The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Sep 2020
Individual Scaling of Accelerometry to Preferred Walking Speed in the Assessment of Physical Activity in Older Adults.
Walking forms a large portion of physical activity (PA) of older adults. We assessed free-living PA using acceleration corresponding to preferred walking speed as a relative cut-point and studied how it relates to age. We compared the relative cut-point to a common absolute cut-point of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). ⋯ Preferred walking speed was a significant contributor to absolute MVPA and those who walked the slowest accumulated the least MVPA. Assessing relative PA using the intensity of preferred walking speed as a cut-point eliminated the dependency of PA on age and walking speed, and may be a feasible scaling option to evaluate relative PA among older people.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jul 2020
Informal Caregiving, Chronic Physical Conditions, and Physical Multimorbidity in 48 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
The health of the caregivers is crucial to sustain informal care provision, while multimorbidity is an important health risk concept. However, studies on the association between informal caregiving and physical multimorbidity are currently lacking. Therefore, we investigated this association in adults from 48 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). ⋯ In LMICs, informal caregivers (especially young caregivers) were more likely to have physical multimorbidity. This should be taken into account in policies that address the health and well-being of informal caregivers.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jun 2020
Insight Into the Posthospital Syndrome: A 3-Month Longitudinal Follow up on Geriatric Syndromes and Their Association With Functional Decline, Readmission, and Mortality.
Acute hospitalization may lead to posthospital syndrome, but no studies have investigated how this syndrome manifests and geriatric syndromes are often used as synonym. However, studies on longitudinal associations between syndromes and adverse outcomes are scarce. We aimed to analyze longitudinal associations between geriatric syndromes and functional decline (FD), readmission, and mortality. ⋯ Most geriatric syndromes are present at admission and patients are likely to retain them postdischarge. Several geriatric syndromes are longitudinally associated with mortality and, particularly, persistently present syndromes place persons are at risk of FD. Although few persons develop syndromes postdischarge, those developing cognitive impairment, fatigue, and fall risk were at increased readmission risk.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · May 2020
The Assessment of Scales of Frailty and Physical Performance Improves Prediction of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Older Adults with Acute Coronary Syndrome.
The number of older adults admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has increased worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine which scale of frailty or physical performance provides incremental improvements in risk stratification of older adults after ACS. ⋯ www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02386124.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Mar 2020
Electroacupuncture Therapy Ameliorates Motor Dysfunction via Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra. However, specific sensory stimulation via electroacupuncture (EA) therapy may attenuate this loss by promoting the expression of endogenous neurotrophic factors in a manner similar to physical therapy. We investigated the potential protective effects of EA on dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of PD and whether these effects are associated with the promotion of endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). ⋯ However, levodopa treatment did not induce BDNF/GDNF activation or related signaling factors. Thus, EA therapy may exert protective effects on dopaminergic neurons by upregulating the expression of BDNF, GDNF, and related signaling factors, thereby improving motor function. Hence, EA may represent an effective adjuvant therapy for motor deficits in patients with PD.