-
The Gerontologist Feb 2015The purpose of this study was to analyze the range of critiques of successful aging models and the suggestions for improvement as expressed in the social gerontology... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study was to analyze the range of critiques of successful aging models and the suggestions for improvement as expressed in the social gerontology literature.
DESIGN AND METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature review using the following criteria: journal articles retrieved in the Abstracts in Social Gerontology, published 1987-2013, successful aging/ageing in the title or text (n = 453), a critique of successful aging models as a key component of the article. Sixty-seven articles met the criteria. Qualitative methods were used to identify key themes and inductively configure meanings across the range of critiques.
RESULTS
The critiques and remedies fell into 4 categories. The Add and Stir group suggested a multidimensional expansion of successful aging criteria and offered an array of additions. The Missing Voices group advocated for adding older adults' subjective meanings of successful aging to established objective measures. The Hard Hitting Critiques group called for more just and inclusive frameworks that embrace diversity, avoid stigma and discrimination, and intervene at structural contexts of aging. The New Frames and Names group presented alternative ideal models often grounded in Eastern philosophies.
IMPLICATIONS
The vast array of criteria that gerontologists collectively offered to expand Rowe and Kahn's original successful model is symptomatic of the problem that a normative model is by definition exclusionary. Greater reflexivity about gerontology's use of "successful aging" and other normative models is needed.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aging; Female; Geriatrics; Health Status; Humans; Male; Models, Theoretical; Quality of Life; Social Support
PubMed: 24814830
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnu037 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Sep 2017Aging affects many aspects of everyday living, such as autonomy, security and quality of life. Among all, spatial memory and spatial navigation show a gradual but... (Review)
Review
Aging affects many aspects of everyday living, such as autonomy, security and quality of life. Among all, spatial memory and spatial navigation show a gradual but noticeable decline, as a result of both neurobiological changes and the general slowing down of cognitive functioning. We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to identify studies that specifically investigated the role of allocentric and egocentric frames in healthy aging. Concerning spatial navigation, our results showed a preservation of egocentric strategies, along with specific impairments in the use of allocentric and switching abilities. Regarding spatial memory, instead, outcomes were more divergent and not frame-specific. With this perspective, spatial impairments were discussed considering the cognitive profile of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
Topics: Aging; Animals; Cognition Disorders; Humans; Space Perception
PubMed: 28760627
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.07.012 -
A systematic review with meta-analysis of Yoga's contributions to neuropsychiatric aspects of aging.Behavioural Brain Research Oct 2023Yoga is one of the most common Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) for mind-body approaches to psychological and stress-related conditions in aging. Such wide... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
UNLABELLED
Yoga is one of the most common Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) for mind-body approaches to psychological and stress-related conditions in aging. Such wide usage demands the review and systematization of the scientific literature, searching for accumulated evidence of its effectiveness. We reviewed the literature to assess whether Yoga would offer significant improvements to neuropsychiatric aspects of the elderly: anxiety, depression, stress, memory and executive functions.
METHODS
This systematic review with meta-analyses organized the results from all analyzed articles, comparing them between the experimental and either the control or waiting groups, calculating the effect size (Cohen-d) and the p-value of a two-tailed T-test. We presented the transformed metadata in forest graphs.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Given the heterogeneity of methods, results, and effect sizes of each study and due to the number of articles found, this meta-analysis indicates that it is not possible to state that Yoga reduces anxiety and stress in the elderly or improves cognition. However, this meta-analysis found significant results of Yoga in reducing depression with small to medium effect sizes.
CONCLUSION
According to the currently available literature on Yoga and aspects of aging, we concluded that yoga was effective in most studies on reducing depression.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Yoga; Aging; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Cognition
PubMed: 37598905
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114636 -
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2022The aging society and climate changes pose significant challenges globally. Environmental volunteering solves these two problems by engaging older people in nature... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The aging society and climate changes pose significant challenges globally. Environmental volunteering solves these two problems by engaging older people in nature conservation as a possible model of productive aging. This review examines the current state of environmental volunteerism for older adults.
METHODS
We systematically searched for articles in Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Environmental volunteerism was defined as nature conservation activity without payment. There were 9 studies with a total of 328 participants. We conducted a narrative synthesis and meta-ethnography, which focused on types, benefits, motivations, and drawbacks of environmental volunteerism.
RESULTS
Three types of volunteering were identified: greening, recycling, and project-oriented. Their shared factors included physical activity, social connection, and meaningful purpose. Environmental volunteerism associated with benefits in physical health, mental wellbeing, social capital, and personal empowerment with no apparent drawbacks. Retired people find a purpose to live, opportunities for socialization and physical activity, and increased self-esteem in the process. The motivations for initiation and continued engagement were found to be socialization, generativity, usefulness to others, and pro-environmental attitude. Among them, socialization was the most mentioned motivation, and generativity was the unique factor for older adults compared with the general population.
CONCLUSION
Environmental volunteerism may be a positive model for older adults, society, and environment. Policymakers can encourage more older adults to engage in environmental volunteering with concerns of motivations, found by this study. Future studies can further strengthen the evidence and explore more types of environmental volunteerism.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Humans; Motivation; Retirement; Self Concept; Volunteers
PubMed: 34741895
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104563 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B,... Apr 2020Substantial research is dedicated to understanding the aging-related dynamics among individual differences in level, change, and variation across physical and cognitive...
BACKGROUND
Substantial research is dedicated to understanding the aging-related dynamics among individual differences in level, change, and variation across physical and cognitive abilities. Evaluating replicability and synthesizing findings has been limited by differences in measurements, samples, study design, and statistical analyses that confound between-person differences with within-person changes. Here, we systematically reviewed longitudinal results on the aging-related dynamics linking pulmonary function and cognitive performance.
METHODS
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to systematically review longitudinal studies of pulmonary function and cognition.
RESULTS
Only four studies thoroughly investigating cognitive and pulmonary longitudinal associations (three or more measurement occasions) were identified. Expanded review criteria identified three studies reporting two measurement occasions, and seven studies reporting one measurement of pulmonary function or cognition and two or more measurements of the other. We identified numerous methodological quality and risk for bias issues across studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite documented correlational associations between pulmonary function and cognition, these results show there is very limited research thoroughly investigating their longitudinal associations. This highlights the need for longitudinal data, rigorous methodological design including key covariates, and clear communication of methods and analyses to facilitate replication across an array of samples. We recommend systematic study of outcome measures and covariates, inclusion of multiple measures (e.g., peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and forced vital capacity), as well as application of the same analytic approach across multiple datasets.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Cognitive Aging; Humans; Lung; Middle Aged
PubMed: 30380129
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gby128 -
Maturitas Dec 2023Aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that negatively impacts the independence and quality of life of older individuals. Females... (Review)
Review
Aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that negatively impacts the independence and quality of life of older individuals. Females demonstrate a distinct pattern of muscle aging compared to males, potentially due to menopause, when the production of endogenous sex hormones declines. This systematic review aims to investigate the current knowledge about the role of estrogen in female skeletal muscle aging. A systematic search of MEDLINE Complete, Global Health, Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and CINHAL was conducted. Studies were considered eligible if they compared a state of estrogen deficiency (e.g. postmenopausal females) or supplementation (e.g. estrogen therapy) to normal estrogen conditions (e.g. premenopausal females or no supplementation). Outcome variables of interest included measures of skeletal muscle mass, function, damage/repair, and energy metabolism. Quality assessment was completed with the relevant Johanna Briggs critical appraisal tool, and data were synthesized in a narrative manner. Thirty-two studies were included in the review. Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women had reduced muscle mass and strength, but the effect of menopause on markers of muscle damage and expression of the genes involved in metabolic signaling pathways remains unclear. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect of estrogen therapy on muscle size and strength, but evidence is largely conflicting and inconclusive, potentially due to large variations in the reporting and status of exposure and outcomes. The findings from this review point toward a potential negative effect of estrogen deficiency on aging skeletal muscle, but further mechanistic evidence is needed to clarify its role.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Quality of Life; Estrogens; Aging; Menopause; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 37716136
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107844 -
BMC Geriatrics Aug 2022Healthy aging relies on mitochondrial functioning because this organelle provides energy and diminishes oxidative stress. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in...
INTRODUCTION
Healthy aging relies on mitochondrial functioning because this organelle provides energy and diminishes oxidative stress. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TOMM40, a critical gene that produces the outer membrane protein TOM40 of mitochondria, have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegenerative processes. Yet it is not clear whether or how the mitochondria may impact human longevity. We conducted this review to ascertain which SNPs have been associated with markers of healthy aging.
METHODS
Using the PRISMA methodology, we conducted a systematic review on PubMed and Embase databases to identify associations between TOMM40 SNPs and measures of longevity and healthy aging.
RESULTS
Twenty-four articles were selected. The TOMM40 SNPs rs2075650 and rs10524523 were the two most commonly identified and studied SNPs associated with longevity. The outcomes associated with the TOMM40 SNPs were changes in BMI, brain integrity, cognitive functions, altered inflammatory network, vulnerability to vascular risk factors, and longevity.
DISCUSSIONS
Our systematic review identified multiple TOMM40 SNPs potentially associated with healthy aging. Additional research can help to understand mechanisms in aging, including resilience, prevention of disease, and adaptation to the environment.
Topics: Aging; Healthy Aging; Humans; Longevity; Membrane Transport Proteins; Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 35964003
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03337-4 -
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development Apr 2022Nervous system maladaptation is linked to the loss of maximal strength and motor control with aging. Motor unit discharge rates are a critical determinant of force... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Nervous system maladaptation is linked to the loss of maximal strength and motor control with aging. Motor unit discharge rates are a critical determinant of force production; thus, lower discharge rates could be a mechanism underpinning maximal strength and motor control losses during aging. This meta-analysis summarized the findings of studies comparing motor unit discharge rates between young and older adults, and examined the effects of the selected muscle and contraction intensity on the magnitude of discharge rate difference between these two groups. Estimates from 29 studies, across a range of muscles and contraction intensities, were combined in a multilevel meta-analysis, to investigate whether discharge rates differed between young and older adults. Motor unit discharge rates were higher in younger than older adults, with a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.66 (95%CI= 0.29-1.04). Contraction intensity had a significant effect on the pooled SMD, with a 1% increase in intensity associated with a 0.009 (95%CI= 0.003-0.015) change in the pooled SMD. These findings suggest that reductions in motor unit discharge rates, especially at higher contraction intensities, may be an important mechanism underpinning age-related losses in maximal force production.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Motor Neurons; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Patient Discharge
PubMed: 35218849
DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2022.111647 -
Aging & Mental Health Sep 2014Theory of mind (ToM) performance in aging and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) has been a growing interest of researchers and recently, theoretical trends in ToM... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Theory of mind (ToM) performance in aging and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) has been a growing interest of researchers and recently, theoretical trends in ToM development have led to a focus on determining the cognitive skills involved in ToM performance. The aim of the present review is to answer three main questions: How is ToM assessed in aging and DAT? How does ToM performance evolve in aging and DAT? Do cognitive processes influence ToM performance in aging and DAT?
METHOD
A systematic review was conducted to provide a targeted overview of recent studies relating ToM performance with cognitive processes in aging and DAT.
RESULTS
RESULTS suggest a decrease in ToM performance, more pronounced in complex ToM tasks. Moreover, the review points up the strong involvement of executive functions, especially inhibition, and reasoning skills in ToM task achievement.
CONCLUSION
Current data suggest that the structure of ToM tasks itself could lead to poor performance, especially in populations with reduced cognitive abilities.
Topics: Aging; Alzheimer Disease; Executive Function; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Theory of Mind; Thinking
PubMed: 24697253
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2014.899974 -
Clinical Gerontologist 2022: To characterize the inclusion of cognition in definitions of successful aging (SA) according to empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals.: A systematic...
: To characterize the inclusion of cognition in definitions of successful aging (SA) according to empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals.: A systematic review across ISI Web of Knowledge.: Of the 74 included studies, there were 65 studies (87.8%) analyzing cognition as one component of multicomponent SA model (cognitive component studies), and 9 studies (12.2%) focusing solely on successful cognitive aging (SCA studies). Most of the studies operationalized cognition in SA by defining SA group and analyzing single SA indicators. A minority of the studies calculated the SA index. Finally, emergent techniques to operationalize SA as a latent variable and emergent field of cognition in SA in pathology were identified.: The results highlight that cognition is being included in SA using different levels of complexity. Even though research investigating SA in pathology is emerging, there is currently a lack of utilization of the concept in pathological and at-risk populations.: The current research of cognition in SA provides several valid options to evaluate if a person is aging successfully. The emerging research indicates that people from at-risk and pathological populations can age successfully.
Topics: Aging; Cognition; Cognitive Aging; Humans
PubMed: 32336218
DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2020.1752346