The underlying mechanisms of improved balance after one and ten sessions of balance training in older adults

Recent studies have shown balance recovery can be enhanced via task-specific training, referred to as perturbation-based balance training (PBT). These interventions rely on principles of motor learning where repeated exposure to task-relevant postural perturbations results in more effective compensatory balance responses. Evidence indicates that compensatory responses trained using PBT can be retained for many months and can lead to a reduction in falls in community-dwelling older adults. A notable shortcoming with PBT is that it does not transfer well to similar but contextually different scenarios (e.g., falling sideways versus a forward trip). Given that it is not feasible to train all conditions in which someone could fall, this limited transfer presents a conundrum; namely, how do we best use PBT to appropriately equip people to deal with the enormous variety of fall-inducing scenarios encountered in daily life? In this perspective article, we draw from fields of research that explore how general learning can be promoted. From this, we propose a series of methods, gleaned from parallel streams of research, to inform and hopefully optimize this emerging field where people receive training to specifically improve their balance reactions.

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306 - Loneliness and mortality in older adults and the role of depression

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610220002069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (S1) ◽

pp. 64-64

Author(s):

T.J. Holwerda ◽

D. Rhebergen ◽

H.C. Comijs ◽

J.J.M. Dekker ◽

M.L. Stek

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Clinical Perspective ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression

Background:The prevalence of loneliness increases with age. The presence of loneliness in older adults has been found to be associated with health problems such as depression, decreased cognitive functioning, increases in systolic blood pressure and increased mortality. The underlying mechanisms of the higher mortality risk are largely unknown.Methods:Meta-analysis to investigate the present evidence for the associations between loneliness and mortality. Cross-sectional studies investigating the associations between loneliness and cardiovascular disease and between loneliness and cortisol in 378 depressed and 132 non-depressed older adults.Results:Loneliness appears to be associated with increased mortality, although when only studies are included that consider depression as a covariate, the association is not significant. Therefore it seems likely that depression plays a mediating role in the higher mortality risk.We did not find a significant association between loneliness and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, loneliness was significantly associated with lower cortisol output and decreased dexamethasone suppression.Discussion:The results and their implications for prevention and treatment will be discussed from a clinical perspective as well as a general health perspective. Is loneliness as potentially dangerous as depression?

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Associations Between Hearing Loss, Loneliness, and Social Isolation: A Systematic Review

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 318-318

Author(s):

Jonathan Suen ◽

Aishwarya Shukla ◽

Adele Goman ◽

Carrie Price ◽

Frank Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Psychosocial Health ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Design Assessment ◽

Aural Rehabilitation ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Hearing loss is highly prevalent among older adults, as is occurrences of loneliness and social isolation. Both loneliness and social isolation are also associated with insidious outcomes such as earlier mortality from all-causes and higher prevalence of chronic comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to synthesize published investigations that report on the associations between hearing loss with loneliness and social isolation. A systematic search through PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library identified an initial total of 2495 references. Two independent reviewers screened articles for inclusion, with a third reviewer adjudicating. Studies published in English of older adults with hearing loss that also assessed loneliness and/or social isolation using a validated measure were included. Investigators used a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to appraise study quality. A final total of 14 articles were included in the review. The majority (12/14) were cross-sectional in design. Assessment methods were varied across hearing status, loneliness, and social isolation. Despite this heterogeneity, most multivariable adjusted investigations revealed that hearing loss was significantly associated with higher risks for both phenomena. Several studies also revealed this association to vary across gender, with women showing a stronger association than men. Our findings indicate that hearing loss is associated with both loneliness and social isolation, which have important implications for the cognitive and psychosocial health of older adults. Future investigations should examine possible underlying mechanisms of these relationships, as well as the efficacy of interventions through aural rehabilitation programs in addressing loneliness and social isolation.

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PHYSIOLOGY OF SUCCESSFUL AGING: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1625 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S434-S434

Author(s):

Konstantinos Mantantzis ◽

Denis Gerstorf ◽

Thomas M Hess

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Well Being ◽

Empathic Accuracy ◽

Future Research ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Use Of Data ◽

Aging Study ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Relationship Factors

Abstract Research into peripheral physiology and its association with cognition, emotionality, and social/physical functioning has received considerable attention over the years. However, many of the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this symposium, we have compiled a set of four empirical projects that showcase current and future endeavors to address some of the long-standing questions about when, how, and why physiology shapes and is shaped by key psychosocial resources. Hawkley et al. make use of data from the NSHAP and HRS longitudinal studies to investigate whether social relationships such as number of friends predicts risk of diabetes among older adults. Wilson et al. use dyadic data from young and middle-aged couples to examine cardiometabolic similarity among spouses, and how such concordance is shaped by key relationship factors such as emotional closeness. Pauly et al. use data from two daily-life studies of older couples to investigate how physiological synchrony in cortisol is modulated by partner interactions, empathy, and empathic accuracy. Finally, Mantantzis et al. make use of multi-year longitudinal data from the Berlin Aging Study II to examine the role of glucose regulation capacity for trajectories of subjective well-being among older adults. Thomas Hess will discuss the importance of these papers, discuss strengths and weaknesses of the approaches chosen, and consider implications for future research.

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P-287: Unsupervised interactive video-based balance training to improve balance in older adults: a pilot study

European Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1016/s1878-7649(15)30385-5 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. S108

Author(s):

C. Lamoth ◽

M. van Diest ◽

J. Stegenga ◽

B. Verkerke ◽

K. Postema

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Interactive Video ◽

Balance Training

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Health condition and physical function as predictors of adherence in long-term strength and balance training among community-dwelling older adults

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/j.archger.2015.06.016 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 (3) ◽

pp. 452-457 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Eeva Aartolahti ◽

Anna-Maija Tolppanen ◽

Eija Lönnroos ◽

Sirpa Hartikainen ◽

Arja Häkkinen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Balance Training ◽

Health Condition ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Term Strength ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Predictors Of Adherence

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Exploring Older Adults' Experiences of a Home-Based, Technology-Driven Balance Training Exercise Program Designed to Reduce Fall Risk

Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy ◽

10.1519/jpt.0000000000000321 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Meghan Ambrens ◽

Melinda Stanners ◽

Trinidad Valenzuela ◽

Husna Razee ◽

Jessica Chow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Balance Training ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Training Exercise ◽

Home Based

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Effect of Age in Auditory Go/No-Go Tasks: A Magnetoencephalographic Study

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10100667 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 667

Author(s):

Mei-Yin Lin ◽

Chia-Hsiung Cheng

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Response Inhibition ◽

Cortical Activation ◽

Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽

Neural Responses ◽

Source Imaging ◽

Age Related ◽

Aging Populations ◽

Neural Underpinnings ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Response inhibition is frequently examined using visual go/no-go tasks. Recently, the auditory go/no-go paradigm has been also applied to several clinical and aging populations. However, age-related changes in the neural underpinnings of auditory go/no-go tasks are yet to be elucidated. We used magnetoencephalography combined with distributed source imaging methods to examine age-associated changes in neural responses to auditory no-go stimuli. Additionally, we compared the performance of high- and low-performing older adults to explore differences in cortical activation. Behavioral performance in terms of response inhibition was similar in younger and older adult groups. Relative to the younger adults, the older adults exhibited reduced cortical activation in the superior and middle temporal gyrus. However, we did not find any significant differences in cortical activation between the high- and low-performing older adults. Our results therefore support the hypothesis that inhibition is reduced during aging. The variation in cognitive performance among older adults confirms the need for further study on the underlying mechanisms of inhibition.

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