Understudied Older Populations and Settings in Environmental Gerontology: Candidates for Future Research

Abstract Background Older adults (≥50 years) represent the fastest-growing population of people who use cannabis, potentially due to the increasing promotion of cannabis as medicine by dispensaries and cannabis websites. Given healthy aging and cannabis use are both associated with cognitive decline, it is important to establish the effects of cannabis on cognition in healthy aging. Objective This systematic scoping review used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to critically examine the extent of literature on this topic and highlight areas for future research. Method A search of six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Family and Society Studies Worldwide, and CINAHL) for articles published by September 2019, yielded 1,014 unique results. Results Six articles reported findings for older populations (three human and three rodent studies), highlighting the paucity of research in this area. Human studies revealed largely null results, likely due to several methodological limitations. Better-controlled rodent studies indicate that the relationship between ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cognitive function in healthy aging depends on age and level of THC exposure. Extremely low doses of THC improved cognition in very old rodents. Somewhat higher chronic doses improved cognition in moderately aged rodents. No studies examined the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) or high-CBD cannabis on cognition. Conclusions This systematic scoping review provides crucial, timely direction for future research on this emerging issue. Future research that combines neuroimaging and cognitive assessment would serve to advance understanding of the effects of age and quantity of THC and CBD on cognition in healthy aging.

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SOCIAL NETWORK BY ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN: FACILITATING THERAPEUTIC EFFECT IN LTCF FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DEMENTIA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1727 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S462-S462

Author(s):

Farhana Ferdous

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Environmental Design ◽

Design Guidelines ◽

Future Research ◽

Positive Health ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Environmental Gerontology

Abstract The relationship between the physical environment and the prevalence of social interaction have been a core topic of inquiry in environmental gerontology. It has been estimated that around 25 million people worldwide have dementia, and the number will exceed 80 million by 2040. A growing body of literature in the areas of environment-behavior studies shows that the physical environment affects positive behavioral changes, in turn, affecting individual, group and organizational outcomes, but little research has focused on older adults especially those with cognitive impairment by targeting the Dementia Enabling Environment of care facilities. By using non-pharmacological interventions, the purpose of this study is to initiate positive social network among dementia residents and staff by analyzing the spatial configuration of the physical environment and layout in long-term care facilities (LTCF). The findings may give evidence-based design guidelines for future research and design of memory care facilities to promote therapeutic experience for older people experiencing early to moderate stage dementia. Using a 3-stage, multi-method research design such as space syntax, behavior mapping techniques and direct observations, this study objectively measured the spatial configuration of LTCF (physical environment) to evaluate the provision of social interactions (among dementia residents and staff), promote positive health outcomes and healthy living for people experiencing early to moderate stage dementia. This study was able to establish that the architectural layout and environmental design could have a positive and protective effect against dementia in environmental gerontology and geriatrics.

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MEASURING SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN OLDER POPULATIONS: A SCOPING REVIEW AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.986 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S265-S265

Author(s):

Gemma F Spiers ◽

Barbara Hanratty ◽

Fiona E Matthews ◽

E Moffatt ◽

A Kingston

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Social Care ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Future Research ◽

Area Deprivation ◽

Older Populations

Abstract Socioeconomic status (SES) is often measured using indicators that are less relevant to older populations. Building on earlier debates about these issues, an up-to-date, critical review of contemporary evidence and approaches is needed. A key question is how these challenges might vary between countries and different socio-cultural contexts. An international systematic scoping review was undertaken to a) identify which measures of SES have been used in studies of older adults’ health, healthcare utilization and social care utilization, and b) critically appraise the application and validity of these measures in older populations. Systematic searches were conducted in five databases (Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Web of Science and Health Management Information Consortium) in May 2018. Studies were eligible if they reported data about the relationship between a measure of SES and self-rated health, healthcare use or social care use for people aged 60+ years, and were published after 2000 in a high-income country (as defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development). Sixty-two studies across seventeen countries were included. Measures used included: education (n=41), income (n=37), subjective SES (n=8), occupational or employment (n=10), area deprivation (n=10), combined wealth (n=7), home ownership (n=13), and housing conditions (n=2). A minority (n=7) used a range of proxy variables. The challenges of applying these measures to older populations will be considered. Attention is given to how these challenges may differ by country, whilst considering the added complexities of age, gender and socio-cultural context. Implications for future research on older adults’ health inequalities are discussed.

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Experiences of Older Adults During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: An Initial Exploration of Nationally Representative Data at the Intersection of Gender and Race

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/07334648211048258 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 073346482110482

Author(s):

Takashi Yamashita ◽

Wonmai Punksungka ◽

Samuel Van Vleet ◽

Abigail Helsinger ◽

Phyllis Cummins

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Gender And Race ◽

Baseline Information ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Project Data ◽

Older Populations

Little is known about the overall experiences and feelings of diverse older populations during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. To provide the baseline information for future research and policy, this study analyzed the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 project data ( n = 1782). More than 70% of older adults reported the following activities: watching TV (98%), reading (90%), using a computer and the internet (83%), gardening (82%), walking (75%), baking and cooking (73%), and praying (73%). Volunteering and attending community groups, which are known to benefit well-being, were unpopular (less than 8%). During the pandemic, older adults were generally satisfied with their lives, but more than half of them were concerned about their own health, family’s health, and future prospects. Our study also showed the differences in the experiences and feelings by gender and race as well as the intersection of gender and race in the United States.

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Reconceptualizing mind wandering from a switching perspective

10.31234/osf.io/dnuys ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yi Sheng Wong ◽

Adrian R. Willoughby ◽

Liana Machado

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Task Switching ◽

Mind Wandering ◽

Resource Control ◽

Future Research ◽

Theories Of Mind ◽

New Perspective ◽

Older Populations ◽

And Task

Mind wandering is a universal phenomenon in which our attention shifts away from the task at hand toward task-unrelated thoughts. Despite it inherently involving a shift in mental set, little is known about the role of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering. In this article we consider the potential of cognitive flexibility as a mechanism for mediating and/or regulating the occurrence of mind wandering. Our review begins with a brief introduction to the prominent theories of mind wandering—the executive failure hypothesis, the decoupling hypothesis, the process-occurrence framework, and the resource-control account of sustained attention. Then, after discussing their respective merits and weaknesses, we put forward a new perspective of mind wandering focused on cognitive flexibility, which provides an account more in line with the data to date, including why older populations experience a reduction in mind wandering. After summarizing initial evidence prompting this new perspective, drawn from several mind-wandering and task-switching studies, we recommend avenues for future research aimed at further understanding the importance of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering.

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Selection, optimization, and compensation

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025414560447 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 171-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

G. John Geldhof ◽

Steinunn Gestsdottir ◽

Kristjan Stefansson ◽

Sara K. Johnson ◽

Edmond P. Bowers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Youth Development ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Forced Choice ◽

Future Research ◽

Similar Factor ◽

Using Data ◽

And Function ◽

Older Populations

Intentional self-regulation (ISR) undergoes significant development across the life span. However, our understanding of ISR’s development and function remains incomplete, in part because the field’s conceptualization and measurement of ISR vary greatly. A key sample case involves how Baltes and colleagues’ Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) model of ISR, which was developed with adult populations, may be applied to understand and measure adolescent self-regulation. The tripartite structure of SOC identified in older populations has not been replicated in adolescent samples. This difference may be due to measurement issues. In this article, we addressed whether using a Likert-type format instead of a forced-choice format of the SOC Questionnaire resulted in a tripartite factor structure when used with an adolescent population. Using data from 578 late adolescents who participated in the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (70.80% female), we showed that the two versions of the measure produced a similar factor structure and were similar in terms of reliability and validity, although the traditional forced-choice version provided data with slightly lower criterion validity. We therefore conclude that both types of the measure are acceptable, but the choice of measure may depend on the sample in question and the analytical approach planned for the findings. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research.

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Trajectories of phenotypical frailty over a decade in young–old community-dwelling adults: results from the Lc65+ study

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2021-216633 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. jech-2021-216633

Author(s):

Sarah Fustinoni ◽

Brigitte Santos-Eggimann ◽

Yves Henchoz

Keyword(s):

Social Engagement ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Future Research ◽

Related Factors ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

Two Samples ◽

Independent Effects ◽

Older Populations ◽

Young Old

BackgroundFew studies have examined the frailty trajectories of young–old adults using Fried frailty phenotype. Dropouts due to death were rarely taken into account. This longitudinal study aimed to identify trajectories with and without adjustment for non-random attrition and to analyse related factors.MethodsWe used the first two samples of community-dwelling people in the Lausanne cohort 65+. Frailty phenotype was assessed at age 66–71 years and every third year over 10 years. A group-based trajectory modelling—first without and then with adjustment for non-random attrition—identified trajectories among all individuals with at least two observations (n=2286), excluding dropouts for reasons other than death. Multinomial logistic regressions estimated independent effects of participants’ baseline characteristics.ResultsWe identified three frailty trajectories (low, medium and high). Participants in the highest trajectory had a higher mortality over 10 years. (Pre)frailty at baseline was the main factor associated with adverse trajectories. Smoking, obesity, comorbidity and negative self-perceived health were associated with unfavourable trajectories independently of baseline frailty, while social engagement was related to the lowest frailty trajectory. Ignoring transitions to death attenuated the estimated effects of age on trajectories.ConclusionsFried frailty phenotype should be assessed in individuals aged late 60s as it is strongly associated with frailty trajectories in the following decade of their life. Lifetime prevention of behavioural risk factors such as smoking and obesity is the strategy most likely to influence the development of frailty in older populations. Furthermore, our results underline social engagement as an important area of interest for future research.

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Aging and Recovery After Resistance-Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: Current Evidence and Implications for Future Research

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0201 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

John F.T. Fernandes ◽

Kevin L. Lamb ◽

Jonathan P. Norris ◽

Jason Moran ◽

Benjamin Drury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Muscle Damage ◽

Muscle Soreness ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Age Groups ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Future Research ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Aging Muscle ◽

Older Populations

Aging is anecdotally associated with a prolonged recovery from resistance training, though current literature remains equivocal. This brief review considers the effects of resistance training on indirect markers of muscle damage and recovery (i.e., muscle soreness, blood markers, and muscle strength) in older males. With no date restrictions, four databases were searched for articles relating to aging, muscle damage, and recovery. Data from 11 studies were extracted for review. Of these, four reported worse symptoms in older compared with younger populations, while two have observed the opposite, and the remaining studies (n = 6) proposed no differences between age groups. It appears that resistance training can be practiced in older populations without concern for impaired recovery. To improve current knowledge, researchers are urged to utilize more ecologically valid muscle-damaging bouts and investigate the mechanisms which underpin the recovery of muscle soreness and strength after exercise in older populations.

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Exercise-Induced Improvements in Cognitive Functioning and Brain Structure in Older Adults

USURJ University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal ◽

10.32396/usurj.v2i2.164 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sara Bartel

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Future Research ◽

Total Brain Volume ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Total Brain ◽

Cognitive Benefits ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Older Populations

Physical activity is often associated with benefits such as reduced risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease; however, the benefits of physical activity are not only limited to physical health, but also extend to cognition (Warburton, Nicol & Bredin, 2006). Exercise in older populations results in improved cognitive functioning and decreased risk of cognitive decline (Muscari et al., 2010). This current literature review examines the association between physical activity and cognitive functioning in older adults. Studies suggest that a variety of types of exercise have cognitive benefits, although it is not clear which type of activity has the largest effect. Additionally, exercise increases total brain volume and the connectivity of neural networks in areas such as the hippocampus, and decreases the presence of white matter hyperintensities in areas involved in motor control and coordination (Erickson et al., 2010; Tseng et al., 2013). Taken together, the research indicates that physical activity improves cognitive functioning and causes exercise-induced changes in the brain. Limitations of the reviewed research include a lack of generalizable results due to a lack of diversity of samples, as well as the presence of cross-sectional designs that are unable to define the direction of the relationship between exercise and cognition. Future research should investigate the inconsistencies reported in the literature with the goal of developing programs to improve cognitive function in older populations and to reduce the burden of cognitive impairment on the health care system.

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