The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Oct 2021
Bidirectional and dynamic relationships between social isolation and physical functioning among older adults: A cross-lagged panel model of US national survey data.
Previous studies examining unidirectional relationships between social isolation and physical functioning among older adults may be biased due to reverse causality. This study leveraged data from a US national sample of older adults and a novel estimation method to identify bidirectional associations between these 2 phenomena and their associated temporal dynamics. ⋯ This study confirmed the existence of statistically significant bidirectional associations between social isolation and physical functioning among older adults in the United States, net of reverse causation. Because the effect of social isolation dominates, the findings indicate that public health strategies to promote successful aging should prioritize interventions that enrich older adults' social networks. Furthermore, the effect time horizons yielded by the model point to the optimal timing for the re-delivery of interventions.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Aug 2021
Association between estimated GFR based on cystatin C and grip strength in community-dwelling Japanese older adults.
Kidney dysfunction is associated with sarcopenia. Estimated glomerular filtration rate based on cystatin C (eGFRcys), an alternative to creatinine-based measures of kidney function eGFR, is not affected by muscle mass. Given that the association of eGFRcys with muscle weakness would be limited, we examined the association in older adults with normal or compromised kidney function. ⋯ Low kidney function as assessed by eGFRcys was associated with muscle weakness in community-dwelling Japanese older adults.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Aug 2021
Chronic Pain and Risk of Injurious Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Fall injuries are a leading cause of death in older adults. The potential impact of chronic pain characteristics on risk for injurious falls is not well understood. This prospective cohort study examined the relationship between chronic pain and risk for injurious falls in older adults. ⋯ Global pain measures are associated with increased risk of injurious falls in older adults. Pain assessment should be incorporated into fall risk assessments. Interventions are needed to prevent fall injuries among elders with chronic pain.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jul 2021
Impact of systemic corticosteroids on mortality in older adults with critical COVID-19 pneumonia.
The most susceptible population group to critical and fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is older adults. In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the host immune response is thought to play a key role in the pathophysiological effects of lung damage. Therefore, corticosteroid therapy could modulate inflammation-mediated pulmonary injury and thereby reduce progression to severe respiratory failure and death. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and clinical efficacy of corticosteroid therapy in older adults with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. ⋯ In critically ill older adults with COVID-19 pneumonia, the use of corticosteroid treatment resulted in lower mortality without severe adverse events.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · May 2021
A Non-APOE Polygenic Risk Score for Alzheimer's Disease Is Associated With Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilament Light in a Representative Sample of Cognitively Unimpaired 70-Year Olds.
The effect of Alzheimer's disease (AD) polygenic risk scores (PRS) on amyloid and tau pathophysiology and neurodegeneration in cognitively unimpaired older adults is not known in detail. This study aims to investigate non-APOE AD-PRS and APOE ε4 in relation to AD pathophysiology evaluated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in a population-based sample of 70-year olds. A total of 303 dementia-free individuals from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies were included. ⋯ In relation to Aβ42, there was a borderline interaction (p = .06) between non-APOE PRS and APOE ε4; association was present in ε4 carriers only (p = .03). Similar results were observed in individuals with CDR = 0 (n = 246). In conclusion, among cognitively healthy 70-year olds from the general population, genetic risk of AD beyond the APOE locus was associated with NfL in individuals without Aβ42 pathology, and with Aβ42 in APOE ε4 carriers, suggesting these associations are driven by different mechanisms.