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The Gerontologist Jul 2019There is considerable heterogeneity in experiences of aging, with some experiencing greater well-being and adapting more successfully to the challenges of aging than... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
There is considerable heterogeneity in experiences of aging, with some experiencing greater well-being and adapting more successfully to the challenges of aging than others. Self-compassion is a modifiable psychological skill that might help explain individual differences in well-being and adjustment in later life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on self-compassion and well-being outcomes in studies of older adults aged 65 and older.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, using databases PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase. The search term self-compassion was paired with terms relating to well-being, psychological symptoms, and adjustment. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize results on the relationship between self-compassion and four outcomes including depression, anxiety, hedonic well-being, and eudaimonic well-being.
RESULTS
Eleven studies met inclusion criteria for this review. Meta-analysis revealed that self-compassion was associated with lower levels of depression (r = -.58, 95% CI [-.66, -.48]) and anxiety (r = -.36, 95% CI [-.60, -.07]), and higher levels of hedonic (r = .41, 95% CI [.15, .62]) and eudaimonic (r = .49, 95% CI [.41, .57]) well-being. Further, three studies found self-compassion weakened the impact of physical symptoms on well-being outcomes.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
We found preliminary evidence that self-compassion is associated with well-being outcomes in older adults, and that self-compassion may buffer the psychological sequelae of health symptoms in later life. Higher quality studies with uniform outcome measures are needed to replicate and extend these results.
Topics: Aging; Anxiety; Depression; Empathy; Humans; Mental Health; Self Concept
PubMed: 30169673
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gny108 -
Nutrients Jan 2022Despite the increasing life expectancy, an individual's later years tends to be accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life. Though biological changes that occur... (Review)
Review
Despite the increasing life expectancy, an individual's later years tends to be accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life. Though biological changes that occur through the natural process of aging cannot be controlled, the risk factors associated with lifestyle can. Thus, the main goal of this systematic review was to evaluate how nutrition can modulate aging. For this purpose, thirty-six studies were selected on (i) the efficiency of nutrition's effect on aging, (ii) the evaluation of biomarkers that promote healthy aging, and (iii) how to increase longevity through nutrition, and their quality was assessed. The results showed that choosing low carbohydrate diets or diets rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, fish, and unsaturated fats, containing antioxidants, potassium, and omega-3 decreased cardiovascular diseases and obesity risk, protected the brain from aging, reduced the risk of telomere shortening, and promoted an overall healthier life. With this study, the conclusion is that since the biological processes of aging cannot be controlled, changing one's nutritional patterns is crucial to prevent the emergence and development of diseases, boost longevity, and, mostly, to enhance one's quality of life and promote healthy aging.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Biomarkers; Longevity; Nutritional Status; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35276919
DOI: 10.3390/nu14030554 -
Experimental Gerontology Jun 2023Frailty is a geriatric syndrome whose frequency is increasing in parallel with population aging and is of great interest due to its dire consequences: increased... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Frailty is a geriatric syndrome whose frequency is increasing in parallel with population aging and is of great interest due to its dire consequences: increased disability, hospitalizations, falls and fractures, institutionalization, and mortality. Frailty is multifactorial but nutritional factors, which are modifiable, play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Epidemiologic evidence supports that high-quality dietary patterns can prevent, delay or even reverse the occurrence of frailty. In order to add new knowledge bridging the gap as the main purpose of the present article we performed a comprehensive review of the rationale behind the association of MedDiet with frailty and a systematic review and meta-analysis updating the latest ones published in 2018 specifically examining the relationship of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and incident frailty. Adding the updated information, our results confirmed a robust association of a higher adherence to MedDiet with reduced incident frailty. Key components of the MedDiet, i.e., abundant consumption of vegetables and fruit as well as the use of olive oil as the main source of fat, all of which have been associated with a lower incidence of frailty, may help explain the observed benefit. Future well-designed and sufficiently large intervention studies are needed to confirm the encouraging findings of the current observational evidence. Meanwhile, based on the existing evidence, the promotion of MedDiet, a high-quality dietary pattern, adapted to the conditions and traditions of each region, and considering lifelong and person-tailored strategies, is an open opportunity to reduced incident frailty. This could also help counteract the worrying trend towards the spread of unhealthy eating and lifestyle models such as those of Western diets that greatly contribute to the genesis of chronic non-communicable diseases and disability.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Frailty; Diet, Mediterranean; Aging; Fruit; Vegetables; Diet
PubMed: 37087024
DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112180 -
Molecular Ecology Dec 2022Human-driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Human-driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a comprehensive evaluation of organismal health is needed to determine their ultimate impact. Evidence suggests that telomeres (the terminal chromosomal regions) are sensitive to environmental conditions and have been posited as a surrogate for animal health and fitness. Evaluation of their use in an applied ecological context is still scarce. Here, using information from molecular and occupational biomedical studies, we aim to provide ecologists and evolutionary biologists with an accessible synthesis of the links between human disturbances and telomere length. In addition, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies measuring telomere length in wild/wild-derived animals facing anthropogenic disturbances. Despite the relatively small number of studies to date, our meta-analysis revealed a significant small negative association between disturbances and telomere length (-0.092 [-0.153, -0.031]; n = 28; k = 159). Yet, our systematic review suggests that the use of telomeres as a biomarker to understand the anthropogenic impact on wildlife is limited. We propose some research avenues that will help to broadly evaluate their suitability: (i) further causal studies on the link between human disturbances and telomeres; (ii) investigating the organismal implications, in terms of fitness and performance, of a given telomere length in anthropogenically disturbed scenarios; and (iii) better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of telomere dynamics. Future studies in these facets will help to ultimately determine their role as markers of health and fitness in wildlife facing anthropogenic disturbances.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Animals, Wild; Telomere Shortening; Anthropogenic Effects; Telomere; Biological Evolution
PubMed: 35080073
DOI: 10.1111/mec.16370 -
Nutrients Mar 2022Telomere length (TL) is a robust marker of biological aging, and increased telomere attrition is noted in adults with obesity. The primary objective of this systematic... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Telomere length (TL) is a robust marker of biological aging, and increased telomere attrition is noted in adults with obesity. The primary objective of this systematic review was to summarize current knowledge on the effects of childhood obesity in TL. The secondary objective was to assess the effect of weight management interventions in TL.
METHODS
The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Heal-link.gr from inception to September 2021. The search was performed using the following combinations of terms: "telomer*" [All Fields] AND ("length" [All Fields] OR "lengths" [All Fields]) AND "obes*" [All Fields] AND ("child*" [All Fields] OR "adolescen*" [All Fields]).
RESULTS
A total of 16 original articles were included in this systematic review. Eleven of them were cross-sectional and five were lifestyle interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a tendency towards a negative association between childhood obesity and TL. Life-style interventions in children have been associated with increased TL peripherally, indicating a possible association of the redistribution of younger cells in the periphery with the favorable effect of these interventions. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes that employ other markers of cell aging would potentially elucidate this important mechanistic relation.
Topics: Adult; Aging; Child; Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Prospective Studies; Telomere; Telomere Homeostasis
PubMed: 35334902
DOI: 10.3390/nu14061244 -
Systematic Reviews May 2023Hyponatremia is frequent in older age; whether it is a key player, a surrogate marker, or an innocent bystander in age-related diseases is still unclear.
BACKGROUND
Hyponatremia is frequent in older age; whether it is a key player, a surrogate marker, or an innocent bystander in age-related diseases is still unclear.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the role of hyponatremia in falls, osteoporosis, fractures, and cognitive impairment in old patients.
METHOD
Eligibility criteria for study inclusions were: written in English, peer-reviewed observational and intervention studies, clinical trial, prospective and retrospective controlled cohort studies, and case-controlled studies without limitations regarding the date of publication.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Protocol available on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42021218389). MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched. Final search done on August 8, 2021. Risk-of-bias assessment: Risk-of-Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS) and the Bradford Hill's criteria for causality.
RESULTS
Includes studies: One-hundred thirty-five articles retained for the revision. Synthesis of results - Falls: Eleven studies were included. Strong association between hyponatremia and falls in all the studies was found. Osteoporosis and fractures: nineteen articles were included. The association between hyponatremia and osteoporosis is unclear. Cognitive impairment: Five articles were included. No association between hyponatremia and cognitive impairment was found.
DISCUSSION
Interpretation: Falls, osteoporosis, and fractures are multifactorial. Hyponatremia is not temporally related with the outcomes; we suggest that hyponatremia may be regarded as a marker of unhealthy aging and a confounder instead of a causal factor or an innocent bystander for falls and fractures. Concerning cognitive impairment, there are no evidence supporting a real role of hyponatremia to be regarded as an innocent bystander in neurodegeneration.
Topics: Humans; Aging; Fractures, Bone; Hyponatremia; Osteoporosis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37173774
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02246-w -
Journal of Geriatric Oncology Sep 2022In the older patients with cancer, the combination of aging and cancer makes sarcopenia more likely to occur. However, previous studies paid less attention to the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
In the older patients with cancer, the combination of aging and cancer makes sarcopenia more likely to occur. However, previous studies paid less attention to the sarcopenia of older patients with cancer. To address these gaps, we conducted a scoped review of the prevalence, measurement, prognostic value, and clinical interventions of sarcopenia in this population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wangfang electronic databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews. Two independent reviewers screened all abstracts and full-text studies for inclusion.
RESULTS
We identified 10,850 studies, and 39 met the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, study design, measuring tools and main outcomes. This review included works from 11 countries. All studies were quantitative and most used a cross-sectional (n = 17) or retrospective (n = 16) design. The prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly cancer survivors ranged from 18.5% to 83%, and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) by computed tomography (CT) scan at lumbar 3 (L3) was the most commonly used way to define sarcopenia. Meanwhile, pre-therapeutic sarcopenia was significantly related to postoperative complications, lower overall survival and impaired physical function.
DISCUSSION
This review emphasizes sarcopenia is highly prevalent in older patients with cancer, which leads to poor outcomes and urgently needs attention from nutritionists, surgeons, oncologists, psychologists and nurses.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Muscle, Skeletal; Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Sarcopenia
PubMed: 35644850
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2022.03.008 -
International Journal of Nursing Studies Jan 2023Active aging has become a global goal under the current aging situation. Accurate and reproducible assessment tools are prerequisites to robust and reliable results for... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Active aging has become a global goal under the current aging situation. Accurate and reproducible assessment tools are prerequisites to robust and reliable results for prevalence evaluation, associated factor exploration, and intervention effect assessment. However, there remains no systematic review to summarize all active aging assessment tools and report their psychometric properties.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and assess the psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures of active aging in older adults.
DESIGN
Systematic review of measurement properties using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology.
METHODS
Eight databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane library, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, CNKI, and Wanfang) were searched from January 2002 to February 2022. Studies that aim to validate patient-reported outcome measures of active aging in older adults aged 60 and over and report one or more psychometric properties were eligible for this systematic review. Methodological quality was assessed using the COSMIN Risk of Bias Checklist. We used the COSMIN criteria to summarize and rate the psychometric properties of each patient-reported outcome measure. A modified Grading, Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to assess the certainty of evidence.
RESULTS
Twenty studies reported on the psychometric properties of 18 identified patient-reported outcome measures. Of the 20 included studies, seven explored more than five psychometric properties. Limited information was retrieved on cross-cultural validity/measurement invariance, reliability, criterion validity, hypothesis testing for construct validity, measurement error, and responsiveness. High-quality evidence on psychometric properties was provided for the Active Aging Scale and individual-level Active Aging Index.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings from the included studies highlighted that the Active Aging Scale and individual-level Active Aging Index are strongly recommended to evaluate active aging in research and clinics based on the specific aims of assessment and the response burden for participants. Future studies should also develop or translate more active aging individual-level assessment tools and pay attention to the evaluation of psychometric properties.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO (CRD42021287395).
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Aged; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Checklist; Aging
PubMed: 36427480
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104388 -
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