scholarly journals Poor Odor Identification Predicts Mortality Risk in Older Adults Without Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Shanghai Aging Study

Author(s):  
Zhenxu Xiao ◽  
Qianhua Zhao ◽  
Xiaoniu Liang ◽  
Wanqing Wu ◽  
Yang Cao ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 1386-1392
Author(s):  
Brian Downer ◽  
Sadaf Milani ◽  
Rebeca Wong

Abstract Background Many older adults become physically and cognitively impaired. However, it is unclear whether unimpaired older adults are more likely to become physically or cognitively impaired first and if this sequence impacts mortality risk. Methods Data came from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. The sample included 1,283 participants aged ≥60 years who were physically and cognitively unimpaired in 2001. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate probabilities of being unimpaired, cognitively impaired only, physically impaired only, or cognitively-physically impaired in 2003. Proportional hazard models were used to estimate mortality risk through 2015 according to physical and cognitive status in 2003. Results The probabilities for being unimpaired, physically impaired only, cognitively impaired only, and cognitively-physically impaired in 2003 were 0.45, 0.22, 0.19, and 0.13, respectively. Older age, female sex, and arthritis were associated with significantly greater probability of becoming physically impaired only than cognitively impaired only in 2003. Cognitive impairment only (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09–1.85) in 2003 but not physical impairment only (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.94–1.58) was associated with greater mortality than being unimpaired in 2003. Cognitively-physically impaired participants had higher mortality risk than participants who were physically (HR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.18–2.12) or cognitively (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.01–1.84) impaired only. Discussion The likelihood of becoming only physically or cognitively impaired over 2 years varies by demographic and health characteristics. The mortality risk for unimpaired older adults who become cognitively impaired only is similar to those who become physically impaired only. Research should determine if the sequence of cognitive and physical impairments is associated with other outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Cao ◽  
Zhenxu Xiao ◽  
Wanqing Wu ◽  
Qianhua Zhao ◽  
Ding Ding

Background: Literature shows that olfactory impairment (OI) is associated not only with neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), but also with increased mortality. In this study, we analyzed data collected from the prospective phase of the 10-year follow-up of the Shanghai Aging Study (SAS) to explore the mediation effect of NDDs on the OI-mortality relationship.Methods: We analyzed data collected from the prospective phase of the 10-year follow-up of the SAS. We included 1,811 participants aged 60 years or older who completed both an olfactory identification test and a cognitive assessment at baseline (2010–2011). Survival status of the participants from baseline to December 31, 2019 was obtained from the local mortality surveillance system. We used the four-way decomposition method to attribute effects to interaction and mediation and to explore the mediation effect of NDDs on the OI-mortality relationship.Results: The four-way decomposition method revealed a statistically significant association of OI with death. Overall, 43% higher risk for death was associated with OI [excess relative risk (ERR) = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.06–0.80, p = 0.023]. Excluding the mediation from NDDs and interaction between OI and NDDs, the controlled direct effect of OI on death was even higher in NDDs participants, with an ERR of 77% (95% CI: 0.00–1.55, p = 0.050). Statistically significant association was found for failure to identify coffee (ERR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.18–1.36, p = 0.010) and marginally significant associations were found for failure to identify cinnamon (ERR = 0.33, 95% CI: −0.02–0.68, p = 0.068) and rose (ERR = 0.33, 95% CI: −0.01–0.67, p = 0.054) with death.Conclusion: OI was associated with the long-term mortality in older adults and the association was even stronger in those with NDDs. Failure to identify coffee or rose was associated with a higher mortality risk, and the association was mediated by NDDs.


Author(s):  
Noah A. Schuster ◽  
Sascha de Breij ◽  
Laura A. Schaap ◽  
Natasja M. van Schoor ◽  
Mike J. L. Peters ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Delay of routine medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic may have serious consequences for the health and functioning of older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether older adults reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore associations with health and socio-demographic characteristics. Methods Cross-sectional data of 880 older adults aged ≥ 62 years (mean age 73.4 years, 50.3% female) were used from the COVID-19 questionnaire of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, a cohort study among community-dwelling older adults in the Netherlands. Cancellation and avoidance of care were assessed by self-report, and covered questions on cancellation of primary care (general practitioner), cancellation of hospital outpatient care, and postponed help-seeking. Respondent characteristics included age, sex, educational level, loneliness, depression, anxiety, frailty, multimorbidity and information on quarantine. Results 35% of the sample reported cancellations due to the COVID-19 situation, either initiated by the respondent (12%) or by healthcare professionals (29%). Postponed help-seeking was reported by 8% of the sample. Multimorbidity was associated with healthcare-initiated cancellations (primary care OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.09–3.50; hospital OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.28–2.74) and respondent-initiated hospital outpatient cancellations (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.04–4.12). Depressive symptoms were associated with postponed help-seeking (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06–1.24). Conclusion About one third of the study sample reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the pandemic, and this was more common among those with multiple chronic conditions. How this impacts outcomes in the long term should be investigated in future research.


Eye ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Hangqi Shen ◽  
Wei Gong ◽  
Xuehui Sun ◽  
Xiaoyan Jiang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Zhichao Hao ◽  
Nicole Ruggiano ◽  
Qingyi Li ◽  
Yuqi Guo ◽  
Xiaofu Pan

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 64-64
Author(s):  
T.J. Holwerda ◽  
D. Rhebergen ◽  
H.C. Comijs ◽  
J.J.M. Dekker ◽  
M.L. Stek

Background:The prevalence of loneliness increases with age. The presence of loneliness in older adults has been found to be associated with health problems such as depression, decreased cognitive functioning, increases in systolic blood pressure and increased mortality. The underlying mechanisms of the higher mortality risk are largely unknown.Methods:Meta-analysis to investigate the present evidence for the associations between loneliness and mortality. Cross-sectional studies investigating the associations between loneliness and cardiovascular disease and between loneliness and cortisol in 378 depressed and 132 non-depressed older adults.Results:Loneliness appears to be associated with increased mortality, although when only studies are included that consider depression as a covariate, the association is not significant. Therefore it seems likely that depression plays a mediating role in the higher mortality risk.We did not find a significant association between loneliness and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, loneliness was significantly associated with lower cortisol output and decreased dexamethasone suppression.Discussion:The results and their implications for prevention and treatment will be discussed from a clinical perspective as well as a general health perspective. Is loneliness as potentially dangerous as depression?


Author(s):  
Briana N. Sprague ◽  
Xiaonan Zhu ◽  
Rebecca C. Ehrenkranz ◽  
Qu Tian ◽  
Theresa A. Gmelin ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mariana Barragán-García ◽  
Ricardo Ramírez-Aldana ◽  
Mariana López-Ortega ◽  
Sergio Sánchez-García ◽  
Carmen García-Peña

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