The Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS)

This study examines whether frailty is associated with mortality independently of physiological dysregulation (PD) and, if so, which is the more accurate predictor of survival. Data come from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study. We use Cox proportional hazard models to test the associations between PD, frailty, and 4- to 5-year survival. We use Harrell’s concordance index to compare predictive accuracy of the models. Both PD and frailty are significantly, positively, and independently correlated with mortality: Worse PD scores and being frail are associated with a higher risk of dying. The overall PD score is a more accurate predictor of survival than frailty, although model prediction improves when both measures are included. PD and frailty independently predict mortality, suggesting that the two measures may be capturing different aspects of the same construct and that both may be important for identifying individuals at risk for adverse health outcomes.

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Testing Proposed Quantifications of Biological Aging in Taiwanese Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glz223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (9) ◽

pp. 1680-1685 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lauren Gaydosh ◽

Daniel W Belsky ◽

Dana A Glei ◽

Noreen Goldman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Biological Aging ◽

The West ◽

Healthy Life ◽

Biomarkers Of Aging ◽

The Social ◽

Aging Study ◽

Aging Rates ◽

Mixed Age

Abstract Quantification of biological aging is of interest in gerontology as a means to surveil aging rates in the population and to evaluate the effects of interventions to increase healthy life span. Analysis of proposed methods to quantify biological aging has focused on samples of midlife or mixed-age adults in the West. Research is needed to test whether quantifications of biological aging can differentiate aging rates among older adults and if quantifications of biological aging developed in Western samples can differentiate aging rates in non-Western populations. We conducted analysis of Klemera-Doubal method (KDM) Biological Age and homeostatic dysregulation measures of biological aging developed in the U.S. NHANES and tested in a sample of older Taiwanese adults in the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study. We conducted analysis of physical and cognitive function and mortality, comparing quantifications of biological aging to a biomarker index based on norms within our analysis sample and to participants’ ratings of their own health. Results showed that quantifications of biological aging (a) predicted differences in physical and cognitive function and in mortality risk among Taiwanese older adults and (b) performed as well as a traditional biomarker index and participant self-rated health for prediction of these outcomes.

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Changes in Physical Functioning as Short-Term Predictors of Mortality

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby133 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 630-639

Author(s):

Theresa Andrasfay

Keyword(s):

Physical Functioning ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Recent Measurement ◽

Proportional Hazard ◽

Predictors Of Mortality ◽

Biomarkers Of Aging ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Social ◽

Aging Study

Abstract Objectives Both performance-based and self-reported measures of physical functioning are predictors of mortality. There has been relatively little research examining whether their changes predict mortality. This study examines whether 5-year changes in performance-based and self-reported measures of functioning predict subsequent mortality. Method Data are from the 2006 wave of the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study, 2011 wave of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging, and mortality follow-up through 2015. Gompertz proportional hazard models predict mortality from changes in ability to complete performance-based tests and changes in performance-based and self-reported functioning. Results Incident inability to complete at least one performance-based test of functioning is associated with twice the risk of subsequent 4-year mortality. Conditional on the baseline measurement, a one standard deviation (SD) decline in grip strength is associated with a 61% increased risk of 4-year mortality; a one-SD decline in walking speed and a one-SD increase in self-reported limitations are both associated with around a 40% increased risk of 4-year mortality. Conditional on the most recent measurement of functioning, prior change is not significantly associated with subsequent mortality. Discussion Repeated measures of performance-based and self-reported functioning are valuable in that they provide an updated measurement of functioning.

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Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) in Taiwan, 2000

ICPSR Data Holdings ◽

10.3886/icpsr03792.v4 ◽

2003 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maxine Weinstein ◽

Noreen Goldman

Keyword(s):

Social Environment ◽

Biomarkers Of Aging ◽

Aging Study

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Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) in Taiwan, 2000 and 2006

ICPSR Data Holdings ◽

10.3886/icpsr03792.v5 ◽

2003 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Noreen Goldman ◽

Maxine Weinstein ◽

Ming-Cheng Chang ◽

Hui-Sheng Lin ◽

Yi-Li Chuang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Environment ◽

Biomarkers Of Aging ◽

Aging Study

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Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) in Taiwan, 2000 and 2006

ICPSR Data Holdings ◽

10.3886/icpsr03792 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Noreen Goldman ◽

Maxine Weinstein ◽

Ming-Cheng Chang ◽

Hui-Sheng Lin ◽

Yi-Li Chuang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Environment ◽

Biomarkers Of Aging ◽

Aging Study

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Is Raising Your Grandchild Bad for Your Health? The Association Between Custodial Grandparent Status and Health Biomarkers in Taiwanese Grandparents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17051753 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 1753 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zoe Fokakis ◽

Danielle Nadorff ◽

Ian McKay

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Stress Coping ◽

Custodial Grandparents ◽

Asian Cultural Values ◽

Biomarkers Of Aging ◽

The Social ◽

Custodial Grandparenting ◽

Aging Study ◽

Lower Respiratory Disease

Data from two waves of the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study in Taiwan were analyzed to determine the effects of custodial grandparenting on health in a longitudinal sample. Self-reported measures on respondents’ perception of their health, six health biomarkers, the presence of twelve diseases, and a measure of stress were included. Custodial Grandparents (CGPs) were significantly more likely to report worse health than their peers. However, there were no significant differences in biomarkers, and CGPs were only significantly different from non-custodial grandparents (nCGPs) regarding lower respiratory disease. Results suggest that CGPs do not have significantly worse health than nCGPs, but report feeling less healthy. This disparity is suspected to be due to energy levels or stress sources not assessed by the variables in the original study. These results and their implications based upon the stress-coping model elucidate the need to design interventions that incorporate the East Asian cultural values and practices in order to promote better health outcomes for CGP populations overall.

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