Is the Emergence of Functional Ability Decline in Early Old Age Related to Change in Speed of Cognitive Processing and Also to Change in Personality?

SUMMARY:The morphological, chemical, and physiological changes in the brain accompanying old age are reviewed. The deterioration of the striatal and hypothalamic dopaminergic systems were implicated in the onset of age related Parkinsonian-like slowing of performance and altered affect. Cholinergic hippocampal and neocortical systems were chemically and physiologically abnormal in the aged. The implications for slowed cognitive processing and persistance of the memory trace are presented.

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Functional ability at age 75: is there an impact of physical inactivity from middle age to early old age?

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00459.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 245-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

U. Christensen ◽

N. Stovring ◽

K. Schultz-Larsen ◽

M. Schroll ◽

K. Avlund

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Functional Ability ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Middle Age ◽

Early Old Age

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STAIR CLIMB TIME AND FUNCTIONAL POWER ASSOCIATIONS IN EARLY OLD AGE: SWAN

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1988 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S541-S541

Author(s):

Elsa Strotmeyer ◽

Brittney S Lange-Maia ◽

Jane A Cauley ◽

Sheila A Dugan ◽

Samar R El Khoudary ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Short Form ◽

Stair Climbing ◽

Related Factor ◽

Lower Power ◽

White Ethnicity ◽

Age Related ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Early Old Age

Abstract Stair climbing assesses neuromuscular components of movement, including muscle power (force*velocity) which may decline earlier in aging vs. strength. We hypothesized age and age-related factor (N=1370; 65.5±2.7 years) associations to stair climb total time (sec), ascend lap time degradation (lap 1 minus 3), power (W/kg body weight) and power degradation (lap 1 minus 3). Adjusting for demographic, lifestyle and age-related comorbidity factors using multivariate linear regression, older age independently related to slower total time and lower power. Non-white ethnicity had slower total time (Black, Hispanic), higher ascend time degradation (Hispanic), and lower power (Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese) vs. Whites. Higher 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Modified Baecke physical activity scores indicated better performance: lower total time, higher power (SF-36 only), and less degradation in ascend time and power. Stair climb time and power in early old age may capture initial functional loss targets for interventions to prevent late-life disability.

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The association of cognitive performance with mental health and physical functioning strengthens with age: the Whitehall II cohort study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291709991024 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

pp. 837-845 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

M. Jokela ◽

A. Singh-Manoux ◽

J. E. Ferrie ◽

D. Gimeno ◽

T. N. Akbaraly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Physical Health ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Old Age ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Age Related ◽

Health Differences ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

Early Old Age

BackgroundCognitive performance has been associated with mental and physical health, but it is unknown whether the strength of these associations changes with ageing and with age-related social transitions, such as retirement. We examined whether cognitive performance predicted mental and physical health from midlife to early old age.MethodParticipants were 5414 men and 2278 women from the Whitehall II cohort study followed for 15 years between 1991 and 2006. The age range included over the follow-up was from 40 to 75 years. Mental health and physical functioning were measured six times using SF-36 subscales. Cognitive performance was assessed three times using five cognitive tests assessing verbal and numerical reasoning, verbal memory, and phonemic and semantic fluency. Socio-economic status (SES) and retirement were included as covariates.ResultsHigh cognitive performance was associated with better mental health and physical functioning. Mental health differences associated with cognitive performance widened with age from 39 to 76 years of age, whereas physical functioning differences widened only between 39 and 60 years and not after 60 years of age. SES explained part of the widening differences in mental health and physical functioning before age 60. Cognitive performance was more strongly associated with mental health in retired than non-retired participants, which contributed to the widening differences after 60 years of age.ConclusionsThe strength of cognitive performance in predicting mental and physical health may increase from midlife to early old age, and these changes may be related to SES and age-related transitions, such as retirement.

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NUTRITION IN INFANCY: A WAY TO A LONG LIFE OR A PAINFUL EARLY OLD AGE?

PEDIATRIA Journal named after G N SPERANSKY ◽

10.24110/0031-403x-2017-96-1-67-74 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 67-74

Author(s):

O. K. Netrebenko

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Long Life ◽

Early Old Age

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Self-compassion as predictor of daily physical symptoms and chronic illness across older adulthood

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/13591053211002326 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910532110023

Author(s):

Heather Herriot ◽

Carsten Wrosch

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Chronic Illness ◽

End Of Life ◽

Old Age ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Early Old Age

This study examined whether self-compassion could benefit daily physical symptoms and chronic illness in early and advanced old age. The hypotheses were evaluated in a 4-year longitudinal study of 264 older adults. Results showed that self-compassion predicted lower levels of daily physical symptoms across the study period in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = −1.93, p = 0.05). In addition, self-compassion was associated with fewer increases in chronic illness in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = − 2.45, p < 0.02). The results of this study suggest that self-compassion may be particularly adaptive towards the end of life.

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The Positive Legacy of Vision Loss: Pathways to Posttraumatic Growth

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2094 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 616-617

Author(s):

Corinna Tanner ◽

Michael Caserta ◽

Jia-Wen Guo ◽

Margaret Clayton ◽

Paul Bernstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Social Issues ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Age Related ◽

Severe Vision Loss ◽

Age Range

Abstract This mixed method study describes posttraumatic growth (PTG) accruing form experience with vision loss caused by severe age related macular degeneration (AMD) and explores relationships between depression, social support, and cognitive processing, on the path to PTG. Research describing the psychological and social issues surrounding AMD has focused on negative outcomes. However, learning from highly challenging experiences, such as vision loss, can offer benefits. In this study, these included an increased sense of personal strength, increased spirituality, and empathy for others (all domains of PTG). 89 participants with severe vision loss (mean age = 85.3 years, age range = 74–98 years) completed the interviewer-administered composite questionnaire, which identified elements of Tedeschi and Calhoun’s model of PTG. Relationships between variables were examined using path analysis. Findings were contextualized with data from 15 qualitative interviews. Findings underscored the importance of supportive others and deliberate cognitive processing in the path to PTG.

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