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The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 2021The World elderly population is expected to double before 2050. Unhealthy habits and unhealthy lifestyles are commonly associated with age-related diseases or their... (Review)
Review
The World elderly population is expected to double before 2050. Unhealthy habits and unhealthy lifestyles are commonly associated with age-related diseases or their worsening. Modification in daily lifestyle and diet may help preventing age-related diseases onset and efficiently affecting their evolution, thus promoting the Healthy Aging process, concept recently coined to describe the disease-free aging process. This review highlights the role of nutrition science in promoting healthy aging. Since the Mediterranean Model demonstrated to be a useful style in supporting healthy aging, promotion of this correct lifestyle by health policies seems to be the best approach to achieve this target.
Topics: Aged; Diet; Diet, Mediterranean; Health Status; Healthy Aging; Humans; Life Style
PubMed: 34725664
DOI: 10.1007/s12603-021-1675-6 -
Nutrients Nov 2021Extending healthspan is a major public health challenge. Diet is one of the modifiable factors for preventing age-related diseases and preserving overall good health... (Review)
Review
Extending healthspan is a major public health challenge. Diet is one of the modifiable factors for preventing age-related diseases and preserving overall good health status during aging. Optimizing individuals' intrinsic capacity, including domains in cognition, psychological, sensory function, vitality, and locomotion, has been proposed as a model of healthy aging by the World Health Organization. To better understand the relationships between a healthy diet and healthy aging, this review summarizes the recent epidemiologic and clinical data for dietary patterns that have been shown to play a role in (domains of) healthy aging. Regardless of priori or posteriori dietary patterns, it appears that dietary patterns centered on plant-based foods have a beneficial role in (domains of) healthy aging. Our review identified a knowledge gap in dietary patterns and multidimensional concepts of healthy aging. More epidemiological studies should consider intrinsic capacity as an outcome measure to further our understanding of a healthy diet and multidimensional concepts of healthy aging. When a sufficient number of epidemiological studies is available, evidence can be synthesized and clinical trials can be designed to evaluate a healthy diet as a strategy for healthy aging to further our progress in translating evidence to practice and promoting healthy aging.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Diet, Healthy; Elder Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Female; Healthy Aging; Humans; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 34959862
DOI: 10.3390/nu13124310 -
Ageing Research Reviews Jul 2023As the proportion of aging people in our population increases steadily, global strategies accompanied by extensive research are necessary to tackle society and health... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
As the proportion of aging people in our population increases steadily, global strategies accompanied by extensive research are necessary to tackle society and health service challenges. The World Health Organization recently published an action plan: "Decade of healthy aging 2020-2030", which calls for concerted collaboration to prevent poverty of older people to provide quality education, job opportunities, and an age-inclusive infrastructure. However, scientists worldwide still struggle to find definitions and appropriate measurements of aging per se and healthy aging in particular. This literature review aims to compile concepts of healthy aging and provide a condensed overview of the challenges in defining and measuring it, along with suggestions for further research.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted three independent systematic literature searches covering the main scopes addressed in this review: (1) concepts and definitions of healthy aging, (2) outcomes and measures in (healthy) aging studies and (3) scores and indices of healthy aging. For each scope, the retrieved literature body was screened and subsequently synthesized.
RESULTS
We provide a historical overview of the concepts of healthy aging over the past 60 years. Furthermore, we identifiy current difficulties in identifying healthy agers, including dichotomous measurements, illness-centered views, study populations & designs. Secondly, markers and measures of healthy aging are discussed, including points to consider, like plausibility, consistency, and robustness. Finally, we present healthy aging scores as measurements, which combine multiple aspects to avoid a dichotomous categorization and display the bio-psycho-social concept of healthy aging.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
When deducting research, scientists need to consider the diverse challenges in defining and measuring healthy aging. Considering that, we recommend scores that combine multiple aspects of healthy aging, such as the Healthy Ageing Index or the ATHLOS score, among others. Further efforts are to be made on a harmonized definition of healthy aging and validated measuring instruments that are modular, easy to apply and provide comparable results in different studies and cohorts to enhance the generalization of results.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Healthy Aging; Aging; Educational Status; Health Status; Biomarkers
PubMed: 37059401
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101934 -
Journal of the American Medical... Jun 2017
Topics: Aged; Bibliometrics; Biomedical Research; Health Services for the Aged; Healthy Aging; Humans
PubMed: 28479271
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.03.008 -
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Jun 2022Healthy ageing frameworks have been highly explored. Our objective was to assess existing frameworks for healthy ageing and to identify commonly described factors that... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Healthy ageing frameworks have been highly explored. Our objective was to assess existing frameworks for healthy ageing and to identify commonly described factors that can potentially act as determinants of healthy ageing.
METHODS
We carried out a systematic review by searching five electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, PsychINFO, and CINAHL) from January 2010 to November 2020 to capture contemporary evidence. Eligible studies needed to report a clear framework of healthy ageing in humans, within one or more of three domains (physical, mental/cognitive, social), in English. No restriction was placed on geographical location. Retrospective studies, studies that did not report a framework of healthy ageing, and studies with a focus on diagnostic measures were excluded.
RESULTS
Of 3329 identified records, nine studies met our eligibility criteria and were included. Most of the studies were qualitative or cross sectional, and a majority were carried out in Asia, followed by North America, Australia, and Africa. The ten determinants identified for healthy ageing include physical activity, diet, self-awareness, outlook/attitude, life-long learning, faith, social support, financial security, community engagement, and independence.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified ten determinants of healthy ageing proposed by the contemporary evidence base. There appears to be increasing acknowledgement of the instrumental role of social and mental/cognitive well-being as determinants of healthy ageing. The extent to which each determinant contributes to healthy ageing requires further evaluation.
Topics: Australia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Healthy Aging; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Social Support
PubMed: 35132578
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-02049-w -
Science (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2023Reversing age-associated taurine loss improves mouse longevity and monkey health.
Reversing age-associated taurine loss improves mouse longevity and monkey health.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Healthy Aging; Longevity; Taurine; Haplorhini
PubMed: 37289872
DOI: 10.1126/science.adi3025 -
Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.) Oct 2019The prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States and around the world is very high and not sustainable by most health care systems. While the etiology is complex,...
The prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States and around the world is very high and not sustainable by most health care systems. While the etiology is complex, many chronic diseases are preventable through life long practices of adhering to healthy dietary patterns, engaging in physical activity and maintaining acceptable weight. Healthy dietary patterns were defined in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report as diets that are high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low and non-fat dairy and lean protein. Other characteristics of healthy dietary patterns are that they are low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugars. The preponderance of evidence to date suggests that healthy dietary patterns reduce the risk of the major diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. While several methods exist for assessing dietary patterns in population studies, those that characterize dietary patterns using a priori scoring systems of indices, such as the Healthy Eating Index, may be of the most value because they offer a consistent metric that can be applied across multiple studies. It follows that consistency in methods then allows comparisons of results across populations. The nutrition science community can play a major leadership role in national and global health by promoting access to the ability of all population groups to consume a healthy dietary pattern.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Diet; Diet, Healthy; Feeding Behavior; Health Behavior; Humans; Nutrition Policy; United States
PubMed: 30077352
DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.06.002 -
British Journal of Health Psychology May 2019Physical activity and healthy eating seem to be protective against experiencing stress and negative affect as well as increase positive affect. At the same time,...
OBJECTIVES
Physical activity and healthy eating seem to be protective against experiencing stress and negative affect as well as increase positive affect. At the same time, previous studies showed that people reduce salutogenic behaviours such as physical activity and healthy eating in the face of stress and negative affect while increasing such behaviours in the context of positive affect. Due to daily fluctuations of these behaviours, the present study examined these relationships in daily life using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).
DESIGN AND METHODS
Fifty-one university students responded to six daily prompts during 7 days via smartphone-based EMA. Items examined stress, emotional experience, physical activity duration, and healthy eating.
RESULTS
Higher stress and negative affect, as well as lower positive affect, were related to a reduction in subsequent physical activity. Higher physical activity levels, in turn, were associated with less subsequent stress and negative affect, as well as more positive affect. No such effects for stress and affect on healthy eating or vice versa were found.
CONCLUSIONS
Engaging in physical activity is related to better mood and less stress/negative affect over the next several hours in daily life. Prevention efforts therefore may benefit by focusing on promoting physical activity, particularly when stress/negative affect is high to 'break the cycle' of inactivity, stress, and negative affect. Potential effects of healthy eating might be more subtle and characterized by interindividual differences or state effects. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Physical activity can reduce stress as well as negative emotions and can enhance positive emotions. People tend to eat less healthy food during stressful times, and healthy eating can increase general health. Physical activity and healthy eating have been mostly assessed separately and through retrospective methods. What does this study add? This is an EMA study investigating bidirectional effects of stress, emotions, and salutogenic behaviour. After physical activity, people felt less stressed/negative and more positive; feeling better and less stressed resulted in more physical activity. Healthy eating was not associated with stress or emotion level and vice versa.
Topics: Adult; Affect; Diet, Healthy; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Stress, Psychological; Students; Universities; Young Adult
PubMed: 30672069
DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12355 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2021Dogs act as companions who provide us with emotional and physical support. Their shorter lifespans compel us to learn about the challenges and gifts of caring for older... (Review)
Review
Dogs act as companions who provide us with emotional and physical support. Their shorter lifespans compel us to learn about the challenges and gifts of caring for older individuals. Our companion dogs can be exemplars of healthy or unhealthy aging, and sentinels of environmental factors that might increase or decrease our own healthy lifespan. In recent years, the field of aging has emphasized not just lifespan, but healthspan-the period of healthy, active lifespan. This focus on healthy, active aging is reflected in the World Health Organization's current focus on healthy aging for the next decade and the 2016 Healthy Aging in Action initiative in the US. This paper explores the current research into aging in both people and companion dogs, and in particular, how the relationship between older adults and dogs impacts healthy, active aging for both parties. The human-dog relationship faces many challenges as dogs, and people, age. We discuss potential solutions to these challenges, including suggestions for ways to continue contact with dogs if dog ownership is no longer possible for an older person. Future research directions are outlined in order to encourage the building of a stronger evidence base for the role of dogs in the lives of older adults.
PubMed: 34164450
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.655191 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B,... Sep 2021The aims of this paper were to review theoretical and empirical research on motivation and healthy aging at work and to outline directions for future research and... (Review)
Review
The aims of this paper were to review theoretical and empirical research on motivation and healthy aging at work and to outline directions for future research and practical applications in this area. To achieve these goals, we first consider the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of healthy aging in the context of paid employment and life-span development in the work domain. Second, we describe contemporary theoretical models and cumulative empirical findings on age, motivation, and health and well-being at work, and we critically discuss to what extent they are consistent with the WHO's definition of healthy aging. Finally, we propose several directions for future research in the work context that are aligned with the WHO's definition of healthy aging, and we describe a number of interventions related to the design of work environments and individual strategies to promote the motivation for healthy aging at work.
Topics: Aged; Behavioral Research; Employment; Healthy Aging; Humans; Mental Health; Motivation; Physical Functional Performance; Psychosocial Functioning; Psychosocial Support Systems; Social Environment; Work; Work Engagement
PubMed: 33891014
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab042