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Clinical Interventions in Aging 2018This review presents a critical examination of current knowledge of the impact of combined cognitive and physical training on cognition in healthy elderly subjects. The... (Review)
Review
This review presents a critical examination of current knowledge of the impact of combined cognitive and physical training on cognition in healthy elderly subjects. The objectives are to evaluate the contribution of cognitive and physical training to the enhancement of cognition, and to determine the interest of combining these two training types in one intervention in terms of the benefits for cognition (direct and transfer), long-term maintenance, and transfer to daily living. To do so, a systematic electronic search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar. Exclusion criteria were animal and pathological aging studies. We focused on the shared and different behavioral impacts of these two types of training on cognition, as well as their functional and structural impact on the brain. The review indicates that both cognitive and physical training have an impact on cognition and on the brain. However, each type of training seems to preferentially enhance different cognitive functions and specifically impact both brain structure and function. Even though some results argue in favor of a complementarity between cognitive and physical training and the superiority of combined cognitive and physical training, the current state of knowledge does not permit any definitive conclusion. Thus, the present review indicates the need for additional investigations.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Animals; Brain; Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Exercise; Humans; Learning
PubMed: 30057444
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S165399 -
International Journal of Public Health 2023To systematically review the epidemiology of frailty in China, one of the world's most populous countries, and to provide insightful guidance for countries to deal with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
To systematically review the epidemiology of frailty in China, one of the world's most populous countries, and to provide insightful guidance for countries to deal with fast population ageing. Six electronic databases were searched until November 2022. Data from cross-sectional studies with a clear definition of frailty and a mean age ≥60 years were pooled using meta-analysis. 64 studies ( = 106,826 participants) from 23 (67.6%) of China's provinces were included. The overall prevalence of frailty and prefrailty among older community dwellers was 10.1% (95% CI: 8.5%-11.7%) and 43.9% (95% CI: 40.1%-47.8%), respectively. Adults over 70 years, women, unmarried, living alone, and those with less education had higher odds of being frail. Furthermore, regional disparities in frailty were observed; people in rural areas or areas with worse economic conditions had a higher prevalence of frailty. A great variation in frailty prevalence was observed between subgroups of older adults stratified by common risk factors. The Chinese government should pay more attentions to seniors at high risk and regions with a high prevalence of frailty.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Frailty; Independent Living; Prevalence; Aging
PubMed: 37588041
DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605964 -
The Lancet. Healthy Longevity Feb 2024Rapamycin and its derivatives (rapalogs) are inhibitors of mTOR, a major regulator of the ageing process. We aimed to summarise the effects of rapamycin and its... (Review)
Review
Rapamycin and its derivatives (rapalogs) are inhibitors of mTOR, a major regulator of the ageing process. We aimed to summarise the effects of rapamycin and its derivatives on the severity of ageing-related physiological changes and disease in adults. A search across five databases yielded 18 400 unique articles, resulting in 19 included studies. Rapamycin and its derivatives improved physiological parameters associated with ageing in the immune, cardiovascular, and integumentary systems of healthy individuals or individuals with ageing-related diseases. Overall, no significant effects on the endocrine, muscular, or neurological systems were found. The effects of rapamycin or its derivatives on the respiratory, digestive, renal, and reproductive systems were not assessed. No serious adverse events attributed to rapamycin and its derivatives were reported in healthy individuals; however, there were increased numbers of infections and increases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in individuals with ageing-related diseases. Future studies should assess the remaining unexamined systems and test the effects of long-term exposure to rapamycin and its derivatives.
Topics: Humans; Aging; Sirolimus
PubMed: 38310895
DOI: 10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00258-1 -
Clinical Epigenetics Apr 2019Ageing is one of the principal risk factors for many chronic diseases. However, there is considerable between-person variation in the rate of ageing and individual... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Ageing is one of the principal risk factors for many chronic diseases. However, there is considerable between-person variation in the rate of ageing and individual differences in their susceptibility to disease and death. Epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in human ageing, and DNA methylation age biomarkers may be good predictors of age-related diseases and mortality risk. The aims of this systematic review were to identify and synthesise the evidence for an association between peripherally measured DNA methylation age and longevity, age-related disease, and mortality risk.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Using relevant search terms, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PsychINFO databases were searched to identify articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Studies were assessed for bias using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. Data was extracted from studies measuring age acceleration as a predictor of age-related diseases, mortality or longevity, and the findings for similar outcomes compared. Using Review Manager 5.3 software, two meta-analyses (one per epigenetic clock) were conducted on studies measuring all-cause mortality.
RESULTS
Twenty-three relevant articles were identified, including a total of 41,607 participants. Four studies focused on ageing and longevity, 11 on age-related disease (cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia), and 11 on mortality. There was some, although inconsistent, evidence for an association between increased DNA methylation age and risk of disease. Meta-analyses indicated that each 5-year increase in DNA methylation age was associated an 8 to 15% increased risk of mortality.
CONCLUSION
Due to the small number of studies and heterogeneity in study design and outcomes, the association between DNA methylation age and age-related disease and longevity is inconclusive. Increased epigenetic age was associated with mortality risk, but positive publication bias needs to be considered. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which DNA methylation age can be used as a clinical biomarker.
Topics: Aging; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Markers; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Mortality
PubMed: 30975202
DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0656-7 -
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2015This review of the literature on elderly cancer patients and their psychiatric disorders was undertaken to determine the extent of the problem. It consists of articles... (Review)
Review
This review of the literature on elderly cancer patients and their psychiatric disorders was undertaken to determine the extent of the problem. It consists of articles with elderly cancer patients. Keyword terms included "cancer", "elderly", "aging", "geriatric", "psychiatric disorders", "psychiatric symptoms", "psychological problems", "aged >60 years", "sucidal ideation, geriatric, cancer", "suicide geriatric cancer". We conducted searches on the following databases: PubMed; PsychINFO (1980-2013); finally, 102 publications were suitable for the current review. Depression in elderly cancer patients is the most common disorder in elderly cancer patients associated with disability, morbidity and mortality. Anxiety disorders may be less frequent in geriatric patients; however, it seemed to be a major problem in late life. Psychiatric disorders are common in geriatric patients with cancer especially at advanced stages of the disease. In addition, health care professionals can help provide treatment and emotional support. Future research should aim to provide data about the real prevalence and severity of psychiatric disorders in elderly patients with cancer, for the improvement of patients' quality of life and their caregivers.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Anxiety Disorders; Caregivers; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Neoplasms; Prevalence; Psychopathology; Quality of Life
PubMed: 25266607
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2014.09.008 -
BMC Geriatrics Apr 2022Adults who experience homelessness for an extended period of time also experience accelerated ageing and other negative impacts on their general health and wellbeing.... (Review)
Review
Adults who experience homelessness for an extended period of time also experience accelerated ageing and other negative impacts on their general health and wellbeing. Homelessness amongst older adults is on the rise, yet there are few systematic reviews investigating their experiences. Thus, this review classifies and synthesises qualitative research findings of studies published between 1990 to 2020 that have examined the needs and challenges of homeless older adults to elucidate their journey of homelessness. Seven papers met the requirements for inclusion. Three main themes were identified in the review: - (1) Pathways to homelessness, (2) Impact of homelessness, and (3) Outcomes and resolutions. This review collates current evidence on what is known about the experience of homelessness among older adults. In this study, homeless older adults identified a wide range of challenges associated with the experience of homelessness.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Ill-Housed Persons; Humans; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 35468760
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-02978-9 -
Experimental Gerontology Feb 2019Aging is a normal, progressive and multi-step degeneration in the physiological functions and metabolic processes of living organisms until death. It represents the main...
Aging is a normal, progressive and multi-step degeneration in the physiological functions and metabolic processes of living organisms until death. It represents the main risk factor for many diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases) and contributes to increase in mortality. Aging results, at least partially, from an accumulation of cell and tissue damage related to inherited and environmental factors, leading to biological and biochemical dysregulations. Arginase is a ubiquitous L-arginine-metabolizing enzyme involved in some fundamental mechanisms such as the urea cycle or polyamines synthesis. There is a growing awareness that arginase activity and/or expression are disturbed in a tissue-dependent manner during aging. However, whether these effects on arginase pathway are a primary cause or merely a consequence of aging is still an open question. In this review dealing with the interplay between the arginase pathway and aging, we will explore the involvement of arginase in aging mechanisms and, reversely, the impact of aging on the arginase pathway in various tissues and cells. Finally, the potential interest of arginase inhibition in aging and age-related diseases will also be analyzed.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Arginase; Humans
PubMed: 30578842
DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.12.011 -
Age and Ageing Mar 2016elder maltreatment is a major risk for older adults' mental health, quality of life, health, institutionalisation and even mortality. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
elder maltreatment is a major risk for older adults' mental health, quality of life, health, institutionalisation and even mortality.
OBJECTIVES
to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions designed to prevent or stop elder abuse.
METHODS
Studies that were posted between January 2000 and December 2014, written in English, specifically designed to prevent or stop elder maltreatment were included.
RESULTS
overall, 24 studies (and four records reporting on the same participants) were kept for the systematic review and the meta-analysis. Studies were broadly grouped into three main categories: (i) interventions designed to improve the ability of professionals to detect or stop elder maltreatment (n = 2), (ii) interventions that target older adults who experience elder maltreatment (n = 3) and (iii) interventions that target caregivers who maltreat older adults (n = 19). Of the latter category, one study targeted family caregivers, five targeted psychological abuse among paid carers and the remaining studies targeted restraint use. The pooled effect of randomised controlled trials (RCTs)/cluster-RCTs that targeted restraint use was significant, supporting the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing restraint use: standardised mean difference: -0.24, 95% confidence interval = -0.38 to -0.09.
INTERPRETATION
the most effective place to intervene at the present time is by directly targeting physical restraint by long-term care paid carers. Specific areas that are still lacking evidence at the present time are interventions that target (i) elder neglect, (ii) public awareness, (iii) older adults who experience maltreatment, (iv) professionals responsible for preventing maltreatment, (v) family caregivers who abuse and (vi) carers who abuse.
Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Caregivers; Elder Abuse; Family Relations; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Restraint, Physical; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26744361
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afv193 -
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Jan 2016To systematically review and examine the psychometric properties of established resilience scales in older adults, i.e. ≥60 years. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review and examine the psychometric properties of established resilience scales in older adults, i.e. ≥60 years.
METHODS
A systematic review of Scopus and Web of Science databases was undertaken using the search strategy "resilience" AND (ageing OR aging)". Independent title/abstract and fulltext screening were undertaken, identifying original peer-reviewed English articles that conducted psychometric validation studies of resilience metrics in samples aged ≥60 years. Data on the reliability/validity of the included metrics were extracted from primary studies.
RESULTS
Five thousand five hundred nine studies were identified by the database search, 426 used resilience psychometrics, and six psychometric analysis studies were included in the final analysis. These studies conducted analyses of the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and its shortened 10-item version (CD-RISC10), the Resilience Scale (RS) and its shortened 5- (RS-5) and 11- (RS-11) item versions, and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). All scales demonstrated acceptable levels of internal consistency, convergent/discriminant validity and theoretical construct validity. Factor structures for the RS, RS-11 and CD-RISC diverged from the structures in the original studies.
CONCLUSION
The RS, RS-5, RS-11, CD-RISC, CD-RISC10 and BRCS demonstrate psychometric robustness adequate for continued use in older populations. However, results from the current study and pre-existing theoretical construct validity studies most strongly support the use of the RS, with modest and preliminary support for the CD-RISC and BRCS, respectively. Future studies assessing the validity of these metrics in older populations, particularly with respect to factor structure, would further strengthen the case for the use of these scales.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Attitude to Health; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Resilience, Psychological; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 26821587
DOI: 10.1186/s12955-016-0418-6 -
Maturitas Dec 2017Vitamin D is involved in musculoskeletal health. There is no consensus on a possible association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Vitamin D is involved in musculoskeletal health. There is no consensus on a possible association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations and walking speed, a 'vital sign' in older adults. Our objective was to systematically review and quantitatively assess the association of 25OHD concentration with walking speed. A Medline search was conducted on June 2017, with no limit of date, using the MeSH terms "Vitamin D" OR "Vitamin D Deficiency" combined with "Gait" OR "Gait disorders, Neurologic" OR "Walking speed" OR "Gait velocity". Fixed-effect meta-analyses were performed to compute: i) mean differences in usual and fast walking speeds and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) between participants with severe vitamin D deficiency (≤25nmol/L) (SVDD), vitamin D deficiency (≤50nmol/L) (VDD), vitamin D insufficiency (≤75nmol/L) (VDI) and normal vitamin D (>75nmol/L) (NVD); ii) risk of slow walking speed according to vitamin D status. Of the 243 retrieved studies, 22 observational studies (17 cross-sectional, 5 longitudinal) met the selection criteria. The number of participants ranged between 54 and 4100 (0-100% female). Usual walking speed was slower among participants with hypovitaminosis D, with a clinically relevant difference compared with NVD of -0.18m/s for SVDD, -0.08m/s for VDD and -0.12m/s for VDI. We found similar results regarding the fast walking speed (mean differences -0.04m/s for VDD and VDI compared with NVD) and TUG (mean difference 0.48s for SVDD compared with NVD). A slow usual walking speed was positively associated with SVDD (summary OR=2.17[95%CI:1.52-3.10]), VDD (OR=1.38[95%CI:1.01-1.89]) and VDI (OR=1.38[95%CI:1.04-1.83]), using NVD as the reference. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides robust evidence that 25OHD concentrations are positively associated with walking speed among adults.
Topics: Aging; Humans; Vitamin D; Walking Speed
PubMed: 29150169
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.07.012