scholarly journals Impact of Sex on COVID-19 Media Exposure, Anxiety, Perceived Risk, and Severity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110253
Author(s):  
Ashley F. Curtis ◽  
Mikayla Rodgers ◽  
Mary Beth Miller ◽  
Christina S. McCrae
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Media Exposure ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Online Surveys ◽  
Media Dependency ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Use Dependency

Objectives To examine associations between COVID-19 media exposure and anxiety/perceived risk/severity and investigate their dependency on sex in middle-aged/older adults. Methods Adults aged 50+ years completed online surveys: Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, COVID-19 media exposure, COVID-19 media dependency for health information, and COVID-19 perceived risk and severity. Multiple regressions examined independent and interactive (with sex) associations between COVID-19 media exposure/dependency and COVID-19 anxiety/perceived risk and severity. Analyses controlled for age, education, race, total medical conditions, and COVID-19 status. Results Higher COVID-19 media exposure was associated with higher COVID-19 anxiety among men (not women) and higher perceived risk/severity in both sexes. Higher COVID-19 media dependency was associated with higher COVID-19 anxiety and perceived risk/severity in both sexes. Conclusion In middle-aged/older adults, the use/dependency of media for COVID-19 information may be linked to negative psychological health and increased COVID-19 perceived risk and severity. Men may be at increased risk of anxiety related to media exposure.

scholarly journals Association of self-perceived income sufficiency with cognitive impairment among older adults: a population-based study in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Muhammad ◽  
Shobhit Srivastava ◽  
T. V. Sekher
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Asset Ownership ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Greater cognitive performance has been shown to be associated with better mental and physical health and lower mortality. The present study contributes to the existing literature on the linkages of self-perceived income sufficiency and cognitive impairment. Study also provides additional insights on other socioeconomic and health-related variables that are associated with cognitive impairment in older ages. Methods Data for this study is derived from the 'Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India'. The final sample size for the analysis after removing missing cases was 9176 older adults. Descriptive along with bivariate analyses were presented to show the plausible associations of cognitive impairment with potential risk factors using the chi-square test. Also, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to provide the relationship between cognitive impairment and risk factors. The software used was STATA 14. Results About 43% of older adults reported that they had no source of income and 7.2% had income but not sufficient to fulfil their basic needs. Older adults with income but partially sufficient to fulfil their basic needs had 39% significantly higher likelihood to suffer from cognitive impairment than older adults who had sufficient income [OR: 1.39; OR: 1.21–1.59]. Likelihood of cognitive impairment was low among older adults with asset ownership than older adults with no asset ownership [OR: 0.83; CI: 0.72–0.95]. Again, older adults who work by compulsion (73.3%) or felt mental or physical stress due to work (57.6%) had highest percentage of cognitive impairment. Moreover, older adults with poor self-rated health, low instrumental activities of daily living, low activities of daily living, low subjective well-being and low psychological health were at increased risk for cognitive impairment. Conclusion The study highlights the pressing need for care and support and especially financial incentives in the old age to preserve cognitive health. Further, while planning geriatric health care for older adults in India, priority must be given to financially backward, with no asset ownership, with poor health status, older-older, widowed, and illiterate older individuals, as they are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment.

Mediation effect of coping strategies on general psychological health among middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan ◽  
Suzana Shahar ◽  
Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh ◽  
Norhayati Ibrahim ◽  
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Middle Aged

scholarly journals A-20 Metabolic Syndrome and Executive Functioning in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 879-879
Author(s):  
T Slonim ◽  
L Haase-Alasantro ◽  
C Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Color Word ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Metabolic Status ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased rates of mortality and increased risk for developing dementia. Changes in brain structure and executive functioning have been reported within the literature. However, research examining cognitive performance in individuals with metabolic syndrome focuses primarily on older cohorts. As such, the effect of metabolic syndrome on cognitive functioning earlier in the lifespan is unclear. This research examined neuropsychological test performance and self-report measures in young, middle-aged, and older adults with and without MetS. Method Participants (n = 128) were categorized by age and metabolic status as follows: Young: n = 42, 52.4% Metabolic; Middle-Age: n = 41, 56.1% Metabolic; Older: n = 45, 51.1% Metabolic. Participants were administered the following cognitive assessments as part of a larger study: Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) Color-Word Interference Test and Trail Making. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to examine the relationship between age group, metabolic status, and cognitive performance. Results As expected, older adults performed more poorly than young and middle-aged adults across neurocognitive assessments (p < .05). MetS adults performed more slowly on Color-Word Interference: Inhibition [F(1,114) = 5.26, p = .024, η2 = .05]; however, there were no additional significant differences between groups on cognitive tests in this sample size. Conclusions These findings suggest that aspects of inhibition might be impaired in MetS adults. Future studies aimed at investigating relationships between metabolic risk factors and inhibition may provide insight into effective intervention targets to delay or prevent metabolic syndrome.

scholarly journals Changes in Quality of Life and Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Participating in Therapist-Guided Digital Mental Health Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Gould ◽  
Chalise Carlson ◽  
Ana Jessica Alfaro ◽  
Christina F. Chick ◽  
Martha L. Bruce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week multicomponent mobile app-delivered intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP), on mental health quality of life (QoL) and loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults with depression symptoms.Methods: The eligible participants (M age = 57.06, SD = 11.26 years) were enrolled in the MHP, a therapist-supported mobile intervention. Using a non-randomized pre-post design, change in mental health QoL [WHO QoL Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) psychological health] and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) from baseline to post-treatment were examined. Time of enrollment [pre- vs. post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] was included as a between-subjects factor in the repeated measures analyses.Results: Forty-two participants enrolled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; eight enrolled after the pandemic began. Among the pre-COVID-19 enrollees, increase in mental health QoL, F(1, 38) = 12.61, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.25 and decreases in loneliness emerged, F(1, 38) = 5.42, p = 0.025, η2 = 0.13. The changes in mental health QoL, but not loneliness, held for the combined sample, such as post-COVID-19 enrollees, F(1, 44) = 6.02, p = 0.018, η2 = 0.12. The regression analyses showed that increases in mindfulness were associated with the increased mental health QoL and decreased loneliness.Conclusion: Therapist-supported digital mental health interventions, such as the MHP, have the potential to improve mental health QoL and decrease loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults. The findings for loneliness may not hold during the periods of mandated isolation. Instead, therapists supporting digital interventions may need to tailor their approach to target loneliness.

scholarly journals Associations between Relative Handgrip Strength and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-aged and Older adults: Finding from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-384
Author(s):  
Eun Sun Yoon ◽  
Soo Hyun Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fasting Glucose ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Diabetes Incidence ◽  
Epidemiology Study ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Family History Of Diabetes ◽  
Increased Risk

PURPOSE: We investigated whether relative handgrip strength (RHS) and change in handgrip strength predicted Type 2 DM incidence in middle-aged and older adults.METHODS: Total of 29,098 participants (8,609 men and 20,489 women) aged 40-69 who were free of diabetes at the baseline examination drawn from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-Urban Health Examinees cohort (KoGES-HEXA), a large prospective population-based study. RHS was assessed with a dynamometer and divided by body mass index. Diabetes was defined as selfreported physician-diagnosed diabetes, use of anti-diabetic medications or measured fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl, or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) ≥6.5%. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of Diabetes incidences according to baseline RHS levels and RHS changes.RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 4 years (49.8±13.3 month), 1,167 (4.0%) participants developed diabetes. Compared with the high RHS group, higher risk of diabetes incidence was observed in low RHS group (men HR=1.28, 95% CI 1.06-1.55, women HR=1.32, 95% CI 1.12-1.54) after adjusted for age, triglyceride, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, marriage, income, education hypertension, family history of diabetes, fasting glucose, regular exercise. In addition, compared with the sustained high RHS group, sustained low RHS group showed an increased risk of diabetes incidence (men HR=1.60, 95% CI 1.28-2.00, women HR=1.85, 95% CI 1.52-2.24) after adjustment. However, the risk was not statistically significant in increased RHS group (men HR=0.98, 95% CI 0.73-1.31, women HR=1.11, 95% CI 0.85-1.43).CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicate that RHS is independently associated with the risk of incident diabetes in middle and older adults. RHS measurement may be useful to identify individuals at increased risk for diabetes incidence. Maintaining a high level of RHS is important strategies for diabetes prevention among adults.

scholarly journals Risk factors for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study in middle-aged and older adults

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Rutland-Lawes ◽  
Anna-Stiina Wallinheimo ◽  
Simon L. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Increased Risk

Background The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant social restrictions have had widespread psychological ramifications, including a rise in depression prevalence. However, longitudinal studies on sociodemographic risk factors are lacking. Aims To quantify longitudinal changes in depression symptoms during the pandemic compared with a pre-pandemic baseline, in middle-aged and older adults, and identify the risk factors contributing to this. Method A total of 5331 participants aged ≥50 years were drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Self-reported depression symptoms in June/July 2020 were compared with baseline data from 2–3 years prior. Regression models investigated sociodemographic and lifestyle variables that could explain variance in change in depression. Results Within-participant depression scores increased significantly from pre-pandemic levels: 14% met the criteria for clinical depression at baseline, compared with 26% during the pandemic. Younger age, female gender, higher depression scores at baseline, living alone and having a long-standing illness were significant risk factors. Gender-stratified regression models indicated that older age was protective for women only, whereas urban living increased risk among women only. Being an alcohol consumer was a protective factor among men only. Conclusions Depression in UK adults aged ≥50 years increased significantly during the pandemic. Being female, living alone and having a long-standing illness were prominent risk factors. Younger women living in urban areas were at particularly high risk, suggesting such individuals should be prioritised for support. Findings are also informative for future risk stratification and intervention strategies, particularly if social restrictions are reimposed as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold.

scholarly journals Patient Engagement in Medical Research Among Older Adults: Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette Hammond Gerido ◽  
Xiang Tang ◽  
Brittany Ernst ◽  
Aisha Langford ◽  
Zhe He
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Research ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Patient Engagement ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Information Behaviors ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
National Trends ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

BACKGROUND By 2035, it is expected that older adults (aged 65 years and older) will outnumber children and will represent 78 million people in the US population. As the aging population continues to grow, it is critical to reduce disparities in their representation in medical research. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe sociodemographic characteristics and health and information behaviors as factors that influence US adults’ interest in engaging in medical research, beyond participation as study subjects. METHODS Nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey (N=3677) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of one’s interest in patient engagement in medical research. The independent variables included age, general health, income, race and ethnicity, education level, insurance status, marital status, and health information behaviors. RESULTS We examined the association between the independent variables and patient interest in engaging in medical research (PTEngage_Interested). Patient interest in engaging in medical research has a statistically significant association with age (adjusted <italic>P</italic>&lt;.01). Younger adults (aged 18-34 years), lower middle-aged adults (aged 35-49 years), and higher middle-aged adults (aged 50-64 years) indicated interest at relatively the same frequency (29.08%, 29.56%, and 25.12%, respectively), but older adults (aged ≥65 years) expressed less interest (17.10%) than the other age groups. After the multivariate model was run, older adults (odds ratio 0.738, 95% CI 0.500-1.088) were found to be significantly less likely to be interested in engaging in medical research than adults aged 50 to 64 years. Regardless of age, the strongest correlation was found between interest in engaging in medical research and actively looking for health information (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). Respondents who did not seek health information were significantly less likely than those who did seek health information to be interested in engaging in medical research. CONCLUSIONS Patients’ interest in engaging in medical research vary by age and information-seeking behaviors. As the aging population continues to grow, it is critical to reduce disparities in their representation in medical research. Interest in participatory research methods may reflect an opportunity for consumer health informatics technologies to improve the representation of older adults in future medical research.

The Association of Social Isolation With the Risk of Stroke Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (8) ◽  
pp. 1456-1465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Zhou ◽  
Cen Lin ◽  
Jiaping Ma ◽  
Samuel D Towne ◽  
Yaofeng Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Marginal Structural Model ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Frequency Of Contact ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Given that there is limited research examining the specific role social isolation plays in stroke risk, we aimed to estimate the controlled direct effect of social isolation on stroke risk in China. A nationally representative sample (n = 12,662) of persons aged 45 years or more at baseline (2011), with corresponding follow-ups in 2013 and 2015, was taken from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Stroke was assessed through a self- or proxy-reported physician’s diagnosis. Social isolation was measured by incorporating marital status, frequency of contact with friends, family, and children, and participation in social activities. A marginal structural model with stabilized inverse probability weights was applied to examine the controlled direct effect of social isolation on stroke risk. Overall, 245 persons had a stroke within the 4-year timeline under study. The total effect model indicated that persons experiencing social isolation had a 64% increased risk of stroke (odds ratio (OR) = 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 2.13). Results from the marginal structural model also indicated that socially isolated persons had an increased risk of stroke (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.82) after adjustment for depression. Interventions to reduce social isolation may be particularly beneficial in preventing the occurrence of stroke among middle-aged and older adults in China.

scholarly journals Autobiographical Memory Fluency Reductions in Cognitively Unimpaired Middle-Aged and Older Adults at Increased Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Grilli ◽  
Aubrey A. Wank ◽  
Matthew J. Huentelman ◽  
Lee Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Autobiographical Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Rapid Generation ◽  
Episodic Memories ◽  
Cognitive Alterations

Abstract Objective: Recent research has revealed that cognitively unimpaired older adults who are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia often exhibit subtle cognitive alterations in their neuropsychological profiles. Emerging evidence suggests that autobiographical memory, which is memory for personal events and knowledge, may be sensitive to early AD-related cognitive alterations. In the present study, we investigated whether the rapid generation of autobiographical memory category exemplars, a retrieval process that taxes the neural network that is vulnerable to early AD, is compromised in cognitively unimpaired middle-aged and older carriers of the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE4), which increases risk for AD dementia. Methods: In addition to standard neuropsychological tests, we administered a fluency task that requires generating exemplars for two types of autobiographical memory, namely episodic memories and personal semantics, to a group of cognitively unimpaired middle-aged and older adults (n = 45) enriched with APOE4 carriers (n = 20). Results: While no APOE4 deficits were found on standard neuropsychological tests, episodic and personal semantic exemplar generation was reduced in the APOE4 group. Discussion: Autobiographical memory aberrations associated with a higher risk for AD are evident in fluency and affect both episodic memory and personal semantics.

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