scholarly journals Feasibility of population screening tests to establish a healthy ageing trajectory

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205031211882244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J Gordon ◽  
Karen A Grimmer ◽  
Nicky Baker ◽  
Elaine Bell ◽  
John Coveney ◽  
...  

Objectives: There are no agreed comprehensive tests for age-related changes to physical, emotional, mental and social functioning. Research into declining function focuses on those 75 years and older and little is known about age-related changes in younger people. The aims of this project were (1) to ascertain a comprehensive test battery that could underpin community-based health screening programmes for people aged 40–75 years and pilot both (2) community-based recruitment and (3) the utility, acceptability, response burden and logistics. Methods: A total of 11 databases were searched using a broad range of relevant terms. An identified comprehensive, recent, high-quality systematic review of screening instruments for detection of early functional decline for community-dwelling older people identified many relevant tools; however, not all body systems were addressed. Therefore, lower hierarchy papers identified in the rapid review were included and expert panel consultation was conducted before the final test battery was agreed. Broad networks were developed in one Australian city to aid pilot recruitment of community-dwellers 40–75 years. Recruitment and testing processes were validated using feasibility testing with 12 volunteers. Results: The test battery captured (1) online self-reports of demographics, health status, sleep quality, distress, diet, physical activity, oral health, frailty and continence; and (2) objective tests of anthropometry; mobility; lung function; dexterity; flexibility, strength and stability; hearing; balance; cognition and memory; foot sensation; and reaction time. Recruitment and testing processes were found to be feasible. Conclusion: This screening approach may provide new knowledge on healthy ageing in younger people.

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsuhiro Tsubaki ◽  
Masayoshi Kubo ◽  
Ryosaku Kobayashi ◽  
Hirofumi Jigami ◽  
Hideaki E. Takahashi

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Thiran D Dias ◽  
Thilina S Palihawadana ◽  
Malitha Patabendige ◽  
Mary BC Motha ◽  
Hithanadura J de Silva

Objective To describe the ultrasound parameters of pelvic organs and their age-related changes in a cohort of asymptomatic postmenopausal women and to describe the prevalence of ultrasound-detected pathologies in a Sri Lankan population. Study design A large community-based longitudinal study using a randomly selected sample of postmenopausal women who have never used hormone replacement therapy. Main outcome measures Uterine, endometrial and ovarian measurements at pelvic ultrasonography as described by the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis and the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis groups. Results A total of 815 postmenopausal women were approached and all volunteered to participate. This included women between the ages of 45 and 74 years with a median (interquartile range (IQR)) of 62.0 (10.0) years. The median (IQR) uterine volume was 18.1 (17) ml, while the median (IQR) of right and left ovarian volumes were 17.3 (22.9) ml and 18.2 (21.5) ml. Both uterine and ovarian volumes showed an age-related decline (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the ovarian volumes demonstrated an increase in size with a higher body mass index (p < 0.03 for left and p < 0.01 for right, respectively). Median (IQR) endometrial thickness among the population was 3.0 (1.0) mm and there was no age-related change observed. Sixty-one women had an ultrasound-detected gynaecological pathology with a prevalence of 7.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.6–9.5). Conclusions This study aimed at describing ultrasound parameters of pelvic organs among postmenopausal women of Sri Lanka was able to provide the reference values for uterine and ovarian volume among asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Both uterine and ovarian volumes demonstrated an age-related decline, whereas the endometrial thickness does not seem to relate to the age.


2018 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 1468-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Fukumoto ◽  
Yosuke Yamada ◽  
Tome Ikezoe ◽  
Yuya Watanabe ◽  
Masashi Taniguchi ◽  
...  

Ultrasonic echo intensity (EI), an easy-to-use measure of intramuscular fat and fibrous tissues, is known to increase with aging. However, age-related changes in EI have not been examined in a longitudinal design. The objective of this study was to investigate 4-yr longitudinal changes in the EI of the quadriceps femoris in older adults, based on difference in physical activity (PA). This study included 131 community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 72.9 ± 5.2 yr. Subcutaneous fat thickness (FT), muscle thickness (MT), and EI of the quadriceps femoris were measured by ultrasound. Isometric knee extensor strength was also measured. PA was assessed using a questionnaire at baseline, and participants were classified into the high or low PA groups. In 4 yr, a significant decrease in FT, MT, and strength was observed in both groups ( P < 0.05), whereas a significant decrease in EI was observed only in the high PA group ( P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the difference in PA was a significant predictor of 4-yr changes in MT (β = 0.189, P = 0.031) and EI (β = −3.145, P = 0.045) but not in the body mass index, FT, or strength adjusted for potential confounders. The present findings suggest that greater PA has a positive effect on longitudinal changes in the MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris in older adults. In addition, greater PA may contribute to a future decrease in EI, and an increase in EI may not occur in 4 yr, even in older adults with lesser PA. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our results suggest that greater physical activity (PA) may mitigate future changes in muscle thickness and echo intensity (EI). A decrease in EI over 4 yr was observed in older adults with greater PA, and an increase in EI was not observed, even in older adults with smaller PA. Several cross-sectional studies demonstrated an increase in EI with aging. Additionally, the results of our longitudinal study suggest that an age-related increase in EI may be moderated after the old-age period.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franca Genest ◽  
Michael Schneider ◽  
Andreas Zehnder ◽  
Dominik Lieberoth-Leden ◽  
Lothar Seefried

Purpose: Aging and concurrent constitutional changes as sarcopenia, osteoporosis and obesity are associated with progressive functional decline. Coincidence and mutual interference of this risk factors require further evaluation. Methods: Cross-sectional evaluation of musculoskeletal health in a community-dwelling cohort of men aged 65-90 years. Objectives included descriptive analysis of age-related decline in physical performance, prevalence of osteoporosis (FRAX-Score), sarcopenia (EWGSOP criteria) and obesity (BMI>30kg/m²) and their coincidence/interference. Results: Based on 507 participants assessed, aging was associated with progressive functional deterioration, regarding power (Chair Rise Test -1.54% per year), performance (Usual Gait Speed -1.38 % per year) and muscle force (Grip Strength -1.52 % per year) while muscle mass declined only marginally (Skeletal Muscle Index -0.29% per year). Prevalence of osteoporosis was 41.8% (n=212) while only 22.9% (n=116) of the participants met the criteria for sarcopenia and 23.7% (n=120) were obese. Osteosarcopenia was found in n=79 (15.6%), sarcopenic obesity was present in 14 men (2.8%). A combination of all three conditions could be confirmed in n=8 (1.6%). There was an inverse correlation of BMI with physical performance whereas osteoporosis and sarcopenia did not interfere with functional outcomes. Conclusion: Based on current definitions there is considerable overlap in the prevalence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, while obesity appears to be a distinct problem. Functional decline appears to be associated with obesity rather than osteoporosis or sarcopenia. It remains to be determined to what extend obesity itself causes performance deficits or if obesity is merely an indicator of insufficient activity eventually predisposing to functional decline.


Author(s):  
Elnur Babayev ◽  
Francesca E Duncan

Abstract The ovary is the first organ to age in humans with functional decline evident already in women in their early thirties. Reproductive aging is characterized by a decrease in oocyte quantity and quality which is associated with an increase in infertility, spontaneous abortions, and birth defects. Reproductive aging also has implications for overall health due to decreased endocrinological output. Understanding the mechanisms underlying reproductive aging has significant societal implications as women globally are delaying childbearing and medical interventions have greatly increased the interval between menopause and total lifespan. Age-related changes inherent to the female gamete are well-characterized and include defects in chromosome and mitochondria structure, function, and regulation. More recently, it has been appreciated that the extra-follicular ovarian environment may have important direct or indirect impacts on the developing gamete, and age-dependent changes include increased fibrosis, inflammation, stiffness, and oxidative damage. The cumulus cells and follicular fluid which directly surround the oocyte during its final growth phase within the antral follicle represent additional critical local microenvironments. Here we systematically review the literature and evaluate the studies that investigated the age-related changes in cumulus cells and follicular fluid. Our findings demonstrate unique genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic changes with associated metabolomic alterations, redox status imbalance, and increased apoptosis in the local oocyte microenvironment. We propose a model of how these changes interact, which may explain the rapid decline in gamete quality with age. We also review the limitations of published studies and highlight future research frontiers.


2011 ◽  
pp. OR15-6-OR15-6
Author(s):  
John P Walsh ◽  
Alexandra P Bremner ◽  
Suzanne J Brown ◽  
Peter Feddema ◽  
Peter J Leedman ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.E. Nichols ◽  
K.J. Meador ◽  
D.W. Loring ◽  
L.W. Poon ◽  
G.M. Clayton ◽  
...  

Although numerous studies have focused on age-related changes in the nervous system, few have systematically assessed global neurologic examination changes, and even fewer have included the most elderly population, ie, the centenarians. To perform such a study, we developed a quantitative assessment that includes the major components of a standard bedside neurologic evaluation, with special emphasis on cognitive function. First, we demonstrated that the quantitated examination could correctly classify healthy controls and patients with stroke or dementia based on discriminant analysis. This examination was then applied to healthy community-dwelling elderly ranging from 60 to 108 years of age. Significant age-related neurobehavioral changes were apparent across even these most “successfully” aged groups. Analysis of the full pattern of cognitive and neurologic findings provided the most accurate assessment. Pathologic reflexes, reportedly associated with normal aging, occurred infrequently in this healthy geriatric population, suggesting that age-related changes in the neurologic examination may be more accurately interpreted when assessed in conjunction with cognitive status. This quantitative examination may be useful in future population-based studies of neurologic function in the aged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wen Koo ◽  
David L. Neumann ◽  
Tamara Ownsworth ◽  
David H. K. Shum

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to perform a planned action at a future time. Older adults have shown moderate declines in PM, which are thought to be driven by age-related changes in the prefrontal cortex. However, an age-PM paradox is often reported, whereby deficits are evident in laboratory-based PM tasks, but not naturalistic PM tasks. The key aims of this study were to: (1) examine the age-PM paradox using the same sample across laboratory and ecological settings; and (2) determine whether self-reported PM and cognitive factors such as working memory and IQ are associated PM performance. Two PM tasks were administered (ecological vs. laboratory) to a sample of 23 community-dwelling older adults (Mage = 72.30, SDage = 5.62) and 28 young adults (Mage = 20.18, SDage = 3.30). Participants also completed measures of general cognitive function, working memory, IQ, and self-reported memory. Our results did not support the existence of the age-PM paradox. Strong age effects across both laboratory and ecological PM tasks were observed in which older adults consistently performed worse on the PM tasks than young adults. In addition, PM performance was significantly associated with self-reported PM measures in young adults. For older adults, IQ was associated with time-based PM. These findings suggest that the age-PM paradox is more complex than first thought and there are differential predictors of PM performance for younger and older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Guligowska ◽  
Zuzanna Chrzastek ◽  
Marek Pawlikowski ◽  
Malgorzata Pigłowska ◽  
Hanna Pisarek ◽  
...  

Many hormones fluctuate during the aging process. It has been suggested that gonadotropins, which increase with age, contribute to the occurrence of many diseases and syndromes in older life, such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, frailty syndrome and osteoporosis. This study aims to assess the relationship between circulating gonadotropins and other hormones potentially contributing to age-related functional decline and sarcopenia indicators in 39 male and 61 female community-dwelling seniors, mean age 80 years. According to the definition developed by the second European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), the following indicators of the sarcopenia were assessed: bioimpedance-measured body composition, gait speed, handgrip strength, timed up and go test (TUG), chair stand test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cortisol were also measured. In the men, FSH and partially LH correlated positively with muscle mass percentage, gait speed, handgrip strength and SPPB, and negatively with percent body fat. Additionally, testosterone and DHEAS correlated negatively with the percentage of fat mass in men. Whereas in the women, FSH and LH were mainly negatively associated with body mass and adipose tissue measures. Cortisol did not show any relationship with the examined indicators. The study shows that the indicators of sarcopenia are strongly associated with levels of gonadotropins, sex hormones and DHEAS, especially in older men. The obtained results, after being confirmed in a larger group, may modify prevention and treatment strategies of sarcopenia.


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