Relationship between five Epigenetic Clocks, Telomere Length and Functional Capacity assessed in Older Adults: Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Analyses

DNA methylation age acceleration (DNAmAA, derived from an epigenetic clock) and relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) are widely accepted biomarkers of aging. Nevertheless, it is still unclear which aspects of aging they represent best. Here we evaluated longitudinal associations between baseline rLTL and DNAmAA (estimated with 7-CpG clock) and functional assessments covering different domains of aging. Additionally, we made use of cross-sectional data on these assessments and examined their association with DNAmAA estimated by five different DNAm age measures. Two-wave longitudinal data was available for 1,083 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) who were re-examined on average 7.4 years after baseline as part of the GendAge study. Functional outcomes were assessed with Fried’s frailty score, Tinetti mobility test, falls in the past 12 months (yes/no), Finger-floor distance, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumented ADL (IADL) and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Overall, we found no evidence for an association between the molecular biomarkers measured at baseline, rLTL and DNAmAA (7-CpG clock), and functional assessments assessed at follow-up. Similarly, a cross-sectional analyses of follow-up data did also not show evidence for associations of the various DNAmAA measures (7-CpG clock, Horvath’s clock, Hannum’s clock PhenoAge, and GrimAge) with functional assessments. In conclusion, neither rLTL nor 7-CpG DNAmAA were able to predict impairment in the analyzed assessments over a ~7-year time-course. Similarly, DNAmAA estimated from five epigenetic clocks was not a good cross-sectional marker of health deterioration either.

PENGARUH TERAPI LIFE REVIEW TERHADAP PENURUNAN DEPRESI DI SEKSI KESEJAHTERAAN SOSIAL PENYANTUNAN LANJUT USIA PADU WAU MAUMERE

Lansia merupakan tahap lanjut dari suatu proses kehidupan yang terjadi secara alamiah. Tingginya stresor dan peristiwa kehidupan yang tidak menyenangkan dapat menimbulkan masalah psikologis, salah satu diantaranya adalah depresi. Depresi pada lansia lebih tinggi terjadi pada lansia yang hidup di panti jompo dibandingkan dengan lansia yang hidup di komunitas dan masih rendahnya intervensi psikologis untuk mengatasi depresi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh terapi life review terhadap penurunan depresi pada lansia di Seksi Kesejahteraan Penyantunan Sosial Lanjut Usia Padu Wau Maumere. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah Quasi experiment dengan rancangan penelitian one group pre post test. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 36 orang, dengan menggunakan consecutive sampling. Instrumen yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kuesioner pendek Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) dengan 15 pertanyaan dalam versi Indonesia untuk mengukur depresi pada lansia. Intervensi terapi life review diberikan sebanyak 4 sesi yakni pengalaman masa anak-anak, masa remaja, masa dewasa dan masa lansia. Analisis data menggunakan uji wilcoxon. Hasil uji wilcoxon menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh terapi life review terhadap penurunan depresi lansia dibuktikan dengan nilai p value (0.000) < α (0.05). Terapi life review berhasil dalam menurunkan depresi pada lansia.

Relationship between Eating Alone and Poor Appetite Using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire

One prominent factor associated with malnutrition is poor appetite. In Japan, the number of older adults living alone has increased annually. Those living alone tended to eat alone, which may lead to poor appetite. This study aimed to investigate the association between eating alone and poor appetite using an index called the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). We surveyed 818 people aged 70 and over in Takashimadaira, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan, in 2016. Comparisons were made between two groups, a poor appetite group (n = 295) and a good appetite group (n = 523), and results indicate that the poor appetite group had a higher rate of eating alone than the good appetite group (38.0% vs. 20. 1%: p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression (OR; 95%CI) was performed and poor appetite was significantly associated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score (1.707; 1.200–2.427), the number of medications (1.061; 1.007–1.118), JST score (0.894; 0.841–0.950), the indication of “very healthy” on a self-rated health scale (0.343; 0.152–0.774), and reports of eating alone (1.751; 1.130–2.712). Our results suggest that eating alone is associated with a poor appetite.

Cortisol Awakening Reaction and Anxiety in Depressed Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Disturbances of HPA axis functioning as represented by cortisol awakening reaction (CAR) belong to the mediating pathways linking psychosocial distress and cardiovascular risk. Both depression and anxiety have been confirmed as independent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, data on anxiety and cortisol output in CAD patients are scarce. Based on previous data, we hypothesized that anxiety would be associated with higher cortisol output and a more pronounced morning increase in moderately depressed CAD patients. 77 patients (60 y, 79% male) underwent saliva sampling (+0, +30, +45, +60 min after awakening, midday and late-night sample). Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and patients were grouped into anxious versus non anxious subjects based upon the recommended score (≥11). A repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant time and quadratic time effect referring to the typical CAR. Anxious patients showed a significantly steeper 30 min increase, higher AUCi, lower waking and late-night cortisol levels. The steeper cortisol increase in the anxious group is in line with previous data and may be interpreted as a biological substrate of affect regulation. The lower basal and late-night levels coupled with greater AUCi mirror a more dynamic reactivity pattern compared to depressed subjects without anxiety.

Mental disorders elderly in rural areas during COVID-19 pandemic in Bali Indonesia

Detection of mental disorders in the elderly are using the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) screening/questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and/or or based on structured interviews. The elderly who had complete screening and interview data were included in the study sample, i.e., 85 people. From 85 elderly as a participant, 65 people (76.4%) had a good cognitive, 10 (11.7%) moderate cognitive, and 5 severe cognitive (5.8%), but their daily activities were still good. The results of the screening GDS showed 70 people with mild depression (82.4%), moderate depression in 13 people (15.3%) and 2 people with severe depression (2.3%). The results of the screening with DASS show 15 elderly people with depression (17.5%), 55 people with anxiety (65%) and 15 people experiencing stress (17.5%). Screening for elderly sleep quality with the PSQI for elderly showed 60 people with disrupted sleep quality (70.5%) and 15 people with good sleep quality (17.6%). A 68 people elderly (80%) complained of mild pain and 17 people (20%) with moderate pain by screening using the VAS, where the location of the pain varied in the body and leg areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted maternal mental health differently depending on pregnancy status and trimester of gestation

Introduction: We aimed to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, stratifying on pregnancy status, trimester of gestation, and pandemic period/wave.Methods: Pregnant persons and persons who delivered in Canada during the pandemic, >18 years, were recruited, and data were collected using a web-based strategy. The current analysis includes data on persons enrolled between 06/2020-08/2021. Maternal sociodemographic indicators, mental health measures (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7), stress) were self-reported. Maternal mental health in pregnant women (stratified by trimester, and pandemic period/wave at recruitment) was compared with mental health of women who had delivered; determinants of severe depression were identified with multivariate logistic regression models.Results: 2,574 persons were pregnant and 626 had already delivered at recruitment. Participants who had delivered had significantly higher mean depressive symptom scores compared to those pregnant at recruitment (9.1 (SD, 5.7) vs. 8.4 (SD, 5.3), p=0.009). Among those who were pregnant at recruitment, depressive symptoms were significantly higher in women recruited in their third trimester, and those recruited during the 2nd wave of the pandemic. Maternal anxiety (aOR 1.51; 95%CI 1.44-1.59) and stress (aOR 1.35; 95%CI 1.24-1.48) were the most significant predictors of severe maternal depression (EDPS˃13) in pregnancy. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on maternal depression during pregnancy and in the post-partum period. Given that gestational depression/anxiety/stress have been associated with preterm birth and childhood cognitive problems, it is essential to continue following women/children, and develop strategies to reduce COVID-19’s longer-term impact.

Validation of the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire: Japanese Version

This study aimed to develop and validate a Japanese version of the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire (TAQ), an instrument that measures the process of intentional acceptance of adverse experiences associated with tinnitus. A total of 125 patients with chronic tinnitus from multiple institutions participated in this study. Participants completed the Japanese versions of the TAQ, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Valuing Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A second TAQ was administered 1–2 weeks later. Because the model fitted poorly in confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis was conducted, which yielded a two-factor structure that was divided into forward and reversed item groups. Hypotheses regarding criterion and construct validity were clearly supported. A high Cronbach’s α coefficient value was obtained for the TAQ total score (0.88). The interclass correlation coefficient for test–retest reliability was within the acceptable range (0.95). The results of the exploratory factor analysis were considered to be due to artifacts caused by the characteristics of the Japanese language. The present study confirmed the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the TAQ in measuring tinnitus-specific receptivity.

Gender Differences of Schizophrenia Patients With and Without Depressive Symptoms in Clinical Characteristics

Objectives: To investigate the differences in psychotic symptoms and cognitive function in schizophrenics with and without depression and to compare gender differences in the correlation between depressive symptoms and clinical characteristics in those patients.Methods: A total of 190 schizophrenia patients and 200 healthy controls were recruited in the study. We used the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms, depressive symptoms and cognitive function, respectively. Patients with CDSS score ≥7 were divided into depression group, and CDSS &lt; 7 was viewed as without depression.Results: Patients with schizophrenia had lower total scores of RBANS and five subscale (immediate memory, visual span, verbal function, attention, and delayed memory) scores compared to healthy controls. In the case group, patients who concomitant with depression had higher PANSS scores (Ps &lt; 0.001) and lower RBANS (Ps &lt; 0.05) scores than those without depression. After gender stratification, PANSS total scores and subscale scores were significantly different between schizophrenics with and without depressive symptoms in both male and female groups (Ps &lt; 0.001). For cognitive function, there were significant differences in RBANS total score and subscale scores except attention between female patients with and without schizophrenia but not in male schizophrenia patients. Furthermore, the correlation analysis showed that the total CDSS score was positively correlated with PANSS score (P &lt; 0.001) and RBANS score in male and female groups (male: P = 0.010, female: P = 0.001).Conclusion: Our findings provided evidence supporting the gender differences in psychiatric symptoms and cognitive function between schizophrenia patients with and without depressive symptoms.