scholarly journals The strong grip of childhood conditions in older Europeans

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gindo Tampubolon ◽  
Maria Fajarini
Keyword(s):  
Grip Strength ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Childhood Poverty ◽  
The Past ◽  
Latent Construct ◽  
Childhood Conditions ◽  
Childhood Condition ◽  
Older Europeans

AbstractAmong older Europeans grip strength has been found to be marked by a disadvantaged adulthood. Across the Channel, among older Britons gait speed as another measure of physical function has been found to be marked by disadvantaged childhood. Using the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (2004-2013), we studied whether childhood poverty led to Europeans aged 50 to 104 years having a weaker grip. We then drew their trajectories of repeatedly measured grip strength to discern a steeper decline among the childhood poor. Retrospective childhood poverty some four to nine decades in the past was treated as a latent construct following the above literature; attrition during repeated measurements is handled using inverse proportional to attrition weighting. The data showed the childhood poor to have a weaker grip for half a century in later life. However, they do not show a steeper decline. Most important, by contributing to levels of grip strength in later life, adult condition holds the potential to shape the strong and long arm of childhood condition. The results are another impetus to eliminate childhood poverty to ensure healthy ageing Europeans.

scholarly journals Does a poor childhood associate with higher and steeper inflammation trajectories in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gindo Tampubolon ◽  
Maria Fajarini
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Child Poverty ◽  
Later Life ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Childhood Poverty ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
The Past ◽  
History Information ◽  
English Longitudinal Study ◽  
Childhood Condition

ABSTRACTInflammation has been implicated in many diseases in later life of older Britons. Moreover, health outcomes in later life have also been markedly affected by childhood poverty. But no study has established whether childhood poverty has the effect of upregulating inflammation throughout later life. Using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2004 – 2013) life history information and longitudinal observations of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen as inflammatory biomarkers, we studied the association between childhood condition and trajectories of inflammation for people aged 50 to 97 years. Retrospective childhood poverty some four to eight decades in the past was treated as a latent construct; attrition in longitudinal observations is addressed using inverse proportional to attrition weighting. The analytis revealed significantly higher levels of both biomarkers throughout later life among those with a poor childhood, though there is no evidence of a steeper inflammation trajectory among them. We discussed possible epigenetic changes underlying this strong and long arm of childhood condition. The results suggest that eliminating child poverty can prove to be a wise investment with the prospect of a lifelong reward.

scholarly journals Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Function Later in Life: Evidence From a National Survey in Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asri Maharani
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Childhood Poverty ◽  
Childhood Conditions

Introduction: Social and economic conditions in childhood have been found to predict cognitive ability in midlife and old age in high-income countries. This study examines the long-term effect of childhood conditions on cognition among a nationally representative sample of older adults in a low- and middle-income country. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the 2014 to 2015 Indonesia Family Life Survey Wave 5 (6676 respondents, aged 50 years and older). Cognitive function was assessed based on total score on a series of tests adapted from the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Retrospective information was collected on childhood poverty, with questions including whether respondents ever experienced hunger before age 15, whether basic facilities were available, and the number of books in the childhood home. We used linear regression to examine the association between childhood conditions and cognitive function in later life. Results: The findings show that the numbers of facilities and books available in childhood homes are substantially associated with cognition in later life after taking adulthood characteristics into account. Childhood hunger has no significant association with cognitive ability in later life. Belonging to an older birth cohort and living in a rural area were shown to have negative associations with cognitive ability in Indonesia. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that childhood poverty, birth cohort, and living in a rural area may contribute to cognitive aging in Indonesia. Policies and interventions that target childhood poverty in developing countries may also recognize the rural–urban divide in access to educational and other socioeconomic resources.

scholarly journals Multidimensional Sleep Health and Physical Functioning in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 428-428
Author(s):  
Caitlan Tighe ◽  
Ryan Brindle ◽  
Sarah Stahl ◽  
Meredith Wallace ◽  
Adam Bramoweth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Health ◽  
Lower Extremity Strength ◽  
Sleep Parameters

Abstract Prior studies link specific sleep parameters to physical functioning in older adults. Recent work suggests the utility of examining sleep health from a multidimensional perspective, enabling consideration of an individual’s experience across multiple different sleep parameters (e.g., quality, duration, timing). We examined the associations of multidimensional sleep health with objective, performance-based measures of physical functioning in older adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of 158 adults (Mage=71.8 years; 51.9% female) who participated in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) 2 and MIDUS Refresher studies. We used data from daily diaries, wrist actigraphy, and self-report measures to derive a composite multidimensional sleep health score ranging from 0-6, with higher scores indicating better sleep health. Physical function was assessed using gait speed during a 50-foot timed walk, lower extremity strength as measured by a chair stand test, and grip strength assessed with dynamometers. We used hierarchical regression to examine the associations between sleep health and gait speed, lower extremity strength, and grip strength. Age, sex, race, education, depression symptoms, medical comorbidity, and body mass index were covariates in each model. In adjusted analyses, better multidimensional sleep health was significantly associated with faster gait speed (B=.03, p=.01). Multidimensional sleep health was not significantly associated with lower limb strength (B=-.12, p=.89) or grip strength (B=.45, p=.40). Gait speed is a key indicator of functional capacity as well as morbidity and mortality in older adults. Multidimensional sleep health may be a therapeutic target for improving physical functioning and health in older adults.

scholarly journals Prognostic value of cardio-hepatic-skeletal muscle syndrome in patients with heart failure

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takumi Noda ◽  
Kentaro Kamiya ◽  
Nobuaki Hamazaki ◽  
Kohei Nozaki ◽  
Takafumi Ichikawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Liver Dysfunction ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
International Normalized Ratio ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Leg Strength ◽  
Function Test ◽  
End Stage

AbstractAlthough heart failure (HF) and liver dysfunction often coexist because of complex cardiohepatic interactions, the association between liver dysfunction and physical dysfunction, and between coexistence of both and prognosis in HF patients remains unclear. We reviewed 895 patients with HF (mean age, 69.4 ± 14.2 years) who underwent liver function test using model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score and physical function test (grip strength, leg strength, gait speed, and 6-min walking distance [6MWD]). In the multiple regression analysis, MELD-XI score was independently associated with lower grip strength, leg strength, gait speed, and 6MWD (all P < 0.001). One hundred thirty deaths occurred over a median follow-up period of 1.67 years (interquartile range: 0.62–3.04). For all-cause mortality, patients with high MELD-XI scores and reduced physical functions were found to have a significantly higher mortality risk even after adjusting for several covariates (grip strength, hazard ratio [HR]: 3.80, P < 0.001; leg strength, HR: 4.65, P < 0.001; gait speed, HR: 2.49, P = 0.001, and 6MWD, HR: 5.48, P < 0.001). Liver dysfunction was correlated with reduced physical function. Moreover, the coexistence of lower physical function and liver dysfunction considerably affected prognosis in patients with HF.

scholarly journals Perception of Neighborhood Characteristics During Childhood and Cognitive Health Among Older Adults in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 439-439
Author(s):  
Changmin Peng ◽  
Sae Hwang Han ◽  
Jeffrey Burr
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Neighborhood Characteristics ◽  
Neighborhood Safety ◽  
Cognitive Health ◽  
Childhood Conditions ◽  
Neighborhood Environments

Abstract Neighborhood environments shape the availability of resources for social engagement and social interaction, which are associated with better health outcomes. However, these contextual factors are also considered sources of potential social distress and tension, increasing the risk of subsequent health deficits, including cognitive decline. Our understanding of the linkage between childhood neighborhood environments and cognitive functioning in later life is limited. This study employed three waves of nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015; N = 11,105) to investigate the relationship between self-reported neighborhood social cohesion during childhood (i.e., neighborhood safety, neighbors willing to help, and close-knit neighborhood) and cognitive functioning (Chinese version of TICS). We employed latent growth curve modeling to test hypotheses relating to life course models of childhood conditions and later life cognitive functioning (the long arm of childhood). The results showed that perceptions regarding the willingness of neighbors to help and close-knit neighborhood characteristics during childhood were positively associated with levels of later life cognitive function. Further, growing up in a neighborhood characterized by the willingness of neighbors to help others was negatively associated with the rate of cognitive decline, net of childhood and adulthood covariates. Self-report of neighborhood safety during childhood was unrelated to cognitive function (level and change). These findings underscored the long-term ramifications of childhood conditions as potential risk factors for later-life cognitive health. Social cohesion at the neighborhood level as experienced during childhood may be a protective factor for healthy cognitive aging among older Chinese adults.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Trajectories and Associated Changes in Physical Performance in Older Men: The MrOS Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 1967-1973
Author(s):  
Deepika R Laddu ◽  
Neeta Parimi ◽  
Katie L Stone ◽  
Jodi Lapidus ◽  
Andrew R Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
High Activity ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Activity Group ◽  
Low Activity

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) is important to maintaining functional independence. It is not clear how patterns of change in late-life PA are associated with contemporaneous changes in physical performance measures. Methods Self-reported PA, gait speed, grip strength, timed chair stand, and leg power were assessed in 3,865 men aged ≥ 65 years at baseline (2000–2002) and Year 7 (2007–2009). Group-based trajectory modeling, using up to four PA measures over this period, identified PA trajectories. Multivariate linear regression models (adjusted least square mean [95% confidence interval {CI}]) described associations between-PA trajectories and concurrent changes in performance. Results Three discrete PA patterns were identified, all with declining PA. Linear declines in each performance measure (baseline to Year 7) were observed across all three PA groups, but there was some variability in the rate of decline. Multivariate models assessing the graded response by PA trajectory showed a trend where the high-activity group had the smallest declines in performance while the low-activity group had the largest (p-for trend &lt; .03). Changes in the high-activity group were the following: gait speed (−0.10 m/s [−0.12, −0.08]), grip strength (−3.79 kg [−4.35, −3.23]), and chair stands (−0.38 [−0.50, −0.25]), whereas changes in the low-activity group were the following: gait speed (−0.16 [−0.17, −0.14]), grip strength (−4.83 kg [−5.10, −4.55]), and chair stands (−0.53 [−0.59, −0.46]). Between-group differences in leg power trajectories across PA patterns were not significant. Conclusions Declines in functional performance were higher among those with lower PA trajectories, providing further evidence for the interrelationship between changes in PA and performance during old age.

154 The Feasibility of Assessing Sarcopenia Among Older People with Arm Fracture Using Different Criteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
K Ibrahim ◽  
M A Mullee ◽  
G Lily Yao ◽  
S Zhu ◽  
M Baxter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Speed Test ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
European Working ◽  
Hand Dynamometer ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Introduction Osteoporosis and sarcopenia often co-exist (osteo-sarcopenia) and both are associated with increased risk of falls and fractures. Early identification and treatment of sarcopenia among older people with fragility arm fractures could prevent further fractures. This study evaluated the feasibility of assessing sarcopenia in a fracture clinic. Methods People aged 65+ years with arm fracture attending fracture clinics in one acute trust were recruited. Sarcopenia was assessed using gait speed, grip strength with unfractured arm (hand dynamometer using appropriate cut off adjusted for age and gender), skeletal muscle mass index SMI (Bioimpedance BIA), SARC-F questionnaire, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) I and II criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of each measure was calculated against the EWGSOP II criteria as the standard reference. Results 100 patients (Mean age 75 years±7.2; 80 female) were recruited. Sarcopenia was identified among 4% (EWGSOP I), 5% (SMI), 13% (EWGSOP II), 16% (gait speed test), 18% (SARC-F) and 39% (grip strength) and was more prevalent among men. SARC-F had the best sensitivity and specificity (100% and 96% respectively) when compared to the EWGSOP II criteria. Sensitivity and specificity for the remaining measures were respectively (100%, 71%) for grip strength, (75%, 94%) for gait speed, (25%, 97%) with SMI and (25%, 99%) for EWGSOP I. Time needed to complete the assessments was 1–2 minutes for gait speed, grip strength and SARC-F; five minutes for BIA test, and nine minutes when EWGSOP I and II criteria were applied. Data were complete for grip strength and SARC-F. Missing data was reported among 2% for gait speed, 8% for BIA test, 8% for EWGSOP II and 10% for EWGSOP I. Conclusion It was feasible to assess sarcopenia in fracture clinics and SARC-F was a quick, simple and sensitive tool suitable for routine use.

scholarly journals Genomics of ageing in twins

2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 526-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Mangino
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
The Past ◽  
Human Ageing ◽  
Classical Twin Design ◽  
Environmental Component ◽  
Early Life Events ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Ageing is a complex multifactorial process, reflecting the progression of all degenerative pathways within an organism. Due to the increase of life expectancy, in recent years, there is a pressing need to identify early-life events and risk factors that determine health outcomes in later life. So far, genetic variation only explains ~20–25 % of the variability of human survival to age 80+. This clearly implies that other factors (environmental, epigenetic and lifestyle) contribute to lifespan and the rate of healthy ageing within an individual. Twin studies in the past two decades proved to be a very powerful tool to discriminate the genetic from the environmental component. The aim of this review is to describe the basic concepts of the twin study design and to report some of the latest studies in which high-throughput technologies (e.g. genome/epigenome-wide assay, next generation sequencing, MS metabolic profiling) combined with the classical twin design have been applied to the analysis of novel ‘omics’ to further understand the molecular mechanisms of human ageing.

Abstract TP138: Repeated Bilateral Multifocal Cortical Magnetic Stimulation with a New Wearable Transcranial Stimulator in Chronic Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Helekar ◽  
Blessy John ◽  
Rafferty Laredo ◽  
Cynthia Card ◽  
Charles McCane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Pulse Duration ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Reorganization ◽  
In Cis

Introduction: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment of ipsilesional (IL) or contralesional (CL) cortex combined with occupational/physical therapy (OT/PT) shows significant promise in chronic ischemic stroke (CIS). Here we describe a multifocal cortical magnetic stimulation protocol with a new wearable device called transcranial rotating permanent magnet stimulator (TRPMS) for a pilot clinical trial in CIS, and present preliminary results in one patient. Hypothesis: Simultaneous repeated excitatory and inhibitory stimulations of IL and CL cortical sites, respectively cause perilesional functional cortical reorganization with recovery of motor function in CIS. Methods: After informed consent, we treated a 58-year old male patient with a right middle cerebral artery thromboembolic infarct causing left sided hemiparesis. At the start of TRPMS treatment 19 months after the stroke he had a stable baseline on motor function tests. The treatment consisted of 4 two-week sessions (with intervening one-week rest periods) of daily (on week days) 40 min TRPMS stimulation (5 Hz, 25 ms pulse duration at 4 perilesional cortical sites, and 0.2 Hz, 100 ms pulse duration at 2 CL primary motor cortical sites) accompanied by OT/PT. Pretreatment, posttreatment and follow-up assessments were functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during attempted gripping movements, and grip strength, gait speed and Fugl-Meyer (FM) scale testing. Results: After the 2 nd treatment session movement-related fMRI showed increasing levels of neural activation of the stimulated intact cortex surrounding the lesion. Grip strength of the affected hand increased ~2.5 fold. Gait speed increased by ~15%. Left lower extremity motor function and sensation measures on the FM scale showed sustained increase by ~17% and ~30%, respectively. These changes persisted above the pretreatment levels at the 3-month follow-up. There were no adverse effects. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the new TRPMS protocol might bring about some degree of functional cortical reorganization and motor recovery in CIS. We have therefore launched a randomized double-blind sham treatment-controlled clinical trial involving a four-week TRPMS treatment in 30 CIS patients.

Older age as a time to contribute: a scoping review of generativity in later life

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Feliciano Villar ◽  
Rodrigo Serrat ◽  
Michael W. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Methodological Approaches

Abstract Research on later-life generativity has promoted a new view of older persons that, far from the traditional images of disability, dependence and frailty, recognises their capacities, and potential to continue growing, while underlining their participation and contributions to families, communities and society. The goal of this study was to carry out a scoping review on later-life generativity, the first one conducted on this topic as far as we know, to show how studies in this area have evolved, which aspects of generativity in later life have been studied, and the methodological and epistemological approaches that are dominant in this area of inquiry. Our scoping review shows that research into generativity in later life has grown steadily over the past 30 years, and particularly during the last decade. However, our results also show how such growing interest has focused on certain methodological approaches, epistemological frameworks and cultural contexts. We identify four critical gaps and leading-edge research questions that should be at the forefront of future research into generativity in later life, gaps that reflect biases in the existing literature identified in the study. These are classified as methodological, developmental, contextual and ‘dark-side’ gaps.

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