Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ru-Yung Yang, An-Yun Yang, Yong-Chen Chen, Shyh-Dye Lee, Shao-Huai Lee, Jeng-Wen Chen
Summary: This study systematically reviewed relevant research and found a significant association between dysphagia and frailty in older adults. The authors recommend including dysphagia assessment as a critical factor in identifying frailty in this population.
Article
Sport Sciences
Claudio Gil Araujo, Christina Grune de Souza e Silva, Jari Antero Laukkanen, Maria Fiatarone Singh, Setor Kunutsor, Jonathan Myers, Joao Felipe Franca, Claudia Lucia Castro
Summary: The ability to complete a 10-second one-legged stance (10-second OLS) is independently associated with all-cause mortality and adds relevant prognostic information beyond age, sex, and several other anthropometric and clinical variables. Including the 10-second OLS as part of routine physical examination in middle-aged and older adults may have potential benefits.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mahnaz Solhi, Razieh Pirouzeh, Nasibeh Zanjari
Summary: The present study aimed to elucidate the preparation of middle-aged people for healthy aging in Tehran, Iran. The results showed that middle-aged individuals paid more attention to staying healthy, while their financial outlook for the future was pessimistic. This study highlights the importance of preparing for healthy aging and suggests the need for societal interventions and policy support.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Junning Fan, Canqing Yu, Yuanjie Pang, Yu Guo, Pei Pei, Zhijia Sun, Ling Yang, Yiping Chen, Huaidong Du, Dianjianyi Sun, Yanjie Li, Junshi Chen, Robert Clarke, Zhengming Chen, Jun Lv, Liming Li
Summary: This study found that adherence to a healthy lifestyle in middle-aged and older Chinese adults may help slow the rate of biological aging, reducing the risk of worsening frailty status.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Elisa Giuliani, Veronica Barbi, Giorgia Bigossi, Serena Marcozzi, Robertina Giacconi, Maurizio Cardelli, Francesco Piacenza, Fiorenza Orlando, Elena Ciaglia, Monica Cattaneo, Alessia Mongelli, Carlo Gaetano, Mauro Provinciali, Annibale Alessandro Puca, Marco Malavolta
Summary: This study found that the homozygous genotype of the Longevity-Associated Variant (LAV) in BPIFB4 is enriched in long-living individuals and gene transfer of LAV-BPIFB4 in aged mice showed improvements in aging biomarkers and health. These findings support the use of LAV-BPIFB4 gene therapy to induce beneficial effects on epigenetic mechanisms associated with aging and frailty in humans.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Davide L. Vetrano, Federico Triolo, Stefania Maggi, Richard Malley, Thomas A. Jackson, Andrea Poscia, Roberto Bernabei, Luigi Ferrucci, Laura Fratiglioni
Summary: The relationship between infections and frailty, as well as the impact of frailty on immune response in older adults, have been studied. Evidence suggests that there is a link between infections and frailty, and frailty may lead to impaired immune response in older ages. However, more research is needed to develop personalized immunization strategies for older adults.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jun Li, Di Wu, Haomiao Li, Jiangyun Chen
Summary: This study aimed to assess whether unmet healthcare needs predict the onset of frailty in China. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the association between frailty and unmet healthcare needs was analyzed. The results showed that reducing unmet healthcare needs would be a valuable intervention to decrease frailty risk and promote healthy aging in middle-aged and older populations.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
George Samrani, Anders Lundquist, Sara Pudas
Summary: Declarative memory abilities change across adulthood. Semantic memory and autobiographic episodic knowledge can remain stable or even increase from mid- to late adulthood, while episodic memory abilities decline in later adulthood. An increased reliance on memory integration may be an adaptive mechanism to handle increased interference from accumulating memory traces and knowledge across adulthood. Middle-aged adults show age-equivalent performance on integration and discrimination measures, along with higher verbal knowledge and slower perceptual speed compared to younger adults.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
David R. Lorenz, Shibani S. Mukerji, Vikas Misra, Hajime Uno, Benjamin B. Gelman, David J. Moore, Elyse J. Singer, Susan Morgello, Dana Gabuzda
Summary: This study found that the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, diabetes, or renal disease with other medical conditions substantially increased the odds of frailty in older people with HIV (PWH). Identifying and treating these comorbidities may help to reduce functional decline with aging in PWH.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shu-Fen Lee, Chih-Ping Li, Yen-Lin Chen, Dee Pei
Summary: This study investigated the association between metabolic biomarkers, lifestyle behaviors, body composition, and chronic diseases with frailty in older people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The findings suggest that prefrailty in this population is associated with female sex, middle school education, unemployment, alcohol use, high body fat percentage, above-normal waist circumference, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. A surprising finding was that the unemployed group had a higher risk of prefrailty compared to other job types.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Laura Tay, Ee-Ling Tay, Shi Min Mah, Aisyah Latib, Yee-Sien Ng
Summary: This study examines the effects of a multi-domain physical exercise and nutrition intervention on pre-frailty reversal and finds that intrinsic capacity may contribute to this reversal. The results suggest that focusing solely on locomotion and vitality domains through exercise and nutrition interventions may not be sufficient to optimize pre-frailty reversal.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Shuiping Dai, Ming Yang, Juan Song, Sisi Dai, Jinhui Wu
Summary: This study found that frailty is a powerful predictor of overall mortality and therapeutic toxicity in lung cancer patients. Frail patients had a higher risk of overall mortality and therapeutic toxicity compared to non-frail patients.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Angel Rodriguez-Laso, Francisco Jose Garcia-Garcia, Leocadio Rodriguez-Manas
Summary: This study aimed to explore predictors of sustained transitions between robustness and prefrailty in older adults. The results showed that the number of drugs taken, alcohol consumption, and grip strength were predictors of sustained transition from robustness to prefrailty. Additionally, alcohol consumption, uric acid levels, chair stands in 30 seconds, and grip strength were associated with sustained transition from prefrailty to robustness.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mi Young Lim, Young-Do Nam
Summary: As the proportion of older people in the population increases, it is important to find ways to support healthy aging. The gut microbiome has been identified as a potential factor in aging-related diseases and is a target for improving health in older individuals. In this article, the relationship between the gut microbiome and chronological age in adults is discussed, as well as the features of the gut microbiome associated with unhealthy aging. The effects of microbiome-targeted interventions, such as dietary patterns and consumption of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, on modulating the gut microbiome composition and promoting healthy aging are also described. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of gut microbiome-induced aging complications and develop personalized microbiome-based strategies for reducing frailty severity or preventing frailty in older adults.
Review
Immunology
Yuji Yamada, Takaaki Kobayashi, Angela Condo, Aroonsiri Sangarlangkarn, Fred Ko, Yu Taniguchi, Gotaro Kojima
Summary: The systematic review identified a variation in frailty prevalence among individuals aged 50 or older with HIV. The meta-analysis results showed that the overall prevalence of frailty and prefrailty in this population was 10.9% and 47.2% respectively. Frailty is a clinically recognized state associated with disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Effective strategies for frailty screening and intervention are needed for this vulnerable population.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Stephanie Champion, Christopher Barr, Belinda Lange, Lucy K. Lewis, Michael P. Russo, Anthony Maeder, Susan Gordon
Summary: This pilot study compared the functionality of a traditional design high support chair to a new design of motorised high support chair. The motorised chair showed significant reduction in joint angles for the person pushing the chair and decreased seated pressure for the seated user, which may lead to lower risks of manual handling injuries and pressure ulcers. Further longitudinal investigations are needed to confirm these findings.
APPLIED ERGONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Susan Gordon, Rebecca Burns, Stephanie Champion, Liana Niutta, Paul Bennett
Summary: The study modified two compassion and PCC questionnaires for an Australian audience and found acceptable inter-reliability and test-retest intra-class correlation for the subscales and overall. However, there were low Cohen's kappa values and inter-class correlation for individual items, indicating poor inter-rater agreement, suggesting a need for further investigation of the psychometric properties of the new items.
AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Nicky Baker, Karen Grimmer, Sue Gordon
Summary: This study investigated which balance tests can differentiate near fallers from non-fallers and fallers. Among healthy community dwelling adults aged 40-75 years, near fallers were more likely to fail single-leg stance and dynamic balance tests compared to non-fallers. A new battery of tests showed promise in identifying near fallers with a sensitivity of 73.3% in this population.
PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Paul Bennett, Rebecca Burns, Stephanie Champion, Susan Gordon
Summary: This study shows that training with aged simulation training suits can significantly improve staff members' self-reported compassion and person-centered care abilities in the Australian aged-care sector. This simulation activity helps enhance staff members' compassionate communication, ability to personalize care, and recognition of patients' environmental accessibility.
AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Susan Gordon, Fiona Telford-Sharp, William Crowe, Stephanie Champion
Summary: Increasing numbers of older people are living longer, often alone, and the need for services and products that enable them to remain safely in their own homes is growing. The My Smart Home project aimed to design a technology package to address the safety and security goals of community-dwelling older people. The results showed that the personalized technology package, combined with coaching, improved the well-being, quality of life, and sense of safety and security for the participants.
AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Peter D. Hibbert, Charlotte J. Molloy, Louise K. Wiles, Ian D. Cameron, Leonard C. Gray, Richard L. Reed, Alison Kitson, Andrew Georgiou, Susan J. Gordon, Johanna Westbrook, Gaston Arnolda, Rebecca J. Mitchell, Frances Rapport, Carole Estabrooks, Gregory L. Alexander, Charles Vincent, Adrian Edwards, Andrew Carson-Stevens, Cordula Wagner, Brendan Mccormack, Jeffrey Braithwaite
Summary: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive set of clinical indicators for aged care, based on systematic searches of Australian and international clinical practice guidelines. A total of 236 indicators were formulated, mapping to 16 conditions and processes of care, to guide improvement and supplement regulation or accreditation in the aged care sector.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Edoardo Rosso, Jinwen Chen, Stephanie Champion, Susan Gordon
Summary: With the rise of age-friendly cities and communities, increasing attention is being paid to coproducing age-friendly guidelines with older people and community stakeholders. This study conducted a three-stage research in the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia to develop general and contextualised requirements for an age-friendly dining experience.
HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Susan Jayne Gordon, Nicky Baker, Margie Steffens
Summary: This study aimed to trial a set of health assessments for people experiencing homelessness. Participants were recruited and completed a series of assessments, and the study found that most assessments were appropriate and acceptable, although some modifications were needed for assessments in the context of homelessness. The outcomes of these assessments are essential for improving the health of people experiencing homelessness.
Article
Nursing
Lily Dongxia Xiao, Carolyn Gregoric, Sue Gordon, Shahid Ullah, Ian Goodwin-Smith, Eimear Muir-Cochrane, Sara Blunt
Summary: This study explores and compares the challenges and facilitators faced by staff in supporting resident self-determination in ethno-specific and mainstream nursing homes. The findings suggest that staff in ethno-specific nursing homes experience more challenges in supporting resident self-determination but have richer resources to provide culturally safe and culturally competent care.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Review
Gerontology
Bec Watt, Susan Witt, Marco Susino, Helena Anolak, Richard Van Wegen, Denise Grocke, Susan Gordon
Summary: Group creative arts interventions have been found to be beneficial for both informal care-givers and the persons being cared for. However, the effectiveness of different group types varies. Future research should involve care-givers in the design of interventions to provide input on group types and outcome measures.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Shelda Sajeev, Stephanie Champion, Anthony Maeder, Susan Gordon
Summary: This study utilized machine learning methods to identify factors contributing to the early trajectory from good health to pre-frailty in middle aged and older adults. Physiological, social, and lifestyle variables were found to be associated with pre-frailty outcomes. Machine learning models indicated that high BMI, low muscle mass, poor grip strength and balance, emotional distress, poor sleep quality were linked to pre-frailty.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jennifer Tieman, Deidre Morgan, Kelly Jones, Sue Gordon, Amal Chakraborty
Summary: The Australian population is aging, and there is a lack of research on the roles and responsibilities of allied health professionals providing palliative care within an aged care context. Understanding the needs of these professionals could contribute to improved care and workforce planning.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PRIMARY HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Sue Nurunnaher, Lily Xiao, Sue Gordon, Mahjabeen Ahmad
Summary: This study synthesized findings from qualitative studies on the experiences of family caregivers of people with dementia from a Muslim migrant background in high-income countries. Caregivers from this background had both positive and negative experiences, but existing dementia care services did not address their care needs and expectations arising from their religious and cultural beliefs.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jennifer Phillips, Susan Witt, Neil Piller, Susan Gordon
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between seasonal climate variation and limb size, volume, fluid distribution, and diagnosis in women following breast cancer treatment. The results showed no significant correlation between seasonal variation in climate and upper limb size, volume, or fluid distribution in women diagnosed with or at risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), but the diagnosis of lymphedema varied between individual participants throughout the year.
LYMPHATIC RESEARCH AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Lily Xiao, Carolyn Gregoric, Sue Gordon, Shahid Ullah, Ian Goodwin-Smith, Eimear Muir-Cochrane, Sara Blunt
Summary: Studies show that supporting residents in fulfilling self-determination is beneficial to their health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Cross-cultural care presents challenges for nursing home residents in terms of controlling their own care and maintaining meaningful connections with others. This study aims to compare the factors affecting residents' self-determination in ethno-specific and mainstream nursing homes.