“The Internal Police Officer Has Not Retired but Has Slowed Down”: Israeli Women Reframe Their Aging Experiences in the Second Half of Life

Compared with gains, losses have received a substantial amount of research and public attention. The present study aims to shed light on the positive gains associated with older age from the perspective of older women. Five focus groups with 19 Israeli women over the age of 54 were conducted. Trailers of three different films were used to stimulate discussion about old age and aging and allow for reflections on societal norms in light of personal experiences. Focus group interviews were analyzed thematically. Respondents identified four contexts, characterized by reframing their experiences against societal norms. These included gender stereotypes, physical appearance, interpersonal relations, and employment. This study represents an opening to a different discourse around old age, which is characterized by gains and possibilities brought about by changes in reframing one’s experiences, while distancing oneself and exerting free will vis à vis social norms.

Serum complement component 3, complement component 4 and complement component 1q levels predict progressive visual field loss in older women with primary angle closure glaucoma

AimTo evaluate the association between serum levels of complement component (C) 3, C4 and C1q and visual field (VF) loss in patients with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, a total of 308 patients with PACG were included. The patients were followed up every 6 months (at least 2 years), with clinical examination and VF testing. Based on their sex and age, the subjects were stratified into male and female subgroups, and by age at <60 and ≥60 years per subgroup.ResultsOne hundred twenty-three (39.94%) patients showed glaucoma VF progression. The serum levels of C3, C4 and C1q were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the progression group compared with the non-progression group in the ≥60 years female subgroup. In female patients with age ≥60 years, (1) lower levels of baseline C3 (HR=0.98, p<0.001), C4 (HR=0.96, p=0.01) and C1q levels (HR=0.99, p=0.003) were associated with a greater risk of VF progression; (2) patients with lower C3 levels had significantly (p<0.05) higher rates of VF loss progression, similar to those with lower C4 and lower C1q levels; and (3) the generalised additive model revealed a negative correlation between baseline C3 (p<0.001), C4 (p<0.001) and C1q (p<0.001) levels with the risk of VF progression. No statistical significance was observed in the male (<60 and ≥60 years) and female (<60 years) subgroups.ConclusionDecreased C3, C4 and C1q levels at baseline were significantly associated with a greater risk of VF loss progression only in older women with PACG.

Association between Agility, Health-Related Quality of Life, Depression, and Anthropometric Variables in Physically Active Older Adult Women with Depression

Introduction. Depressive disorders are mental disorders that last over time, and seriously affect the lives of the people who suffer from them, diminishing their quality of life, reducing their motor capacity, and incapacitating them in their daily lives. It is a major problem worldwide. Objective. To study the association between agility, health-related quality of life (hrqol), anthropometric status, and depression status in older adult women with depression. Design. Data collected from 685 physically active older women with depression were analyzed. Result. A moderate inverse correlation (r = −0.34) is shown between Time Up & Go (TUG) and EuroQol Five-Dimensional Three-Level Version (EQ-5D-3L). Between TUG and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), there is a small direct correlation (r = 0.14) between them. Between TUG and anthropometric data, all observed correlations are significant. Conclusions. There is a significant association between agility, health-related quality of life, depression, and anthropometric data in physically active older women with depression.