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Langén VL, Emidio A, Vire J, Viitanen M, Teppo K. Trends in Positive Life Orientation Among 70-Year-Olds: A Comparison of Two Finnish Cohorts Born 20 Years Apart. Clin Gerontol 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38414277 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2320927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We assessed if positive life orientation (PLO) has increased among older individuals and explored gender disparities in PLO changes. METHODS Two cohorts of 70-year-olds from Turku, Finland were included: the 1920 birth cohort (examined in 1991; n = 1,032) and the 1940 birth cohort (examined in 2011; n = 956). Participants completed an identical questionnaire assessing life satisfaction, feeling needed, future plans, zest for life, depression, and loneliness. A composite PLO score (range 0-1) was computed. RESULTS The 2011 cohort had a higher mean PLO score than the 1991 cohort (.87 vs. .83, p < .001). The 2011 cohort reported higher sense of being needed, more future plans, and reduced loneliness (all p < .001). No significant differences were found in life satisfaction, zest for life, or depression. Gender disparities in PLO persisted across both cohorts, with men scoring slightly higher but following similar trends as women. DISCUSSION PLO appears to have increased among older individuals. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Recognizing the rising trend of PLO in recent decades may influence the development of societal and healthcare policies to further improve overall well-being among older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ville L Langén
- Department of Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Adriana Emidio
- Department of Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jenni Vire
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Matti Viitanen
- Department of Neurobiology, Care sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Konsta Teppo
- Heart Centre, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Henning G, Arriagada C, Karnick N. Retirement and Volunteering in Germany - Historical Changes and Social Inequalities. Res Aging 2024; 46:15-28. [PMID: 37066989 DOI: 10.1177/01640275231170798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
The first years of retirement have often been seen as a typical time window to take up (or intensify) voluntary work. Due to the changing context of retirement and historical differences in resources, the role of retirement for volunteering may have changed with historical time. We compared individuals aged 60-70 in five cross-sectional waves (1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019) of the German Survey on Volunteering (Deutscher Freiwilligensurvey: FWS) to investigate how the association of retirement status and volunteering has changed. We found a negative association of retirement and volunteering, which was not significant once controlling for age, education, gender and region. While engagement levels seem to have increased with historical time, voluntary work seems to have become less time consuming. There were no historical differences in the association of retirement and volunteering. Our results highlight the role of historical time and contextual factors when investigating volunteering and post-retirement activities.
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Kekäläinen T, Koivunen K, Pynnönen K, Portegijs E, Taina Rantanen. Cohort Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Life Satisfaction in 75- and 80-Year-Olds: A Comparison of Two Cohorts 28 Years Apart. J Aging Health 2024; 36:3-13. [PMID: 36947727 PMCID: PMC10693740 DOI: 10.1177/08982643231164739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To examine birth cohort differences in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction in older men and women and the mechanisms underpinning the possible cohort differences. Methods: Two independent cohorts of Finnish men and women aged 75 and 80 were assessed in 1989-1990 (n = 617) and 2017-2018 (n = 794). They reported their depressive symptoms (CES-D), current life satisfaction, and evaluation of life until now. Results: The later-born cohort reported fewer depressive symptoms (8.6 ± 7.1 vs. 13.9 ± 8.3) and the differences were similar for the subdomains of depressive symptoms. The later-born cohort was more often mostly satisfied with life until now (90 vs. 70%) but not with the current life than the earlier-born cohort. Better self-rated health and education of the later-born cohort partly explain the cohort differences. Discussion: Older people in Finland report fewer depressive symptoms and they are more satisfied with their past life compared to their counterparts assessed 28 years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiia Kekäläinen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kaisa Koivunen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Katja Pynnönen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Erja Portegijs
- Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Taina Rantanen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Lee S, Koffer R, Drewelies J. Adults Older Than Age 55 Engage in Less Diverse Activities Than Those 18 Years Ago. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1511-1520. [PMID: 36932984 PMCID: PMC10461533 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Life-span perspectives have long acknowledged that individual functioning is shaped by historical and sociocultural contexts. Secular increases favoring recent cohorts are widely documented. However, little is known about secular trends in day-to-day activities and whether historical changes have occurred in younger and older adults alike. METHODS We compared data from 2 independent cohort samples of the daily diary portion of the Midlife in the United States Study obtained 18 years apart (1995/1996 cohort: n = 1,499 vs 2013/2014 cohort: n = 782) and identified case-matched cohorts (n = 757 per cohort) based on age, gender, education, and race. An activity diversity score was calculated based on 7 common daily activities, using Shannon's entropy method. We additionally examined the roles of age and other sociodemographic and health characteristics in cohort differences in activity diversity. RESULTS Results revealed that the 2013/2014 cohort experienced lower daily activity diversity than the 1995/1996 cohort. Age was positively associated with activity diversity in the 1995/1996 cohort, whereas age was negatively associated with activity diversity in the 2013/2014 cohort. These associations were significant for those who were older than age 55. Cohorts also differed in the types of most dominant activities and average time spent on those activities. DISCUSSION Findings show changes in the lifestyles and daily activities of U.S. adults across 2 decades. Contrasting to the common belief that today's adults may be healthier and more active, they seem engaging in less diverse daily activities, which can be a risk for future health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soomi Lee
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Rachel Koffer
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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5
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Guo S, Zheng XY. New evidence of trends in cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China, 2011-2018: an age-period-cohort analysis. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:498. [PMID: 37605117 PMCID: PMC10440902 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04166-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence from high-income countries suggests the risk of cognitive impairment has been declining recently. However, related studies in China have rarely been done, and the results are inconsistent. We analyze the trends in cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China between 2011 and 2018. METHODS We used data from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 48918 individuals aged 45 years and older. Cognitive function was assessed using the CHARLS cognitive measures containing episodic memory, orientation, attention, and visuospatial abilities. The hierarchical age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to quantify the separate age, period, and cohort effects on trends in cognitive function. RESULTS The study sample's ages ranged from 45 to 105 years (Mean = 59.2, SD = 9.4). Cognitive function declined with age net of period and cohort effects, an apparent acceleration in the rate of cognitive decline after age 65 was found adjusting for individual characteristics. Although period effects on trends in cognitive function remained stable during the study period, hierarchical APC models demonstrated significant cohort variations. Independent of age and period effects, there was a fluctuating trend across cohorts before 1960 and an overall decline across successive cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that the age effect remains the most crucial factor regarding cognitive decline. Moreover, results demonstrate that cohorts living in social upheaval leading to educational deprivation and/or nutritional deficiency in early life may face a higher risk for cognitive deterioration later in life. Such findings indicate that dementia prevention from a life course perspective and cohort-specific strategies are critical to alleviating the future public-health burdens related to cognitive aging. Ongoing attention should be paid to the role of cross-cohort differences in education on cohort trends in cognition in countries like China that are aging rapidly and have a late start in educational expansion compared to other countries. Other factors, such as environmental stimulation, need to be noticed in younger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Guo
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 31, Road 3rd, Bei-Ji-Ge, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100073, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ying Zheng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 31, Road 3rd, Bei-Ji-Ge, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100073, P.R. China.
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6
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Ng R, Indran N. Granfluencers on TikTok: Factors linked to positive self-portrayals of older adults on social media. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280281. [PMID: 36749797 PMCID: PMC9904471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lately, there have been news reports on the rise of older content creators on various social media outlets. However, while journalists have picked up on this topic, scholars have been slow to accord it any attention. Our study delves into this topic and looks at how older TikTokers' self-perceptions of aging are expressed in their videos. Specifically, we analyze the valence of the content of these videos and factors associated with older adults' self-presentations. TikTok has only gone from strength to strength since its global launch in 2017. Even as stay-at-home orders and safe distancing protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a dramatic increase in the consumption of media across various platforms, TikTok stands out among its rivals in terms of growth and user activity. Given its wide reach, content on TikTok has the potential to influence public opinion. We collated 1,382 videos created by TikTokers aged 60 and above with at least 100,000 followers. These videos amassed over 3.5 billion views. Following previous studies, three raters coded each video for valence (negative-neutral-positive). We found that women created twice as many videos as men. The middle-old group (ages 75-84) created more videos than the young-old and oldest-old groups. Positive videos outnumbered negative ones by 10 times. As hypothesized, themes linked to positive self-portrayals were 'physical functioning' (p < .001) and 'social interaction' (p < .001). Conversely, 'cognitive functioning' (p < .001) evidenced a negative association, controlling for age and gender of the user. This is one of the first studies on older adults' self-portrayals of aging on TikTok. Our findings suggest that older adults tend to portray themselves positively across various domains on the application. If used purposefully, TikTok may serve as a promising platform for improving public perceptions of old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Ng
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicole Indran
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Gerstorf D, Ram N, Drewelies J, Duezel S, Eibich P, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Liebig S, Goebel J, Demuth I, Villringer A, Wagner GG, Lindenberger U, Ghisletta P. Today's Older Adults Are Cognitively Fitter Than Older Adults Were 20 Years Ago, but When and How They Decline Is No Different Than in the Past. Psychol Sci 2023; 34:22-34. [PMID: 36282991 DOI: 10.1177/09567976221118541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
History-graded increases in older adults' levels of cognitive performance are well documented, but little is known about historical shifts in within-person change: cognitive decline and onset of decline. We combined harmonized perceptual-motor speed data from independent samples recruited in 1990 and 2010 to obtain 2,008 age-matched longitudinal observations (M = 78 years, 50% women) from 228 participants in the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) and 583 participants in the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). We used nonlinear growth models that orthogonalized within- and between-person age effects and controlled for retest effects. At age 78, the later-born BASE-II cohort substantially outperformed the earlier-born BASE cohort (d = 1.20; 25 years of age difference). Age trajectories, however, were parallel, and there was no evidence of cohort differences in the amount or rate of decline and the onset of decline. Cognitive functioning has shifted to higher levels, but cognitive decline in old age appears to proceed similarly as it did two decades ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin.,German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Nilam Ram
- Departments of Psychology and Communication, Stanford University
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin.,Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Duezel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Eibich
- Labor Demography Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Liebig
- German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Goebel
- German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine at the Charite-Universitätsmedizin Berlin.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT-Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gert G Wagner
- German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin, Germany.,Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Federal Institute for Population Research, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paolo Ghisletta
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva.,UniDistance Suisse.,Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES, University of Geneva
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8
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Drewelies J, Hueluer G, Duezel S, Vetter VM, Pawelec G, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Wagner GG, Lindenberger U, Lill CM, Bertram L, Gerstorf D, Demuth I. Using blood test parameters to define biological age among older adults: association with morbidity and mortality independent of chronological age validated in two separate birth cohorts. GeroScience 2022; 44:2685-2699. [PMID: 36151431 PMCID: PMC9768057 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00662-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers defining biological age are typically laborious or expensive to assess. Instead, in the current study, we identified parameters based on standard laboratory blood tests across metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and kidney functioning that had been assessed in the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) (n = 384) and Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) (n = 1517). We calculated biological age using those 12 parameters that individually predicted mortality hazards over 26 years in BASE. In BASE, older biological age was associated with more physician-observed morbidity and higher mortality hazards, over and above the effects of chronological age, sex, and education. Similarly, in BASE-II, biological age was associated with physician-observed morbidity and subjective health, over and above the effects of chronological age, sex, and education as well as alternative biomarkers including telomere length, DNA methylation age, skin age, and subjective age but not PhenoAge. We discuss the importance of biological age as one indicator of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Drewelies
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Sandra Duezel
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valentin Max Vetter
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Graham Pawelec
- University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | | | - Gert G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, London, UK
| | - Christina M Lill
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Ageing and Epidemiology Unit (AGE), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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9
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Aging and Psychological Well-Being: The Possible Role of Inhibition Skills. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10081477. [PMID: 36011134 PMCID: PMC9408411 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10081477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Psychological well-being (PWB) is a multidimensional construct which is a key protective factor against chronic diseases in older adults. Numerous psychological and cognitive factors can influence older people’s PWB. However, while most studies have explored the effect of general cognition, only a few investigated the role of specific cognitive functions such as the efficiency of executive functions. Thus, the present study aimed to directly explore the relationships between PWB, age, and the core executive functions (namely working memory, flexibility, and inhibition). (2) Methods: A sample of 51 healthy older adults (age range: 60–88) were enrolled and tested both for PWB (by Ryff’s psychological well-being scale) and the core executive functions (by the Digit span backward, the Trail Making Test, and the Stroop test). (3) Results: Age and inhibitory skills are negatively correlated to the personal growth subscale of the PWB scale. Moreover, a hierarchical regression analysis showed that inhibition, but not working memory and flexibility, predicted the sense of continued growth and development (personal growth) of older adults, even after controlling for age and educational levels. Limitations and implications for future research and prevention interventions are discussed.
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10
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Geyer S, Kuhlmann BG, Beller J, Grasshoff J. The role of school education in time-dependent changes of cognitive abilities in cohorts from midlife to old age. Aging Ment Health 2022; 27:729-735. [PMID: 35486386 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2068132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES It is examined whether older adults' cognitive ability in terms of delayed recall and verbal fluency is improving over time, whether this occurs over all educational levels and both sexes, and whether these changes are due to increasing proportions of individuals with higher education. METHODS Analyses are based on the German samples of the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (waves 2004 and 2013). RESULTS Achievement levels increased over time and in all age groups. Improvements over educational levels occurred in parallel, differences between educational levels in the earlier survey were later reproduced at higher levels. Increasing proportions of individuals with higher education did not explain improvements of cognitive ability. No sex differences emerged. CONCLUSION Improved cognitive abilities could not be explained by upward shifts of educational levels. Improvements in higher age groups may foster improved health status and prolonged self-determined life in the older population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siegfried Geyer
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Beatrice G Kuhlmann
- Chair of Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Aging, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Johannes Beller
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julia Grasshoff
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
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11
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Pohrt A, Kendel F, Demuth I, Drewelies J, Nauman T, Behlouli H, Stadler G, Pilote L, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Gerstorf D. Differentiating Sex and Gender Among Older Men and Women. Psychosom Med 2022; 84:339-346. [PMID: 35149636 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to paradigmatically show the development of a gender score that can be used as either an adjustment or a matching variable to separate the effects of gender versus biological sex in a sample of older adults. METHODS Our sample comprised 1100 participants from the Berlin Aging Study II (52% women, mean [standard deviation] age = 75.6 [3.8] years). The gender score included a multitude of gender-related variables and was constructed via logistic regression. In models of health outcomes, it was used as an adjustment variable in regression analyses as well as a matching variable to match older men and women according to their gender. RESULTS Matching by gender substantially reduced sample size to n = 340. Analyses (either adjusting for gender or matching men and women according to gender) revealed that female sex was independently associated with lower grip strength (B = -14.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -15.51 to -13.44), better cognitive performance (B = 3.47, 95% CI = 1.94 to 5.0), higher pulse wave velocity (B = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.31), lower body mass index (B = -0.97, 95% CI = -1.74 to -0.21), and lower rates of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.37 to 0.77). In addition, both sex and gender were independently associated with cognitive performance and depression. CONCLUSIONS Calculating a gender score allows for the inclusion of a large number of variables, creating parsimonious models that are adaptable to different data sets and alternative gender definitions. Depending on the research question and the sample properties, the gender score can be used as either an adjustment or a matching variable.Trial Registration: DRKS-Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (Study ID: DRKS00016157).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Pohrt
- From the Gender in Medicine (Pohrt, Kendel, Nauman, Stadler, Regitz-Zagrosek), Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology (Pohrt), and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (including Division of Lipid Metabolism) (Demuth), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT-Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies (Demuth); Department of Psychology (Drewelies, Gerstorf), Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Medicine (Behlouli, Pilote), Centre for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Universität Zürich, Department of Cardiology (Regitz-Zagrosek), University Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; and Applied Health Sciences (Stadler), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
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12
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Düzel S, Drewelies J, Polk SE, Misgeld C, Porst J, Wolfarth B, Kühn S, Brandmaier AM, Wenger E. No Evidence for a Boost in Psychosocial Functioning in Older Age After a 6-Months Physical Exercise Intervention. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:825454. [PMID: 35360285 PMCID: PMC8963719 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.825454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The beneficial effects of physical exercise on physical health and cognitive functioning have been repeatedly shown. However, evidence of its effect on psychosocial functioning in healthy adults is still scarce or inconclusive. One limitation of many studies examining this link is their reliance on correlational approaches or specific subpopulations, such as clinical populations. The present study investigated the effects of a physical exercise intervention on key factors of psychosocial functioning, specifically well-being, stress, loneliness, and future time perspective. We used data from healthy, previously sedentary older adults (N = 132) who participated in a 6-month at-home intervention, either engaging in aerobic exercise or as part of a control group who participated in foreign language-learning or reading of selected native-language literature. Before and after the intervention, comprehensive cardiovascular pulmonary testing and a psychosocial questionnaire were administered. The exercise group showed significantly increased fitness compared to the control group. Contrary to expectations, however, we did not find evidence for a beneficial effect of this fitness improvement on any of the four domains of psychosocial functioning we assessed. This may be due to pronounced stability of such psychological traits in older age, especially in older adults who show high levels of well-being initially. Alternatively, it may be that the well-documented beneficial effects of physical exercise on brain structure and function, as well as cognition differ markedly from beneficial effects on psychosocial functioning. While aerobic exercise may be the driving factor for the former, positive effects on the latter may only be invoked by other aspects of exercise, for example, experiences of mastery or a feeling of community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Düzel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah E. Polk
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School on the Life Course (LIFE), Berlin, Germany
| | - Carola Misgeld
- Department of Sports Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Porst
- Department of Sports Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Wolfarth
- Department of Sports Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Kühn
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Neuronal Plasticity Working Group, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas M. Brandmaier
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Wenger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Elisabeth Wenger,
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Drewelies J, Windsor TD, Duezel S, Demuth I, Wagner GG, Lindenberger U, Gerstorf D, Ghisletta P. Age Trajectories of Perceptual Speed and Loneliness: Separating Between-Person and Within-Person Associations. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2022; 77:118-129. [PMID: 34751753 PMCID: PMC8755905 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed at examining between-person and within-person associations across age trajectories of perceptual speed and loneliness in old age. METHOD We applied multilevel models to 4 waves of data collected over 6 years from 1,491 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II (60-88 years at baseline, 50% women) to disentangle between-person and within-person associations across age trajectories of perceptual speed and both emotional and social loneliness. Sex and education were considered as relevant individual characteristics and included as covariates in the model. RESULTS Analyses revealed that on average perceptual speed exhibited moderate within-person age-related declines, whereas facets of loneliness were rather stable. Perceptual speed did not predict age trajectories of emotional or social loneliness, at either the between- or within-person level. In contrast, loneliness discriminated individuals at the between-person level, such that those feeling emotionally or socially more lonely showed lower cognitive performance than those feeling emotionally or socially less lonely. Predictive effects of social loneliness were stronger for relatively young people (i.e., in their mid to late 60s) than for relatively older participants (i.e., in their 80s). In addition, predictive effects of social loneliness for perceptual speed at the within-person level were modest and deviated in direction and size from between-person social loneliness effects among those in their mid- to late 60s, whereas they did not among those in their 80s. DISCUSSION We conclude that loneliness may serve as a precursor for basic cognitive functioning in old age and suggest routes for further inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Drewelies
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tim D Windsor
- College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sandra Duezel
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gert G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany and London, UK
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Paolo Ghisletta
- University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competence in Research LIVES, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Whiting D, Challacombe B, Madaan S, Fowler S, Napier-Hemy R, Sriprasad S. Complications after radical nephrectomy according to age: analysis from the British Association of Urological Surgeons Nephrectomy Audit. J Endourol 2021; 36:188-196. [PMID: 34663080 DOI: 10.1089/end.2021.0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction To compare complication rates in radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma across different age groups. Methods Retrospective analysis of the British Association of Urological Surgeons Nephrectomy Audit database between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2017 was performed. Comparisons were made between different age groups (<60, 60-79, ≥80) in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Results 18438 patients with renal cell carcinoma underwent radical nephrectomy: 6128 (33.2%) aged <60, 10785 (58.5%) aged 60-79 and 1525 (8.3%) aged ≥80. There was a significantly lower pre-operative haemoglobin and eGFR with advancing age (p<0.001). Patients ≥80 had a higher Charlson co-morbidity index and WHO performance status (p<0.001). There was also significant variability in the approach to RN (p<0.001): laparoscopy was most commonly performed (68.8% vs. 69.3% vs. 75.0%). Patients ≥80 years were found to have the shortest operating time (p<0.001). There were significant differences in T stage between groups with patients aged ≥80 having a higher T stage (p<0.001). The incidence of intra-operative complications did not significantly differ between age groups (p=0.18). The incidence of post-operative complications was 15.7%, 18.2% and 20.5% and major post-operative complications was 1.4%, 2.1% and 2.8% in patients <60, 60-79 and ≥80, respectively (p<0.001). The most common complication in all age groups was blood transfusion (7.6% <60, 8.6% 60-79, 9.1% ≥80). Stepwise logistic regression analysis adjusting for additional variables found the odds of a post-operative complication increased with age with an odds ratio of 1.25 in patients ≥80 and an odds ratio of 1.09 in patients aged 60-70 compared with <60. Conclusion Overall complications in all age groups are low but advancing age should be considered as an independent risk factor for post-operative complications after radical nephrectomy and should be appropriately considered when counselling elderly patients prior to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Whiting
- Darent Valley Hospital, 156489, Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, DA2 8DA;
| | - Benjamin Challacombe
- Guy's Hospital, Urology, London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, SE1 7RT;
| | - Sanjeev Madaan
- Darent Valley Hospital, 156489, Dartford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Sarah Fowler
- British Association of Urological Surgeons, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Richard Napier-Hemy
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, 5293, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Seshadri Sriprasad
- Darent Valley Hospital, 156489, Dartford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
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15
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Grazziotin JBDD, Scortegagna SA. Validity of Zulliger-SC in the Cognitive Assessment of Elderly and Long-Lived Adults. PSICO-USF 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1413-82712021260314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract This study sought evidence of validity of the Zulliger method to evaluate cognitive processes in elderly and long-lived adults and to verify the relationship between cognition and external variables. Participated 142 subjects, aged between 18 and 96 years old. The Zulliger Comprehensive System (ZSC), Mini-Mental State Examination and sociodemographic protocols were used as of data collection. The older and long-lived adults presented a significant decrease in mediation (X-%, XA%, P) and abstract reasoning (M) when compared to young and middle-aged adults. Education and socioeconomic status (SES) demonstrated significant and positive correlations with cognitive processes (R, ZF, W, M, DQ+ and Intellectualization). The findings are fundamental to psychological practice and to directing measures for cognitive preservation in human aging.
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16
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Ng R, Indran N. Role-Based Framing of Older Adults Linked to Decreased Ageism Over 210 Years: Evidence From a 600-Million-Word Historical Corpus. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2021; 62:589-597. [PMID: 34323967 PMCID: PMC9019650 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnab108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Older adults are exhibiting greater diversity in their aging trajectories. This has led to movements by the World Health Organization and AARP to reframe aging. We compare role-based framing and age-based framing of older adults over 210 years-a time span beyond the reach of traditional methods-and elucidate their respective sentiments and narratives. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We combined the Corpus of Historical American English with the Corpus of Contemporary American English to create a 600-million-word-dataset-the largest historical corpus of American English with over 150,000 texts collected from newspapers, magazines, fiction and non-fiction. We compiled the top descriptors of age-based terms (e.g., senior citizen) and role-based terms (e.g., grandparent) and rated them for stereotypic valence (negative to positive) over 21 decades. RESULTS Age-based framing evidenced a significantly higher increase in negativity (15%) compared to role-based framing (4%). We found a significant interaction effect between framing (age-based vs. role-based) and stereotypic content across two centuries (1800s and 1900s). The percentage of positive topics associated with role-based framing increased from 71% in the 1800s to 89% in the 1900s, with narratives of affection and wisdom becoming more prevalent. Conversely, the percentage of positive topics for age-based framing decreased from 82% to 38% over time, with narratives of burden, illness and death growing more prevalent. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS We argue for a more role-centric approach when framing aging such that age ceases to be the chief determinant in how older adults are viewed in society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Ng
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicole Indran
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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17
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Increasingly capable at the ripe old age? Cognitive abilities from 2004 to 2013 in Germany, Spain, and Sweden. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254038. [PMID: 34197534 PMCID: PMC8248634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Life expectancy is increasing in most high-income countries, but gains in life years are maximized if spent in good health and if cognitive abilities are maintained until old age. Age-related decline of cognitive abilities does nevertheless occur, but the pace of decline is decisive. This was the starting point for our study that aims to examine cohort effects of cognitive aging in women and men in Germany, Spain and Sweden by analyzing changes from 2004 to 2013 by estimating cohort effects within age groups starting from the age of 50 years. Methods A cohort study was conducted that was based on data of the surveys 2004 (N = 6,081) and 2013 (N = 8,650) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analyses were based on data of female and male respondents aged 50 years and older. Age-specific means of verbal fluency and delayed recall from the German, Spanish and Swedish samples were the cognitive domains considered in the study. Results In both domains of cognitive ability the achievements in the later surveys were higher than in the earlier ones. This was found in all countries, abut achievement levels increased markedly in the German and the Spanish samples, while the scores of the Swedish samples were not significantly different. While the highest scores were found for Sweden, Germany ranked in the middle and the lowest scores were found in the Spanish samples. Over time, the scores of the German samples approached those of Sweden. Conclusions From the first to the second survey, improvements of older adults’ cognitive abilities were found for all countries considered. This may indicate improvements of the underlying educational systems, but also increasingly stimulating general living conditions.
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18
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Löckenhoff CE, Drewelies J, Duezel S, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Demuth I, Freund AM, Staudinger UM, Lindenberger U, Wagner GG, Ram N, Gerstorf D. Sociohistorical Change in Urban Older Adults' Perceived Speed of Time and Time Pressure. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 77:457-466. [PMID: 34180501 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Perceptions of time are shaped by sociohistorical factors. Specifically, economic growth and modernization often engender a sense of acceleration. Research has primarily focused on one time perception dimension (perceived time pressure) in one subpopulation (working-age adults), but it is not clear whether historical changes extend to other dimensions (e.g., perceived speed of time) and other subpopulations, such as older adults who are no longer in the workforce and experience age-related shifts in time perception. We therefore examined sociohistorical and age-related trends in two dimensions of time perception in two cohorts of urban older adults. METHOD Using propensity score matching for age and education, samples were drawn from the Berlin Aging Study (1990-1993, n = 256, Mage = 77.49) and the Berlin Aging Study-II (2009-2014, n = 248, Mage = 77.49). Cohort differences in means, variances, covariance, and correlates of perceived speed of time and time pressure were examined using multigroup SEM. RESULTS There were no cohort differences in the perceived speed of time, but later-born cohorts reported more time pressure than earlier-born cohorts. There were no significant age differences, but perceptions of speed of time were more heterogeneous in the 1990s than in the 2010s. Cohorts did not differ in how time perceptions were associated with sociodemographic, health, cognitive, and psychosocial correlates. DISCUSSION These findings document sociohistorical trends toward greater perceived time pressure and reduced heterogeneity in perceived speed of time among later-born urban adults. Conceptualizations of social acceleration should thus consider the whole adult life span.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra Duezel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ilja Demuth
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine, Charite-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra M Freund
- Department of Psychology and University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging," University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gert G Wagner
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) Berlin, Germany
| | - Nilam Ram
- Departments of Psychology and Communication, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.,German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) Berlin, Germany
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19
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Demuth I, Banszerus V, Drewelies J, Düzel S, Seeland U, Spira D, Tse E, Braun J, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Bertram L, Thiel A, Lindenberger U, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Gerstorf D. Cohort profile: follow-up of a Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) subsample as part of the GendAge study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e045576. [PMID: 34162642 PMCID: PMC8230995 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The study 'Sex- and gender-sensitive prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in older adults in Germany', the GendAge study, focuses on major risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and on the development of major outcomes from intermediate phenotypes in the context of sex and gender differences. It is based on a follow-up examination of a subsample (older group) of the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). PARTICIPANTS The GendAge study assessments took place between 22 June 2018 and 10 March 2020. A total of 1100 participants (older BASE-II subsample, aged ≥65 years) with baseline data assessed at least by one of the BASE-II partner sites were investigated in the follow-up. These participants had a mean age of 75.6 years (SD ±3.8), with a mean follow-up at 7.4 years (SD ±1.5). FINDINGS TO DATE Data from different domains such as internal medicine, geriatrics, immunology and psychology were collected, with a focus on cardiometabolic diseases and in the context of sex and gender differences. Diabetes mellitus type 2 was reported by 15.6% and 8.6% of men and women, respectively. In contrast, this disease was diagnosed in 20.7% of men and 13.3% of women, indicating that a substantial proportion of almost 30% was unaware of the disease. Echocardiography revealed that left ventricular ejection fraction was higher in women than in men, in agreement with previous reports. FUTURE PLANS A gender questionnaire assessing sociocultural aspects implemented as part of the follow-up described here will allow to calculate a gender score and its evaluation based on the newly collected data. At the same time, the other BASE-II research foci established over the past 10 years will be continued and strengthened by the BASE-II transition into a longitudinal study with follow-up data on the older subsample. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00016157.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilja Demuth
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (including Division of Lipid Metabolism), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Banszerus
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (including Division of Lipid Metabolism), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Düzel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Seeland
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health; Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Spira
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (including Division of Lipid Metabolism), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Esther Tse
- Berlin Institute for Gender in Medicine, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Braun
- Si-M / "Der Simulierte Mensch" a science framework of Technische, Universitat Berlin andCharité - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Regenerative Immunology and Aging, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (including Division of Lipid Metabolism), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Dept of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andreas Thiel
- Si-M / "Der Simulierte Mensch" a science framework of Technische, Universitat Berlin andCharité - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Regenerative Immunology and Aging, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute for Gender in Medicine, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Abstract
The human lifespan is constantly increasing across the world. Therefore, the question whether aging can take a "successful" route likely never has been as up-to-date as today. Still, gerontology continues to struggle with the concept of successful aging. In part I of this work, I outline six models of successful aging currently most discussed in aging science. Next, I compare the models according to four indicator domains: Psychologically oriented, socially oriented, bio-physical functioning oriented, and other. In part II, I address three key questions related to successful aging: Is successful aging possible in principle? Is it possible for all? Is it desirable for all? Regarding the first question, the conclusion based on empirical data is that across all models except the biological model aging successfully is possible in principle. Hence, I answer this question with a "YES, BUT." Successful aging at the bio-level so far seems very limited. In terms of question 2, expecting largely increasing portions of older adults fulfilling various of the so far established criteria of aging successfully in the future seem overly optimistic. Hence, I answer this question with "NO." For question 3, I critique the at first glance obvious persuasiveness of successful aging as a generally to be achieved end state. For example, it may be that norms of successful aging undermine old age's cultural richness in the future. Hence, I answer this question with "NOT SURE."
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21
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Vetter VM, Spira D, Banszerus VL, Demuth I. Epigenetic Clock and Leukocyte Telomere Length Are Associated with Vitamin D Status but not with Functional Assessments and Frailty in the Berlin Aging Study II. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 75:2056-2063. [PMID: 32324874 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) age acceleration, a parameter derived via the epigenetic clock, has recently been suggested as a biomarker of aging. We hypothesized that accelerated biological aging, measured by both this new and the established biomarker of aging, relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL), are associated with vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, we tested for an association between rLTL/DNAm age acceleration and different clinical assessments for functional capacity, including the Fried frailty score. Cross-sectional data of 1,649 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II was available (~50% female, age: 22-37 and 60-84 years). A seven cytosine-phosphate-guanine clock was estimated to calculate the DNAm age acceleration. rLTL was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum levels <25 nmol/L was defined as vitamin D deficiency and <50 nmol/L as vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D-sufficient individuals had a 1.4 years lower mean DNAm age acceleration (p < .05, analysis of variance [ANOVA]) and a 0.11 longer rLTL (p < .001, ANOVA) than vitamin D-deficient participants. Likewise, vitamin D-sufficient participants had lower DNAm age acceleration (β = 1.060, p = .001) and longer rLTL (β = -0.070; p < .001) than vitamin D nonsufficient subjects in covariate-adjusted analysis. Neither DNAm age acceleration nor rLTL were significantly associated with the Fried frailty score or the functional assessments. Only the clock drawing test was associated with DNAm age acceleration (subgroup of older men: β = 1.898, p = .002). Whether the analyzed biomarkers of aging can be used to predict an individual's functional capacity or will be associated with frailty in the advanced course of aging, will be clarified by future longitudinal analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Max Vetter
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Germany
| | - Dominik Spira
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Germany
| | - Verena Laura Banszerus
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Germany
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22
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Nauman AT, Behlouli H, Alexander N, Kendel F, Drewelies J, Mantantzis K, Berger N, Wagner GG, Gerstorf D, Demuth I, Pilote L, Regitz-Zagrosek V. Gender score development in the Berlin Aging Study II: a retrospective approach. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:15. [PMID: 33461607 PMCID: PMC7814714 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00351-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to biological sex, gender, defined as the sociocultural dimension of being a woman or a man, plays a central role in health. However, there are so far few approaches to quantify gender in a retrospective manner in existing study datasets. We therefore aimed to develop a methodology that can be retrospectively applied to assess gender in existing cohorts. We used baseline data from the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II), obtained in 2009–2014 from 1869 participants aged 60 years and older. We identified 13 gender-related variables and used them to construct a gender score by using primary component and logistic regression analyses. Of these, nine variables contributed to a gender score: chronic stress, marital status, risk-taking behaviour, personality attributes: agreeableness, neuroticism, extraversion, loneliness, conscientiousness, and level of education. Females and males differed significantly in the distribution of the gender score, but a significant overlap was also found. Thus, we were able to develop a gender score in a retrospective manner from already collected data that characterized participants in addition to biological sex. This approach will allow researchers to introduce the notion of gender retrospectively into a large number of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Tauseef Nauman
- Berlin Institute for Gender in Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,CCR (Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hassan Behlouli
- Centre for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Nicholas Alexander
- Berlin Institute for Gender in Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,CCR (Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Kendel
- Gender in Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Nora Berger
- Medical Clinic for Endocrinology, Biology of Aging group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gert G Wagner
- SocioEconomic Panel at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Medical Clinic for Endocrinology, Biology of Aging group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Louise Pilote
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Berlin Institute for Gender in Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,CCR (Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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23
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Bardo AR, Lynch SM. Cognitively Intact and Happy Life Expectancy in the United States. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:242-251. [PMID: 31155653 PMCID: PMC7813190 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbz080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined the number of years to be lived with and without cognitive impairment and with high self-assessed quality of life (i.e., happiness) among a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 65 years and older. Two key questions are addressed: Can people have a high quality of life despite being cognitively impaired? Which is longer: happy life expectancy or cognitively intact life expectancy? METHOD Data from nine waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2014) were used to estimate transition probabilities into and out of cognitively intact/impaired-un/happy states, as well as to death. Recently extended Bayesian multistate life table methods were used to estimate age-specific cognitively intact and happy life expectancy net of sex, race/ethnicity, education, and birth cohort. RESULTS Happiness and cognitive impairment were shown to coexist in both the gross cross-tabulated data and in the life tables. Happy life expectancy is approximately 25% longer than cognitively intact life expectancy at age 65 years, and by age 85, happy life expectancy is roughly double cognitively intact life expectancy, on average. DISCUSSION Lack of cognitive impairment is not a necessary condition for happiness. In other words, people can have a high quality of life despite being cognitively impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott M Lynch
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Munukka M, Koivunen K, von Bonsdorff M, Sipilä S, Portegijs E, Ruoppila I, Rantanen T. Birth cohort differences in cognitive performance in 75- and 80-year-olds: a comparison of two cohorts over 28 years. Aging Clin Exp Res 2021; 33:57-65. [PMID: 32918698 PMCID: PMC7897605 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01702-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective To evaluate cohort differences in cognitive performance in older men and women born and assessed 28 years apart. Methods Data in this study were drawn from two age-homogeneous cohorts measured in the same laboratory using the same standardized cognitive performance tests. Participants in the first cohort were born in 1910 and 1914 and assessed in 1989–1990 (Evergreen project, n = 500). Participants in the second cohort were born in 1938 or 1939 and 1942 or 1943 and assessed in 2017–2018 (Evergreen II, n = 726). Participants in both cohorts were assessed at age 75 and 80 years and were recruited from the population register. Cognitive performance was measured using the Digit Span test from the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), Digit Symbol test from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and phonemic Verbal Fluency test from the Schaie-Thurstone Adult Mental Abilities Test. Reaction time assessing motor and mental responses was measured with a simple finger movement task, followed by a complex finger movement task. T-tests were used to study cohort differences and linear regression models to study possible factors underlying differences. Results We found statistically significant cohort differences in all the cognitive performance tests, except for the digit span test and simple movement task in men, the later-born cohort performing better in all the measured outcomes. Conclusions The results of this study provide strong evidence that cognitive performance is better in more recent cohorts of older people compared to their counterparts measured 28 years earlier.
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Old age and fear of crime: cross-national evidence for a decreased impact of neighbourhood disadvantage in older age. AGEING & SOCIETY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x20001683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Fear of crime among older people has been a frequent topic in ageing research, criminology and urban studies. The ‘environmental docility hypothesis’ assumes that older people are more vulnerable to adverse neighbourhood conditions than younger age groups. Yet, few studies have tested this influential hypothesis using samples of respondents covering the complete adult lifespan. Looking at fear of crime, we investigated the person–environment interaction of age and neighbourhood disadvantage, using two independent surveys comprising 12,620 respondents aged 25–90 years residing in 435 neighbourhoods in four cities in Germany and Australia. We used multi-level analysis and cross-level interactions to model age-differential effects of neighbourhood disadvantage on fear. Contrary to the hypothesis, we found a weakening of neighbourhood effects on fear with age. The strong effect of neighbourhood disadvantage on fear of crime dropped by around half from the youngest (25 years) to the oldest age (90 years) in both countries. Younger people were almost as fearful as older people in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, but older people were considerably more fearful than younger ages in better-off neighbourhoods. We found limited empirical support for the assumption that this diminished association between neighbourhood disadvantage and fear can be explained by the stronger neighbourhood attachment of older people. The limitations of the analysis and potential future directions of research are discussed.
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Kozik P, Drewelies J, Düzel S, Demuth I, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Gerstorf D, Hoppmann CA. Future time perspective: Dimensions of opportunities, life, and time are differentially associated with physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being in old age. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:1487-1495. [PMID: 30966784 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1594159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The present study investigated the multidimensional nature of the future time perspective scale and dimension-specific associations with measures of physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being.Method: Using data from the Berlin Aging Study II (N = 1,038, M age = 71 years, range = 61-88 years, 52% women), different models of future time perspective were compared using confirmatory factor analyses, and the best-fitting model was then used to explore dimension-specific associations with physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being measures.Results: A model of future time perspective composed of a focus on opportunities, a focus on life, and a focus on time was found to have the best fit. An extended focus on opportunities was associated with stronger grip strength, more accurate memory, as well as higher life satisfaction and positive affect. An extended focus on time was associated with less accurate memory, lower negative affect, and greater life satisfaction. A focus on life was unrelated to study measures.Discussion: Findings suggest that future time perspective is multidimensional and that these dimensions are differentially associated with physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being in old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Kozik
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Sandra Düzel
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane A Hoppmann
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Almeida DM, Charles ST, Mogle J, Drewelies J, Aldwin CM, Spiro A, Gerstorf D. Charting adult development through (historically changing) daily stress processes. AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2020; 75:511-524. [PMID: 32378946 PMCID: PMC7213066 DOI: 10.1037/amp0000597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
This article views adult development through the lens of daily life experiences and recent historical changes in these experiences. In particular, it examines whether theories that postulate general linear increases in well-being throughout adulthood still hold during times of less prosperity and more uncertainty. Descriptive analyses of the National Study of Daily Experiences chart show how stress in the daily lives of Americans may have changed from the 1990s (N = 1,499) to the 2010s (N = 782). Results revealed that adults in the 2010s reported experiencing stressors on 2% more days than in the 1990s, which translates to an additional week of stressors across a year. Participants in the 2010s also reported that stressors were more severe and posed more risks to future plans and finances and that they experienced more distress. These historical changes were particularly pronounced among middle-aged adults (e.g., proportion of stressor days increased by 19%, and perceived risks to finances and to future plans rose by 61% and 52%, respectively). As a consequence, age-related linear increases in well-being observed from young adulthood to midlife in the 1990s were no longer observed in the 2010s. If further studies continue to replicate our findings, traditional theories of adult well-being that were developed and empirically tested during times of relative economic prosperity may need to be reevaluated in light of the changes in middle adulthood currently observed in this historic period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Almeida
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
| | - Susan T Charles
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - Jacqueline Mogle
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University
| | | | - Carolyn M Aldwin
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University
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Fiori KL, Windsor TD, Huxhold O. The Increasing Importance of Friendship in Late Life: Understanding the Role of Sociohistorical Context in Social Development. Gerontology 2020; 66:286-294. [PMID: 32088720 DOI: 10.1159/000505547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, family ties have been understood as the primary source of support for aging adults, and past empirical and theoretical work has highlighted the tendency of older adults to focus on close family. However, in line with demographic changes and historical increases in the diversity of social structures, friendships are increasing in importance in recent generations of older adults. Given the powerful role of context in shaping these changes, this paper offers a conceptual analysis linking individual agency to sociohistorical context as a way to understand this increasing diversity of social ties. More specifically, we propose that the individual invests time and energy to form and maintain social ties, and that each individual has a specific social opportunity structure (all potential ties that are available to invest in, as well as the costs of those investments). Furthermore, this investment of time and energy is determined in part by individual differences in capacities and motivations. We argue that sociohistorical context influences this process in three important ways: (1) in its effect on the social opportunity structure; (2) in its direct effect on time and energy; and (3) in its effect on individuals' capacities and motivations. We believe that these mechanisms can account for the increasing diversity of social ties across adulthood, as well as the potential for future historical changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim D Windsor
- Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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29
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Vonk JMJ, Arce Rentería M, Avila JF, Schupf N, Noble JM, Mayeux R, Brickman AM, Manly JJ. Secular trends in cognitive trajectories of diverse older adults. Alzheimers Dement 2019; 15:1576-1587. [PMID: 31672483 PMCID: PMC6925643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aimed to determine if later birth year influences trajectory of age-related cognitive decline across racial/ethnic groups and to test whether years of school, childhood socioeconomic status, and cardiovascular disease burden explain such secular trends. METHODS We compared cognitive trajectories of global cognition and subdomains in two successive racially/ethnically and educationally diverse birth cohorts of a prospective cohort study. RESULTS Later birth year was associated with higher initial cognitive levels for Whites and Blacks, but not Hispanics. Later birth year was also associated with less rapid rate of decline in all three racial/ethnic groups. More years of education, higher childhood socioeconomic status, and, to a smaller extent, greater cardiovascular disease burden accounted for higher intercepts in the later-born cohort, but did not account for attenuated slope of cognitive decline. DISCUSSION Later birth year is related to a slower rate of age-related decline in some cognitive domains in some racial/ethnic groups. Our analyses suggest that racial/ethnic and social inequalities are part of the mechanisms driving secular trends in cognitive aging and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jet M J Vonk
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miguel Arce Rentería
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justina F Avila
- Center for Health Policy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Nicole Schupf
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - James M Noble
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Mayeux
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam M Brickman
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer J Manly
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Boker SM, Moulder RG, Sjobeck GR. Constrained Fourth Order Latent Differential Equation Reduces Parameter Estimation Bias for Damped Linear Oscillator Models. STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING : A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL 2019; 27:202-218. [PMID: 32982133 PMCID: PMC7518521 DOI: 10.1080/10705511.2019.1641816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Second order linear differential equations can be used as models for regulation since under a range of parameter values they can account for return to equilibrium as well as potential oscillations in regulated variables. One method that can estimate parameters of these equations from intensive time series data is the method of Latent Differential Equations (LDE). However, the LDE method can exhibit bias in its parameters if the dimension of the time delay embedding and thus the width of the convolution kernel is not chosen wisely. This article presents a simulation study showing that a constrained fourth order Latent Differential Equation (FOLDE) model for the second order system almost completely eliminates bias as long as the width of the convolution kernel is less than two thirds the period of oscillations in the data. The FOLDE model adds two degrees of freedom over the standard LDE model but significantly improves model fit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Boker
- Department of Psychology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Robert G Moulder
- Department of Psychology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Gustav R Sjobeck
- Department of Psychology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
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Buchmann N, Spira D, König M, Norman K, Demuth I, Steinhagen-Thiessen E. Problematic drinking in the old and its association with muscle mass and muscle function in type II diabetes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12005. [PMID: 31427589 PMCID: PMC6700201 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Problematic drinking behavior is common in the old and negative consequences of hypoglycemic episodes in type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a result of alcohol consumption have been described previously. Although, associations between such hypoglycemic episodes with reduced muscle mass are discussed, it is uncertain if problematic drinking behavior drives decline of muscle mass and/or muscle function. In the current study, we analyzed data of the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) to examine the association of problematic drinking behavior with muscle mass and grip strength in T2D. Cross-sectional data of 1451 old BASE-II participants (51.6% women; 60–84 years old) were analyzed. Problematic drinking behavior was assessed using the Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT). Muscle mass was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), grip strength using a Smedley dynamometer. Adjusted regression models were calculated to assess the association of problematic drinking with muscle mass and grip strength. Problematic drinking was evident in 11.2% of BASE-II participants and in 12.5% of BASE-II participants diabetes was evident. In the fully adjusted model (adjusted for age, trunk fat mass, HbA1c, antidiabetic medication, TSH, CRP, testosterone, physical inactivity, depression (GDS-score), morbidities, smoking status and total energy intake/day, we found a statistically significant association between problematic drinking and muscle mass (β-3.7, SE: 1.3, R2 0.481, partial eta square 0.166, observed power 0.816, p-value 0.005) and grip strength (β-8.1, SE: 3.3, R2 0.222, partial eta square 0.134, observed power 0.670, p-value 0.018) in old diabetic men. These associations were not evident in women and subjects without T2D. Problematic drinking behavior was associated with lower muscle mass and grip strength in old men with diabetes. This topic should be addressed in these subjects as they could be at increased risk for early functional decline, sarcopenia or frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Buchmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Internal Medicine B, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Dominik Spira
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian König
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Norman
- German Institute of Human Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Gerontology, Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany.,Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Forschungsgruppe Geriatrie am EGZB, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
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Brailean A, Huisman M, Prince M, Prina AM, Deeg DJH, Comijs H. Cohort Differences in Cognitive Aging in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2019; 73:1214-1223. [PMID: 27694370 PMCID: PMC6146762 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbw129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aims to examine cohort differences in cognitive performance and rates of change in episodic memory, processing speed, inductive reasoning, and general cognitive performance and to investigate whether these cohort effects may be accounted for by education attainment. Method The first cohort (N = 705) was born between 1920 and 1930, whereas the second cohort (N = 646) was born between 1931 and 1941. Both birth cohorts were aged 65 to 75 years at baseline and were followed up 3 and 6 years later. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results The later born cohort had better general cognitive performance, inductive reasoning, and processing speed at baseline, but cohort differences in inductive reasoning and general cognitive performance disappeared after adjusting for education. The later born cohort showed steeper decline in processing speed. Memory decline was steeper in the earlier born cohort but only from Time 1 to Time 3 when the same memory test was administered. Education did not account for cohort differences in cognitive decline. Discussion The later born cohort showed better initial performance in certain cognitive abilities, but no better preservation of cognitive abilities overtime compared with the earlier born cohort. These findings carry implications for healthy cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Brailean
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, UK
| | - Martijn Huisman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Prince
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, UK
| | - A Matthew Prina
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, UK
| | - Dorly J H Deeg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hannie Comijs
- Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Ahrenfeldt LJ, Lindahl-Jacobsen R, Rizzi S, Thinggaard M, Christensen K, Vaupel JW. Comparison of cognitive and physical functioning of Europeans in 2004-05 and 2013. Int J Epidemiol 2019; 47:1518-1528. [PMID: 29868871 PMCID: PMC6208267 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adult mortality has been postponed over time to increasingly high ages. However, evidence on past and current health trends has been mixed, and little is known about European disability trends. Methods In a cross-sectional setting, we compared cognitive and physical functioning in same-aged Europeans aged 50+ between 2004–05 (wave 1; n = 18 757) and 2013 (wave 5 refresher respondents; n = 16 696), sourced from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Results People in 2013 had better cognitive function compared with same-aged persons in 2004–05, with an average difference of approximately one-third standard deviation. The same level of cognitive function in 2004–05 at age 50 was found in 2013 for people who were 8 years older. There was an improvement in cognitive function in all European regions. Mean grip strength showed an improvement in Northern Europe of 1.00 kg [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65; 1.35] and in Southern Europe of 1.68 kg (95% CI 1.14; 2.22), whereas a decrease was found in Central Europe (-0.80 kg; 95% CI −1.16; −0.44). We found no overall differences in activities of daily living (ADL), but small improvements in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in Northern and Southern Europe, with an improvement in both ADL and IADL from age 70 in Northern Europe. Conclusions Our results indicate that later-born Europeans have substantially better cognitive functioning than earlier-born cohorts. For physical functioning, improvements were less clear, but for Northern Europe there was an improvement in ADL and IADL in the oldest age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda J Ahrenfeldt
- Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Education on Population Change, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen
- Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Education on Population Change, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Silvia Rizzi
- Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Education on Population Change, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mikael Thinggaard
- Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Education on Population Change, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - James W Vaupel
- Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Education on Population Change, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Notthoff N, Drewelies J, Kazanecka P, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Norman K, Düzel S, Daumer M, Lindenberger U, Demuth I, Gerstorf D. Feeling older, walking slower-but only if someone's watching. Subjective age is associated with walking speed in the laboratory, but not in real life. Eur J Ageing 2018; 15:425-433. [PMID: 30532679 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-017-0450-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The huge inter-individual differences in how people age have prompted researchers to examine whether people's own perception of how old they are-their subjective age-could be a better predictor of relevant outcomes than their actual chronological age. Indeed, how old people feel does predict mortality hazards, and health-related measures such as walking speed may account for this association. In the present study, we extended this line of work by investigating whether subjective age also predicts walking speed and running speed in daily life or whether the predictive effects of subjective age for behavior manifest only within a controlled performance situation. We used data from 80 older participants (age range 62-82 years; M = 69.50, SD = 4.47) from the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). Subjective age was assessed by self-report. Walking speed in the laboratory was measured with the Timed Up and Go test, and walking speed and running speed in real life were measured with an accelerometer. Results showed that compared to participants who felt older, those who felt younger than they actually were indeed walked faster in the laboratory, but they did not walk or run faster in real life. These patterns of results held when age, gender, education, BMI, comorbidity, depression, physical activity, and cognition were covaried. We discuss the role of stereotype threat in accounting for these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Notthoff
- 1Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- 1Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Sandra Düzel
- 3Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Daumer
- 4Sylvia Lawry Centre for Multiple Sclerosis Research, e.V., Munich, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- 3Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- European University Institute, San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Fiesole, Italy
| | - Ilja Demuth
- 2Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- 1Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
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Cabeza R, Albert M, Belleville S, Craik FIM, Duarte A, Grady CL, Lindenberger U, Nyberg L, Park DC, Reuter-Lorenz PA, Rugg MD, Steffener J, Rajah MN. Maintenance, reserve and compensation: the cognitive neuroscience of healthy ageing. Nat Rev Neurosci 2018; 19:701-710. [PMID: 30305711 PMCID: PMC6472256 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-018-0068-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 556] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive ageing research examines the cognitive abilities that are preserved and/or those that decline with advanced age. There is great individual variability in cognitive ageing trajectories. Some older adults show little decline in cognitive ability compared with young adults and are thus termed 'optimally ageing'. By contrast, others exhibit substantial cognitive decline and may develop dementia. Human neuroimaging research has led to a number of important advances in our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying these two outcomes. However, interpreting the age-related changes and differences in brain structure, activation and functional connectivity that this research reveals is an ongoing challenge. Ambiguous terminology is a major source of difficulty in this venture. Three terms in particular - compensation, maintenance and reserve - have been used in a number of different ways, and researchers continue to disagree about the kinds of evidence or patterns of results that are required to interpret findings related to these concepts. As such inconsistencies can impede progress in both theoretical and empirical research, here, we aim to clarify and propose consensual definitions of these terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cabeza
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sylvie Belleville
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fergus I M Craik
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Audrey Duarte
- School of Psychology, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cheryl L Grady
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Departments of Radiation Sciences and Integrated Medical Biology, UFBI, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Denise C Park
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jason Steffener
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Natasha Rajah
- Departments of Psychiatry & Psychology, McGill University and Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Cabeza R, Albert M, Belleville S, Craik FIM, Duarte A, Grady CL, Lindenberger U, Nyberg L, Park DC, Reuter-Lorenz PA, Rugg MD, Steffener J, Rajah MN. Maintenance, reserve and compensation: the cognitive neuroscience of healthy ageing. NATURE REVIEWS. NEUROSCIENCE 2018. [PMID: 30305711 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-018-0068-2.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive ageing research examines the cognitive abilities that are preserved and/or those that decline with advanced age. There is great individual variability in cognitive ageing trajectories. Some older adults show little decline in cognitive ability compared with young adults and are thus termed 'optimally ageing'. By contrast, others exhibit substantial cognitive decline and may develop dementia. Human neuroimaging research has led to a number of important advances in our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying these two outcomes. However, interpreting the age-related changes and differences in brain structure, activation and functional connectivity that this research reveals is an ongoing challenge. Ambiguous terminology is a major source of difficulty in this venture. Three terms in particular - compensation, maintenance and reserve - have been used in a number of different ways, and researchers continue to disagree about the kinds of evidence or patterns of results that are required to interpret findings related to these concepts. As such inconsistencies can impede progress in both theoretical and empirical research, here, we aim to clarify and propose consensual definitions of these terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cabeza
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sylvie Belleville
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fergus I M Craik
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Audrey Duarte
- School of Psychology, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cheryl L Grady
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Departments of Radiation Sciences and Integrated Medical Biology, UFBI, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Denise C Park
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jason Steffener
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Natasha Rajah
- Departments of Psychiatry & Psychology, McGill University and Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Drewelies J, Agrigoroaei S, Lachman ME, Gerstorf D. Age variations in cohort differences in the United States: Older adults report fewer constraints nowadays than those 18 years ago, but mastery beliefs are diminished among younger adults. Dev Psychol 2018; 54:1408-1425. [PMID: 29952599 DOI: 10.1037/dev0000527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Life Span psychological and life course sociological perspectives have long acknowledged that individual functioning is shaped by historical and sociocultural contexts. Secular increases favoring later-born cohorts are widely documented for fluid cognitive performance and well-being (among older adults). However, little is known about secular trends in other key resources of psychosocial function such as perceptions of control and whether historical changes have occurred in young, middle-aged, and older adults alike. To examine these questions, we compared data from two independent national samples of the Midlife in the United States survey obtained 18 years apart (1995/96 vs. 2013/14) and identified case-matched cohorts (per cohort, n = 2,223, aged = 23-75 years) based on age and gender. We additionally examined the role of economic resources for cohort differences in perceived mastery and constraints. Results revealed that older adults in later-born cohorts reported perceiving fewer constraints than did matched controls 18 years ago, with such positive secular trends being particularly pronounced among women. In contrast, younger adults reported perceiving more constraints in later-born cohorts than those 18 years ago and also reported perceiving lower mastery. We conclude from our national U.S. sample that secular trends generalize to central psychosocial resources across adulthood, such as perceptions of control, but are not unanimously positive. We discuss possible underlying mechanisms and practical implications. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Agrigoroaei
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain
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Frith E, Loprinzi PD. 15-Year Secular Trends in Cognitive Function Among Older Adults in the United States. Psychol Rep 2018; 122:841-852. [PMID: 29566595 DOI: 10.1177/0033294118765227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is associated with various chronic diseases, including mobility limitation and early mortality. Thus, evaluating changes in cognition is of paramount public health interest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate secular trends in cognitive function among a representative sample of the U.S. older adult population. Data from the 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were utilized to identify an aggregate sample of adults 60+ years of age. The sample size across the four respective cycles was 1417, 1558, 1422, and 1592. Three cognitive assessments were employed, including the CERAD Word Learning subset (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease), the Animal Fluency test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). For the entire sample and several subpopulations, DSST scores increased from 1999 to 2012 and then decreased in the 2013 to 2014 cycle. For all CERAD trials, there was evidence of increased CERAD performance from 2011-2012 to 2013-2014. No secular trends were observed for the Animal Fluency task across these cycles. Select cognitive parameters appear to be improving among U.S. older adults. Future work is needed to further explore secular trends in cognitive sustainability, and, as evidenced by our present study, cognitive enrichment over time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul D Loprinzi
- Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
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König M, Drewelies J, Norman K, Spira D, Buchmann N, Hülür G, Eibich P, Wagner GG, Lindenberger U, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Gerstorf D, Demuth I. Historical trends in modifiable indicators of cardiovascular health and self-rated health among older adults: Cohort differences over 20 years between the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) and the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191699. [PMID: 29385202 PMCID: PMC5792001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The last decades have seen great advances in the understanding, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although mortality rates due to CVD have declined significantly in the last decades, the burden of CVD is still high, particularly in older adults. This raises the question whether contemporary populations of older adults are experiencing better or worse objective as well as subjective health than earlier-born cohorts. The aim of this study was to examine differences in modifiable indicators of cardiovascular health (CVH), comparing data obtained 20 years apart in the Berlin Aging Study (BASE, 1990–93) and the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II, 2009–2014). Methods Serial cross-sectional analysis of 242 propensity-score-matched participants of BASE (born 1907–1922) and BASE-II (born 1925–1942). Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), diet, smoking and physical activity were operationalized according to the “Life’s simple 7“(LS7) criteria of the American Heart Association. Results 121 matched pairs were identified based on age, sex, and education. In the later-born BASE-II sample, the mean LS7 score was significantly higher than in the earlier-born sample (7.8±1.8 vs. 6.4±2.1, p<0.001), indicating better CVH. In detail, diet, physical activity, smoking, cholesterol, and HbA1c were more favorable, whereas blood pressure was significantly higher in individuals from the later-born cohort. BMI did not differ significantly between the two matched samples. Notably, despite better CVH, later-born individuals (BASE-II) reported lower self-rated health, presumably because of higher health expectations. Conclusions Overall, cardiovascular health was significantly better in the later-born cohort, but several notable exceptions exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian König
- Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Drewelies
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Norman
- Geriatrics Research Group, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany
| | - Dominik Spira
- Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Buchmann
- Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gizem Hülür
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Eibich
- Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gert G. Wagner
- German Institute for Economic Research, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Buchmann N, Spira D, Norman K, Demuth I, Eckardt R, Steinhagen-Thiessen E. Sleep, Muscle Mass and Muscle Function in Older People. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 113:253-60. [PMID: 27151463 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2016.0253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss of muscle mass, particularly in old age, can restrict mobility and physical function. Sleep is thought to play a key role in the maintenance of muscle mass; sleep disturbances have a prevalence of 6-30% in Germany. In this study, based on data from the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II), we analyze the relationship between sleep efficiency and quality on the one hand, and muscle mass and muscle function on the other. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data from 1196 subjects (52.5% women; 68 ± 4 years). Sleep behavior was assessed with questions from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; appendicular lean mass (ALM) with dual x-ray absorp - tiometry; and muscle function with a measure of grip strength and with questionnaires about physical activity and impairment of physical activities. Low muscle mass was determined from the ALM corrected by the body-mass index (BMI), i.e., from the ratio ALM/BMI. RESULTS 19.1% of the women and 13.4% of the men reported poor sleep quality. Men whose ALM/BMI ratio was below the cutoff value for low muscle mass more frequently reported very poor sleep efficiency (9.1% , versus 4.8% in women; p<0.002). The adjusted odds ratio for low muscle mass was 2.8 for men with poor sleep quality (95% confidence interval: [1.1; 6.7]) and 4.3 for men with poor sleep efficiency [1.2; 15.1]. In women, there was no statistically significant association between sleep quality and efficiency on the one hand and ALM/BMI values below cutoff on the other, but poor sleep quality was found to be associated with reduced grip strength (16.25 kg ± 2.33 kg versus 15.67 kg ± 2.38 kg; p = 0.009) and low appendicular lean mass (ALM: 16.25 kg ± 2.33 kg versus 15.67 kg ± 2.38 kg; p = 0.016). CONCLUSION These findings support the hypothesis of a link between sleep and muscle mass. The dependence of muscle mass on sleep behavior needs to be investigated in longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Buchmann
- Geriatrics Research Group, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Rahel Eckardt and Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen are joint last authors
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König M, Spira D, Demuth I, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Norman K. Polypharmacy as a Risk Factor for Clinically Relevant Sarcopenia: Results From the Berlin Aging Study II. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2017; 73:117-122. [PMID: 28481965 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sarcopenia affects more than 10% of older adults. Next to age-associated physiologic changes, diseases like diabetes or inflammatory, neurological, malignant and endocrine disorders may contribute to the development of sarcopenia. Likewise, polypharmacy, i.e., multiple drug use, is common among older adults. Although the two conditions frequently co-occur, the association of polypharmacy with sarcopenia has not yet been examined. We investigated the association of polypharmacy and sarcopenia in a large cohort of community-dwelling older adults (60-84 years). Methods Thousand five hundred and two participants from the Berlin Aging Study II were included. Polypharmacy was defined as concurrent use of 5 or more drugs (prescription and nonprescription). Body composition was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and appendicular lean mass (ALM) was calculated as sum of the four limbs' lean mass. Sarcopenia was defined as low ALM-to-body mass index (BMI)-ratio using validated sex-specific cutoffs. Results Mean age was 68.7 ± 3.7 years, 50.7% were female. The median (interquartile range) number of drugs was 2 (1-4); 21.1% of subjects reported regular use of ≥5 drugs. Subjects with polypharmacy were more often sarcopenic according to the applied ALM/BMI-cutoffs (16.3% vs 6.9%, p < 0.001), with a higher BMI (p < 0.001) and lower ALM/BMI (p < 0.001), but no significant difference in mean ALM. Notably, polypharmacy was also associated with higher rates of reduced gait speed and exhaustion. Even after multivariable adjustment (sex, age, comorbid conditions and physical activity) polypharmacy was consistently associated with a significantly increased likelihood of sarcopenia (odds ratio = 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33-3.75). Conclusion Polypharmacy is associated with clinically relevant sarcopenia, as assessed by a low ALM/BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian König
- Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Spira
- Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen
- Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.,Lipid Clinic and Lipid Apheresis, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Norman
- Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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Kokko K, Feldt T. Longitudinal profiles of mental well-being as correlates of successful aging in middle age. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/0165025417739177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study analyzed the multidimensional (including emotional, psychological, and social well-being) profiles of mental well-being and their links to various indicators of successful aging (SA; including diseases, cognitive and physical function, and engagement with life). The analyses were based on the Finnish Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development, where the age-cohort participants have been followed from age 8 to 50. Data on 335 participants collected in mid-adulthood were analyzed. Applying Latent Profile Analysis and measures of life satisfaction and psychological well-being at ages 36, 42, and 50 and social well-being at ages 42 and 50, four longitudinal well-being profiles were extracted: high (29% of the participants), relatively high (47%), moderate (22%), and low (3%). ANCOVAs (controlling for gender and education) revealed that the participants in the high, relatively high, and moderate well-being profiles had more satisfying relationships, better labor market success, and fewer diseases at age 50 than those in the low well-being profile. Fewer inter-profile differences were observed in physical or cognitive function. Favorable profiles of mental well-being are related to SA in mid-adulthood. Future studies should investigate the causal relations between well-being and SA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Taru Feldt
- University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Jung A, Spira D, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Demuth I, Norman K. Zinc Deficiency Is associated With Depressive Symptoms-Results From the Berlin Aging Study II. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2017; 72:1149-1154. [PMID: 27789618 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glw218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zinc plays an important role for behavioral and mental function, maintaining the correct functions of intracellular signal transduction, cellular and trans-membrane transport, protein synthesis, and antioxidant system. We investigated both dietary zinc intake and plasma zinc levels and the correlation with depressive symptoms in a large sample of community-dwelling old. Design One thousand five hundred fourteen older people (aged 60-84 years, 772 women) from the Berlin Aging Study II were included. Zinc intake was assessed by the EPIC Food Frequency Questionnaire. Plasma zinc levels were assessed with atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the "Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale" and the "Geriatric Depression Scale." Results Zinc deficiency in blood plasma was found in 18.7% of participants, and depressive symptoms in 15.7%. Participants with depressive symptoms had lower energy-adjusted zinc intake (median 11.1 vs 11.6 µmol/L; p = .048) and lower plasma zinc levels (median 12.2 vs12.3 mg/dL; p = .037). Even after adjustment for known predictors of depression, plasma zinc deficiency remained significantly associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio: 1.490, 95% confidence interval: 1.027-2.164; p = .036). In the multiple logistic regression model stratified by sex, we found that plasma zinc deficiency was strongly associated with a higher risk for depressive symptoms in women (odds ratio: 1.739, 95% confidence interval: 1.068-2.833; p = .026). Conclusions Plasma zinc deficiency was common in our old study population. An increase in dietary zinc and higher plasma zinc levels may reduce the risk of depressive symptoms. A screening for reduced dietary zinc intake or plasma zinc deficiency might be beneficial in older people at risk of depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominik Spira
- Charité Research Group on Geriatrics.,Interdisciplinary Metabolic Center
| | | | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité Research Group on Geriatrics.,Interdisciplinary Metabolic Center.,Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Norman
- Charité Research Group on Geriatrics.,Interdisciplinary Metabolic Center
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Langa KM, Larson EB, Crimmins EM, Faul JD, Levine DA, Kabeto MU, Weir DR. A Comparison of the Prevalence of Dementia in the United States in 2000 and 2012. JAMA Intern Med 2017; 177:51-58. [PMID: 27893041 PMCID: PMC5195883 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.6807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 520] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The aging of the US population is expected to lead to a large increase in the number of adults with dementia, but some recent studies in the United States and other high-income countries suggest that the age-specific risk of dementia may have declined over the past 25 years. Clarifying current and future population trends in dementia prevalence and risk has important implications for patients, families, and government programs. OBJECTIVE To compare the prevalence of dementia in the United States in 2000 and 2012. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative, population-based longitudinal survey of individuals in the United States 65 years or older from the 2000 (n = 10 546) and 2012 (n = 10 511) waves of the HRS. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Dementia was identified in each year using HRS cognitive measures and validated methods for classifying self-respondents, as well as those represented by a proxy. Logistic regression was used to identify socioeconomic and health variables associated with change in dementia prevalence between 2000 and 2012. RESULTS The study cohorts had an average age of 75.0 years (95% CI, 74.8-75.2 years) in 2000 and 74.8 years (95% CI, 74.5-75.1 years) in 2012 (P = .24); 58.4% (95% CI, 57.3%-59.4%) of the 2000 cohort was female compared with 56.3% (95% CI, 55.5%-57.0%) of the 2012 cohort (P < .001). Dementia prevalence among those 65 years or older decreased from 11.6% (95% CI, 10.7%-12.7%) in 2000 to 8.8% (95% CI, 8.2%-9.4%) (8.6% with age- and sex-standardization) in 2012 (P < .001). More years of education was associated with a lower risk for dementia, and average years of education increased significantly (from 11.8 years [95% CI, 11.6-11.9 years] to 12.7 years [95% CI, 12.6-12.9 years]; P < .001) between 2000 and 2012. The decline in dementia prevalence occurred even though there was a significant age- and sex-adjusted increase between years in the cardiovascular risk profile (eg, prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity) among older US adults. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The prevalence of dementia in the United States declined significantly between 2000 and 2012. An increase in educational attainment was associated with some of the decline in dementia prevalence, but the full set of social, behavioral, and medical factors contributing to the decline is still uncertain. Continued monitoring of trends in dementia incidence and prevalence will be important for better gauging the full future societal impact of dementia as the number of older adults increases in the decades ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Langa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor2Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan3Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor4Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Eric B Larson
- Group Health Research Institute, Departments of Medicine and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Eileen M Crimmins
- Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Jessica D Faul
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Deborah A Levine
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor2Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan4Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor7Department of Neurology and Stroke Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Mohammed U Kabeto
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor2Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - David R Weir
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Crimmins EM, Saito Y, Kim JK. Change in Cognitively Healthy and Cognitively Impaired Life Expectancy in the United States: 2000-2010. SSM Popul Health 2016; 2:793-797. [PMID: 27917398 PMCID: PMC5130162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine how cognitively healthy and cognitively impaired life expectancy have changed from 2000 to 2010 among American men and women 65 years of age and over. Methods The prevalence of dementia, cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND), and normal cognition is determined from nationally representative data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Mortality rates are from U.S. Decennial Life Table for 2000 and the U.S. annual life table for 2010. Life expectancy by cognitive status is estimated using the Sullivan method. Results Most of the increase in life expectancy has been concentrated in cognitively healthy years in this 10 year period. The increase in expected years cognitively intact at age 65, which exceeded that in total life expectancy, was 1.8 for men and 1.6 for women. Conclusion This study provides evidence suggesting that there has been a compression of cognitive morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Crimmins
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Yasuhiko Saito
- University Research Center, Nihon University, Nihon Daigaku Kaikan Daini Bekkan, 12-5, Goban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8251, Japan,
| | - Jung Ki Kim
- Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA,
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Mueller S, Wagner J, Drewelies J, Duezel S, Eibich P, Specht J, Demuth I, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Wagner GG, Gerstorf D. Personality development in old age relates to physical health and cognitive performance: Evidence from the Berlin Aging Study II. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Parameters of Sarcopenia: Relation to Muscle Mass, Strength and Function: Data from the Berlin Aging Study-II (BASE-II). Drugs Aging 2016; 33:829-837. [DOI: 10.1007/s40266-016-0396-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Billstedt E, Waern M, Falk H, Duberstein P, Östling S, Hällström T, Skoog I. Time Trends in Murray's Psychogenic Needs over Three Decades in Swedish 75-Year-Olds. Gerontology 2016; 63:45-54. [PMID: 27578193 DOI: 10.1159/000448113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While time trends in personality traits have been suggested in younger cohorts, little is known regarding this issue in older adults. OBJECTIVE To test for birth cohort changes in psychogenic needs according to Murray's theory of personality in two birth cohorts of 75-year-olds born 1901-1902 and 1930. METHODS Two population-based birth cohorts were examined at the age of 75 years in 1976-1977 and in 2005-2006. Psychogenic needs according to Murray were measured with the Cesarec-Marke Personality Schedule (CMPS), a Swedish version of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Scores on the CMPS subscales (achievement, affiliation, aggression, defence of status, guilt feelings, dominance, exhibition, autonomy, nurturance, order, succorance, and acquiescence) were compared between cohorts. RESULTS Achievement, exhibition, dominance, aggression, affiliation, and succorance scores were higher, and order and acquiescence scores lower, in the more recent birth cohort of 75-year-olds. Women scored lower than men on exhibition and dominance, and higher on defence of status, guilt feelings, affiliation, nurturance, and succorance. Interaction effects between cohort and sex were found for achievement (women scored lower than men in 1976-1977 but not in 2005-2006), order (the lower scores in 2005-2006 were more accentuated among men), and acquiescence (increased in men and decreased in women). CONCLUSION The later-born birth cohort scored higher on self-centred traits, such as more dominant, competitive, and exhibitive traits as well as the need to be taken care of and have friends around, but it scored lower on the need for order. The gap between men and women regarding achievement decreased, possibly reflecting women's more prominent role in society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Billstedt
- Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Relations between Concurrent Longitudinal Changes in Cognition, Depressive Symptoms, Self-Rated Health and Everyday Function in Normally Aging Octogenarians. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160742. [PMID: 27551749 PMCID: PMC4995030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ability to predict and prevent incipient functional decline in older adults may help prolong independence. Cognition is related to everyday function and easily administered, sensitive cognitive tests may help identify at-risk individuals. Factors like depressive symptoms and self-rated health are also associated with functional ability and may be as important as cognition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between concurrent longitudinal changes in cognition, depression, self-rated health and everyday function in a well-defined cohort of healthy 85 year olds that were followed-up at the age of 90 in the Elderly in Linköping Screening Assessment 85 study. Regression analyses were used to determine if cognitive decline as assessed by global (the Mini-Mental State Examination) and domain specific (the Cognitive Assessment Battery, CAB) cognitive tests predicted functional decline in the context of changes in depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Results showed deterioration in most variables and as many as 83% of these community-dwelling elders experienced functional difficulties at the age of 90. Slowing-down of processing speed as assessed by the Symbol Digits Modality Test (included in the CAB) accounted for 14% of the variance in functional decline. Worsening self-rated health accounted for an additional 6%, but no other variables reached significance. These results are discussed with an eye to possible preventive interventions that may prolong independence for the steadily growing number of normally aging old-old citizens.
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50
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Ratigan A, Kritz-Silverstein D, Barrett-Connor E. Sex differences in the association of physical function and cognitive function with life satisfaction in older age: The Rancho Bernardo Study. Maturitas 2016; 89:29-35. [PMID: 27180157 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study examines the cross-sectional associations of cognitive and physical function with life satisfaction in middle-class, community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older. STUDY DESIGN Participants were 632 women and 410 men who had cognitive function tests (CFT) and physical function tasks (PFT) assessed at a clinic visit between 1988 and 1992, and who responded in 1992 to a mailed survey that included life satisfaction measures. Cognitive impairment was defined as ≤24 on MMSE, ≥132 on Trails B, ≤12 on Category Fluency, ≤13 on Buschke long-term recall, and ≤7 on Heaton immediate recall. Physical impairment was defined as participants' self-reported difficulty (yes/no) in performing 10 physical functions. Multiple linear regression examined associations between life satisfaction and impairment on ≥1 CFT or difficulty with ≥1 PFT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; range:0-26) and Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSI-Z; range:5-35). RESULTS Participants' average age was 73.4 years (range=60-94). Categorically defined cognitive impairment was present in 40% of men and 47% of women. Additionally, 30% of men and 43% of women reported difficulty performing any PFT. Adjusting for age and impairment on ≥1 CFT, difficulty performing ≥1 PFT was associated with lower LSI-Z and SWLS scores in men (β=-1.73, -1.26, respectively, p<0.05) and women (β=-1.79, -1.93, respectively, p<0.01). However, impairment on ≥ 1 CFT was not associated with LSI-Z or SWLS score after adjusting for age and difficulty with ≥1 PFT. CONCLUSIONS Limited cognitive function was more common than limited physical function; however, limited physical function was more predictive of lower life satisfaction. Interventions to increase or maintain mobility among older adults may improve overall life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Ratigan
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr. San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Donna Kritz-Silverstein
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Barrett-Connor
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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