Brain Activity and Functional Connectivity Patterns Associated With Fast and Slow Motor Sequence Learning in Late Middle Adulthood

The human brain undergoes structural and functional changes across the lifespan. The study of motor sequence learning in elderly subjects is of particularly interest since previous findings in young adults might not replicate during later stages of adulthood. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study assessed the performance, brain activity and functional connectivity patterns associated with motor sequence learning in late middle adulthood. For this purpose, a total of 25 subjects were evaluated during early stages of learning [i.e., fast learning (FL)]. A subset of these subjects (n = 11) was evaluated after extensive practice of a motor sequence [i.e., slow learning (SL) phase]. As expected, late middle adults improved motor performance from FL to SL. Learning-related brain activity patterns replicated most of the findings reported previously in young subjects except for the lack of hippocampal activity during FL and the involvement of cerebellum during SL. Regarding functional connectivity, precuneus and sensorimotor lobule VI of the cerebellum showed a central role during improvement of novel motor performance. In the sample of subjects evaluated, connectivity between the posterior putamen and parietal and frontal regions was significantly decreased with aging during SL. This age-related connectivity pattern may reflect losses in network efficiency when approaching late adulthood. Altogether, these results may have important applications, for instance, in motor rehabilitation programs.

Salutogenesis and the Sense of Coherence in Middle Adulthood

In this chapter, the authors focus on the transition from middle to late adulthood. The questions of when and how past transitions affect subsequent ageing is discussed. Whilst middle age was long considered undramatic, the authors state that it is increasingly gaining profile. They focus on a phase typically observed in the sixth decade of life, characterized by the initiation of the transition to de-professionalization and change of responsibilities within the family when crisis and chronic situations can lead to the need for help from health professionals.The authors deliberate on how a dialogue between middle-aged adults and professionals can contribute positively to the naming, modification, design and further development of health goals, linking physiological and unconscious processes to the theory of salutogenesis.Notably, the authors frame illness processes from the perspective of salutogenic resources, also discussing the benefits of crises experienced in middle adulthood.The authors’ novel ideas about a salutogenic perspective on life in middle adulthood will inspire researchers and practitioners to a more innovative approach to this large segment of society.

The Prevalence of Compulsive Buying and Hoarding Behaviours in Emerging, Early, and Middle Adulthood: Multicentre Epidemiological Analysis of Non-clinical Chinese Samples

Behavioural addictions, such as compulsive buying (CB) and hoarding, are increasingly recognised in the current psychiatric nosology, particularly in developed countries. The prevalence of these disorders may not be static but possibly altered across different age groups. However, studies on this area are rare, and only few have focused on Chinese population. This epidemiological study employs population-based cross-sectional design and collects data in two regions, i.e., Hong Kong and Mainland China. A self-reported questionnaire is constructed based on carefully validated Chinese versions of Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale and Hoarding Rating Scale. A total of 2,439 valid samples are collected and divided into three age groups, i.e., emerging, early and middle adulthood. CB and hoarding behaviours have displayed an inverted u-shaped pattern across the above age groups. In addition, the strength of correlation between the two compulsive behaviours is consistent and maintained across different age groups. These results suggest that the compulsive behaviours vary among different stages of adulthood in major cities in China. This newly discovered pattern of compulsive disorders in Chinese population is different from those in American and European populations.

Attitudes about Dementia in Different Stages of Adulthood

Research on attitudes toward dementia has often focused on younger and older adults; few studies have also included the age groups of established and middle adulthood. The current study utilized data from community-dwelling adults aged 18-95 (n=567) residing in two Midwestern states. Participants were divided into four age groups: emerging/young adulthood (ages 18-29), established adulthood (ages 30-45), middle adulthood (ages 46-64), and older adulthood (age 65+). ANOVA models were used to examine age group differences on the following outcomes: factual knowledge about dementia (total score on 14 true-false questions); attitudes toward dementia (total score on the 20-item Dementia Attitudes Scale); and a single item, “I am afraid of losing my memory” (rated on a 5-point scale). The effect of age group was significant in all models (p<0.01 for all). Emerging/young adults had significantly more knowledge about dementia, but less positive attitudes toward dementia, relative to established, middle-aged, and older adults. Attitudes and knowledge did not differ between established, middle-aged, and older adults. By contrast, older adults reported significantly more fear of memory loss than emerging/young, established, and middle-aged adults; fear did not differ between the latter three age groups. There were no significant interactions between age group and sex in any of the models. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Moderate alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms: A marginal structural model approach promoting causal inference

Importance: Prevention of depressive symptoms and disorders is a key public health priority but requires an improved understanding of modifiable risk and protective factors. A salient unanswered question in this context is whether the apparent protective effect of alcohol against depression may be causal.Objective: To compare the effects of consistent abstinence, occasional, moderate, and heavy alcohol consumption throughout early-to-middle adulthood on depressive symptoms at age 50.Design: This secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) cohort employed a marginal structural model approach in assessing the relationship between alcohol consumption in early-to-middle adulthood (29-37 through 41-49) and depressive symptoms at age 50. Alcohol consumption was based on measurements at 1994, 2002, and 2006, covariates at 1992, 1994, and age 40 (1998-2006), and outcome at age 50 (2008-2016). Setting: The NLSY79 is a nationally representative, population-based cohort study.Participants: 5,667 eligible participants at baseline provided valid data on alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms, and covariates of interest. Exposure: Alcohol consumption was categorised as either abstinence, occasional, moderate, or heavy drinking in 1994, 2002, and 2006.Main Outcome and Measure: Depressive symptoms at age 50 as measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale short form (CES-D-SF).Results: Of the 5,667 eligible participants at baseline, 2,862 [50.50%] were female and the mean age was 30.81 [2.24], with 3,593 participants providing valid outcome data for analysis. Results of linear contrasts from marginal structural models were consistent with a J-shaped relationship, where both consistent occasional (b=-0.84, CI= -1.47, -.11) and consistent moderate (b=-1.08, CI=-1.88, -.20) drinkers had significantly reduced predicted CES-D-SF scores at age 50 compared to consistent abstainers. Consistent heavy drinkers were predicted to have increased depressive symptoms, but this was not statistically significant (b=0.34, CI=-0.62, 1.25). In sex-stratified analyses, results were similar for females and males.Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of longitudinal data accounting for time-varying exposure and confounding, consistent low-to-moderate alcohol consumption in early-to-middle adulthood predicted lower depressive symptoms at age 50, compared with those abstaining from alcohol. This work offers preliminary evidence that such protective effects may be causal.

KECEMASAN WANITA PADA MASA MENOPOUSE BERDASARKAN SELF ACCEPATANCE

AbstrakLatar Belakang: Premenopause terjadi pada usia dewasa madya, masa dewasa madya dalam terminologi kronologis yaitu tahun-tahun antar usia 45 dan 65 tahun. Pada masa dewasa madya ini seksualitas mengalami penurunan. Masa dewasa madya ditandai dengan adanya perubahan-perubahan jasmani dan mental. Perubahan kejiwaan yang dialami seorang wanita menjelang prmenopause meliputi merasa tua, tidak menarik lagi, tertekan karena takut menjadi tua, mudah tersinggung, mudah kaget sehingga jantung berdebar, takut tidak bisa memenuhi kebutuhan seksual suami, rasa takut bahwa suami akan menyeleweng, keinginan seksual menurun dan sulit mencapai kepuasaan (orgasme), merasa sudah tidak berguna dan tidak menghasilkan sesuatu, merasa memberatkan keluarga dan orang lain. Tujuan: Mengetahui Hubungan Antara Selt acceptance Dengan Kecemasan Dalam Menghadapi Menopouse Pada Wanita Premenopouse Di Puskesmas gabus II Pati Metode: analitik korelasi dengan pendekatan Cross sectional, sampel seluruh pasien premenopouse di Puskesmas Gabus II Pati usia 40-45 tahun sebanyak 40 orang sebanyak 36 orang. teknik Purposive sampling. Data di analisa dengan uji statistik Chi square. Hasil: Ada hubungan selt acceptance dengan kecemasan dalam menghadapi menopouse pada wanita premenopouse di Puskesmas Gabus II Pati dengan nilai P Value 0,001< 0,05. Kata kunci : Selt acceptance, Kecemasan, perimenopouseDaftar Pustaka : 39 Daftar Pustaka (2009-2016) ABSTRACTBackground: Premenopause occurs in middle adulthood, middle adulthood in chronological terminology, namely years between 45 and 65 years. During this middle adulthood sexuality has decreased. Middle adulthood is characterized by physical and mental changes. Psychiatric changes experienced by a woman before prmenopause include feeling old, not attractive anymore, depressed for fear of growing old, easily offended, easily shocked so that heart palpitations, fear of not being able to meet the sexual needs of the husband, fear that the husband will deviate, decreased sexual desire and difficult to achieve satisfaction (orgasm), feel it is useless and does not produce something, feel burdensome for family and others. Objective: To find out the relationship between self-acceptance and anxiety in dealing with menopause in premenopouse women in Public Health center Gabus II. Method: analytic correlation with cross sectional approach, a sample of all premenopouse patients in Public Health Center Gabus II, 40-45 years old, 36 people, 36 person. Purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed by Chi square statistical test. Results: There is a relationship of self-acceptance with anxiety in facing menopause in premenopausal women in Public Health Center Gabus II Pati Health Center area with a P value of 0.001 <0.05