Exercise in the heat induces similar elevations in serum irisin in young and older men despite lower resting irisin concentrations in older adults

2022 ◽  
pp. 103189
Author(s):  
James J. McCormick ◽  
Kelli E. King ◽  
Sean R. Notley ◽  
Naoto Fujii ◽  
Pierre Boulay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Benoît Verdon

Since the 1950s, the growing interest of clinicians in using projective tests to study normal or pathological aging processes has led to the creation of several thematic tests for older adults. This development reflects their authors’ belief that the TAT is not suitable to the concerns and anxieties of elderly persons. The new material thus refers explicitly to situations related to age; it aims to enable older persons to express needs they cannot verbalize during consultations. The psychodynamic approach to thematic testing is based on the differentiation between the pictures’ manifest and latent content, eliciting responses linked to mental processes and issues the respondent is unaware of. The cards do not necessarily have to show aging characters to elicit identification: The situations shown in the pictures are linked to loss, rivalry, helplessness, and renunciation, all issues elderly respondents can identify with and that lead them to express their mental fragilities and resources. The article first explains the principles underlying four of these thematic tests, then develops several examples of stories told for card 3BM of the TAT, thus showing the effectiveness of this tool for the understanding and differentiation of loss-related issues facing older men and women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yemin Yuan ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Nan Zhang ◽  
Peipei Fu ◽  
Zhengyue Jing ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Evidence concerning the association between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function among older people is inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate gender and age as moderators in association between BMI and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among rural older adults. Methods Data were derived from the 2019 Health Service for Rural Elderly Families Survey in Shandong, China. In total, 3242 people aged 60 years and above were included in the analysis. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to examine the moderating roles of gender and age, then further to explore the relationship between BMI and MCI. Results There were 601 (18.5%) participants with MCI. Compared with normal BMI group, low BMI group had a higher risk of MCI among older people [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26–3.44], women (aOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.35–3.12), or the older elderly aged ≥75 years old (aOR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.34–7.45). This effect remained statistically significant among older women (aOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.69–6.73). Among older men, elevated BMI group had a higher risk of MCI (aOR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.17–4.61) than normal BMI group. Conclusions Gender and age moderated the association between BMI and MCI among Chinese rural older adults. Older women with low BMI were more likely to have MCI, but older men with elevated BMI were more likely to have MCI. These findings suggest rural community managers strengthen the health management by grouping the weight of older people to prevent the risk of dementia.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deleon Fergus ◽  
Yi-Hua Chen ◽  
Ying-Chih Chuang ◽  
Ai-Hsuan Ma ◽  
Kun-Yang Chuang

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether gender impacts potential associations between social relationships, sociodemographic, health and behavioural factors with resilience among older Taiwanese adults. Methods High and low resilience of older adults was determined based on the median value of the Friborg’s Resilience Scale. An independent sample t-test, χ2, and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine predictors for resilience which were then stratified by gender. Results Older women were less likely to be resilient than older men. Marital status, age, financial stress, and satisfaction with one's living environment were only significant in women. Traditional gender roles in the wider Taiwanese context can be attributed to these differences. Conclusions The relationships between gender, sociodemographics, health, and social and behavioural factors with resilience provide unique insights into how culture shapes trends in data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S934-S934
Author(s):  
David Stupplebeen ◽  
Tetine L Sentell ◽  
Lance Ching ◽  
Blythe Nett ◽  
Hermina Taylor ◽  
...  

Abstract An estimated one-quarter of United States’ older adults (≥65 years) have diabetes (DM) while half have prediabetes (PreDM). Timely diagnosis can prevent disease progression, but significant proportions of PreDM/DM are undiagnosed. Among Hawai‘i adults, one-third of diabetes and two-thirds of prediabetes cases are undiagnosed; rates for older adults are unknown. Algorithms integrated into Electronic Medical Records (EMR) may improve care by identifying probable undiagnosed cases in patient panels using clinical/laboratory measures. We assessed one algorithm developed by the Hawai‘i Department of Health that identified individuals overdue for screening or with Pre/DM using the records of 20,362 adult patients (51.33% were >65) from a major state health system. 6,371 (31.3%) patients were excluded from analysis; they had no HbA1c screening in the past year or were overdue for screening (70%) based on standard guidelines. Of the remaining 13,991 patients, 7317 were older adults; 6130 (84%) had a PreDM (50.6%) or DM (33.2%) HbA1c value; the rest were controlled or false-positive. Of those older adults with probable PreDM/DM, 38.6% were undiagnosed. Adults >65 were significantly more likely to be flagged with undiagnosed PreDM compared to their younger counterparts (58 versus 54%, p<.001). Notably, 61% of older men flagged with PreDM were undiagnosed. Of the 5,737 patients identified with DM, 22% of those 65 were undiagnosed. Given the recognized high burden of diabetes among older adults, results indicate substantial missed opportunities for the prevention and early treatment of this condition as identified by an EMR algorithm.


Author(s):  
Sarah J Barber ◽  
Hyunji Kim

Abstract Objectives The case fatality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is higher among older adults than younger adults and is also higher among men than women. However, worry, which is a key motivator of behavioral health changes, occurs less frequently for older than younger adults, and less frequently for men than women. Building on this, we tested whether older adults–and particularly older men—would report the least amount of COVID-19 worry and also fewer COVID-19 behavior changes. Method From March 23–31, 2020, we administered an online questionnaire assessing COVID-19 perceptions, worries, and behavior changes. Participants were a convenience sample of U.S. residents, who were community-dwelling younger adults (18–35) or older adults (65–81). Analyses included 146 younger adults (68 men, 78 women) and 156 older adults (82 men, 74 women). Participants were predominately white, living in suburban/urban areas, and had completed some college. Results During the early phase of the outbreak in the United States, older adults perceived the risks of COVID-19 to be higher than did younger adults. Despite this, older men were comparatively less worried about COVID-19 than their younger counterparts. Compared with the other participants, older men had also implemented the fewest behavior changes. Discussion Interventions are needed to increase COVID-19 behavior changes in older men. These results also highlight the importance of understanding emotional responses to COVID-19, as these are predictive of their behavioral responses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 22-22
Author(s):  
Samaneh Farsijan ◽  
Megan Marron ◽  
Iva Miljkovic ◽  
Mary Baugh ◽  
Stephen Kritchevsky ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Age-related increase in muscle fat depots, i.e., myosteatosis, is a contributing factor to muscular dysfunction in older adults leading to frailty and disability. Myosteatosis is a complex condition that is associated with aging and diverse pathologies, including cancer and diabetes. We have previously shown that the relationship between muscle fat deposition and reduced physical function is moderated by muscle area and it is only observed in individuals with high muscle area. A further characterization of the metabolic phenotype associated with myoseatosis may shed light on the underlying biological mechanisms involved in its pathophysiology. Thus, we sought to further explore the heterogeneity of myosteatosis using a semi-targeted metabolomics approach to determine the plasma metabolites associated with myosteatosis in community-dwelling older men. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 314 African-American men (age: 69–79 years) from the Health ABC study at baseline. Mid-thigh inter-muscular fat (IMF) area by CT and 350 plasma metabolites by liquid-chromatography/mass spectrometry were measured. Partial correlation analysis was performed to determine metabolites associated with IMF. Results 161 metabolites were correlated with IMF (P < 0.05). After adjustment for age, weight, physical activity, medications and smoking, 36 metabolites remained significant with a false discovery rate of ≤0.25 to correct for multiple comparisons. Majority of IMF-associated metabolites were lipids/lipid-like molecules (26/36), followed by organic acids, including amino acids (5/36). Among these metabolites, only glutamine (from organic-acids) and mevalonic acid, (from fatty acids) were negatively correlated with IMF, while the remaining 34 metabolites were positively correlated. Notably, metabolic profiles of participants were distinctly different across different levels of myosteatosis, categorized by quartiles of IMF. Conclusions Dysregulated lipid and amino acid metabolism was a metabolomic hallmark of myosteatosis in this cohort of older men. Further exploration of metabolic heterogeneity of myosteatosis may help better understand the significance of fat infiltration on muscle health in aging. Funding Sources NIH/National Institute of Aging & NIA T32-AG0001810.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e034645
Author(s):  
Ming-Chun Hsueh ◽  
Ru Rutherford ◽  
Chien-Chih Chou ◽  
Jong-Hwan Park ◽  
Hyun-Tae Park ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo objectively assess light physical activity (PA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), step counts and number of 10 min MVPA bouts and their association with physical function among older adults.DesignCross-sectional design.SettingUrban community setting in Taiwan.Participants127 Taiwanese older adults aged over 65 years (mean age=70.8±5.3 years; 72% women).Primary and secondary outcome measuresTriaxial accelerometers were used to measure PA variables for 10 hours/day for seven consecutive days. Then, five physical function components (handgrip strength, single-leg stance, 5-metre walk speed, timed up and go and sit-to-stand test) were measured. Multiple linear regressions were used to perform separate analyses for older men and women.ResultsFor older women, daily MVPA time (β: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.64; p=0.004), daily step counts (β: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.78; p=0.009) and number of 10 min MVPA bouts (β: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.53; p=0.049) were positively associated with handgrip strength after adjusting for accelerometer wear time, sedentary time and other confounders. Furthermore, daily MVPA time was positively associated with a single-leg stance (β: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.49; p=0.036) and higher daily step counts were associated with shorter walking speed performance (β: −0.31, 95% CI: −0.57, −0.001; p=0.049). None of the variables of the objectively assessed PA patterns was associated with physical function outcomes among older men due to their small sample size.ConclusionsDaily MVPA, MVPA bouts of at least 10 min and accumulated daily steps are important for improving physical function among older women. Future prospective research should establish causal associations between PA patterns and functional ability among older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S215-S215
Author(s):  
Maria Monserud

Abstract Studies in developed countries indicate that social activities can make a difference in mental health in later life. Yet, research on potential benefits of social activities for older adults in developing countries, including Mexico, has been scarce. This study uses the two most recent waves (2012, 2015) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study to investigate the impact of social activities on depressive symptoms among older men (n = 4, 749) and women (n = 6,527), aged 50+, in Mexico. The results of Ordinary Least Squares regressions indicate that it is important to differentiate among specific social activities in later life. Particularly, not only group-based but also solitary social activities were predictive of better mental health. Moreover, the findings demonstrate several gender differences and similarities. Participation in clubs, communication with relatives and friends, physical exercise, and watching television were beneficial for mental health among men, whereas volunteering, playing games, and making crafts were associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women. At the same time, reading as well as doing household chores were related to better mental health among older Mexicans, regardless of gender. Furthermore, this study shows that self-reported health, functional limitations, chronic conditions, and frequent pain might shape the implications of social activities for depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico. The insights from this study can be helpful for intervention programs that are being developed to promote benefits of group-based and solitary social activities for mental health among older men and women with different levels of physical health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S564-S564
Author(s):  
Christine Mair ◽  
Kasey Knopp

Abstract Existing literature on “aging alone” focuses on potential lack of support to “kinless” older adults who do not have traditional family ties (e.g., child, spouse; Margolis & Verdery, 2018), as well as the ways in which childless or unpartnered older adults may construct non-kin networks of support (e.g., friendship; Djundeva et al., 2018; Mair, 2019). In addition, older men’s and women’s social networks vary, with women reporting more network growth than men and potentially lower family involvement (Schwartz & Litwin, 2018). Finally, patterns of support (e.g., family care, friend interactions) differ by country context. However, it is unknown if and how the social networks of older adults who lack traditional family ties may differ by gender, as well as what forms of cross-national variation exist in these patterns. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, N=17 nations, N=53,247 adults aged 50+), we take advantage of a unique social support network module in this cross-national dataset to compare closeness, proximity, quality, and type of ties by gender among older childless and unpartnered men and women by country. Among those without traditional family ties, we find that older women may be advantaged in terms of social support compared to older men, but that this advantage varies by nation. We discuss the details and implications of these results regarding potential policy implications about the differential risks faced by older men and women who lack traditional family ties in various country contexts.


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