ self-rated mental and physical health. Results: The proportion of older people meeting three of the 24-HMG guidelines was 1.16%, the proportion meeting two guidelines was 38.19% and the proportion meeting one guideline was 49.14%. The number of people meeting 24-HMG was closely related to the self-rated physical health and mental health of older people. The category meeting 24-HMG was closely related to the self-rated physical health and mental health of older people. Conclusions: Meeting more guidelines in the 24-HMG was strongly associated with older people’s self-rated mental health and physical health. However, only a small proportion of older people met all the recommendations, highlighting the need to promote and support adherence to these movement behaviours.

Virtual Reality and Exercise Training Enhance Brain, Cognitive, and Physical Health in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

We investigated the effectiveness of virtual-reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) and exercise on the brain, cognitive, physical and activity of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study included 99 participants (70.8 ± 5.4) with MCI in the VRCT, exercise, and control groups. The VRCT consisted of a series of games targeting different brain functions such as executive function, memory, and attention. Twenty-four sessions of VRCT (three days/week) were performed, and each session was 100 min long. Exercise intervention consisted of aerobic and resistance trainings performed in 24 sessions for 60 min (2 times/week for 12 weeks). Global cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) of the neural oscillatory activity in different frequency bands was performed. Physical function was measured using handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed. Results: After the intervention period, VRCT significantly improved the MMSE scores (p < 0.05), and the exercise group had significantly improved HGS and MMSE scores (p < 0.05) compared to baseline. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of resting-state EEG showed a decreased theta/beta power ratio (TBR) (p < 0.05) in the central region of the brain in the exercise group compared to the control group. Although not statistically significant, the VRCT group also showed a decreased TBR compared to the control group. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test showed a significant decrease in theta band power in the VRCT group compared to the exercise group and a decrease in delta/alpha ratio in the exercise group compared to the VRCT group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that VRCT and exercise training enhances brain, cognitive, and physical health in older adults with MCI. Further studies with a larger population sample to identify the effect of VRCT in combination with exercise training are required to yield peak benefits for patients with MCI.

Analysing the Quality of Life of Older Adults: Heterogeneity, COVID-19 Lockdown, and Residential Stability.

This study aims to, first, investigate the quality of life (QOL) of older adults in Taiwan, from the perspective of heterogeneity and, second, clarify the social isolation affecting their QOL during the pandemic. Additionally, it explores the residential stability of older adults. Our empirical model, a Generalized Ordered Probit Model, uses secondary data from the 2019 Taiwan Social Change Survey for people aged 65 and above, with a total sampling size of 417. The results show that the self-assessed physical health of older adults is a significantly heterogeneous variable affecting their QOL, and has a varying impact on the probability of them being satisfied with their QOL. Results suggest that better financial plans and staying healthy are the main determinants of their QOL. Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly hampered their QOL, which was not compensated by the use of the internet. Furthermore, older adults’ residential stability significantly influences their QOL. Family members and relevant social work units should contribute to in-person home care for older adults to reduce their social isolation, with a focus on improving their living environments and to ensure that they age in a safe and healthy place.