Article
Infectious Diseases
Gillian L. Murphy, Giorgi Beridze, Davide L. Vetrano, Amaia Calderon-Larranaga
Summary: This study investigated the association between social network and the risk and prognosis of severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in older adults. High levels of social support decreased the risk of incident LRTI, hospital length of stay, and 30-day mortality, but increased the risk of 30-day readmission. High levels of social connections were associated with a higher risk of incident LRTI in specific populations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Silvia Trujillo-Barbera, Pedro Garcia-Martinez, Juana Maria Sanchez-Martinez, Maria Angeles Rodriguez-Herrera, Antonio Ruiz-Hontangas, Javier Gamez-Paya
Summary: The study aimed to identify the relationship between sociodemographic variables, multimorbidity, risk of poor mental health, social support, and the time devoted to physical activity in the population over 65 years of age in the Valencian Community. The results showed significant associations between all variables except affective support and the time of physical activity among the elderly population.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tania Bof de Andrade, Fabiola Bof de Andrade, Maria Carmen Viana
Summary: This study aimed to assess the association between depressive symptoms and social support measures among non-institutionalized Brazilian older adults. The study revealed a positive relationship between the number of people in the household and the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Older adults with support from family members only or from both family and friends had a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. Participation in leisure and religious activities was inversely associated with depressive symptoms, while work showed a negative association. Rating: 8 out of 10.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nair Tavares Milhem Ygnatios, Cesar de Oliveira, Juliana Vaz de Melo Mambrini, Fabiola Bof de Andrade, Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa, Juliana Lustosa Torres
Summary: While the prevalence of disability was similar among older adults in Brazil and England, all health-related characteristics were worse in Brazil compared to England. The associations between anthropometric indicators and disability were stronger in England than in Brazil.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Bo Zhao, Xiaoxu Jiang, Fanlei Kong, Eun Woo Nam
Summary: This longitudinal study explored the relationship between cognition, depression, and oral health in older adults. The results showed that better cognition and less depression over time were associated with better oral health, highlighting the importance of mental health in maintaining oral health in older adults.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Junjie Lin, Kunyi Wang, Yu Zhang, Kexin Lu, Huilin Xia, Minxia Hua, Weijun Zheng, Rucheng Chen
Summary: The study investigated the relationship between social participation and development of frailty. The findings showed that a higher frequency of social participation was associated with a lower risk of being classified into the rapid growth group and a slower rate of frailty index progression. The impact of low social participation frequency on frailty progression was more pronounced in males.
AGING CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Snorri Bjorn Rafnsson, Asri Maharani, Gindo Tampubolon
Summary: Frequent offline and combined offline and online social interactions are associated with better episodic memory in older adults, especially in those without hearing loss. Supplementing conventional social interactions with online communication modes may help older adults, particularly those living with hearing loss, sustain and benefit cognitively from personal relationships.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Orna A. Donoghue, Siobhan Leahy, Rose Anne Kenny
Summary: The study revealed that diabetes is associated with shorter dual-task step length and increased risk of future instrumental activity of daily living difficulty. Therefore, multidimensional interventions targeting individuals with diabetes may help reduce the risk of gait deficits and future disability.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Cheng Cheng, Yinjun Du, Jie Bai
Summary: This study investigates the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress in a nationally representative sample of Chinese older adults. The findings suggest that although multimorbidity is common among this population, it may not be directly associated with psychological distress represented by anxiety and depression. The management of multimorbidity in this population would benefit from more attention on the mental health domain.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ziqiong Wang, Yi Zheng, Haiyan Ruan, Liying Li, Linjia Duan, Sen He
Summary: This study aimed to explore the impact of social activity frequency on mid- and long-term overall survival in older Chinese people. The results showed that more frequent social activity was associated with longer overall survival. However, only participating in social activity almost every day could significantly prolong long-term survival.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Shiichi Ihara, Kazushige Ide, Satoru Kanamori, Taishi Tsuji, Katsunori Kondo, Gemmei Iizuka
Summary: Among various types of social participation, paid work and community activities were found to be effective in maintaining or increasing walking time among older adults with different levels of initial walking time, suggesting the importance of social engagement in promoting physical activity in older populations.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lindsay C. Kobayashi, Emily P. Morris, Guy Harling, Meagan T. Farrell, Mohammed U. Kabeto, Ryan G. Wagner, Lisa F. Berkman
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between subjective social position (SSP) and cognitive function among older adults in rural South Africa. The results showed that SSP was significantly associated with cognitive scores independent of objective socioeconomic position measures, and this association persisted over a time span of approximately three years.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sara A. Freed, Briana N. Sprague, Abigail T. Stephan, Cassidy E. Doyle, Junyan Tian, Christine B. Phillips, Lesley A. Ross
Summary: This pilot study investigated older adults' perceptions of two commercially available exergames. Findings showed that enjoyment of the games was related to age and extraversion, while likelihood of future play was influenced by age. Participants perceived the games as beneficial but factors like not being aerobic enough or lacking intensity would affect their decision to buy and play the games.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jiaqin Xu, Jixiang Xu, Yingwei Chen, Yujie Wang, Guoyou Qin, Junling Gao
Summary: Social participation and functional ability are important indicators of healthy aging. High-increasing social participation has a protective effect on maintaining high baseline-stable tendency functional ability among older adults.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Faisal F. Hakeem, Eduardo Bernabe, Wael Sabbah
Summary: The study revealed that oral health is associated with the frailty index, with the number of teeth showing a stronger correlation compared to periodontal disease, while nutritional intake has a modest impact on this association. It underscores the importance of maintaining good oral health in older age and incorporating oral health indicators in routine geriatric assessments.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Denise Faulks, Sasha Scambler, Blanaid Daly, Lisa Jamieson, Martine Hennequin, Georgios Tsakos
Summary: This commentary discusses the need for a multidisciplinary approach to measuring oral health and suggests that the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) could provide a model for developing indicators for oral health. The ICF model emphasizes the universal nature of human functioning and the importance of considering social and environmental contexts. It can capture data on both physiological and social aspects of oral health and function. Case studies and examples of operationalization of the ICF in oral health research are provided. However, incorporating such a comprehensive model into practical oral health measurements poses challenges.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Anne Nordrehaug Astrom, Berit Mastrovito, Josefine Sannevik, Georgios Tsakos
Summary: This study aimed to assess the long-term association between tooth loss at age 50 and subsequent impaired oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) at ages 65, 70, and 75. The study also examined the role of behavioral and age-related factors in explaining this association. The findings showed that early tooth loss was independently associated with impaired OHRQoL in later years, and factors related to functional and psychological concerns played a role in explaining this long-term impact.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
E. Joury, S. Kisely, R. G. Watt, N. Ahmed, A. J. Morris, F. Fortune, K. Bhui
Summary: Poor physical health, including oral health, is a significant issue among individuals with mental disorders worldwide. The burden of oral diseases is high in this population, and it can exacerbate the personal, social, and economic impacts of mental disorders. This article summarizes the causes and relationship between mental disorders and oral diseases, reviews current evidence on interventions to reduce the burden of oral diseases, and suggests future research directions. However, effective and scalable interventions to address this issue have not yet been found. Transformative research and actions that involve biological, behavioral, and social sciences are needed to understand and tackle the complex relationship between mental disorders and oral diseases. The design and testing of complex interventions should prioritize research and be conducted in real-world settings by a transdisciplinary team. The importance of research in improving oral health and overall health in this disadvantaged group is paramount.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Diego J. Lopez, Shalika Hegde, Martin Whelan, Stuart Dashper, Georgios Tsakos, Ankur Singh
Summary: This study assessed the social inequalities in early childhood caries (ECC) using clinical data collected from 2008 to 2019 in Victoria, Australia. The results showed that absolute inequalities in ECC prevalence and severity increased for children with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) status and concession cardholder status during this period. Relative inequalities also increased for CALD status, cardholder status, and area deprivation. However, there were no significant increases in inequalities for children with Indigenous status. This highlights the need for oral health policies and interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of ECC and addressing oral health inequalities among different population sub-groups.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Georgios Tsakos, Richard G. Watt, Carol C. Guarnizo-Herreno
Summary: Health inequalities, including oral health, are a significant social injustice issue globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and introduced new ones. Research should focus on explaining oral health inequalities, understanding their complex mechanisms, and implementing interventions. Further investigation into the role of structural determinants, such as political economy analysis, is needed.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Hazem Abbas, Kenji Takeuchi, Ken Osaka, Carol C. Guarnizo-Herreno, Georgios Tsakos, Richard G. Watt
Summary: Oral conditions are a global public health problem with significant inequalities. Science communication and health advocacy can address this issue, but academics face limitations. This article argues for the establishment of 'science communication and health advocacy task forces' in academic institutions to transfer knowledge about oral conditions and advocate for policy change. These interdisciplinary task forces should have skills in oral health, communication, digital media, negotiation, and scientific transparency.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Sean Taylor, Sarah R. Baker, Tom Broomhead, Rachael England, Steve Mason, Michael Sereny, Georgios Tsakos, David M. Williams
Summary: The Oral Health Observatory (OHO) was launched in 2014 by FDI World Dental Federation to provide a coordinated approach to international oral health data collection. A feasibility project involving 12 countries tested the implementation of the methodology and data collection tools, and assessed data quality from 6 countries.
INTERNATIONAL DENTAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
U. Cooray, G. Tsakos, A. Heilmann, R. G. Watt, K. Takeuchi, K. Kondo, K. Osaka, J. Aida
Summary: Social participation has a positive impact on the health and well-being of older adults in aging societies. This study in Japan focuses on the effect of retaining natural teeth on social participation. The findings suggest that tooth loss prevention scenarios improve social participation, while tooth loss scenarios gradually decrease it.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Jenny Abanto, Georgios Tsakos, Isabel Cristina Olegario, Saul Martins Paiva, Fausto Medeiros Mendes, Thiago Machado Ardenghi, Marcelo Bonecker
Summary: This randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the impact of pulpectomy and tooth extraction on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children with primary molars with pulp necrosis. The results showed that pulpectomy resulted in better OHRQoL scores after 12 months compared to tooth extraction and had a smaller impact on anxiety levels.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Yanela Aravena-Rivas, Renato Venturelli, Michelle Stennett, Georgios Tsakos
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends in dental service use among older adults in Chile between 2006 and 2017. It also assessed the association between socioeconomic factors and dental service use and type in 2017, and whether these differed by eligibility to a national dental programme (GES-60).
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Kristina Bertl, Georgios Tsakos, Nikolaos Pandis, Anna Bogren, Johan Burisch, Andreas Stavropoulos
Summary: This study is the first to find that oral health problems are associated with the disease-specific quality of life (QoL) of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and vice versa. This emphasizes the potential advantages of including dental professionals in the multi-disciplinary treatment teams of IBD patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Gary Mitchell, Patrick Stark, Christine Brown Wilson, Georgios Tsakos, Paul Brocklehurst, Caroline Lappin, Barry Quinn, Nicola Holland, Gerry Mckenna
Summary: This study highlights the uncertainty of community nurses in providing oral healthcare to older adults at home. Emphasizing comprehensive and continuous oral health education can enhance nurses' confidence in supporting patients. Interprofessional collaboration and clear role definitions with oral health professionals are crucial for improving oral health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Finbarr Allen, Carol C. Guarnizo-Herreno, Sim Yu Fan, Georgios Tsakos
Summary: This study aims to assess whether eligibility for a pioneer generation subsidy incentivizes dental attendance among older Singaporeans. The results show that those eligible for the subsidy are more likely to have regular dental attendance compared to those who are not eligible.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
