scholarly journals Poor coherence in older people's speech is explained by impaired semantic and executive processes

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Hoffman ◽  
Ekaterina Loginova ◽  
Asatta Russell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Semantic Knowledge ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Executive Processes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The World ◽  
Selection Of

The ability to speak coherently is essential for effective communication but declines with age: older people more frequently produce tangential, off-topic speech. The cognitive factors underpinning this decline are poorly understood. We predicted that maintaining coherence relies on effective regulation of activated semantic knowledge about the world, and particularly on the selection of currently relevant semantic representations to drive speech production. To test this, we collected 840 speech samples along with measures of executive and semantic ability from 60 young and older adults, using a novel computational method to quantify coherence. Semantic selection ability predicted coherence, as did level of semantic knowledge and a measure of domain-general executive ability. These factors fully accounted for the age-related coherence deficit. Our results indicate that maintaining coherence in speech becomes more challenging as people age because they accumulate more knowledge but are less able to effectively regulate how it is activated and used.

scholarly journals Poor coherence in older people's speech is explained by impaired semantic and executive processes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Hoffman ◽  
Ekaterina Loginova ◽  
Asatta Russell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Semantic Knowledge ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Executive Processes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The World ◽  
Selection Of

The ability to speak coherently is essential for effective communication but declines with age: older people more frequently produce tangential, off-topic speech. The cognitive factors underpinning this decline are poorly understood. We predicted that maintaining coherence relies on effective regulation of activated semantic knowledge about the world, and particularly on the selection of currently relevant semantic representations to drive speech production. To test this, we collected 840 speech samples along with measures of executive and semantic ability from 60 young and older adults, using a novel computational method to quantify coherence. Semantic selection ability predicted coherence, as did level of semantic knowledge and a measure of domain-general executive ability. These factors fully accounted for the age-related coherence deficit. Our results indicate that maintaining coherence in speech becomes more challenging as people age because they accumulate more knowledge but are less able to effectively regulate how it is activated and used.

scholarly journals Developing a recovery-focused therapy for older people with bipolar disorder: a qualitative focus group study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e049829
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Tyler ◽  
Fiona Lobban ◽  
Rita Long ◽  
Steven H Jones
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Age Related Changes

ObjectivesAs awareness of bipolar disorder (BD) increases and the world experiences a rapid ageing of the population, the number of people living with BD in later life is expected to rise substantially. There is no current evidence base for the effectiveness of psychological interventions for older adults with BD. This focus group study explored a number of topics to inform the development and delivery of a recovery-focused therapy (RfT) for older adults with BD.DesignA qualitative focus group study.SettingThree focus groups were conducted at a university in the North West of England.ParticipantsEight people took part in the focus groups; six older adults with BD, one carer and one friend.ResultsParticipant’s responses clustered into six themes: (1) health-related and age-related changes in later life, (2) the experience of BD in later life, (3) managing and coping with BD in later life, (4) recovery in later life, (5) seeking helping in the future and (6) adapting RfT for older people.ConclusionsParticipants reported a range of health-related and age-related changes and strategies to manage their BD. Participants held mixed views about using the term ‘recovery’ in later life. Participants were in agreement that certain adaptations were needed for delivering RfT for older adults, based on their experience of living with BD in later life. The data collected as part of the focus groups have led to a number of recommendations for delivering RfT for older adults with BD in a randomised controlled trial (Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN13875321).

scholarly journals What influences diet quality in older people? A qualitative study among community-dwelling older adults from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 2685-2693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilse Bloom ◽  
Wendy Lawrence ◽  
Mary Barker ◽  
Janis Baird ◽  
Elaine Dennison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hertfordshire Cohort Study ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

AbstractObjectiveTo explore influences on diet in a group of community-dwelling older adults in the UK.DesignData were collected through focus group discussions with older people; discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and transcripts analysed thematically.SettingHertfordshire, UK.SubjectsParticipants were sampled purposively from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, focusing on those whose diets had been assessed at two time points: 1998–2001 and 2011.ResultsNinety-two adults participated (47 % women; 74–83 years) and eleven focus groups were held. A number of age-related factors were identified that were linked to food choices, including lifelong food experiences, retirement, bereavement and medical conditions, as well as environmental factors (such as transport). There appeared to be variability in how individuals responded to these influences, indicating that other underlying factors may mediate the effects of age-related factors on diet. Discussions about ‘keeping going’, being motivated to ‘not give up’, not wanting to be perceived as ‘old’, as well as examples of resilience and coping strategies, suggest the importance of mediating psychological factors. In addition, discussion about social activities and isolation, community spirit and loneliness, indicated the importance of social engagement as an influence on diet.ConclusionsInterventions to promote healthier diets in older age should take account of underlying psychological and social factors that influence diet, which may mediate the effects of age-related factors.

Eczema and the older person

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 451-459
Author(s):  
Linda Nazarko
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Skin Condition ◽  
Common Condition ◽  
Older Person ◽  
Poor Physical Health ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Age Related Changes

Age-related changes lead to an increase in skin problems, and around 70% of older people have a treatable skin condition. However, ageing and poor physical health can make it difficult for older people to care for their skin. Eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, where the skin becomes red, inflamed, itchy and scaly, can develop easily in older adults. This can, in turn, become infected and cause discomfort and health problems. This article explains how ageing affects the skin, how eczema can develop and how it can be treated, also touching upon the different types of eczema. It aims to equip community nurses with knowledge about this common condition and how to recognise and manage it.

scholarly journals Mental Disorders, Cognitive Impairment and the Risk of Suicide in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kułak-Bejda ◽  
Grzegorz Bejda ◽  
Napoleon Waszkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Older People ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The World

More than 600 million people are aged 60 years and over are living in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that this number will double by 2025 to 2 billion older people. Suicide among people over the age of 60 is one of the most acute problems. The factors strongly associated with suicide are mentioned: physical illnesses, such as cancer, neurologic disorder, pain, liver disease, genital disorders, or rheumatoid disorders. Moreover, neurologic conditions, especially stroke, may affect decision-making processes, cognitive capacity, and language deficit. In addition to dementia, the most common mental disorders are mood and anxiety disorders. A common symptom of these disorders in the elderly is cognitive impairment. This study aimed to present the relationship between cognitive impairment due to dementia, mood disorders and anxiety, and an increased risk of suicide among older people. Dementia is a disease where the risk of suicide is significant. Many studies demonstrated that older adults with dementia had an increased risk of suicide death than those without dementia. Similar conclusions apply to prodromal dementia Depression is also a disease with a high risk of suicide. Many researchers found that a higher level of depression was associated with suicide attempts and suicide ideation. Bipolar disorder is the second entity in mood disorders with an increased risk of suicide among the elderly. Apart from suicidal thoughts, bipolar disorder is characterized by high mortality. In the group of anxiety disorders, the most significant risk of suicide occurs when depression is present. In turn, suicide thoughts are more common in social phobia than in other anxiety disorders. Suicide among the elderly is a serious public health problem. There is a positive correlation between mental disorders such as dementia, depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety and the prevalence of suicide in the elderly. Therefore, the elderly should be comprehensively provided with psychiatric and psychological support.

Ageing

2021 ◽  
pp. 240-254
Author(s):  
Wadad Kathy Tannous ◽  
Kathleen Quilty
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Technological Evolution ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Emergent Technologies ◽  
The World ◽  
First Time

In 2019, the number of people in the world aged over 65 was 703 million. By 2050, this number is projected to be 1.5 billion. However, it is not only the number of older persons but the proportion that is changing. Italy was the first country to experience a demographic milestone known as the ‘Historic Reversal', reporting in 1995 that the population of people aged 65 years and older outnumbered children under the age of 15 for the first time ever. By 2050, this number is expected to reach 90 countries. This social ‘megatrend' collides with another shifting paradigm: technological advancement, accelerating every year at an extraordinary pace. While this trend of continuous technological evolution is not developing uniformly around the world, the scope of potential support that new and emergent technologies can bring to older adults is enormous. This chapter explores key areas of consideration to ensure that the promise of the digital future is realised for older people and that it is an enabling force, rather than a barrier to enjoying a longer, more supported later life.

scholarly journals Engaging the disengaged: Examining the domestication of mobile telephony among older adults in Trans-Nzoia and Bungoma Counties in Western Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Leah Jerop Komen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Technology Design ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
The World ◽  
The Government

The world is growing older. Considering the increasing number of older adults, it is imperative to consider how technology design can meet the needs and wants of these important user groups. Mobile phones offer great potential in improving quality of life for older adults in areas of, healthcare, independent living, communication and reduced isolation. There have been numerous studies on technology design for older adults (Fisk, Rogers, Charness, Czaja, & Sharit, 2004), but much of the work has focused on indoor and stationary applications such as desktop computers (Zajicek & Brewster, 2004). Although older people need support beyond stationary situations inside and outside their homes (Goodman, Brewster, & Gray, 2004), limited number of mobile functions are used by older adults due to high cost associated with mobile phones (Lee: 2007). Conversely, Nimrod (2015), argues older people use mobile phones extensively but little is known about relevant domestication processes involved and the extent to which older adults adopt and use mobile phones. This study interviewed 40 older retired civil servants aged 60 years and above in Western Kenya. Using domestication theory, this study examined the appropriation (Possession and ownership), Objectification (meaning and symbols), incorporation of mobile phones in older people’s everyday life and conversion (unintended uses) process of the domestication of mobile technology by the said group. Findings showed that mobile phones both enhanced closeness with their children and isolated them from them too. Majority felt mobile phones had become their ‘extended family members’ bringing the news of the world to them via mobile phone calls and texts. However, the small font size of texts and the fact that phones were getting smaller in size made it difficult to use. Their favourite mobile phone application was the mobile money locally dubbed Mpesa as they could now receive cash transfers from the government. Key words: older adults, mpesa, isolation, connection, e-inclusion, domestication, Kenya

Relationships Between Empathy, Gender, and Testosterone Levels in Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1895-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuying Chen ◽  
Hui Feng ◽  
Chunlan Lv ◽  
Jiamei Lu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Blood Sample ◽  
Free Testosterone ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Emotional Empathy ◽  
Late Adulthood ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Relationship

We focused on the relationship between testosterone levels and empathy in older people and how this relationship changes with age and between genders. Participants comprised 45 younger (30–39 years) and 144 older (50–75 years) individuals who completed an empathy test and whose free testosterone (FT) levels in a blood sample were measured. Results showed that women scored significantly higher in empathy, and that FT levels were negatively correlated with emotional and cognitive empathy. However, women had a stronger emotional empathy relationship with FT, and a cognitive empathy relationship with FT was observed only in men. In addition, the effect of FT levels on empathy showed an age-related decline from middle to late adulthood, and this effect may vary by gender and by both components of empathy.

scholarly journals EXCLUSION SPOTTER: APPLYING ADVANCES IN AI TO IDENTIFY AGEISM IN ONLINE JOB POSTING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S763-S763
Author(s):  
Nicola Palmarini ◽  
Lee Martie ◽  
Mattie F Wasiak ◽  
Gaoyuan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Job Search ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Awareness ◽  
Word Choice ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Job Titles ◽  
The World

Abstract The landscape in which employers and candidates interact is changing as more job adverts are pushed online. Employment platforms (e.g., Indeed and LinkedIn) are now among the primary mechanisms for job posting, job search, and initial negotiations. Through such job platforms, a single job advert can now reach millions of people around the world. This exposure of a job advert has obvious benefits for the employer, but this exposure also has the power to alienate and exclude large portions of society. In particular, the word choice of a single job advert can, perhaps unintentionally, exclude thousands of people by their personal traits (e.g., gender or race). Age is a particular trait that garners more attention as ageism is often cited in the literature as going overlooked, not understood, and generally escaping social awareness. To begin tackling this problem, with the purpose of supporting older adults and enabling their contribution to society, we applied advances in AI to create a tool, called Exclusion Spotter, that gives feedback to recruiters and employers on which words in their advert are possibly excluding people by age. We applied Exclusion Spotter to 3660 job adverts, clustered by 372 job titles. We found a significant difference (p=.02) in the number of age-related words for engineering related positions versus all other job titles. Among 47 engineering related titles we matched 47.37 age related words per title and 2.8 per advert. Among the other 325 titles we matched 24.37 age related words per title and 2.1 per advert.

scholarly journals Elderly and forced displacement in Colombia

2019 ◽  
pp. 52-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Lucía Curcio ◽  
José Hoover Vanegas ◽  
María Cristina Palacio ◽  
Jairo Corchuelo Ojeda
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Forced Displacement ◽  
Life Conditions ◽  
The World ◽  
Life Trajectory ◽  
Hostile Environments ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Objective: To describe the experiences of older adults around forced displacement due to the Colombian armed conflict. Methods: Interpretive-comprehensive study, with a hermeneutical approach; several types of sampling were carried out. The participants were 12 people aged over 60 years, who reported having being displaced and who participated in the SABE Colombia Survey. The data were encoded using the Atlas.ti software. A process of condensation of central analytical, support and emerging categories was made. Results: The displacement generated by the armed conflict has been decisive in the current life conditions of the participants. They know that they are survivors of someone else's violence; there is dislocation, loss of territory, de-anchoring, lack of protection and insecurity. To the stigma of old age, it is added being displaced and being strangers in a place where they don’t belong. They live the violent uprooting of their lands and the confusion of their identity; they found themselves in a foreign scene where they were the unusual and the strangers; from receiving threats, they passed to be labeled as ‘threatening’. This forced displacement stems from violence, but also from fear, and it marks the trajectory of life for older people who experience a prolonged struggle for survival in often hostile environments, living "permanently" displaced. Conclusion: When there is displacement, older people are not only shed of their land and their home, but also from their cosmos and their vital referents; in addition, it changes their life trajectory and their place in the world. Interventions should be designed based on specific particular and contextual analyses.

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