scholarly journals What Matters Most in Life? A German Cohort Study on the Sources of Meaning and Their Neurobiological Foundations in Four Age Groups

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Karwetzky ◽  
Lena Werdecker ◽  
Tobias Esch
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Neural Adaptation ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Word Clouds ◽  
Adaptation Processes ◽  
What Matters

Existing work in the field of positive psychology suggests that people can draw meaning from a variety of sources. The present study aimed to identify the most important sources of meaning and to explore the role of age and neural adaptation processes in this context. As part of a large German cohort study, 1,587 individuals between 12 and 94 years were asked to provide a maximum of five responses to the question “What matters most to you in life?” We divided the study population into four age groups and analyzed the obtained answers qualitatively and quantitatively using (1) word clouds and (2) frequency comparisons based on a summarizing content analysis. A chi-squared test was used to test the observed differences between age groups. Identified sources of meaning could be clustered into 16 main and 76 subcategories, with relationships (by 90% of respondents) and health and well-being (by 65% of respondents) being the most frequently named main categories, followed by a good living environment (by 28%), (leisure) time (by 26%), and work (by 24%). The study revealed some remarkable age-related patterns. While the importance of partnership increased with age, social networks were less important to older individuals. We also found that, for example, the importance of self-realization, success and career decreased with age, while the opposite was true for life satisfaction and peace and harmony. Security was most important to individuals in the two middle age groups between 30 and 69 years. The study advances our understanding of meaning across various ages by showing that individuals of different ages perceive different things as meaningful to them. Interpreting our results in the light of a neurobiological model of motivation systems, we argue that neural adaptation processes may play an important role in the (changing) perceptions of meaning throughout life.

Immigrant Youth in Germany

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Frankenberg ◽  
Katharina Kupper ◽  
Ruth Wagner ◽  
Stephan Bongard
Keyword(s):  
School System ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethnic Discrimination ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽  
Sociocultural Adaptation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
German School ◽  
Transcultural Adaptation

This paper reviews research on young migrants in Germany. Particular attention is given to the question of how Germany’s history of migration, immigration policies, and public attitude toward migrants influence the transcultural adaptation of children and adolescents from different ethnic backgrounds. We combine past research with the results of new empirical studies in order to shed light on migrants’ psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Studies comparing young migrants and their German peers in terms of psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health outcome suggest higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems among migrants of most age groups. With regard to adolescent populations between the ages of 14 and 17 years, however, the existence of differences between migrants and natives appears to be less clear. Research has also yielded inconsistent findings regarding the time trajectory of transcultural adaptation among adolescents. The coincidence of acculturation and age-related change is discussed as a possible source of these inconsistencies. Further, we provide an overview of risk and protective factors such as conflicting role expectations and ethnic discrimination, which may cause heightened vulnerability to adverse adaptation outcomes in some groups. Large-scale studies have repeatedly shown migrants of all age groups to be less successful within the German school system, indicating poor sociocultural adaptation. Possible explanations, such as the idiosyncrasies of the German school system, are presented. Our own studies contribute to the understanding of young migrants’ adaptation process by showing that it is their orientation to German culture, rather than the acculturation strategy of integration, that leads to the most positive psychological and sociocultural outcomes. The paper concludes by discussing implications for future cross-cultural research on young migrants and by suggesting recommendations for multicultural policies.

scholarly journals Age-related mortality in 61,993 confirmed COVID-19 cases over three epidemic waves in Aragon, Spain. Implications for vaccination programmes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261061
Author(s):  
Diego Casas-Deza ◽  
Vanesa Bernal-Monterde ◽  
Angel Nicolás Aranda-Alonso ◽  
Enrique Montil-Miguel ◽  
Ana Belen Julián-Gomara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Age Related

Background Risk for severe COVID-19 increases with age. Different vaccination strategies are currently being considered, including those aimed at slowing down transmission and those aimed at providing direct protection to those most at risk. Methods The objectives of the current study were i) to assess age-related incidence and survival between PCR-diagnosed COVID-19 cases (n = 61,993) in the Autonomous Community of Aragon from March to November 2020, and ii) to characterize age differences regarding the course of the disease in hospitalized patients in a tertiary university hospital. Results We found a similar incidence of COVID-19 in individuals between 10 and 79 years. Incidence increased in those over 80 years possibly because of the elevated transmission within the nursing homes. We observed a profound disparity among age groups; case fatality rates (CFRs) were near 0 in cases younger than 39 years throughout different waves. In contrast, there was an age-dependent and progressive increase in the CFRs, especially during the first pandemic wave. SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a more severe and rapid progression in older patients. The elderly required faster hospitalization, presented more serious symptoms on admission, and had a worse clinical course. Hospitalized older individuals, even without comorbidities, had an increased mortality risk directly associated with their age. Lastly, the existence of comorbidities dramatically increased the CFRs in the elderly, especially in males. Conclusion The elevated incidence of COVID-19 and the vulnerability of the elderly call for their prioritization in vaccination and targeted prevention measures specifically focused on this aged population.

scholarly journals Automated Speech Recognition Systems and Older Adults: A Literature Review and Synthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Werner ◽  
Gaojian Huang ◽  
Brandon J. Pitts
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Automated Speech Recognition ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Physical Changes

The number of older adults is growing significantly worldwide. At the same time, technological developments are rapidly evolving, and older populations are expected to interact more frequently with such sophisticated systems. Automated speech recognition (ASR) systems is an example of one technology that is increasingly present in daily life. However, age-related physical changes may alter speech production and limit the effectiveness of ASR systems for older individuals. The goal of this paper was to summarize the current knowledge on ASR systems and older adults. The PRISMA method was employed and 17 studies were compared on the basis of word error rate (WER). Overall, WER was found to be influenced by age, gender, and the number of speech samples used to train ASR systems. This work has implications for the development of future human-machine technologies that will be used by a wide range of age groups.

Age-related lymphoma patient experience: Results from the Lymphoma Coalition 2018 Global Patient Survey.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20071-e20071
Author(s):  
Raul Cordoba ◽  
Natacha Bolanos ◽  
Lorna Warwick ◽  
Natalie Dren
Keyword(s):  
Patient Experience ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Patient Survey ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Lymphoma Patient ◽  
Medical Issues ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Patient Reported

e20071 Background: Over the past two decades, the incidence of lymphoma has increased by 8-10% per year in older adults. Despite the growing population of older cancer patients, there are a limited number of studies that focus on the experience of these patients. Lymphoma Coalition (LC) saw the need in the 2019 Report Card on Lymphomas to examine the age-related lymphoma patient experience. The objectives of this study were to identify: 1) informational needs and understanding levels, 2) physical conditions and medical issues, 3) psychosocial issues, and 4) barriers in patient-doctor communication. Methods: Using a subset of data from the LC 2018 Global Patient Survey on Lymphomas and CLL (LC 2018 GPS), this study will specifically examine the experiences of newly diagnosed lymphoma patients within the following age categories: 1) Young (18-59) (n = 1473); Mid (60-69) (n = 371); Old (70+) (n = 162). Results: From January to March 2018, 2,006 participants were included in this analysis from 47 countries. The majority of all three patient groups wanted additional medical information beyond what was provided at their diagnosis meeting with the doctor, with the greatest need for information in the young patient group (73%). The highest proportion of poor understanding was reported by the mid-age group (14%) and the highest proportion of very good understanding was reported by the old age group (53%). Across all three age groups, fatigue was the top reported physical condition affecting well-being. Regarding older patients, hair loss was reported in 36% vs 54% in younger patients (p = 0.01), and muscle weakness was reported in 40%. A greater proportion of those in the old group reported that their lifestyle (86%) and general activity level (87%) had been affected. The reported prevalence of medical issues was highest in the young group and lowest in the old group, both during and after treatment. Fear of relapse was the top reported psychosocial issue following treatment for patients in all three age groups. Of those who discussed their fear of relapse with their doctor (young 42% vs old 21%, p = 0.0022), less than one third of patients felt their discussion helped alleviate the fear. Conclusions: This study emphasizes that lymphoma patients in all age groups need more information and support beyond what is currently being provided. While certain age-specific trends were identified, the majority of patient-reported issues span across all three of the age groups examined.

scholarly journals Age-related changes of neutrophil characteristics, potential of activation, DNA release and NET formation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Krall ◽  
Lisa-Marie Mauracher ◽  
Johanna Roiss ◽  
Lena Hell ◽  
Anna S Ondracek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Membrane Receptors ◽  
Lower Amount ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Activation Markers ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Release Assay ◽  
Dna Release ◽  
Age Related Changes

Abstract Background: Neutrophils are a heterogeneous population of leukocytes, which can be subdivided into high and low density neutrophils (HDNs/LDNs). They are known to fight intruders with different mechanisms, including the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which have also been associated with thrombosis. Risks of infection and thrombosis increase with age. Differences in neutrophil subpopulations and functionality have been shown in various disease states, but investigations in healthy subjects and their dependence on age are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate age-related changes in neutrophils regarding neutrophil subpopulations, their potential of activation, DNA release and NET formation.Methods: Neutrophil subpopulations (HDNs and LDNs) were isolated from 25 healthy individuals subdivided into 3 groups (<45 years, n=8; 45-54, n=9; >54, n=8). Neutrophil characteristics, potential of activation and the ability of NET formation was investigated using flow cytometry. Externalisation of DNA was detected by a DNA release assay.Results: HDN and LDN counts did not differ between age-groups. However, with increasing age we observed a shift in neutrophil subpopulations towards a lower amount of mature LDNs, characterized by their expression of membrane receptors CD62L and CD16. Upon stimulation, neutrophils of older individuals showed significantly higher release of DNA. HDNs of younger participants increased activation markers (CD66b and CD11b) to a higher extent compared to those of older individualsConclusion: Neutrophils and their ability of activation, DNA release and NET formation change with age and this might contribute to the higher risk of infection and thrombosis at advanced age. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance and necessity of age-matching in studies that focus on neutrophil characteristics.

scholarly journals Compositional changes in human gut microbiota reveal a putative role of intestinal mycobiota in metabolic and biological decline during aging

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Mohammad Tahseen Al Bataineh ◽  
Ayman Alzaatreh ◽  
Rima Hajjo ◽  
Bayan Hassan Banimfreg ◽  
Nihar Ranjan Dash
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Shotgun Metagenomics ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Compositional Changes ◽  
Profiling Analysis

BACKGROUND: Age-related alterations in the composition and function of gut microbiota may influence human health and disease mechanisms. However, connections between compositional changes in gut bacterial and fungal communities, and their role in the aging process, remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Compare the gut microbiota and mycobiota composition in different age groups and evaluate the functionality. METHODS: In this study, we performed 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene-based microbial profiling analysis and shotgun metagenomics using the NextSeq platform. RESULTS: We observed a shift in compositional changes of human gut microbiota with age. Older individuals revealed a significantly different gut microbiota profile compared to younger individuals. For example, gut microbiota composition of the older individuals showed increase in genera Bacteroides, Blautia, Ruminococcaceae, and Escherichia coli. Additionally, older individuals had significant reduction in fungi belonging to saccharomyces cerevisiae and candida albicans in comparison to their younger counterparts. Moreover, metagenomics functional profiling analysis using shotgun metagenomics sequencing data showed substantial differences in the enrichment of 48 pathways between the young and older age groups. Metabolic pathways such as amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell structure biosynthesis and vitamin biosynthesis were declined in the older age group, in comparison with the younger individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The identified differences provide a new insight to enrich our understanding of age-related changes in gut microbiota, their metabolic capabilities, and potential impact on health and disease conditions.

scholarly journals BEING RESPECTED AND ADMIRED IN OLD AGE: DYNAMICS OF SOCIAL STATUS AND AGING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S728-S729
Author(s):  
David Weiss ◽  
Jennifer A Bellingtier ◽  
Manfred Diehl
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Attitudes

Abstract Social status - the standing of a person or group in the social hierarchy - is part and parcel of social life and a significant determinant of cognition and behavior. Status hierarchies are basis of virtually all human and primate societies and assign different roles and privileges to its members. However, the dynamic nature of social status and the underlying mechanisms in old age are not well understood. Therefore, this symposium addresses questions of how social status is influenced by aging-related changes in roles, life events, self-concept, and images of aging and how social status shapes in response personality, subjective age, prosocial behavior, performance, and well-being in old age. Bellingtier and colleagues examined objective and subjective social status and their connections to subjective age, attitudes towards aging, and awareness of age-related changes. Zhang shows paradoxical association between aging stereotypes and prosocial behaviors toward older adults. Barber and Hamel investigated how stereotypes of reduced physical competence in old age affect the gait performance on easy and difficult tasks. Weiss and colleagues take a cross-cultural perspective on the different sources of social status in China, Germany, and the US showing that generations in contrast to age groups represent a source of high social status in later life. Finally, Kornadt investigates the dynamic interplay of changes in social roles and personality in old age. Together, these presentations enlarge our understanding of the dynamics of social status in old age.

scholarly journals Age-related variability in buccal dental-microwear in Middle and Upper Pleistocene human populations

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Pérez ◽  
Alejandro Romero ◽  
Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Dental Microwear ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Homo Heidelbergensis ◽  
Upper Pleistocene ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Enamel Structure

Age-related variability in buccal dental-microwear in Middle and Upper Pleistocene human populationsInfants are thought to present a different buccal microwear pattern than adults and these, therefore, are generally analyzed separately. However, El-Zaatari & Hublin [2009] showed that occlusal texture in Neandertal and modern human juvenile populations did not differ from their elders. The microwear patterns of a sample of 193 teeth, corresponding to 61 individuals ofHomo heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensisand anatomically modern humans (AMH), were analyzed revealing that AMH infants up to 14 years old differ from older individuals in having fewer scratch densities, whereas the Neandertals have a much more variable microwear pattern. Age-at-death and dental age since emergence showed similar though somewhat diverging results, especially in the infant and subadult samples. Differences observed between the Neandertals and modern humans could be reflecting differential wearing patterns or distinct enamel structure and resistance to hard food items consumption. Interpopulation differences in striation densities were not apparent in either subadult or adult individuals, only adult Neandertals (26-45 yrs. old) showed fewer striations than the younger age groups. The AMH sample revealed a gradual cumulative pattern of striation density with age, suggestive of a non-abrupt change in diet.

scholarly journals Characterizing Perceived Control Over Daily Stress: Longitudinal Changes and Associations With Affect

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 215-215
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Mogle ◽  
Robert Stawski ◽  
Jonathan Rush ◽  
David Almeida ◽  
Eric Cerino
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Control ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Study ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Daily Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Perceived control is an important psychosocial correlate of healthy aging. Using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=1,047, M=55.82 years, SD=10.35, 57.27% Female), we examined cross-sectional age-related differences and longitudinal aging-related change in perceived control over daily stress across 10 years and explored the influence of stressor control on negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA). Stressor control, NA, and PA were obtained from telephone interviews over 8 consecutive days in measurement bursts conducted in ~2008 and ~2017. Longitudinal analyses revealed significant declines in stressor control across 10 years (p&lt;.001). Cross-sectional analyses revealed marginally lower stressor control among older individuals (p&lt;.10). Within-person associations revealed lower NA and higher PA on days when stressor control was higher than usual (ps&lt;.001). Results suggest that stressor control declines with age and holds promise as an important component of daily stress processes with relevance for health and well-being outcomes across the lifespan.

scholarly journals Clinical and treatment aspects in chronic hypertrophic rhinitis in children

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-15
Author(s):  
Emilia Gheorghian ◽  
◽  
Mihail Maniuc ◽  
Polina Ababii ◽  
Lucian Danilov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Laser Coagulation ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Nasal Breathing ◽  
Surgical Methods ◽  
Chronic Hypertrophic Rhinitis

Background: Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is a common problem in childhood and adolescence and has a negative impact on both physical, social and psychological well-being. Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis in the prevalence of children is 20-55%, and in the last 5 years this index is increasing. Material and methods: The study included 65 patients, aged 5 to 18 years, being hospitalized in the ENT department of the Emilian Cotaga Clinic of the Institute of Mother and Child, Chisinau, diagnosed with rhinitis complicated chronic hypertrophic over the years January 2018 – December 2020. The study was conducted by retrospective analysis of complicated data from clinical observation sheets and documents accompanying the data. Treatment methods studied: laser coagulation, electrocoagulation, radiofrequency, mucotomy. In most cases, lasercoagulation was chosen. Results: Nasal permeability in children with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is altered in most cases. The most frequently affected age groups were 10-14 years with a rate of 61.53%, the majority being from urban living environment in 63.08%. The most representative clinical signs and symptoms according to this study are difficult nasal breathing in 96.93% and mouth breathing – 89.24%. From the indicated surgical methods, laser coagulation of the nasal cornets was performed in 47.7% of cases. It proved to be more effective and less invasive compared to electrocoagulation performed in 44.6% of cases and partial mucotomy in 4.62%. Conclusions: From the data obtained in the study, we opted for laser coagulation of the lower nasal horns, which has a faster healing period, shorter postoperative complications, greater acceptability from the doctor and patient.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document