Cortical proteins may provide motor resilience in older adults

AbstractMotor resilience proteins may be a high value therapeutic target that offset the negative effects of pathologies on motor function. This study sought to identify cortical proteins associated with motor decline unexplained by brain pathologies that provide motor resilience. We studied 1226 older decedents with annual motor testing, postmortem brain pathologies and quantified 226 proteotypic peptides in prefrontal cortex. Twenty peptides remained associated with motor decline in models controlling for ten brain pathologies (FDR < 0.05). Higher levels of nine peptides and lower levels of eleven peptides were related to slower decline. A higher motor resilience protein score based on averaging the levels of all 20 peptides was related to slower motor decline, less severe parkinsonism and lower odds of mobility disability before death. Cortical proteins may provide motor resilience. Targeting these proteins in further drug discovery may yield novel interventions to maintain motor function in old age.

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Introduction: Framing Community and Spatial Exclusion

International Perspectives on Aging - Social Exclusion in Later Life ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-51406-8_14 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 185-191

Author(s):

Isabelle Tournier ◽

Lucie Vidovićová

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Exclusion ◽

Old Age ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Short Introduction ◽

Ageing Society ◽

Build Environment ◽

Spatial Exclusion

AbstractThis section focuses on the community and spatial aspects of social exclusion. For this introduction, we define the community aspect of exclusion as the unintended reduction of participation in local life and spatial aspects of exclusion as the unintended reduction of mobility outside and inside of a person’s home. Fighting against social exclusion of older adults is a priority due to the negative effects of exclusion on older adults’ quality of life as well as on the equity and cohesion of an ageing society as a whole (adapted from Levitas et al. 2007 in Walsh et al. 2017, p. 83). Place, as a socio-spatial phenomenon, can shape older adults’ lives and their experiences of social exclusion. It encompasses dimensions such as social and relational aspects of place, amenities and build environment, place-based policy and experiential belonging. The purpose of this chapter is to briefly introduce some allied concepts related to older people’s relationship with their place and environment, and broadly illustrate the relevance of this relationship to old-age social exclusion. The chapter closes with a short introduction to each contribution within this section.

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Older workers imagining retirement: the collapse of agency, or freedom at last?

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x20002044 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Anne Skevik Grødem ◽

Ragni Hege Kitterød

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Old Age ◽

Older Workers ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Social Meaning ◽

Active Engagement ◽

Work Patterns ◽

Ideal Types ◽

Retirement Decisions ◽

The Ideal

Abstract Images of what retirement is and ought to be are changing. Older workers are being encouraged to work for longer, at the same time, older adults increasingly voice expectations of a ‘third age’ of active engagement and new life prospects. In this article, we draw on the literature on older workers’ work patterns and retirement transitions (noting push/pull/stay/stuck/jump factors), and on scholarship on the changing social meaning of old age, most importantly the notions of a ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ age. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with 28 employees in the private sector in Norway, aged between 55 and 66 years. Based on the interviews, we propose three ideal-typical approaches to the work–retirement transition: ‘the logic of deadline’, ‘the logic of negotiation’ and ‘the logic of averting retirement’. The ideal-types are defined by the degree to which informants assume agency in the workplace, their orientation towards work versus retirement and the degree to which they expect to exercise agency in retirement. We emphasise how retirement decisions are informed by notions of the meaning of ageing, while also embedded in relationships with employers and partners.

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Lighting and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias: Spotlight on sleep and depression

Lighting Research and Technology ◽

10.1177/14771535211005835 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (5) ◽

pp. 405-422

Author(s):

MG Figueiro ◽

HC Kales

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Neurodegenerative Disease ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Well Being ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Positive Results

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is the collective term for a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is presently no cure. This paper focuses on two symptoms of the disease, sleep disturbances and depression, and discusses how light can be used as a non-pharmacological intervention to mitigate their negative effects. Bright days and dark nights are needed for health and well-being, but the present components of the built environment, especially those places where older adults spend most of their days, are too dimly illuminated during the day and too bright at night. To be effective light needs to be correctly specified, implemented and measured. Yet, without the appropriate specification and measurement of the stimulus, researchers will not be able to successfully demonstrate positive results in the field, nor will lighting designers and specifiers have the confidence to implement lighting solutions for promoting better sleep and mood in this population.

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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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The effects of social comparisons on subjective age and self-rated health

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x20002056 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Maayan Sayag ◽

Gitit Kavé

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Peer Group ◽

Social Comparisons ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Selection Of

Abstract Older adults consistently report young subjective age and provide high ratings of their subjective health. The current research examined which social comparisons older adults make when they assess their subjective age and health, as well as the effects of experimentally manipulated social comparisons on these assessments. In Study 1, 146 participants (aged 60 and over) reported to whom they compared themselves when assessing their subjective age or health. In Study 2, 100 participants (aged 60 and over) reported their subjective age and health after receiving feedback that compared them to younger adults or to their peers. Study 1 shows that participants compared themselves primarily to their peer group. Yet, individuals who selected a younger comparison group when assessing subjective age reported a younger subjective age, better self-rated health and more positive expectations regarding ageing relative to those who selected their peers as a comparison group. No equivalent differences emerged in any of the measures when participants were divided by their selection of comparison group after providing their self-rated health ratings. In Study 2, feedback that emphasised the performance of younger people led to reports of younger subjective age relative to feedback that emphasised peer performance, with no equivalent difference for self-rated health. These findings help explain why older adults feel younger and healthier than they actually are. We suggest that older adults use social comparisons as a strategy that protects them from the negative effects of ageing on self-perception.

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Role of social integration in the protection against depression in the Chilean elderly population

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1053 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

L de Albuquerque Araújo ◽

N Bello Escamilla ◽

V Sabando Franulic

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Integration ◽

Old Age ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

National Study ◽

Close Relatives ◽

Negative Gradient

Abstract Chile has improved survival however this process occurs under a framework of socioeconomic and gender inequalities, which results in an impact of mental health, especially in vulnerable groups. The objective was to determine the association between depression and social integration in Chilean older adults. Cross-sectional study from the National Study of Dependence in Old Person 2010. The risk of depression was amount with Geriatric Depression Scale (>5). The social integration were quantity as frequency of meeting with close relatives (child, partner, daughter/ son-in-law, grandchildren); with other relatives (brother, brothers-in-law, nephews or other relatives) and with friends and neighbors in the last 12 months in 5 categories (never visit; less frequently; 1-2 times a month; 1-2 times a week; every day or almost). Logistic regression models considered the sampling design of the survey to identify association with odd ratio (OR) (never as reference category), adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, household income, education, housing arrangement and chronic diseases (p ≤ 0,5). Total of 4179 older adults 25,3% reported risk of depression, the significative association with close relatives was in daily or almost frequency OR:0.42 (95%CI 0.27-0.67), 1-2 times a week OR: 0,57 (95%CI 0,33-0,99), 1-2 times/month OR: 0,56 (95%CI 0,99); other relatives were lower frequency OR: 0.54 (95%CI 0.38-0.78); 1-2 times/month OR; 0.50 (95%CI 0.31-0.81); 1-2 times/week OR:0.35 (95%CI 0.22-0.55); daily or almost OR:0.27 (95%CI 0.18-0.42). And meeting with friends and neighbors in the same frequency order were OR: 0.66 (95%CI 0.44-0.99); OR:0.43 (95%CI 0.26-0.73); OR:0.4 (95%CI 0.25-0.62); OR: 0.32 (95%CI 0.21-0.47). There is a negative gradient between depression and the frequency of meeting with friends, neighbors and family, independent of sociodemographic and health characteristics. Social integration must be promoted as a protective factor of mental health in elderly. Key messages Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in old age and we found a negative gradient between the frequency of meeting friends, neighbors and family and the possibility of depression. It seems essential for public health to have strategies that address social life in old age to strengthen quality of live and mental health.

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Prevalence of High Resilience in Old Age and Association with Perceived Threat of COVID-19—Results from a Representative Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18137173 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 7173

Author(s):

Elena Caroline Weitzel ◽

Margrit Löbner ◽

Susanne Röhr ◽

Alexander Pabst ◽

Ulrich Reininghaus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Old Age ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Perceived Threat ◽

Representative Survey ◽

Resilience Scale ◽

Perception Of Threat ◽

Younger Age ◽

Demographic Correlates ◽

Education Levels

Little is known about resilience in old age and its manifestation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of high resilience in the German old age population. We further examine the socio-demographic correlates and whether high resilience reflects on older adults’ perception of the threat posed by COVID-19. The data were derived from a representative telephone survey of n = 1005 older adults (≥65 years) during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Assessments included socio-demographic variables, the perceived threat of COVID-19, and high resilience (Brief Resilience Scale; cutoff: ≥4.31). The association between high resilience and threat from COVID-19 was analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. The study sample had a mean age (SD) of 75.5 (7.1) years, and n = 566 (56.3%) were female. The estimated prevalence of high resilience was 18.7% (95% CI = [16.3; 21.2]). High resilience was more prevalent in the younger age group and participants with higher education levels. High resilience was significantly associated with a lower perception of threat from COVID-19. The results of the representative survey in the German old age population showed that one out of five adults aged 65 years and older had high resilience. Older adults with high resilience tended to feel less threatened by COVID-19. Further research on resilience in old age is needed to support vulnerable groups in the context of care.

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The ‘loneliness pandemic’: implications for gerontological nursing

British Journal of Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjon.2021.30.11.652 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (11) ◽

pp. 652-655

Author(s):

Carlos Laranjeira

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Older People ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Old Age ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Gerontological Nursing

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled states to limit free movement, in order to protect at-risk and more vulnerable groups, particularly older adults. Due to old age or debilitating chronic diseases, this group is also more vulnerable to loneliness (perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships) and social isolation (feeling that one does not belong to society). This forced isolation has negative consequences for the health of older people, particularly their mental health. This is an especially challenging time for gerontological nursing, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to combat age stereotypes reinforced with COVID-19, to urge the measurement of loneliness and social isolation, and to rethink how to further adjust interventions in times of crisis, such as considering technology-mediated interventions in these uncertain times.

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment and Dementia Risk in Older Adults

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab076 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

G L Dunietz ◽

R D Chervin ◽

J F Burke ◽

A S Conceicao ◽

T J Braley

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Fee For Service ◽

Medicare Beneficiaries ◽

Lower Odds ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Not Otherwise Specified ◽

Dementia Risk ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Study Participants

Abstract Study Objectives To examine associations between PAP therapy, adherence and incident diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia not-otherwise-specified (DNOS) in older adults. Methods This retrospective study utilized Medicare 5% fee-for-service claims data of 53,321 beneficiaries, aged 65+, with an OSA diagnosis prior to 2011. Study participants were evaluated using ICD-9 codes for neurocognitive syndromes [AD(n=1,057), DNOS(n=378), and MCI(n=443)] that were newly-identified between 2011-2013. PAP treatment was defined as presence of ≥1 durable medical equipment (HCPCS) code for PAP supplies. PAP adherence was defined as ≥2 HCPCS codes for PAP equipment, separated by≥1 month. Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic and health characteristics, were used to estimate associations between PAP treatment or adherence and new AD, DNOS, and MCI diagnoses. Results In this sample of Medicare beneficiaries with OSA, 59% were men, 90% were non-Hispanic whites and 62% were younger than 75y. The majority (78%) of beneficiaries with OSA were prescribed PAP (treated), and 74% showed evidence of adherent PAP use. In adjusted models, PAP treatment was associated with lower odds of incident diagnoses of AD and DNOS (OR=0.78, 95% CI:0.69-0.89; and OR=0.69, 95% CI:0.55-0.85). Lower odds of MCI, approaching statistical significance, were also observed among PAP users (OR=0.82, 95% CI:0.66-1.02). PAP adherence was associated with lower odds of incident diagnoses of AD (OR=0.65, 95% CI:0.56-0.76). Conclusions PAP treatment and adherence are independently associated with lower odds of incident AD diagnoses in older adults. Results suggest that treatment of OSA may reduce risk of subsequent dementia.

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The media image of Chinese older people: From stigmatic stereotype to diverse self-representation

Global Media and China ◽

10.1177/20594364211012513 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 205943642110125

Author(s):

Kun Li

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older People ◽

Old Age ◽

Media Studies ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

Media Image ◽

Past Life ◽

The Media ◽

Leisure And Recreation ◽

Chinese Older People

From the perspective of communication and media studies, this article explores a comparison between the image of older adults presented on media and online self-representation facilitated by the use of smartphones. The qualitative textual analysis was conducted with a sample (228 posts, from 1 January to 31 December,2019) selected from a representative WeChat Public Account targeting at older adults in China. The results demonstrate that leisure and recreation is the most frequently mentioned topic (58%) with memories of past life receiving the least references (3%). The striking features of popular posts among older people include a highly emotional tone, bright colours and multimedia. Sentiment analyses shows 68.42%, 13.16% and 18.42% of positive, neutral and negative emotions, respectively. A generally positive attitude of self-representation is in a sharp contrast with the stigmatic media image of older adults. The article concludes that the visibility of Chinese older people may help to reduce the stigma surrounding old age in China.

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