Presenting features of COVID-19 in older people: relationships with frailty, inflammation and mortality

AbstractPurposeTo describe the clinical features of COVID-19 in older adults, and relate these to outcomes.MethodsCohort study of 217 individuals (≥70 years) hospitalised with COVID-19, followed up for allcause mortality. Secondary outcomes included cognitive and physical function at discharge. C-reactive protein and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio were used as measures of immune activity.ResultsCardinal COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dyspnoea, cough) were common but not universal. Inflammation on hospitalisation was lower in frail older adults. Fever, dyspnoea, delirium and inflammation were associated with mortality. Delirium at presentation was an independent risk factor for cognitive decline at discharge.ConclusionsCOVID-19 may present without cardinal symptoms as well as implicate a possible role for age-related changes in immunity in mediating the relationship between frailty and mortality.Key summary pointsAimTo characterise symptoms, key findings and clinical outcomes in older adults with COVID-19Findings12% of older individuals did not present with classical COVID-19 symptoms, though fever, dyspnoea, delirium and raised inflammation were associated with higher mortality. Compared with fitter older individuals, immune activity was lower in frailer patients.MessageCOVID-19 may present without cardinal symptoms as well as implicate a possible role for age-related changes in immunity in mediating the relationship between frailty and mortality.

Download Full-text

Presenting features of COVID-19 in older people: relationships with frailty, inflammation and mortality

European Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1007/s41999-020-00373-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1089-1094

Author(s):

Paul Knopp ◽

Amy Miles ◽

Thomas E. Webb ◽

Benjamin C. Mcloughlin ◽

Imran Mannan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Independent Risk Factor ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Age Related ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

Cardinal Symptoms ◽

The Relationship ◽

Age Related Changes

Abstract Purpose To describe the clinical features of COVID-19 in older adults, and relate these to outcomes. Methods A cohort study of 217 individuals (median age 80, IQR 74–85 years; 62% men) hospitalised with COVID-19, followed up for all-cause mortality, was conducted. Secondary outcomes included cognitive and physical function at discharge. C-reactive protein and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were used as measures of immune activity. Results Cardinal COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dyspnoea, cough) were common but not universal. Inflammation on hospitalisation was lower in frail older adults. Fever, dyspnoea, delirium and inflammation were associated with mortality. Delirium at presentation was an independent risk factor for cognitive decline at discharge. Conclusions COVID-19 may present without cardinal symptoms as well as implicate a possible role for age-related changes in immunity in mediating the relationship between frailty and mortality.

Download Full-text

Auditory word recognition across the lifespan

Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism ◽

10.1075/lab.14030.blu ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1-2) ◽

pp. 119-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Henrike K. Blumenfeld ◽

Scott R. Schroeder ◽

Susan C. Bobb ◽

Max R. Freeman ◽

Viorica Marian

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Control ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Word Identification ◽

Age Related ◽

Auditory Word ◽

Auditory Word Recognition ◽

The Relationship ◽

Age Related Changes

Abstract Recent research suggests that bilingual experience reconfigures linguistic and nonlinguistic cognitive processes. We examined the relationship between linguistic competition resolution and nonlinguistic cognitive control in younger and older adults who were either bilingual or monolingual. Participants heard words in English and identified the referent among four pictures while eye-movements were recorded. Target pictures (e.g., cab) appeared with a phonological competitor picture (e.g., cat) and two filler pictures. After each eye-tracking trial, priming probes assessed residual activation and inhibition of target and competitor words. When accounting for processing speed, results revealed that age-related changes in activation and inhibition are smaller in bilinguals than in monolinguals. Moreover, younger and older bilinguals, but not monolinguals, recruited similar inhibition mechanisms during word identification and during a nonlinguistic Stroop task. Results suggest that, during lexical access, bilinguals show more consistent competition resolution and recruitment of cognitive control across the lifespan than monolinguals.

Download Full-text

Sex differences in the relationship between obesity, C-reactive protein, physical activity, depression, sleep quality and fatigue in older adults

Brain Behavior and Immunity ◽

10.1016/j.bbi.2008.12.003 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 643-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Rudy J. Valentine ◽

Edward McAuley ◽

Victoria J. Vieira ◽

Tracy Baynard ◽

Liang Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Age-Related Differences in the Association between Plasma High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Noncalcified or Mixed Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/2020/5938957 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Tiewei Li ◽

Ning Chen ◽

Zhengan Liu ◽

Zhiming Shan ◽

Geng Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Coronary Plaque ◽

Control Group ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Old Adults ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Age Related

Background. Previous studies have demonstrated that plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was the predictor for unstable coronary plaque. Patients with noncalcified plaque (NCP) or mixed plaque (MP) have a higher risk of poor outcomes. However, the association between hsCRP and the presence of NCP or MP (NCP/MP) in old adults remains unclear, and if present, whether there exist differences between young and old adults remain unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of hsCRP in predicting the presence of NCP/MP and evaluate whether age has any impact on this association. Methods. A total of 951 subjects were included in this study. Complete clinical and laboratory data were collected. According to the characteristics of the most stenotic plaque, we divided them into 2 groups: calcified plaque (CP) and NCP/MP. Subjects with no plaque were classified as the control group (CR). Subjects with age≥60 years were defined as older adults, and those with age<60 years were classified as nonelderly people. Results. Patients with NCP/MP had significantly higher hsCRP level compared with subjects with CR or CP in older adults but not in nonelderly people. The proportion of NCP/MP was significantly increased from 27.0% in the hsCRP<1.25 mg/L group to 42.7% in the hsCRP>2.70 mg/L group in older adults. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that hsCRP was an independent risk factor for the presence of NCP/MP (odds ratio OR=1.093, 95% CI 1.032–1.157, P=0.001) only in older adults. Conclusions. hsCRP is independently associated with the presence of NCP/MP in older adults but not in nonelderly people. These results suggest the potential significance of hsCRP-lowering regimens in older adults with NCP/MP.

Download Full-text

The Evaluation of the Relationship Between the Response of Systemic Treatment with C-Reactive Protein and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio in Psoriasis Patients: A Preliminary Study

Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dermatology ◽

10.5336/dermato.2015-48846 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 71-75

Author(s):

Aslı AKSU ÇERMAN ◽

Ezgi AKTAŞ KARABAY ◽

İlknur KIVANÇ ALTUNAY

Keyword(s):

Systemic Treatment ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

A Neural Signature of Regularity in Sound is Reduced in Older Adults

10.1101/2021.02.18.431898 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Björn Herrmann ◽

Burkhard Maess ◽

Ingrid S. Johnsrude

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Auditory Cortex ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Sound Perception ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Sound Processing ◽

Age Related ◽

Increased Sensitivity ◽

Neural Signature ◽

Age Related Changes

AbstractSensitivity to repetitions in sound amplitude and frequency is crucial for sound perception. As with other aspects of sound processing, sensitivity to such patterns may change with age, and may help explain some age-related changes in hearing such as segregating speech from background sound. We recorded magnetoencephalography to characterize differences in the processing of sound patterns between younger and older adults. We presented tone sequences that either contained a pattern (made of a repeated set of tones) or did not contain a pattern. We show that auditory cortex in older, compared to younger, adults is hyperresponsive to sound onsets, but that sustained neural activity in auditory cortex, indexing the processing of a sound pattern, is reduced. Hence, the sensitivity of neural populations in auditory cortex fundamentally differs between younger and older individuals, overresponding to sound onsets, while underresponding to patterns in sounds. This may help to explain some age-related changes in hearing such as increased sensitivity to distracting sounds and difficulties tracking speech in the presence of other sound.

Download Full-text

Major Discrimination, Race-Ethnicity, and Inflammation Among Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1326 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 344-344

Author(s):

Lauren Parker ◽

Roland Thorpe ◽

Ryon Cobb

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

High Risk ◽

Prevalence Ratio ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

The Relationship ◽

Prevalence Ratios ◽

Retirement Study ◽

Ethnicity Data

Abstract This study examines the relationship between self-reported instances of major discrimination and inflammation among older adults, and explores whether this relationship varies in accordance with race/ethnicity. Data from 2006/2008 Health and Retirement Study was used to collect measures of self-reported instances of major discrimination and high-risk C-reactive protein (CRP), which was assayed from blood samples. Modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors was applied to estimate the prevalence ratios of self-reported instances of major discrimination, as it relates to high-risk CRP (CRP ≥ 22 kg/m2), and test whether this relationship varies by race/ethnicity. Respondents who experienced any instances of major discrimination had a higher likelihood of high-risk CRP (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–1.22) than those who did not report experiencing any instances of major discrimination. This relationship was weaker for blacks than whites (PR: 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69–0.95).

Download Full-text

Activity Engagement and Cognitive Performance Amongst Older Adults

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620867 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandria N. Weaver ◽

Susanne M. Jaeggi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Reserve ◽

Mental Functioning ◽

Activity Engagement ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Age Related ◽

Cognitive Activities ◽

The Relationship ◽

Age Related Changes

Research supporting cognitive reserve theory suggests that engaging in a variety of cognitive, social, and physical activities may serve as protective factors against age-related changes in mental functioning, especially if the activities are cognitively engaging. Individuals who participate in a variety of cognitive activities have been found to be more likely to maintain a higher level of cognitive functioning and be less likely to develop dementia. In this study, we explore the relationship between engaging in a variety of activities and cognitive performance amongst 206 healthy older adults between the ages of 65–85. Age and years of education were found to be the most significant predictors of a global composite representing cognitive performance, consistent with previous work linking these variables to age-related changes in cognition and the cognitive reserve. We interpret these results to suggest that age and education are better predictors of global cognitive performance in older adults than self-reported activity engagement.

Download Full-text