scholarly journals The Interplay of COVID 19, Remote Contact, and Race as Risk Factors for Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 721-722
Author(s):  
Youngjoon Bae ◽  
Katherine Abbott ◽  
Mark Pachucki
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Black Americans ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
National Data ◽  
Meal Preparation ◽  
Working Status ◽  
Racial Disparities In Health ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract There have been concerns about how social distance policies and lockdowns due to COVID-19 have affected loneliness and depression among older adults in ways that may magnify racial disparities in health. We conducted panel logistic regression analyses with random effects using national data spanning 2004 to 2016 and the COVID-19 module (Wave 2020, administered in June and September) from the Health & Retirement Study (n=15,504). Individuals living in a nursing home, diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and 64 years of age or younger were excluded from analyses. Age, gender, Hispanic status, education, marital status, working status, wealth, BMI, physical activity, smoking, drinking, and difficulty in meal preparation, eating without help, and grocery shopping were included as control variables. Findings suggest that older adults did not appear to experience increased loneliness during the pandemic relative to prior waves. However, Wave 2020 was an independent risk factor for depression. Greater in-person contact (OR: 0.97, CI: 0.95-0.99, p-val: 0.001) and remote contact (OR: 0.99, CI: 0.97-0.996, p-val: 0.008) were each independently associated with slightly decreased depression. Older Black Americans tended to be more depressed than their White counterparts (OR: 1.50, CI: 1.20-1.86, p-val: <0.001). However, a null interaction between race and wave suggested that Black Americans did not experience more increased depression in 2020 relative to prior waves. Analyses suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic might change at-risk groups for depression and communication by remote technology – often considered an inferior but necessary stopgap measure. Implications for practice and policy will be discussed.

scholarly journals Blacks’ Diminished Health Returns of Educational Attainment: Health and Retirement Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e000212
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Black Americans ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
White Americans ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Hispanic White

Background: Education level reduces the risk of health problems such as poor self-rated health (SRH), high body mass index (BMI), and depressive symptoms (DS). Marginalization – related Diminished Returns (MDRs), however, refer to smaller health benefits of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators particularly educational attainment for the members of racial minority groups such as non-Hispanic Blacks compared to the majority group (non-Hispanic Whites). It is not known, however, if MDRs also hold for middle-age and older adults over a long period of time.  Aims: The current study used a nationally representative data set to explore racial variation in the predictive utility of baseline education level on protecting people against poor SRH, BMI, and DS.  Methods: Data for this analysis were borrowed from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 1992-ongoing), a nationally representative longitudinal study that followed 10,023 middle-aged and older adults (50+ years old) for up to 26 years. From this number, 1877 (18.7%) were non-Hispanic Black Americans, and 8,146 (81.3%) were non-Hispanic White Americans. Education level was the independent variable. We used cluster analysis to categorize individuals to low and high-risk groups (outcome) based on SRH, BMI, and DS over 26 years. Age and gender were the covariates. Race was the moderator.  Results: Overall, high education level reduced the odds of poor SRH, BMI, and DS over the 26 years of follow up. Interactions were observed between race and education on all three health outcomes indicating smaller protective effects of baseline educational attainment on poor health over time, regardless of the outcome.  Conclusions: In line with the MDRs, highly educated non-Hispanic Black Americans remain at high risk for poor health across domains, a risk which is unexpected given their education. The risk of all health outcomes, however, is lowest for non-Hispanic White Americans with highest education. Policies that exclusively focus on equalizing racial gaps in SES (e.g., education) may fail to eliminate the racial and ethnic health inequalities because of the racial inequalities in the marginal health return of education. Public policies must equalize education quality and address structural and environmental barriers that are disproportionately more common in the lives of non-Hispanic Black Americans, even at high education levels. Future research should test how contextual factors, segregation, labor market practices, childhood poverty, and education quality reduces the health return of education for highly educated non-Hispanic Black Americans.

scholarly journals Allostatic Load, Unhealthy Behaviors, and Depressive Symptoms by Birthplace Among Older Adults in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 851-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J. Rodriquez ◽  
Melanie Sabado-Liwag ◽  
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable ◽  
Anne Lee ◽  
Mary N. Haan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Count Range ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: To assess whether unhealthy behaviors moderated the relationship between allostatic load (AL) and future significant depressive symptoms (SDSs) among 1,789 older Latinos. Method: Longitudinal data included baseline AL, three unhealthy behaviors (UBs), and 2-year follow-up SDS. Multivariable logistic regression analyses, stratified by birthplace (U.S. vs. foreign born), modeled the effects of AL, UB count (range = 0-3), and their interaction on follow-up SDS. Results: Compared with U.S.-born, foreign-born participants engaged in fewer UBs (0.52 vs. 0.60 behaviors, p = .01) and had higher baseline SDS (31% vs. 20%, p < .001). Among foreign-born participants, the effect of AL on future SDS (adjusted odds ratios [aORs]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) significantly increased across UB counts of 0 to 3: 1.06 [0.83, 1.35], 1.46 [1.14, 1.87], 2.00 [1.18, 3.41], and 2.75 [1.18, 6.44], respectively. Discussion: Among foreign-born Latinos, these results were most pronounced for women and adults above age 80, which may represent higher risk groups requiring more intensive screening for depression.

scholarly journals INTERNET USE AND LONELINESS OF OLDER ADULTS OVER TIME: THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL CONTACT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S194-S194
Author(s):  
Kexin Yu ◽  
Kexin Yu ◽  
Shinyi Wu ◽  
Iris Chi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Total Effect ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Longitudinal Association ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Internet is increasingly popular among older adults and have changed interpersonal interactions. However, it remains controversial whether older people are more or less lonely with internet use. This paper tests the longitudinal association of internet use and loneliness among older people. One pathway that explains the association, the mediation effect of social contact, was examined. Data from the 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of Health and Retirement Study was used. Hierarchical liner modeling results showed internet use was related to decreased loneliness over 12-year period of time (b=-0.044, p&lt;.001). Internet use was associated with more social contact with family and friends overtime (b=0.261, p&lt;.001), social contact was related to less perceived loneliness longitudinally (b=0.097, p&lt;.001). The total effect of internet use on loneliness is -0.054 and the mediated effect is -0.025. The findings imply that online activities can be effective for reducing loneliness for older people through increased social contact.

scholarly journals Prediction of 11-year incidence of psychophysically dependent status or death among community-dwelling younger elderlies: from an age-specified community-based cohort study (the NISSIN project)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoe Okabayashi ◽  
Takashi Kawamura ◽  
Hisashi Noma ◽  
Kenji Wakai ◽  
Masahiko Ando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Regression Analyses

Abstract Background Predicting adverse health events and implementing preventative measures are a necessary challenge. It is important for healthcare planners and policymakers to allocate the limited resource to high-risk persons. Prediction is also important for older individuals, their family members, and clinicians to prepare mentally and financially. The aim of this study is to develop a prediction model for within 11-year dependent status requiring long-term nursing care or death in older adults for each sex. Methods We carried out age-specified cohort study of community dwellers in Nisshin City, Japan. The older adults aged 64 years who underwent medical check-up between 1996 and 2005 were included in the study. The primary outcome was the incidence of the psychophysically dependent status or death or by the end of the year of age 75 years. Univariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between candidate predictors and the outcome. Using the variables with p-values less than 0.1, multivariable logistic regression analyses were then performed with backward stepwise elimination to determine the final predictors for the model. Results Of the 1525 female participants at baseline, 105 had an incidence of the study outcome. The final prediction model consisted of 15 variables, and the c-statistics for predicting the outcome was 0.763 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.714–0.813). Of the 1548 male participants at baseline, 211 had incidence of the study outcome. The final prediction model consisted of 16 variables, and the c-statistics for predicting the outcome was 0.735 (95% CI 0.699–0.771). Conclusions We developed a prediction model for older adults to forecast 11-year incidence of dependent status requiring nursing care or death in each sex. The predictability was fair, but we could not evaluate the external validity of this model. It could be of some help for healthcare planners, policy makers, clinicians, older individuals, and their family members to weigh the priority of support.

Dental Care Use, Edentulism, and Systemic Health among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 002203452110190
Author(s):  
C.D. Meyerhoefer ◽  
J.V. Pepper ◽  
R.J. Manski ◽  
J.F. Moeller
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Systemic Health ◽  
Time Invariant ◽  
Retirement Study

Past research suggests there are systematic associations between oral health and chronic illness among older adults. Although causality has not yet been credibly established, periodontitis has been found to be associated with higher risk of both heart disease and stroke. We advance this literature by estimating the direct association between dental care use and systemic health using multiple waves of the 1992 to 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Through the inclusion of individual fixed effects in our regression models, we account for unobservable time-invariant characteristics of individuals that might otherwise bias estimates of the association between dental care use and health. We find statistically significant negative associations between dental care use and the number of health conditions, self-reported overall health, the incidence of heart disease, and the incidence of stroke. In particular, the use of dental care within the past 2 y is associated with a 2.7% reduction in the likelihood of being diagnosed with a heart condition and a reduction in the likelihood of a stroke diagnosis of between 5.3% and 11.6%. We also find large positive correlations between edentulism and the measures of chronic illness. Associations from models estimated separately for men and women are qualitatively similar to one another. These findings provide additional motivation for the consideration of a Medicare dental benefit.

scholarly journals Developing an Exergame Intervention to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 849-849
Author(s):  
Fang Yu ◽  
Dereck Salisbury ◽  
Tom Plocher
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Exercise Prescription ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Cognitive Effect ◽  
Ad Prevention ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease by five years could save the U.S. ~$89 billion by 2030. Aerobic exercise and cognitive training are two promising interventions for AD prevention and the two together may have a synergistic cognitive effect than either alone. The purposes of this study were to develop an integrated virtual-reality cognitive training (VRCT) and cycling intervention known as exergame and test its feasibility in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The VRCT included grocery shopping from a list, flower shopping from a list, dinnerware sorting, book sorting, and postage estimation. Twelve participants enrolled in the 1-month program (12 sessions) achieved 81.2% session adherence and 81.4% adherence to the exercise prescription. The exergame was well accepted by 75% of the participants and 100% were satisfied with the exergame quality and delivery. To conclude, exergame is a flexible intervention that is feasible for older adults with SCD.

scholarly journals Everyday Discrimination and Kidney Function Among Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-521
Author(s):  
Ryon J Cobb ◽  
Roland J Thorpe ◽  
Keith C Norris
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Function ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Lower Egfr ◽  
Everyday Discrimination ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Background With advancing age, there is an increase in the time of and number of experiences with psychosocial stressors that may lead to the initiation and/or progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our study tests whether one type of experience, everyday discrimination, predicts kidney function among middle and older adults. Methods The data were from 10 973 respondents (ages 52–100) in the 2006/2008 Health and Retirement Study, an ongoing biennial nationally representative survey of older adults in the United States. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) derives from the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Our indicator of everyday discrimination is drawn from self-reports from respondents. Ordinary Least Squared regression (OLS) models with robust standard errors are applied to test hypotheses regarding the link between everyday discrimination and kidney function. Results Everyday discrimination was associated with poorer kidney function among respondents in our study. Respondents with higher everyday discrimination scores had lower eGFR after adjusting for demographic characteristics (B = −1.35, p &lt; .05), and while attenuated, remained significant (B = −0.79, p &lt; .05) after further adjustments for clinical, health behavior, and socioeconomic covariates. Conclusions Our study suggests everyday discrimination is independently associated with lower eGFR. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in predicting insufficiency in kidney function among middle-aged and older adults.

Predictors of use of digital technology for communication among older adults: analysis of data from the health and retirement study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brady Lund
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Intellectual Curiosity ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retirement Study

Purpose This study aims to examine the potential impact of eleven social and psychological factors – anxiety, closeness with family and friends, intellectual curiosity, life control, life satisfaction, physical health, religiosity, self-esteem, sociability, socioeconomic status and works status and demands – on the use of digital technology by older adults for the purpose of communicating with family and friends. Design/methodology/approach A path analysis, which uses ordinary least squares regression to examine relationships among variables, is used to perform a secondary analysis of data from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study. A correlation matrix, which displays the direct relationships among variables, is also incorporated. Findings Statistically significant direct influences are revealed between the use of digital technology for communication and three factors: intellectual curiosity, self-esteem, and sociability. These three factors are themselves moderated by the influences of the remaining eight factors. While most factors relate to an increase in the adoption of social uses of digital technology, increased anxiety and increased work demands (for those who are employed) are related to decreased adoption, while increased religiosity has a mixed effect (reduced intellectual curiosity but increased sociability). These findings suggest a few avenues for identifying and intervening in the lives of physically and socially isolated older adults, by illuminating correlates of technology adoption. Originality/value While many studies have examined factors that correlate to increased technology adoption, this study is original in that it focuses specifically on the use of digital technology for communication with family and friends (i.e. use of email, messaging, social media) while also focusing on social and psychological factors (many of which can be changed through intervention) rather than innate and uncontrollable factors like age, gender and ethnicity.

Appendicular Lean Mass, Grip Strength, and the Development of Hospital-Associated Activities of Daily Living Disability among Older Adults in the Health ABC Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S Andrews ◽  
Laura S Gold ◽  
May J Reed ◽  
Jose M Garcia ◽  
Robyn L McClelland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Lean Mass ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Appendicular Lean Mass ◽  
Adl Disability ◽  
Separate Regression

Abstract Background Half of all physical disability, including activity of daily living (ADL) disability, among older adults occurs in the setting of hospitalization. This study examines whether appendicular lean mass (ALM) and grip strength, which are commonly included in various definitions of sarcopenia, are associated with development of hospital-associated ADL disability in older adults in the Health ABC Study. Methods Individuals hospitalized during the first 5 years of follow-up (n=1,724) were analyzed. ALM to body mass index (BMI) ratio (ALMBMI), by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and grip strength, by hand-held dynamometery, were assessed annually. Development of new ADL disability was assessed at the time of the next annual assessment after hospitalization. Separate regression analyses modeled the association of pre-hospitalization ALMBMI or grip strength with death before the next scheduled annual assessment. Next, among those who survived to the next annual assessment, separate regression analyses modeled the association of ALMBMI or grip strength with development of ADL disability. Results Each standard deviation decrement in pre-hospitalization grip strength was associated with an adjusted 1.80 odds of new ADL disability at follow-up (95% CI: 1.18, 2.74). Low, compared to not low, grip strength (per FNIH definition) was associated with an adjusted 2.36 odds of ADL disability at follow-up (95% CI: 1.12, 4.97). ALM measures were not associated with development of hospital-associated ADL disability. ALM and grip strength measures were not associated with death. Conclusions Pre-hospitalization lower grip strength may be an important risk factor for ADL disability among older adult survivors of hospitalization.

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