-
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 2023We performed a current study to examine the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) score and older age-related muscle conditions, including sarcopenia, low... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
We performed a current study to examine the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) score and older age-related muscle conditions, including sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, frailty, and/or disability.
DESIGN
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.
SETTING
A systematic literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and ISI Web of Science without limitation until October 04, 2022. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled by applying a random-effects model, while validated methods examined assess quality and publication bias via Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, Egger's regression asymmetry, and Begg's rank correlation tests respectively. A dose-response meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the RRs per 1-unit increment in DII scores.
PARTICIPANTS
Adults (≥18 years).
MEASURES
The risk of older age-related muscle conditions (sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, frailty, and/or disability).
RESULTS
Data were available from 19 studies with 68079 participants. Results revealed that a higher DII score was significantly related to an increased risk of sarcopenia (RR=1.50; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.79; I2=53.3%; p<0.001; n=10; sample size =43097), low muscle strength (RR=1.47; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.74; I2=6.6%; p<0.001; n=4; sample size =9339), frailty (RR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.41, 1.84; I2=0.0%; p<0.001; study=5; participant=3882) and disability (RR=1.41; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.72; I2=58.4%; p=0.001; n=5; sample size =13760), but not low muscle mass (RR=1.24; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.56; I2=49.3%; p=0.069; n=4; sample size =11222). Additionally, results of the linear dose-response indicated that an increase of one point in the DII score was related to a 14% higher risk of sarcopenia, 6% higher risk of low muscle mass, 7% higher risk of low muscle strength, and a 7% higher risk of disability in adults. Non-linear dose-response relationships also revealed a positive linear association between the DII score and the risk of sarcopenia (Pnonlinearity = 0.097, Pdose-response<0.001), frailty (Pnonlinearity = 0.844, Pdose-response=0.010) and disability (Pnonlinearity = 0.596, Pdose-response=0.007).
CONCLUSION
Adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet was significantly associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia and other age-associated adverse effects such as low muscle strength, disability, and frailty. These results indicate a necessity to prioritize the reduction of pro-inflammatory diets to help promote overall older age-related muscle conditions.
Topics: Humans; Aging; Diet; Frailty; Muscle Strength; Sarcopenia; Adult
PubMed: 37248762
DOI: 10.1007/s12603-023-1919-8 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Virus Genes Aug 2023Telomere shortening, a marker of cellular aging, has been linked to hospitalization and the severity of COVID-19. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the mean... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Telomere shortening, a marker of cellular aging, has been linked to hospitalization and the severity of COVID-19. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the mean difference in telomere length between non-severe and severe COVID-19 individuals was pooled to determine the association between short telomeres and COVID-19 severity. Relevant studies were retrieved through searches conducted in PubMed-Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Medrxiv, Biorxiv, EuroPMC, and SSRN databases up to November 2022. Selected studies were systematically reviewed and assessed for risk of bias using AXIS tool. The standardized mean difference in telomere length between non-severe and severe COVID-19 was pooled using random-effects model. A total of thirteen studies were included in the review, out of which seven (1332 patients with the severe COVID-19 disease and 6321 patients with non-severe COVID-19) were eligible for meta-analysis. The estimated pooled mean difference in Leukocyte telomere length between severe COVID-19 and non-severe COVID-19 was 0.39 (95% CI - 0.02 to 0.81, I = 93.5%) with substantial heterogeneity. Our findings do not provide clear evidence for association of shorter telomere length and severe COVID-19 disease. More extensive studies measuring absolute telomere length with age and gender adjustments are needed to draw definitive conclusions on the potential causal association between telomere shortening and COVID-19 severity.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Telomere Shortening; Telomere
PubMed: 37261700
DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02010-1 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2021Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all... (Review)
Review
Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all women. Work-related factors, such as stress and pollutant exposure, affect gonadal function and can interfere with reproduction in both genders. A systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases was conducted, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to investigate the effect of occupational factors on andropause and menopause. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: 9 studies evaluated the effects of work on andropause symptoms, 8 studies examined its effects on age at menopause onset, and 9 studies addressed its effects on menopausal symptoms. Work-related factors, such as psychological stress, physical effort, and sleep disorders, showed a significant correlation with andropause manifestations, whereas age at menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms were both influenced by factors such as pesticide exposure, high job strain, and repetitive work. Since work accompanies men and women for most of their lives, it is essential to identify and prevent the risk factors that may affect reproductive health.
Topics: Aging; Andropause; Female; Gonads; Humans; Male; Menopause; Reproduction
PubMed: 34639376
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910074 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022New technologies, namely eHealth platforms, are being used more than ever before. These platforms enable older people to have a more independent lifestyle, enhance their... (Review)
Review
New technologies, namely eHealth platforms, are being used more than ever before. These platforms enable older people to have a more independent lifestyle, enhance their participation, and improve their well-being. Information and communication technologies are expected to be linked to the triad of aging, social inclusion, and active participation, which is in line with the implementation of Smart Healthy and Age-Friendly Environments. This scoping review aimed to map eHealth platforms designed to promote autonomous life and active aging. The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the PRISMA-ScR checklist were used. A search was conducted on MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL Complete (via EBSCOhost), Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (via EBSCOhost), SciELO, DART-Europe, CAPES, and MedNar databases. Fourteen studies were included. This scoping review synthesized information on eHealth platforms designed to promote active living, their domains of intervention, and the outcomes assessed in those studies that have implemented and evaluated these eHealth platforms.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Telemedicine; Aging; Europe
PubMed: 36498018
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315940 -
Disability and Rehabilitation.... Aug 2019Transdisciplinary research has the potential to enhance the real-world impact of the field of aging and technology. This is a context-driven and problem-focused...
Transdisciplinary research has the potential to enhance the real-world impact of the field of aging and technology. This is a context-driven and problem-focused approach to knowledge production that involves collaboration across scientific disciplines and academic and nonacademic sectors. To sustain broader implementation of this approach, a scoping review was conducted on the impact of this approach on research processes, outcomes and uptake. A systematic search was conducted of aging, health/medicine, and technology literatures indexed in three electronic data bases (Medline/OVID, EBSCO, ProQuest) from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015. Search terms included three themes: (1) transdisciplinarity; (2) research outcomes and (3) social change. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. We found that a transdisciplinary approach to research enhances integration of diverse knowledge, scientific and extra-scientific outcomes, capacity to engage in translational research and the uptake of research knowledge. We also identified a number of facilitators and barriers to successful implementation of this approach. No articles evaluating transdisciplinary research specifically in the context of aging and technology were found. Adoption of transdisciplinary research in aging and technology may foster greater uptake of technological innovation in the real-world by supporting integration of diverse knowledge and enhancing engagement of experiential and nonacademic stakeholders in the research and development process. However, supporting successful implementation of this approach requires investment of personal and structural resources. More research is needed to better understand the evidence base on the adoption of this approach in aging and technology projects. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Transdisciplinary research is context-driven and problem-focused and involves collaboration between academic and non-academic sectors. A transdisciplinary approach can enhance knowledge integration, scientific productivity and capacity and public involvement in research. Future research is needed to determine the effectiveness of transdisciplinarity for optimizing the development and uptake of assistive technologies.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Humans; Interdisciplinary Research; Research Design; Self-Help Devices
PubMed: 30318930
DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2018.1496361