scholarly journals Evolution of the Dietary Patterns Across Nutrition Transition in the Sardinian Longevity Blue Zone and Association with Health Indicators in the Oldest Old

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1495
Author(s):  
Giovanni Mario Pes ◽  
Michel Poulain ◽  
Alessandra Errigo ◽  
Maria Pina Dore

Health and longevity in humans are influenced by numerous factors, including lifestyle and nutrition. However, the direct relationship between lifetime eating habits and functional capacity of the elderly is poorly understood. This study investigated the dietary changes across nutrition transition (NT) in the early 1960s, in a population located in the Sardinia island known for its longevity, dubbed as “Longevity Blue Zone” (LBZ), as well as the relationship between the dietary patterns and a panel of health indicators. A total of 150 oldest-old participants (89 women and 61 men, age range 90–101 years) living in the LBZ were recruited. Participants were interviewed using validated questionnaires to assess the consumption frequency of common food items, as well as the correlation with self-rated health, comorbidity, affective and cognitive level, physical mobility, disability and anthropometric parameters. Differences between subgroups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples. Correlation analysis was performed by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient, separately in males and females. Compared to the pre-NT epoch, the consumption of meat, olive oil and fresh fruit slightly increased, while the consumption of lard, legumes and vegetables decreased. A significant association was found between increased olive oil intake across NT and self-rated health (ρ = 0.519), mobility (ρ = 0.502), improved vision (ρ = −0.227) and hearing (ρ = −0.314); increased chicken meat intake and performance in activities of daily living (basic activities of daily living: ρ = 0.351; instrumental activities of daily living: ρ = 0.333). Instead, vegetable consumption showed low correlation with health indicators. A mild increase in meat intake, mostly pastured poultry, is associated with better physical performance in the Sardinian LBZ elders, suggesting that a supply of protein may have been crucial to maintaining adequate functional capacity.

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 917-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diviane Alves da Silva ◽  
◽  
Yan Nogueira Leite de Freitas ◽  
Tamires Carneiro de Oliveira ◽  
Romerito Lins da Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To analyze the relationship between the oral health status and functional capacity in performing basic activities of daily living of a population of elderly persons. Method: A cross-sectional population-based study with 441 individuals aged 60 years or over both genders was performed in the municipality of Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte. From intraoral epidemiological examination, the degree of caries attacks (CPO-D index), periodontal condition (CPI and PIP indexes), the use and need for dental prosthesis and the presence of oral lesions were evaluated. Independence in Activities of Daily Living was used to evaluate functional capacity. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Results: Oral health variables were subjected to factor analysis, which resulted in four indicators. There was no association between these indicators and the functional capacity of the elderly. Gender, age, presence of caregiver, dominant area of residence, time of last visit to the dentist, type of care sought during such visit and self-perception regarding prosthesis replacement were significantly associated with oral health indicators. Conclusion: Given the non-identification of the effect of functional capacity on the oral health of the elderly, the time of measurement of the events investigated should be considered. It is suggested that dependency among the elderly occurs at different times from when the consequences of oral problems are observed, considering the cumulative effects of a previous history of invasive dental care.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110375
Author(s):  
Jiwon Kim ◽  
Jacqueline L. Angel ◽  
Sunshine M. Rote

Objectives Mexican Americans live longer on average than other ethnic groups, but often with protracted cognitive and physical disability. Little is known, however, about the role of cognitive decline for transitions in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability and tertiary outcomes of the IADL disablement for the oldest old (after 80 years old). Methods We employ the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (2010–2011, 2012–2013, and 2016, N = 1,078) to investigate the longitudinal patterns of IADL decline using latent transition analysis. Results Three IADL groups were identified: independent (developing mobility limitations), emerging dependence (limited mobility and community activities), and dependent (limited mobility and household and community activities). Declines in cognitive function were a consistent predictor of greater IADL disablement, and loneliness was a particularly salient distal outcome for emerging dependence. Discussion These results highlight the social consequences of cognitive decline and dependency as well as underscore important areas of intervention at each stage of the disablement process.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 584-593
Author(s):  
Leticia Silveira Cardoso ◽  
Bárbara Tarouco da Silva ◽  
Daiane dos Santos Rodrigues ◽  
Cristiana Lopes Leal ◽  
Marcelo Clarete Seracini Penner

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a capacidade funcional das pessoas idosas residentes em duas instituições de longa permanência de um município da região da campanha/RS. MÉTODO: Com abordagem exploratório-descritiva, aplicou-se a Escala de Katz e a de Lawton a 44 pessoas idosas para a coleta de dados, que foram analisados qualitativamente. RESULTADOS: As atividades básicas da vida diária, Escala de Katz, apresentaram maior grau de independência em relação às instrumentais, Escala de Lawton. As dependências das pessoas idosas que foram ressaltadas circunscrevem-se no atendimento as necessidades psciobilógicas de higiene corporal e eliminações para a realização das atividades básicas da vida diária. E nas necessidades psicossociais de comunicação e gregária para a realização das atividades instrumentais da vida diária. CONCLUSÃO: A capacidade funcional das pessoas idosas em investigação determina o planejamento e a organização do trabalho da Enfermagem. Determinando a qualidade dos serviços por indicar o quantitativo necessário para atender as exigências e a capacitação continua.     


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1322-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel de Macedo Bosco ◽  
Elisa Priscila Souza Assis ◽  
Renata Rosseti Pinheiro ◽  
Luiza Cristina Viana de Queiroz ◽  
Leani S. M. Pereira ◽  
...  

This study evaluated the association between anemia and physical functional capacity in a cross-sectional population-based sample of 709 hospitalized elderly patients aged 60 years and over admitted to the Madre Teresa Hospital, Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Mann-Whitney or "t" test, and chi-square or Fisher exact test were used for quantitative and categorical variables, respectively, and hierarchical binary logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors. The presence of anemia was found in 30% of participants and was significantly associated with decreased functionality according to the two measures which were used - ADL (activities of daily living) and IADL (instrumental activities of daily living). Anemia was also independently associated with older age. The results of this study demonstrate a strong association between the presence of anemia and lower levels of functional capacity. Further investigations are needed to assess the impact of anemia treatment on the functionality and independence of older people.


2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
C. SIORDIA ◽  
H.T. NGUYEN

Background: Within the assessment of frailty, self-rated health (SRH) questions remain frequently used in survey research attempting to quantify a subjective and global measure of health. Studies have largely ignored the fact that SRH questions may differ in their ability to predict level of difficulty with performing activities of daily living (ADLs)—a variance partially influenced by whether a comparative frame of reference in used in the SRH question. Specific Aim: Investigate if a Comparative-SRH (C-SRH) question with response options ranging on an adjectival scale ranging from 0 to 3; and a Non-Comparative-SRH (NC-SRH) question with an adjectival response scale from range 0 to 5; differ in their ability to predict level of difficulty in performing ADLs after accounting for demographic, psychosocial, and related health factors. Setting & Design: Cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults (n=275; x age=68; female=54%; x BMI=31) from North Carolina participating in the Hispanic Aging Survey (HAS) were used in multivariable linear regressions to predict a granular measure of level of difficulty performing ADLs. Results: Only C-SRH has a statistically significant relationship with ADLs—where each increase in C-SRH (i.e., more positively self-rated health) is associated with a decrease in ADL level of difficult. Conclusions: Using a comparative frame of reference in SRH questions may have important implications when attempting to understand the statistical relationship between self-rated global health and physical function in the assessment of frailty in older adults.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
William César Gavasso ◽  
Vilma Beltrame

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of chronic morbidities on the functional capacity of elderly persons living in the municipal region of Herval d’ Oeste, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 272 elderly people registered in the Family Health Strategy of the municipality of Herval d’ Oeste, Santa Catarina. A socio-demographic questionnaire, Katz’s Basic Activities of Daily Living Scale and Lawton’s Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IALD) were used as instruments to gather data. The socio-demographical variables were estimated in frequencies and percentages. The associations were analyzed through the chi-square test. Results: Significant statistical associations for dependence were only found in the IADL assessments. Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus were not found to influence the dependence of the elderly. However, a greater number of elderly persons who reported pathologies of the gastrointestinal system were classified as dependent. While the number of morbidities did not influence dependence in IADL, there was a smaller percentage difference between dependent and independent individuals among those with more than three morbidities. Conclusion: No relationship was found between the number of morbidities and the functional and instrumental capacity of the elderly. However, diseases of the gastrointestinal system demonstrated an influence on the dependence of elderly persons of Herval d'Oeste, Santa Catarina.


2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilson de Vasconcelos Torres ◽  
Luciana Araújo dos Reis ◽  
Luana Araújo dos Reis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the functional capacity and to determine the difference between the means of functional capacity (basic and instrumental activities of daily living) and the age groups of elderly residents in an outlying area in the hinterland of Bahia/Northeast of Brazil. METHOD: Analytical study with cross-sectional design and a sample of 150 elderly individuals enrolled in four Health Units in the municipality of Jequié, Bahia, Brazil. The instrument consisted of sociodemographic and health data, the Barthel Index and the Lawton scale. RESULTS: In all, 78.00% of the elderly were classified as dependent in the basic activities and 65.33% in the instrumental activities of daily living. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, we found a statistically significant difference between the means of instrumental activities and the age groups (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: An elevated number of elderly were classified as dependent in terms of functional capacity and increased age is related to greater impairment in the execution of instrumental activities of daily living.


Author(s):  
A.S. Atkins1 ◽  
A. Khan ◽  
D. Ulshen ◽  
A. Vaughan ◽  
D. Balentin ◽  
...  

Background: Continuing advances in the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease progression have inspired development of disease-modifying therapeutics intended for use in preclinical populations. However, identification of clinically meaningful cognitive and functional outcomes for individuals who are, by definition, asymptomatic remains a significant challenge. Clinical trials for prevention and early intervention require measures with increased sensitivity to subtle deficits in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) that comprise the first functional declines in prodromal disease. Validation of potential endpoints is required to ensure measure sensitivity and reliability in the populations of interest. Objectives: The present research validates use of the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) for performance-based assessment of IADL functioning in older adults (age 55+) with subjective cognitive decline. Design: Cross-sectional validation study. Setting: All participants were evaluated on-site at NeuroCog Trials, Durham, NC, USA. Participants: Participants included 245 healthy younger adults ages 20-54 (131 female), 247 healthy older adults ages 55-91 (151 female) and 61 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) ages 56-97 (45 female). Measures: Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool; Brief Assessment of Cognition App; Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study Prevention Instrument Project – Mail-In Cognitive Function Screening Instrument; Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study Instrumental Activities of Daily Living – Prevention Instrument, University of California, San Diego Performance-Based Skills Assessment – Validation of Intermediate Measures; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Trail Making Test- Part B. Results: Participants with SCD performed significantly worse than age-matched normative controls on all VRFCAT endpoints, including total completion time, errors and forced progressions (p≤0001 for all, after Bonferonni correction). Consistent with prior findings, both groups performed significantly worse than healthy younger adults (age 20-54). Participants with SCD also performed significantly worse than controls on objective cognitive measures. VRFCAT performance was strongly correlated with cognitive performance. In the SCD group, VRFCAT performance was strongly correlated with cognitive performance across nearly all tests with significant correlation coefficients ranging from 0.3 to 0.7; VRFCAT summary measures all had correlations greater than r=0.5 with MoCA performance and BAC App Verbal Memory (p<0.01 for all). Conclusions: Findings suggest the VRFCAT provides a sensitive tool for evaluation of IADL functioning in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Strong correlations with cognition across groups suggest the VRFCAT may be uniquely suited for clinical trials in preclinical AD, as well as longitudinal investigations of the relationship between cognition and function.


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