Sandwiched Grandparents and Biological Health Risks in China

2022 ◽  
pp. 002214652110698
Author(s):  
Hongwei Xu ◽  
Jinyu Liu ◽  
Zhenmei Zhang ◽  
Lydia Li
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Intergenerational Caregiving ◽  
Biological Health ◽  
Unexpected Findings ◽  
Chinese Grandparents

This study examined the cross-sectional associations between intergenerational caregiving and health risks among sandwiched Chinese grandparents who provide care to grandchildren, great-grandparents, or both. Drawing on biomarker data from the 2011 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N range = 2,189–3,035), we measured age-related biological health risks of hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, and allostatic load. We found that health risks did not necessarily increase with the intensity of intergenerational caregiving. Providing care to grandchildren and great-grandparents simultaneously was not as detrimental to health as reported in earlier studies from the United States. Sandwiched grandparents could benefit from providing care to grandchildren or great-grandparents only. These unexpected findings might be related to the cultural mandates of filial piety and family solidarity in China. Grandfathers and grandmothers experienced different associations between varying types of intergenerational caregiving and health risks.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Clocks and Allostatic Load Reveal Potential Sex-Specific Drivers of Biological Aging

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathal McCrory ◽  
Giovanni Fiorito ◽  
Sinead McLoughlin ◽  
Silvia Polidoro ◽  
Cliona Ni Cheallaigh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Metabolic Dysregulation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Epigenetic Age ◽  
Epigenetic Age Acceleration ◽  
Dna Methylation Age

Abstract Allostatic load (AL) and epigenetic clocks both attempt to characterize the accelerated aging of biological systems, but at present it is unclear whether these measures are complementary or distinct. This study examines the cross-sectional association of AL with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in a subsample of 490 community-dwelling older adults participating in The Irish Longitudinal study on Aging (TILDA). A battery of 14 biomarkers representing the activity of four different physiological systems: immunological, cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, was used to construct the AL score. DNA methylation age was computed according to the algorithms described by Horvath, Hannum, and Levine allowing for estimation of whether an individual is experiencing accelerated or decelerated aging. Horvath, Hannum, and Levine EAA correlated 0.05, 0.03, and 0.21 with AL, respectively. Disaggregation by sex revealed that AL was more strongly associated with EAA in men compared with women as assessed using Horvath’s clock. Metabolic dysregulation was a strong driver of EAA in men as assessed using Horvath and Levine’s clock, while metabolic and cardiovascular dysregulation were associated with EAA in women using Levine’s clock. Results indicate that AL and the epigenetic clocks are measuring different age-related variance and implicate sex-specific drivers of biological aging.

scholarly journals Health Risks of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Metals at Informal Electronic Waste Recycling Sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chimere Ohajinwa ◽  
Peter van Bodegom ◽  
Oladele Osibanjo ◽  
Qing Xie ◽  
Jingwen Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
The United States ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dermal Contact ◽  
Adverse Health

Concerns about the adverse public health consequences of informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling are increasing. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design to gain insights into health risks (cancer and non-cancer risks) associated with exposure to e-waste chemicals among informal e-waste workers via three main routes: Dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. The e-waste chemicals (PBDE and metals) were measured in the dust and top soils at e-waste sites (burning, dismantling, and repair sites). Adverse health risks were calculated using the EPA model developed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The concentrations of the e-waste chemicals and the health risks at the e-waste sites increased as the intensity of the e-waste recycling activities increased: control sites < repair sites < dismantling sites < burning sites. Dermal contact was the main route of exposure while exposure via inhalation was negligible for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. Cumulative health risks via all routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) exceeded the acceptable limits of both non-cancer effects and cancer risk at all e-waste sites. This indicates that overall the e-waste workers are at the risk of adverse health effects. Therefore, the importance of occupational safety programs and management regulations for e-waste workers cannot be over emphasised.

Bilingual lexical skills of school-age children with Chinese and Korean heritage languages in the United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela Jia ◽  
Jennifer Chen ◽  
HyeYoung Kim ◽  
Phoenix-Shan Chan ◽  
Changmo Jeung
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
School Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Lexical Skills ◽  
At Home

This cross-sectional study investigated the bilingual lexical skills of 175 US school-age children (5 to18 years old) with Cantonese, Mandarin, or Korean as their heritage language (HL), and English as their dominant language. Primary study goals were to identify potential patterns of development in bilingual lexical skills over the elementary to high school time span and to examine the relation of environmental factors to lexical skills. HL and English productive lexical skills were assessed with a Picture Naming and a Verbal Fluency task. English receptive lexical skills were assessed with Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. A survey obtained information about participants’ language use in six environmental contexts. There were age-related significant increases in both HL and English skills. However, English proficiency already had a significant lead over HL proficiency at the youngest age. English receptive lexical skills reached monolingual expectations from age 8, whereas for HL, high school age participants on average only reached the level of early elementary school monolinguals. Although more English use at home at younger ages was associated with stronger English skills, the relation did not exist for older participants. Instead, among older participants, more English use at home was associated with weaker HL skills. Children’s attendance at HL programs and visits to home countries bore little relation to HL proficiency.

scholarly journals Increased Blood Retinol Levels Are Associated With a Reduced Risk of TIA or Stroke in an Adult Population: Lifestyle Factors- and CVDs-Stratified Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linjuan Guo ◽  
Ying Huang ◽  
Rong Wan ◽  
Yang Shen ◽  
Kui Hong
Keyword(s):  
Adult Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Multivariable Analyses ◽  
Ischemic Attack ◽  
Stratified Analysis

Background: Data on the existing evidence for the association between blood retinol and transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke risk are limited, and the results are inconclusive. This study aimed to further assess the associations between the blood retinol levels and the risk of TIA/stroke after controlling the lifestyle factors and age-related confounders.Methods: The cross-sectional data from 1,113 individuals (aged 34–84 years old) were obtained from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. The multivariable analyses were performed to investigate the association of blood retinol levels with ever and currently TIA/stroke.Results: There was an inverse association between the blood retinol levels and the risk of ever TIA or stroke (for per 1 μmol/L adjusted odds ration [OR]: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89–0.97; for per 1-SD adjusted OR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83–0.96) and currently diagnosed TIA or stroke (for per 1 μmol/L adjusted OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.87–0.96; for per 1-SD adjusted OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.80–0.91) after controlling the lifestyle factors and age-related confounders. The significance of these associations was maintained after a sensitivity analysis and involving “ever chronic respiratory diseases” as a covariate. Moreover, the stratified analyses suggested that the inverse associations could be affected by overweight [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28, kg/m2], hypertension, and diabetes.Conclusions: A significant inverse association between blood retinol and the risk of TIA or stroke was found. This inverse association did not change even after adjustment for many potential confounders. Moreover, the potential protective effect of retinol on TIA/stroke could be blunted by overweight [BMI ≥ 28, kg/m2], hypertension, and diabetes.

Abstract P128: Age-related Patterns In Systolic And Diastolic Blood Pressure In Adults From The United States And India

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aayush Visaria ◽  
David Lo ◽  
Pranay Maniar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quadratic Curve ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Age Related Changes

The purpose of this cross-sectional, exploratory analysis was to describe age-related patterns of blood pressure (BP) among participants in India (using the 2014 Annual Health Survey) and the United States (using National Health & Nutrition Examination Surveys 2011-2016). We included 10,759 U.S. and 790,641 Indian participants aged ≥20 years with ≥2 BP readings. We plotted mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) across 5-year age groups and estimated best fit models. SBP increased linearly with age in both sexes and study populations (R 2 : 0.88-0.99; Fig. 1-2). Those with overweight/obese BMI had higher SBP and modestly higher rates of increase in SBP. DBP followed a quadratic curve (R 2 : 0.68-0.99), peaking in the 5-6th decade (45-49 years in U.S. and 50-59 in India) with higher and earlier peaks in those with elevated BMI. The models’ strong fit and similarity between study populations supports the notion that physical processes underly BP’s age-related changes.

Prevalence of Age-Related Lens Opacities in a Population

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Alan D. Penman ◽  
Kimberly W. Crowder ◽  
William M. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Beaver Dam ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Lens Opacities

The Beaver Dam Eye Study was a population-based cross-sectional survey designed to estimate the prevalence and severity of lens opacities in a rural community in the United States. Prior to this survey there were no reliable estimates of the prevalence and severity of lens opacities. The survey found that lens opacities were common in adults, and the numbers were increasing as the population aged. Overall, 17.3% of the study population had nuclear sclerosis more severe than level 3 in a 5-step scale of severity; cortical opacities were found in 16.3%; and posterior subcapsular opacities occurred in 6.0% of the population. The study emphasized the importance of such data for providing for social and healthcare needs and planning for future services.

scholarly journals Work-Related Perceptions, Injuries, and Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Comparison Between U.S.-Educated and Foreign-Educated Nurses

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 326-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung Mi Kim ◽  
Soo-Jeong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Education ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The United States ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Immigrant Nurses

Immigrants account for a significant proportion of the nursing workforce in the United States (U.S.). Although different cultural backgrounds may affect immigrant nurses’ perceptions of work and occupational health risks, little research has been conducted. Defining immigrant nurses as those who received initial nursing education in foreign countries, this study examined the differences in work-related perceptions and experiences of musculoskeletal (MS) symptoms and injuries between U.S.-educated and foreign-educated nurses. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study using a statewide random sample of 419 California registered nurses. Foreign-educated nurses reported a more positive safety climate ( p = .017) and perceived their jobs as less demanding ( p = .008) than did U.S.-educated nurses. The prevalence of work-related MS symptoms was significantly lower in foreign-educated nurses than in U.S.-educated nurses ( p = .044), but the difference was not significant in the multivariable analyses. Positive safety climate was significantly associated with a decreased risk of work-related MS symptoms and injuries, and this relationship was greater among U.S.-educated nurses than among foreign-educated nurses. Our findings suggest that immigrant nurses may have different perceptions about safety climate and job demand, which may modify their occupational health risks.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Physical Activity and Motor Vehicle Crashes Among Older Adult Drivers

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 215013271985999
Author(s):  
Amish Talwar ◽  
Thelma J. Mielenz ◽  
Linda L. Hill ◽  
Howard F. Andrews ◽  
Guohua Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
The United States ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Age Related

Background: There are approximately 42 million licensed drivers aged 65 years or older in the United States, who face unique age-related risks while driving. While physical activity affects several chronic conditions thought to be associated with motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), it is unclear if increased physical activity leads to fewer MVCs. This study explores whether self-reported vigorous and moderate physical activity is associated with MVCs in the previous year. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the LongROAD study, a large multisite prospective cohort study of 2990 older adult drivers, we examined variables related to physical activity and performed a multivariate regression analysis to examine the association of physical activity health behaviors with self-reported MVCs. Results: Overall, 41.2% of participants reported vigorous and 69.6% of participants reported moderate exercise at least once per week. Eleven percent of participants reported at least 1 MVC in the previous year. Neither vigorous nor moderate physical activity was significantly associated with self-reported MVCs in the previous year. Select variables that were significantly associated with self-reported MVC included self-reported unsafe driving practices (odds ratio [OR] 1.55, confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.29), and fall in the past 12 months (OR 1.46, CI 1.14-1.85). Conclusions: We were unable to detect a significant association between self-reported physical activity and MVCs in the past year among this group of older drivers. Use of objective measures of activity may better clarify this relationship.

scholarly journals Age, Daily Stress Processes, and Allostatic Load: A Longitudinal Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1671-1691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Piazza ◽  
Robert S. Stawski ◽  
Julia L. Sheffler
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
The United States ◽  
Daily Stressors ◽  
Daily Stress ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Affective Reactivity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Midlife Development

Objective: The present study examined age differences in the association between daily stressors and allostatic load. Method: Participants consisted of 317 adults (34-84 years) who participated in Waves 1 (1996-1997) and 2 (between 2005 and 2009) of the Midlife Development in the United States Survey. During Wave 1, participants reported the stressors they encountered across eight consecutive days. Within-person affective reactivity slopes indexing change in negative affect from a nonstressor day to a stressor day were calculated for each participant. Affective reactivity and stressor exposure scores at Wave 1 were used to predict allostatic load at Wave 2. Results: Heightened levels of affective reactivity at Wave 1 predicted elevated levels of allostatic load at Wave 2 but only among older adults who also reported high levels of stressor exposure. No significant associations emerged for younger adults. Discussion: Daily stress processes may be one pathway through which age-related physical health declines occur.

Is Secularization an Age-Related Process?

2021 ◽  
pp. 009141502110275
Author(s):  
Ellen Idler
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Religious Involvement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Religious Participation ◽  
Religious Institutions ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
High Level

Secularization has been studied for decades by sociologists of religion. Long-running surveys in the United States and Europe show steady generational decline in religious affiliation and participation, and yet this trend has largely been ignored by gerontologists and life course researchers. We examined data from the Health and Retirement Study, hypothesizing between-cohort declines in religious participation. Based on data from a sample stratified by 10-year birth cohorts, we identified variation in patterns of religious involvement from 2004 to 2016. Measures of attending religious services, feeling religion is very important, and having good friends in the congregation show age-graded patterns; older cohorts have a higher level of religiosity than those following them, with only minor exceptions. For all three measures, differences by cohort within waves of data are statistically significant. We confirm, with longitudinal data, the findings of repeated cross-sectional surveys in the United States showing a generational pattern of decline in religiousness. The consequences of this loss of a common social tie for future older cohorts are unknown, since current older cohorts still maintain a high level of religious participation. However, future generations of older adults are likely to be less familiar with social support from religious institutions, and those institutions may be less available to provide such support as the apparently inexorable processes of secularization continue.

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