Changes in objectively-measured physical capability over 4-year, risk of diabetes, and glycemic control in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

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Self-compassion as predictor of daily physical symptoms and chronic illness across older adulthood

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/13591053211002326 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910532110023

Author(s):

Heather Herriot ◽

Carsten Wrosch

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Chronic Illness ◽

End Of Life ◽

Old Age ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Early Old Age

This study examined whether self-compassion could benefit daily physical symptoms and chronic illness in early and advanced old age. The hypotheses were evaluated in a 4-year longitudinal study of 264 older adults. Results showed that self-compassion predicted lower levels of daily physical symptoms across the study period in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = −1.93, p = 0.05). In addition, self-compassion was associated with fewer increases in chronic illness in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = − 2.45, p < 0.02). The results of this study suggest that self-compassion may be particularly adaptive towards the end of life.

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Impact of Social Isolation on Physical Functioning Among Older Adults: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study of a U.S.-Representative Sample

American Journal of Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.amepre.2021.02.003 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Borja del Pozo Cruz ◽

Francisco Perales ◽

Rosa M. Alfonso-Rosa ◽

Jesus del Pozo-Cruz

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Representative Sample

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Examining public transport usage by older adults with smart card data: A longitudinal study in Japan

Journal of Transport Geography ◽

10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.103046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 93 ◽

pp. 103046

Author(s):

Shasha Liu ◽

Toshiyuki Yamamoto ◽

Enjian Yao ◽

Toshiyuki Nakamura

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Smart Card ◽

Public Transport ◽

Smart Card Data

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Contributors to and Consequences of Poor Sleep in Older Adults: Biopsychosocial Perspectives

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1923 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 578-578

Author(s):

Adam Spira ◽

Katie Stone

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Later Life ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Older Parents ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Health Related ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Ecological Momentary

Abstract Sleep is a significant contributor to health and wellbeing across the lifespan, especially in later life. Poor sleep is common among older adults and can be both a risk factor for and consequence of numerous physical and mental health-related outcomes. In this symposium, we will present novel results from four studies that will advance understanding of the biological, psychological, and social factors that may contribute to or result from poor sleep in older adults. Specifically, Study 1 will present findings tying objectively measured sleep to performance on cognitive tasks administered using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in the day-to-day lives of older adults with or without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Study 2 will examine associations of personality dimensions and facets with insomnia symptoms in well-functioning older adults. Study 3 will examine psychological pathways linking parent-child relationships to subjective and objective sleep characteristics among older parents. Finally, study 4 will examine use patterns of cannabis for the treatment of sleep problems in older adults, and the ways in which this might differ from patients using cannabis for other reasons (e.g., pain). Together, this symposium will highlight novel links of an array of factors with sleep health in the aging population and their implications for prevention. Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

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Associations between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour and time in bed among 75+ community-dwelling Danish older adults

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-01856-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Li-Tang Tsai ◽

Eleanor Boyle ◽

Jan C. Brønd ◽

Gry Kock ◽

Mathias Skjødt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Activity Level ◽

Time In Bed ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Objectively Measured Physical Activity ◽

Vector Magnitude

Abstract Background Older adults are recommended to sleep 7–8 h/day. Time in bed (TIB) differs from sleep duration and includes also the time of lying in bed without sleeping. Long TIB (≥9 h) are associated with self-reported sedentary behavior, but the association between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behavior and TIB is unknown. Methods This study was based on cross-sectional analysis of the Healthy Ageing Network of Competence (HANC Study). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured by a tri-axial accelerometer (ActiGraph) placed on the dominant wrist for 7 days. Sedentary behavior was classified as < 2303 counts per minute (cpm) in vector magnitude and physical activity intensities were categorized, as 2303–4999 and ≥ 5000 cpm in vector magnitude. TIB was recorded in self-reported diaries. Participants were categorized as UTIB (usually having TIB 7–9 h/night: ≥80% of measurement days), STIB (sometimes having TIB 7–9 h/night: 20–79% of measurement days), and RTIB (rarely having TIB 7–9 h/night: < 20% of measurement days). Multinominal regression models were used to calculate the relative risk ratios (RRR) of being RTIB and STIB by daily levels of physical activity and SB, with UTIB as the reference group. The models were adjusted for age, sex, average daily nap length and physical function. Results Three hundred and fourty-one older adults (median age 81 (IQR 5), 62% women) were included with median TIB of 8 h 21 min (1 h 10 min)/day, physical activity level of 2054 (864) CPM with 64 (15) % of waking hours in sedentary behavior. Those with average CPM within the highest tertile had a lower RRR (0.33 (0.15–0.71), p = 0.005) for being RTIB compared to those within the lowest tertile of average CPM. Accumulating physical activity in intensities 2303–4999 and ≥ 5000 cpm/day did not affect the RRR of being RTIB. RRR of being RTIB among highly sedentary participants (≥10 h/day of sedentary behavior) more than tripled compared to those who were less sedentary (3.21 (1.50–6.88), p = 0.003). Conclusions For older adults, being physically active and less sedentary was associated with being in bed for 7–9 h/night for most nights (≥80%). Future longitudinal studies are warranted to explore the causal relationship sbetween physical activity and sleep duration.

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