The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Dec 2012
ReviewUrine concentrating and diluting ability during aging.
Urine concentrating ability is reduced during normal aging in people and rats. The abundance of many of the key transport proteins that contribute to urine concentrating ability is reduced in the kidney medulla of aged rats. The reductions in water, sodium, and urea transport protein abundances, and their reduced response to water restriction, contribute to the reduced ability of aged rats to concentrate their urine and conserve water. If similar mechanisms occur in human kidneys, it would provide a molecular explanation for the reduced urine concentrating ability in aging and may provide opportunities for novel therapeutic approaches to improve urine concentrating ability and/or nocturnal polyuria.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2012
Comparative StudyAir pollution shortens life expectancy and health expectancy for older adults: the case of China.
Outdoor air pollution is one of the most worrying environmental threats China faces today. Comprehensive and quantitative analyses of the health consequences of air pollution in China are lacking. This study reports age- and sex-specific life expectancy and health expectancies (HEs) corresponding to different levels of air pollution based on associations between air pollution and individual risks for a host of health conditions and mortality net of individual- and community-level confounders. ⋯ Air pollution has devastating health impacts on Chinese elders reducing longevity and shortening HEs. Women are more vulnerable than men. More strict air policy should be implemented to pursue sustainable development in China.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2012
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyOlder people with hip fracture and IADL disability require earlier surgery.
Hip fractures represent a major challenge for physicians as well as society as a whole. Both poor functional status and delay to surgery are well known risk factors for negative outcomes. We hypothesized that the timing of the operation is more important for frail older people than older people without functional limitations before fracture. ⋯ Surgery delay is an independent factor for mortality in older patients after hip fracture but only for the frail older people with prefracture functional impairment. If our results are confirmed, a more intensive approach should be adopted for older people with hip fractures who have disabilities.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Oct 2012
Fatigability in osteoarthritis: effects of an activity bout on subsequent symptoms and activity.
Older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) are more likely to experience increased fatigue following bouts of physical activity than those without OA. The highly "fatigable" nature of this population is problematic as it has been linked to OA severity and decreased function. This study examined the effects of engaging in standardized lab-based physical tasks on subsequent fatigue, pain, and activity in older adults with OA. ⋯ Among older adults with OA, a bout of standardized physical activity resulted in increased fatigue and reduced activity, but effects were short-lived. Future studies will need to identify factors that differentiate people who are particularly fatigable in order to target interventions.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Oct 2012
Brain white matter hyperintensities, executive dysfunction, instability, and falls in older people: a prospective cohort study.
White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are associated with fall risk factors in older people including reduced cognitive functioning and impaired balance and gait. This prospective study investigated relationships between WMHs, sensorimotor performance, executive functioning, and falls in a large sample of community-living older people. ⋯ Greater WMH burden predicts falls over 12 months, and the association between greater burden of WMHs and falls appears to be independent of reduced executive function and sensorimotor performance. Strategies to reduce the development and progression of WMHs may contribute to future falls prevention in older people.