Martin Vigorimeter assesses muscle fatigability in older adults better than the Jamar Dynamometer

Abstract Background Numerous studies have reported that the repeated presentation of a stimulus leads to an increase in positive affect towards the stimulus itself (the so-called mere exposure effect). Here, we evaluate whether changes in liking due to repetition may have a differential impact on subsequent memories in younger and older adults. Method In two experiments, younger and older adults were asked to rate a series of nonwords (Experiment 1) or unfamiliar neutral faces (Experiment 2) in terms of how much they like them and then presented with a surprise yes–no recognition memory task. At study, items were repeated either consecutively (massed presentation) or with a lag of 6 intervening items (spaced presentation). Results In both experiments, participants rated spaced repeated items more positively than massed items, i.e. they liked them most. Moreover, older adults remembered spaced stimuli that they liked most better than younger adults. Conclusions The findings are discussed in accordance with the mechanisms underlying positivity effects in memory and the effect of repetition on memory encoding.

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Can Treadmill Slip-Perturbation Training Reduce Longer-Term Fall Risk Upon Overground Slip Exposure?

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.2019-0211 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 298-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Lee ◽

Tanvi Bhatt ◽

Xuan Liu ◽

Yiru Wang ◽

Shuaijie Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Control Group ◽

Initial Training ◽

Single Session ◽

Control Groups ◽

Perturbation Training ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Better Than

The purpose was to examine and compare the longer-term generalization between 2 different practice dosages for a single-session treadmill slip-perturbation training when reexposed to an overground slip 6 months later. A total of 45 older adults were conveniently assigned to either 24 or 40 slip-like treadmill perturbation trials or a third control group. Overground slips were given immediately after initial training, and at 6 months after initial training in order to examine immediate and longer-term effects. The performance (center of mass stability and vertical limb support) and fall percentage from the laboratory-induced overground slips (at initial posttraining and at 6 mo) were measured and compared between groups. Both treadmill slip-perturbation groups showed immediate generalization at the initial posttraining test and longer-term generalization at the 6-month retest. The higher-practice-dosage group performed significantly better than the control group (P < .05), with no difference between the lower-practice-dosage and the control groups at the 6-month retest (P > .05). A single session of treadmill slip-perturbation training showed a positive effect for reducing older adults’ fall risk for laboratory-induced overground slips. A higher-practice dosage of treadmill slip perturbations could be more beneficial for further reducing fall risk.

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Can the Five-Step Strategy Enhance the Learning of Motor Skills in Older Adults?

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.9.1.1 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Gregg M. Steinberg ◽

Becky Glass

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Control Group ◽

Competitive Sport ◽

Instructional Aid ◽

The Mind ◽

Better Than ◽

Golf Putt

The Five-Step Strategy (FSS) consists of (a) readying oneself, (b) imaging the desired outcome, (c) focusing on the task at hand, (d) freeing the mind, and (e) evaluating the outcome afterward. This study examined its usefulness as an instructional aid for older adults. Because some (Molander & Backman, 1989) have found that older adults have more anxiety during competitive sport experiences, another purpose was to examine whether the FSS can reduce anxiety. One group used the FSS when learning a golf putt; a second learned the putt without using the FSS. Participants putted for three 1-hr sessions once a week. Performance and anxiety were assessed before the first and after the second and third sessions. Retention scores revealed that the FSS group learned the task better than the control group did, t(27) = 6.63, p < .001. These findings suggest that the FSS might help older adults learn motor skills.

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Age-related differences in water and sodium handling after commercial hydration beverage ingestion

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.01094.2018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 126 (4) ◽

pp. 1042-1048 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. Tony Wolf ◽

Anna E. Stanhewicz ◽

Megan M. Clarke ◽

Samuel N. Cheuvront ◽

Robert W. Kenefick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Free Water ◽

Estimated Gfr ◽

Women Subjects ◽

Age Related ◽

Sodium Clearance ◽

Sodium Handling ◽

Better Than

Aging is associated with altered water, electrolyte, and glucose handling. Alternative beverages to those containing carbohydrate (CHO) should be considered for older adults. We hypothesized that reduced sodium (CNa+) and/or water (CH2O) clearance would underlie greater beverage retention in older compared with young adults, secondary to reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We further hypothesized that amino acid (AA)- and CHO-based beverages would promote retention better than water. Over five visits, 12 young (23 ± 3 yr; 7 men, 5 women) and 12 older (67 ± 6 yr; 5 men, 7 women) subjects consumed 1 liter of distilled water or beverages with 6% CHO, 0.46 g/l Na+ [Gatorade (GAT)]; 2.5% CHO, 0.74 g/l Na+ [Pedialyte (PED)]; 5 AA, 1.04 g/l Na+ [enterade (ENT)-5]; or 8 AA, 1.38 g/l Na+ (ENT-8) over 30 min. Blood and urine were collected every hour for 4 h after ingestion; retention, CH2O, and CNa+ were calculated at 2 and 4 h. Additional calculations adjusted CH2O and CNa+ for estimated GFR (eGFR). Water yielded the lowest retention in both groups ( P ≤ 0.02). Retention was higher in older vs. young adults except for ENT-8 at 4 h ( P = 0.73). CH2O was higher for older vs. young adults for GAT at 2 h ( P < 0.01) and GAT and PED at 4 h ( P < 0.01) after ingestion but was otherwise similar between groups. CNa+ was lower in older vs. young adults except for ENT-8 ( P ≥ 0.19). Adjusting for eGFR resulted in higher CH2O for all beverages in older vs. young adults ( P < 0.05) but did not influence CNa+. Older adults may better retain beverages with less Na+ than young adults because of reduced CNa+. AA- and CHO-based electrolyte-rich beverages may similarly promote beverage retention. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Commercially available amino acid (AA)-containing beverages may provide an alternative to traditional carbohydrate (CHO)-containing beverages, particularly for older adults with attenuated water, electrolyte, and glucose handling. We compared beverage retention and free water and sodium clearance between young and older adults after ingestion of water, two CHO-based beverages, and two AA-based beverages. Our data suggest that older adults better retain beverages with less sodium compared with young adults and that AA-based and CHO-based electrolyte-containing beverages similarly promote retention.

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Waist circumference, body mass index and waist-height ratio: Are two indices better than one for identifying hypertension risk in older adults?

Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.09.024 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 93 ◽

pp. 76-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Rafaela Haeger Luz ◽

Aline Rodrigues Barbosa ◽

Eleonora d'Orsi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Body Mass ◽

Height Ratio ◽

Hypertension Risk ◽

Two Indices ◽

Better Than ◽

Waist Height Ratio

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Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity—A Question of Item Framing and Age?

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2019-0059 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 173-179

Author(s):

Johanna Popp ◽

Nanna Notthoff ◽

Lisa Marie Warner

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Positive Information ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Positivity Effect ◽

Initial Support ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Better Than ◽

Activity Questionnaire

Older adults process and remember positive information relatively better than negative information, compared with younger adults; this is known as the positivity effect. This study examined whether older adults compared with younger adults also respond differently to positively and negatively framed questionnaire items. Participants (N = 275; age = 18–81 years) were randomly assigned to a positively or negatively framed version of a self-efficacy for physical activity questionnaire. Self-efficacy, physical activity intentions, and planned physical activity in the following week were regressed on experimental group and age, controlling for baseline physical activity and covariates. A significant Age × Frame interaction showed that item framing made a difference in planned physical activity for the oldest age group (+350 min compared with the youngest group). This study provides initial support for the positivity effect in item framing on physical activity plans, but not on intentions or self-efficacy. Item framing should be taken into consideration for accurate measurement, but could also be a simple intervention approach.

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Older adults with dual sensory loss in rehabilitation show high functioning and may fare better than those with single sensory loss

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0237152 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. e0237152

Author(s):

Andrea Urqueta Alfaro ◽

Dawn M. Guthrie ◽

Cathy McGraw ◽

Walter Wittich

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sensory Loss ◽

High Functioning ◽

Dual Sensory Loss ◽

Better Than

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Dialogical and Integrated Self in Late Adulthood: Examining Two Adaptive Ways of Growing Old

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415019831445 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 90 (4) ◽

pp. 337-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Miroslav Filip ◽

Kateřina Lukavská ◽

Iva Poláčková Šolcová

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Health ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Psychological Adaptation ◽

Well Being ◽

The Other ◽

Ego Integrity ◽

Process View ◽

Better Than

We examined two contradictory views of Erikson’s concept of ego integrity: as an outcome of the tension between integrity and despair, or as a dialogical process of balancing positive and negative life experiences. One hundred sixty-seven Czech older adults participated in the study. Dialogically integrated, outcome-integrated, and outcome-despairing participants were selected based on the Ego Integrity Scale and based on methods mapping life-reviewing dialogue. The three subsamples were compared in their psychological adaptation. The results showed that the dialogically integrated participants scored similarly in well-being and meaningfulness of life as outcome-integrated participants and better than outcome-despairing participants. However, the dialogically integrated participants were also prone to experiencing negative emotions. As they were older than the other two subsamples and reported worse physical health, we concluded that the life-reviewing dialogue helps them maintain a sense of meaning in life and a certain level of well-being. Hence, the results support relevance of the dialogical-process view.

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