Atmospherically relevant PM2.5 promotes age-related muscle atrophy in an age-dependent manner.

The association between Internet use and successful aging among Chinese older adults: a propensity score matching study.

Background The cellular mechanisms that promote the maintenance of cognitive abilities in very old people designated as successful agers remain under-investigated. Here, we report an episodic memory performance-based criteria that differentiates superior cognitive function from normative cognitive function in adults aged 80 and older. Objective Using this new criteria, we demonstrate how neuropathological and neurobiological underpinnings of superior cognitive performance can be investigated. Methods The most recent verbal episodic memory WMS-R Logical Memory Delayed Recall (LM-DR) score was derived from 144 participants with no cognitive impairment (NCI) 80 years or older participants from the Rush Religious Orders Study classified with Superior Cognitive Performance (SCP, LM-DR ≥ 14) or Normal Cognitive Performance (NCP, LM-DR 13 ≥ 7). Both groups were compared on neuropathological measures for neuritic plaque (NP), diffuse plaque (DP), and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) load. Results NP (p = 0.44), DP (p = 0.27), and NFT (p = 0.28) burden did not differ between SCP and NCP cases. LM-DR scores did not correlate with NP (r = −0.08, p = 0.32), DP (r = −0.14, p = 0.07), or NFT (r = −0.12, p = 0.13) load. Biochemical analysis revealed significantly higher levels of heat-shock protein HSPB6 in SCP compared to NCP (p < 0.001). Conclusions Heat shock protein differences were observed between NCP and SCP groups. This suggests that our proposed criteria for SCP can help identify neurobiological mechanisms of successful cognitive aging. Our SCP criteria are also concordant with the SuperAger criteria which supports the generalizability of the SCP criteria to other datasets.

Cognitive decline, immune function, and inflammation are considered objective markers of aging (OMAs) and are commonly used to predict an individual's aging success. We propose that subjective factors - such as a person's beliefs and perceptions about their own age and aging - that have been shown to predict development in old age be defined as subjective markers of aging (SMAs). Although aging is a complex, multidimensional process, studies typically examine effects of OMAS and SMAs separately, rather than integrating both types of markers to improve predictions of successful aging. Our study aims to fill this gap by concurrently using both OMAs and SMAs to model the associations of different indicators of successful aging, including autonomous daily functioning, health-related quality of life, and life satisfaction. We assess OMAs through measures of visuo-motoric speed and executive function (Trail Making Test), inflammation (interleukin-6, c-reactive protein), and immune aging (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio). In addition, we examine SMAs by evaluating subjective age and self-perceptions of aging. We used cross-sectional data from 456 older adults (MAge = 74years, 60-86years) from the LIFE Adult Study to investigate the associations of OMAs and SMAs with successful aging. Regarding OMAs, cognitive functioning and inflammation were associated to daily activities and health-related quality of life, respectively, but were not related to life satisfaction. In contrast, both SMAs were associated to life satisfaction, and self-perceptions of aging were associated to health-related quality of life, but none of the SMAs were related to levels of daily functioning. Our results suggest that fundamental biological resources and psychological perceptions of aging are selectively associated with different facets of successful aging.

ABSTRACT Non-formal educational intervention has been shown to be a decisive factor in promoting successful aging. This paper presents the findings of an educational intervention project that took place in a therapeutic center in the north of Portugal, involving 10 men between the ages of 49 and 66 with addictive behaviors and dependencies. The study aims to explore whether non-formal education contributes to successful aging and identify the factors that make the greatest contribution to promoting this process among older adults with addictive behaviors and dependencies. With a methodology grounded in the qualitative interpretative hermeneutic paradigm and participatory action research, the educational project took the form of four workshops lasting 12 months. The results indicate that, from the point of view of the participants, the experience was very positive, the greatest benefits being a significant improvement in health, an increase in perceived well-being and quality of life, stronger interpersonal relationships and a feeling of social inclusion and satisfaction with the lessons learned.

Abstract As workforces age, understanding how knowledge flows between younger and older employees has become a central concern in organizations. This reflective commentary synthesizes the development of research on age and knowledge transfer since the seminal contribution by Burmeister et al. ( Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 2018, 91, 518). Moving beyond age as a control variable, the literature conceptualizes knowledge transfer as a structured, relational and context‐dependent process shaped by age‐based norms, motivation and identities. I summarize key themes that have emerged in the field, including multi‐level antecedents and expanding consequences ranging from employability and successful aging at work to organizational performance. The commentary highlights methodological advances, including dyadic designs, field experiments and multi‐level studies, while identifying persistent conceptual blind spots. Building on these insights, seven directions for future research are proposed as follows: (1) emphasizing age as a continuous and multifaceted construct, (2) exploring emotions as central mechanisms, (3) differentiating knowledge types and behaviours, (4) capturing micro‐dynamics and temporal fluctuations, (5) broadening the outcome scope, (6) digitization and (7) methodological pluralism. By integrating lifespan and knowledge transfer perspectives, this commentary argues that knowledge transfer across the lifespan and between different age groups constitutes a critical vehicle for sustaining both organizational effectiveness and meaningful working lives.

Objectives The role of technology in promoting well-being in later life has attracted increasing scholarly attention, but empirical evidence from non-Western contexts remains scarce. This study addresses this gap by examining how digital literacy and technology use relate to successful aging among older adults in Türkiye, with a particular focus on the mediating role of loneliness. Method Data were obtained through an online survey administered between March and May 2024 to 334 adults aged 60–91 years (M = 67.06, SD = 5.61), reflecting a balanced gender composition. Results Results indicated that digital literacy was significantly associated with lower loneliness and higher levels of successful aging, while technology use showed no significant direct effects. Structural equation modeling revealed that loneliness partially mediated the relationship between digital literacy and successful aging. Conclusion These findings offer preliminary insights regarding the potential role of digital literacy in loneliness and successful aging among older adults in Türkiye.

With the rapid advancement of information and communication technology, health-related information has become increasingly accessible, making health literacy-the ability to access, understand, and use health information-more important than ever. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health literacy and successful aging in a Korean population. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 70,626 participants in the 2021 Korean Community Health Survey. Verbal and written health literacy were assessed. Successful aging was operationalized using five criteria capturing physical, cognitive, social, and psychological dimensions: no disability, high cognitive function, no depressive symptoms, active social engagement, and psychological well-being. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression was used to examine association between health literacy and successful aging. Compared with participants with high verbal health literacy, those with low verbal health literacy had significantly lower odds of successful aging (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.68-0.76). Compared with participants with high written health literacy, those with low written literacy (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.73-0.83) and those uninterested in written health information had lower odds of successful aging (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.65-0.74). Low health literacy was significantly associated with lower odds of successful aging. These findings underscore the importance of promoting health literacy as a potential target for intervention to support successful aging and to inform future health policies and intervention efforts.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the longitudinal association between indoor solid fuel use and successful aging (along with its specific dimensions), and explored the potential mediating role of muscle strength in this relationship. Based on longitudinal data, we found that the use of solid fuels for cooking or heating was significantly associated with lower odds of achieving successful aging (cooking: OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.68–0.80, P < 0.001; heating: OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.67–0.79, P < 0.001). The lowest odds were observed among those using solid fuels for both purposes. The negative impact spanned most dimensions of successful aging. Furthermore, solid fuel use was linked to higher odds of low muscle strength (cooking: OR = 1.31; heating: OR = 1.31; both: OR = 1.49), which itself was strongly associated with reduced odds of successful aging (ORs = 0.56 ~ 0.57, all P < 0.001). These results indicate that the adverse effect of indoor solid fuel combustion on successful aging is partially mediated through the pathway of reduced muscle strength. The main findings remained consistent across multiple sensitivity checks. Subgroup analyses showed general consistency, with slightly stronger heating effects among females and significantly more pronounced associations in urban settings. Our findings underscore the importance of transitioning to clean household energy as a public health intervention to support healthy aging in later life.

South Korea entered a super-aged society in December 2024, and the proportion of elderly women, who have a longer life expectancy than men, has also been steadily increasing. Consequently, social interest and community-level interventions for successful aging are required. This study examined the effects of perceived health status, urinary incontinence, sleep quality, social support, and selective optimization with compensation (SOC) strategies on successful aging among community-dwelling older women. The cross-sectional design was used. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted from July 1 to August 30, 2024, with 154 women aged 65 years and older enrolled at eight senior centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Validated questionnaires were used to assess the perceived health status, urinary incontinence, sleep quality, social support, SOC strategies, and successful aging. Data were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis. Successful aging was positively correlated with perceived health status, social support, and SOC strategies, and negatively correlated with urinary incontinence and poor sleep quality. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the three-stage regression model was statistically significant (F=25.223, P<0.001). In the third stage, perceived health status (β=0.463, P<0.001), social support (β=0.469, P<0.001), and SOC strategies (β=0.124, P=0.022) were identified as statistically significant variables. The model explained 58.8% of the variance. Perceived health status, social support, and SOC strategies have been identified as factors influencing successful aging. Despite the limitations of the cross-sectional study design based on convenience sampling, the findings of this study provide a foundation for developing interventions aimed at promoting healthy aging among the elderly population.

The emerging phenomenon of digital exclusion raises an important issue that not everyone is equally engaged in and can benefit from the digital world. Older adults are particularly susceptible to digital exclusion, but a comprehensive conceptual treatment of digital exclusion in older adults is lacking in the psychology literature. In this article, we provide a taxonomy to advance the literature on digital exclusion in older adults, identifying key conceptual attributes of older adults' digital exclusion experiences by articulating both structural (i.e., technology deficit) and psychological (i.e., social and information isolation) challenges that they face. On the basis of this taxonomy, we integrate insights from lifespan development theories to develop a theoretical model that considers the antecedents of digital exclusion among older adults at micro, meso, and macrolevels and outlines the potential consequences for successful aging in life and work domains. We also suggest directions for future research, aiming to address issues of digital exclusions among older adults and promote digital equality in societies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful diagnostic technique for probing internal electrochemical processes and assessing lithium-ion battery degradation, yet its practical application is often limited by the complexity and subjectivity of manual fitting procedures. This paper proposes a fully automated algorithm for extracting equivalent circuit model (ECM) parameters from EIS measurements to quantify the battery degradation modes, namely conductivity loss (CL), loss of active material (LAM), and loss of lithium inventory (LLI). The developed method integrates an automated partitioning of the measured impedance spectrum into three frequency regions using optimized percentile thresholds. This segmentation enables an initial estimation of circuit parameters describing lithium-ion cell behaviour, including ohmic resistance, charge-transfer resistances, non-ideal capacitances, and Warburg diffusion elements. These initial estimates are subsequently refined through an iterative, sequential optimization process based on a Trust Region Reflective least-squares algorithm, using a reference spectrum and propagating the optimized parameters across successive aging cycles. The algorithm was validated using two experimental datasets comprising various cell types and impedance magnitudes ranging from micro-ohms to a few ohms. The proposed approach minimizes operator intervention and provides a reliable and scalable tool for battery health monitoring, suitable for both real-life diagnostics and research activities involving large volumes of experimental data. • Automatized algorithm for multiple Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy fitting • Optimization of initial parameters set once, then automatically selected by code. • Practical applications are provided with validation on two datasets. • Equivalent Circuit Model theory is applied for aging mechanisms quantifications. • Industrial potential via improvements in battery management and aging predictions

ABSTRACT The rapid growth of the global older population necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional factors that shape successful aging. This study was conducted to examine the mediating role of happiness in the relationship between felt age and successful aging among older adults living in Kırşehir, Türkiye. The study, designed as across-sectional analytical investigation, included 220 individuals aged 65 years and older who were registered at family-health-centers located in the city center and participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Successful Aging Scale, and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire– Short Form. Path analysis revealed that felt age negatively predicted successful aging (β = –0.238, p < 0.001) and that the indirect effect through happiness was also negative and statistically significant (β = –0.078, p < 0.001). In addition, happiness was found to be a moderate and significant predictor of successful aging (β = 0.391, p < 0.001) and to have a partial mediating role in this relationship. Correlation analyses revealed that individuals who felt younger reported higher levels of happiness. Variables, such as education, income, and perceived health status were also found to have significant effects on the outcomes. The findings indicated that individuals’ felt age and happiness play a critical role in successful aging. Thus, the study underscores the importance of psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing the happiness levels of older adults.

Successful aging is a multidimensional core concept encompassing physical, psychological, and social adaptability. Its non-achievement not only significantly reduces the quality of life of older adults but also increases the care and economic burden on families and society. This study aimed to systematically explore the association between multidimensional grip strength indicators and successful aging among middle-aged and older adults in China, and to clarify the strength of association of different indicators. Using prospective cohort data from four waves (2011-2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), successful aging was defined based on the internationally accepted five-dimensional Rowe-Kahn criteria. Multivariate logistic regression models and Latent Class Growth Model (LCGM) were used to analyze the associations of successful aging with baseline grip strength, three-time average grip strength, longitudinal grip strength variability indicators, and long-term grip strength trajectories, respectively. Results showed that among 1,892 participants, 52 (2.76%) achieved successful aging during follow-up. Three-time average grip strength was significantly and robustly positively associated with successful aging - after full covariate adjustment, each 1-unit increase was associated with a 7.8% higher probability of achieving successful aging (OR = 1.078, 95% CI: 1.023-1.137, P = 0.005), and its model discriminative power was significantly superior to single baseline grip strength measurement. Variability Independent of the Mean (VIM) was significantly negatively associated with successful aging - after full covariate adjustment, each 1-unit increase was associated with a 35.2% lower probability of achieving successful aging (OR = 0.648, 95% CI: 0.417-0.962, P = 0.042). Additionally, compared with the high-baseline slight decline trajectory, middle-aged and older adults with the moderate-baseline gentle decline trajectory had a 61% significantly lower probability of achieving successful aging (OR = 0.390, 95% CI: 0.161-0.944, P = 0.035). These findings indicate that multidimensional grip strength indicators are significantly associated with successful aging among middle-aged and older adults in China, with three-time average grip strength and VIM showing the strongest associations. The results can provide evidence-based reference for health risk stratification in older adults.

Successful sexual aging: A narrative review using the multidimensional theoretical paradigm of systems sexology to explore sexual health in midlife and older adults.

While biomedical advancements have significantly extended human longevity, increased lifespan is frequently decoupled from healthspan, as these additional years are often accompanied by frailty and chronic morbidity. Frailty is characterized by a multisystem decline in physiological reserve, and renders individuals disproportionately vulnerable to adverse outcomes -including mortality- when faced with health stressors. Consequently, research into the biological mechanisms linking ageing to the onset of frailty is needed. The zebrafish is increasingly utilized as a model for human aging and frailty due to its high degree of genetic homology. With a short lifespan of approximately three years, zebrafish show several conserved senescent phenotypes, including cataracts, sarcopenia, spinal curvature, and motor decline. Crucially, as in humans, ageing in zebrafish is not strictly chronological; apparent biological age often diverges from calendar age, with physical condition indicating frailty status more accurately. We propose a frailty index designed to evaluate the divergence between successful ageing and frailty in zebrafish. By utilizing easily quantifiable phenotypic markers such as spinal curvature and Body Mass Index, this index provides a score that predicts frailty status as validated against expert assessment. Implementing this standardized metric will facilitate cross-laboratory comparisons and enhance the reproducibility of future zebrafish-based ageing research.

Synthetic imagery produced by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming how aging is visually represented and culturally understood. However, the accuracy and representational adequacy of these outputs require further examination, particularly when addressing minority or discipline-specific concepts, such as successful aging. This study critically examines GenAI imagery in East Asian contexts, focusing on how representations of gender, class, and successful aging are constructed and circulated. Drawing on the updated successful aging concepts, we integrate visual semiotics with cultural gerontology to treat synthetic images as algorithmic artifacts that reflect and reinforce normative ideals of later life. Using critical visual experimentation, we used Midjourney to generate 288 images for analysis, guided by prompts addressing social, affective, and environmental dimensions of aging. A total of 36 textual prompts were designed and grouped into three thematic categories: minimal descriptive prompts, scene-based prompts, and value-coded prompts. Our findings reveal gendered aesthetic norms, class-coded relational tropes, and algorithmic failures tied to ageist language. Particularly, images generated with prompts containing the phrases "successful aging" and "aging successfully" suggest that the image-generating tool embedded with natural language processing does not adequately interpret these expressions. We argue that GenAI compresses the complexity of aging into stylized, stereotypical, and reductive forms that risk amplifying cultural biases. At the crossroads of achieving reframing aging, our study calls for age-inclusive, culturally grounded AI design and contributes to interdisciplinary debates on synthetic visuality, representational justice, and AI-mediated culture, helping to advance a more inclusive and nuanced account of aging.

The population of elderly patients with asthma is increasing, resulting in serious health problems because of hospitalization and high mortality rate. Furthermore, several recent studies have shown that progressive airflow limitation may worsen cognitive dysfunction and contribute to poor asthma control. Maintaining good respiratory function is therefore important in the elderly in order to achieve a satisfactory quality of life. A 12-week, open-label, cross-over study was conducted in elderly patients with asthma to investigate the effect of 5μg/day tiotropium bromide (TIO) add-on therapy administered using a soft mist inhaler (SMI), in addition to a dosage of 500/20µg/day fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate (FP/FM) treatment and to compare the effects of treatment with those following the administration of 500/20 µg/day FP/FM alone. The trial design thus entailed a 4-week run-in period and two 4-week treatment periods. A total of 21 patients aged over 65 years with stable bronchial asthma were recruited in the study. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second values after the treatment period with FP/FM and TIO add-on therapy were significantly higher than those after the run-in period (p < 0.01). TIO add-on therapy FP/FM treatment using an SMI in elderly patients with asthma improved lung function parameters demonstrating, the value of TIO add-on therapy as a treatable traits option for improving quality of life and achieving successful aging in this population.

The postmenopausal decrease in estrogen production contributes to a significant increase in the risk of age-related diseases. There is an identified gap in the field regarding the effectiveness of targeted interventions for specific groups of women at increased risk, and whether these interventions can support successful aging and reduce mortality. Data regarding 2239 Caucasian female participants of the PolSenior study aged 65 and over were analyzed. Based on strict criteria, participants were divided into successfully aging (SA) and not successfully aging (UA), and the differences in reproduction system-related factors on aging trajectory and survival were investigated. The mean age of menarche and menopause and the mean length of the reproductive period were similar in SA and UA women. However, the mean number of pregnancies and the percentage of women who gave birth to at least four children were higher in UA than in SA women (P < 0.001). SA women were more commonly involved in the reproductive health-promoting behaviors (all P < 0.001). In a multifactorial fully adjusted analysis, the number of pregnancies was negatively associated with SA. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that being nulliparous and having four or more children was associated with a shorter survival of UA (P < 0.0001) but not SA women, while regular gynecological examination, cytology, mammography, and breast self-examination were associated with a better survival in both SA and UA women. In Cox regression models adjusted for all confounding factors significant in univariate analysis, these health-promoting behaviors remained independent predictors of better survival in UA women while in SA women, only breast self-examination remained an independent predictor. Successful aging and survival of women are associated with the reproduction history and reproduction system-related health-promoting behaviors. Reproduction system-related health-promoting behaviors endure the effect of the reproduction history.

The global rise in the aging population highlights the need to understand factors contributing to successful aging. Intrinsic religiosity, defined as a deep, personal commitment to religious beliefs and practices, impacts well-being and mental health in older adults. This cross-sectional study investigates how life satisfaction and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and successful aging. A sample of 538 Brazilian older adults (ages 60-101, M = 69.72, SD = 7.92; 58.6% female) completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the HADS Depression Scale, the Successful Aging Scale, and the Duke Religion Index. Sequential mediation analysis was conducted. Intrinsic religiosity significantly influenced successful aging indirectly through life satisfaction and depressive symptoms, with no significant direct effect. These findings suggest that intrinsic religiosity may enhance the successful aging of older adults by improving life satisfaction and reducing depressive symptoms. Integrating these insights into social policies, that is, supporting older adults' intrinsic religiosity, might help many Brazilian older adults achieve successful aging.