scholarly journals MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SEQUELAE OF BEREAVEMENT IN OLDER ADULTS: U.S. HEATH AND RETIREMENT STUDY ANALYSIS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S348-S348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Domingue ◽  
Laramie Duncan ◽  
Amal Harrati ◽  
Daniel Belsky
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Repeated Measures Data ◽  
Data Tracking ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Health And Mortality ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Death of a spouse (bereavement) is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes in older adults. But it is unknown how mental- and physical-health sequelae of bereavement are related and the clinical significance of bereavement-related depression has been questioned. We analyzed US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data tracking mental and physical health of 36,034 older adults during 1992-2016. Post-bereavement data were available for N=4,985 participants with recorded date of spousal death. We analyzed longitudinal repeated-measures data on survivors’ depression, disease, disability, and mortality. Bereavement effects on depression were immediate, but short-lived, attenuating within the year. In contrast, bereavement effects on physical health and mortality persisted over follow-up. Critically, the magnitude of short-lived effects on depression correlated with the magnitude of longer-lasting effects on disease, disability, and mortality. Results reveal connections between mental and physical health and aging and suggest bereavement-related depression as a biomarker of enduring health risk.

scholarly journals Short-Term Mental Health Sequelae of Bereavement Predict Long-Term Physical Health Decline in Older Adults: U.S. Health and Retirement Study Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W Domingue ◽  
Laramie Duncan ◽  
Amal Harrati ◽  
Daniel W Belsky
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Spousal Death ◽  
Health Decline ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Objectives Spousal death is a common late-life event with health-related sequelae. Evidence linking poor mental health to disease suggests the hypothesis that poor mental health following death of a spouse could be a harbinger of physical health decline. Thus, identification of bereavement-related mental health symptoms could provide an opportunity for prevention. Methods We analyzed data from N = 39,162 individuals followed from 1994 to 2016 in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study; N = 5,061 were widowed during follow-up. We tested change in mental and physical health from prebereavement through the 5 years following spousal death. Results Bereaved spouses experienced an increase in depressive symptoms following their spouses’ deaths but the depressive shock attenuated within 1 year. Bereaved spouses experienced increases in disability, chronic-disease morbidity, and hospitalization, which grew in magnitude over time, especially among older respondents. Bereaved spouses were at increased risk of death compared to nonbereaved respondents. The magnitude of depressive symptoms in the immediate aftermath of spousal death predicted physical-health decline and mortality risk over 5 years of follow-up. Discussion Bereavement-related depressive symptoms indicate a risk for physical health decline and death in older adults. Screening for depressive symptoms in bereaved older adults may represent an opportunity for intervention to preserve healthy life span.

scholarly journals The Impact of Low Back Pain and Physical Activity on Mental and Physical Health Outcomes in Older Adults With Arthritis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 458-458
Author(s):  
Janiece Taylor ◽  
Natalie Regier ◽  
Minhui Liu ◽  
Sarah Szanton ◽  
Richard Skolasky
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Nearly 50% of Americans aged 65 and above have been diagnosed with arthritis at any point in time, and an estimated 80% of adults experience low back pain (LBP) at some point in their lives. However, little is known about the experience of LBP in older adults with arthritis and whether or not it is related to adverse mental and physical health outcomes over and above those linked to arthritis. This study examined the relationship between LBP and four associated physical and mental health conditions (depression, insomnia, mobility limitations, and self-rated health) in older adults with arthritis. We also examined whether physical activity mediated the relationships between LBP and these four conditions. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests assessed whether there were demographic differences between persons with and without LBP. Binary logistic regressions found that participants with LBP were 30% more likely to endorse insomnia (95% confidence interval (CI) =1.1 to 1.5, p<.001), had 40% higher odds of depression (95% CI=1.1 to 1.6, p<.001), and 70% higher odds of poor self-rated health (95% CI=1.5 to 1.9, p<.001) than those without LBP. Activity mediated the relationship between LBP and the four health outcomes in unadjusted models. Findings indicate that LBP may be associated with adverse mental and physical health in older adults with arthritis, and treatment for older adults with arthritis and comorbid LBP should include interventions targeting LBP and routine assessment of mental and physical health.

scholarly journals Artificial Intelligence Language Predictors of Two-Year Trauma-Related Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R. Oltmanns ◽  
H. Andrew Schwartz ◽  
Camilo Ruggero ◽  
Youngseo Son ◽  
Jiaju Miao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
World Trade Center ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Background: Recent research on artificial intelligence has demonstrated that natural language can be used to provide valid indicators of psychopathology. The present study examined artificial intelligence-based language predictors (ALPs) of seven trauma-related mental and physical health outcomes in responders to the World Trade Center disaster. Methods: The responders (N = 174, Mage = 55.4 years) provided daily voicemail updates over 14 days. Algorithms developed using machine learning in large social media discovery samples were applied to the voicemail transcriptions to derive ALP scores for several risk factors (depressivity, anxiousness, anger proneness, stress, and personality). Responders also completed self-report assessments of these risk factors at baseline and trauma-related mental and physical health outcomes at two-year follow-up (including symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, sleep disturbance, respiratory problems, and GERD). Results: Voicemail ALPs were significantly associated with a majority of the trauma-related outcomes at two-year follow-up, over and above corresponding baseline self-reports. ALPs showed significant convergence with corresponding self-report scales, but also considerable uniqueness from each other and from self-report scales. Limitations: The study has a relatively short follow-up period relative to trauma occurrence and a limited sample size. Conclusions: This study shows evidence that ALPs may provide a novel, objective, and clinically useful approach to forecasting, and may in the future help to identify individuals at risk for negative health outcomes.

scholarly journals Short-term mental health sequelae of bereavement predict long-term physical health decline in older adults: US Health and Retirement Study Analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W. Domingue ◽  
Laramie Duncan ◽  
Amal Harrati ◽  
Daniel W. Belsky
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Spousal Death ◽  
Health Decline ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

AbstractObjectiveDeath of a spouse is a common late-life event with mental- and physical-health sequelae. Whereas mental-health sequelae of spousal death tend to be transient, physical-health sequelae may persist, leading to disability and mortality. Growing evidence linking poor mental health to aging-related disease suggests the hypothesis that transient poor mental health following death of a spouse could be a harbinger of physical health decline. If so, identification of bereavement-related mental health symptoms could provide an opportunity for prevention.MethodsWe analyzed data from N=35,103 individuals followed from 1994-2014 in the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and identified N=4,629 who were widowed during follow-up. We tested change in mental and physical health from pre-bereavement through the 5-year period following spousal death.ResultsBereaved spouses experienced an immediate increase in depressive symptoms following their spouses’ deaths but the depressive shock attenuated within one year. Bereaved spouses also experienced increases in disability, chronic-disease morbidity, and hospitalization, which grew in magnitude with time since spousal death, especially among older HRS participants. Bereaved spouses were at increased risk of death compared to HRS participants who were not bereaved. The magnitude of depressive symptoms in the immediate aftermath of spousal death predicted physical-health decline and mortality risk over 5 years of follow-up.ConclusionsBereavement-related depressive symptoms provide an indicator of risk for physical health decline and death in older adults. Screening for depressive symptoms in bereaved older adults may represent an opportunity for intervention to preserve healthy lifespan.Plain Language SummaryThe clinical significance of depressive symptoms during bereavement for long-term health is not well understood. We analyzed longitudinal data tracking mental and physical health of more than 4,000 older adults who were widowed during follow-up. Widows and widowers who experienced more severe depressive symptoms immediately following their spouse’s death were at increased risk for incident disability, chronic disease, hospitalization, and mortality over the five years following their spouse’s death. Transient depressive symptoms related to bereavement may provide a clinical indicator of risk for long-term physical health decline in older adults. Findings motivate increased integration of psychiatric assessment in geriatric care.

scholarly journals Cognitive decline and alcohol consumption adjusting for functional status over a 3-year period in French speaking community living older adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. e177-e184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen-Maria Vasiliadis ◽  
Marie-Christine Payette ◽  
Djamal Berbiche ◽  
Sébastien Grenier ◽  
Carol Hudon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Service Use ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
Changing Patterns

AbstractBackgroundThe effect of alcohol consumption on cognitive decline is not clear. We aimed to study the association between alcohol consumption and cognitive functioning controlling for functional heath status.MethodsA total of 1610 older adults with a score ≥26 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were followed to assess the change in scores at the 3-year follow-up. Information on alcohol consumption as well as socio-demographic, lifestyle, psychosocial and clinical factors, as well as health service use were assessed at baseline and 3-year follow-up interviews. Linear mixed models with repeated measures were used stratifying by functional status.ResultsClose to 73% reported consuming alcohol in the past 6 months, of which 11% were heavy drinkers (≥11 and ≥16 drinks for women and men). A significant decrease in MMSE scores was observed in low functioning non-drinkers (−1.48; 95% CI: −2.06, −0.89) and light to moderate drinkers (−0.99; 95% CI: −1.54, −0.44) and high functioning non-drinkers (−0.51; 95% CI: −0.91, −0.10).ConclusionsAlcohol consumption did not contribute to cognitive decline. Cognitive decline was greater in individuals reporting low functional status. Research should focus on the interaction between changing patterns of alcohol consumption and social participation in individuals with low and high functioning status.

Perceptions of Resilience and Physical Health Symptom Improvement Following Post Disaster Integrated Health Services

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard J. Osofsky ◽  
Carl F. Weems ◽  
Rebecca A. Graham ◽  
Joy D. Osofsky ◽  
Tonya C. Hansel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Stepped Care ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Behavioral Health Treatment ◽  
Integrated Health Services ◽  
Post Disaster

AbstractObjectiveTheorists and researchers have linked resilience with a host of positive psychological and physical health outcomes. This paper examines perceptions of resilience and physical health symptoms in a sample of individuals exposed to multiple community disasters following involvement in integrated mental health services.MethodsA multiwave naturalistic design was used to follow 762 adult clinic patients (72% female; 28% minority status), ages 18-92 years (mean age=40 years), who were evaluated for resilience and physical health symptoms prior to receiving services and at 1, 3, and 6 months’ follow-up.ResultsData indicated increases in perceptions of resilience and decreased physical health symptoms reported over time. Results also indicated that resilience predicted physical health symptoms, such that resilience and physical health symptoms were negatively associated (ie, improved resilience was associated with decreases in physical health symptoms). These effects were primarily observed for those individuals with previous exposure to natural disasters.ConclusionsFindings provide correlational evidence for behavioral health treatment provided as part of a stepped-care, collaborative model in reducing physical health symptoms and increasing resilience post-disaster. Controlled trials are warranted. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:223–229)

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