Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lindsay Richards, Asri Maharani, Patrick Prag
Summary: Subjective social status is associated with health outcomes, but this study finds that the association disappears when examining temporal variation within individuals. Controlling for personality traits and parental education weakens the association but does not eliminate it. Further research is needed to understand the exact nature of the link between subjective status and health.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
H. Wang, Y. Xuan
Summary: This paper presents the spatial variation of the annual maximum daily rainfall in more than 900 catchments of England and Wales over the last century. Different spatial features including geographic location, elevation, size, orientation, and shape of catchments are analyzed. The results show that higher elevations and larger catchment sizes tend to have greater rainfall, while the shape and orientation of catchments also play a role in the distribution of rainfall.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack Sutton, Golnaz Shahtahmassebi, Haroldo Ribeiro, Quentin S. Hanley
Summary: This study investigated the COVID-19 cases and deaths in local authority regions in England and Wales and found that residual variance and skewness were sensitive indicators of the disease propagation dynamics. Lockdowns and schools reopening led to increased variance, while university reopening and holidays reduced the variance. Homogeneous propagation was associated with normally distributed residuals, while heterogeneous propagation was more consistent with skewed models. Skewness revealed an unappreciated feature of community propagation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ian Martin, Alwyn Hart
Summary: Antifungals such as ketoconazole and miconazole were detected in biosolids from ten sites in England and one in Wales, indicating that biosolids can be a viable pathway for these drugs to reach soil. The study also found the presence of prescription-only medications itraconazole and posaconazole, raising concerns about the potential for clinical resistance in patients. The levels of itraconazole in biosolids were alarmingly high, surpassing the Predicted No Effect Concentration for resistance selection in soil.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Emily O'Rourke, Juliet Hynes, Sara Losada, Jonathan L. Barber, M. Gloria Pereira, Eleanor F. Kean, Frank Hailer, Elizabeth A. Chadwick
Summary: This article reports the widespread pollution of PFASs in Eurasian otters in England and Wales and their association with anthropogenic sources. Various PFAS compounds were detected in otters, with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) being the major component. The study also found that PFAS concentrations in otters were negatively associated with the distance from a factory, and positively associated with load entering wastewater treatment works and arable land.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andrew Steptoe, Giorgio Di Gessa
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with ADL impairment were more likely to experience clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness compared to those without such impairment. They also reported poorer sleep quality and quality of life. This population had less social contact with family, indicating a need for additional support and mental health services.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ann-Marie Towers, Adam Gordon, Arne Timon Wolters, Stephen Allan, Stacey Rand, Lucy Anne Webster, Elizabeth Crellin, Richard James Brine, Kaat De Corte, Gizdem Akdur, Lisa Irvine, Jennifer Burton, Barbara Hanratty, Anne Killett, Julienne Meyer, Liz Jones, Claire Goodman
Summary: This study aims to develop a minimum data set (MDS) to collect health and care data of care home residents in England, and link them with routine national health service and social care data. The study will explore the implementation and perceived utility of the MDS through qualitative and quantitative methods, and regular data collection and analysis.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Magnus Zingmark, Fredrik Norstrom
Summary: Baseline distributions and transitions over time between levels of dependency among older persons after being granted social care in a Swedish municipality were described descriptively and analysed with survival analysis. Older people in Sweden being allocated home help are at high risk for decline towards higher levels of dependency, especially those at mild or moderate dependency levels at baseline. It is important for municipalities to implement cost-effective preventative interventions for older people at an early stage before a decline toward increasing levels of dependency.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rosie Seaman, David Walsh, Christina Beatty, Gerry McCartney, Ruth Dundas
Summary: Studies on the impact of social security cuts implemented by the UK government from 2011 to 2016 showed a significant association with lower life expectancy at the local authority level in England, Scotland and Wales. A decrease of £100 in social security per working age population was linked to a 1-month reduction in life expectancy.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yanqiu Yu, Stefanie Hoi Ying Yen, Li Crystal Jiang, Wai-kit Ming, Mason M. C. Lau, Joseph T. F. Lau
Summary: The early attainment of high COVID-19 vaccination rates can minimize avoidable hospitalizations/deaths. This study investigated the factors influencing the timing of the first dose vaccination among older people in Hong Kong. The findings showed that unfavorable perceptions, exposure to conflicting information, unsupportive family influences, and depressive symptoms were associated with taking the first dose at a later phase.
Article
Clinical Neurology
M. A. Lobo Chaves, Matthew Gittins, Benjamin Bray, Andy Vail, Craig J. Smith
Summary: This study described the variation of observed stroke-associated pneumonia in England and Wales among stroke patients, finding that patient baseline characteristics only accounted for 5% of the observed variation. Additional explanations for the observed variation in stroke-associated pneumonia need to be explored to reduce variation in antibiotic use for stroke patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Sarah Leonard, Roger T. Webb, Michael Doyle, Jennifer Shaw
Summary: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of individuals transferred from prison to medium secure services and discharged under the instruction of Responsible Medical Officers (RMOs), as well as compare these characteristics based on their discharge destination. The results showed that individuals returned to prison were more vulnerable at the time of discharge, displayed more psychological adjustment issues, and had a higher risk of future violence compared to those discharged into the community. It highlights the need to reconsider the role and responsibilities of MSSs in England and Wales in admitting individuals from prison and providing adequate aftercare services.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rahil Sanatinia, Alistair Burns, Peter Crome, Fabiana Gordon, Chloe Hood, William Lee, Alan Quirk, Kate Seers, Sophie Staniszewska, Gemma Zafarani, Mike Crawford
Summary: This study identifies factors associated with shorter length of hospital stay for people with dementia, including initiating discharge planning within 24 hours of admission and shorter stay for ethnic minorities. Patients with documented discussions between carers and medical staff had longer stay.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Pan Fu, Bihong Zhu, Yangping Huang
Summary: This study found that higher levels of TNF-alpha in cerebrospinal fluid were associated with a faster decline in cerebral glucose metabolism among non-demented older individuals, suggesting a potential role of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISEASE AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fiona C. Ingleby, Laura M. Woods, Iain M. Atherton, Matthew Baker, Lucy Elliss-Brookes, Aurelien Belot
Summary: The study found that people living in deprived areas have poorer health outcomes, but individual socio-economic status also significantly affects health differentials, especially for men. Health inequalities are strongly related to individual SES as well as area-level deprivation, highlighting the complementary usefulness of these different metrics.
SSM-POPULATION HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Serena Sabatini, Anthony Martyr, Laura D. Gamble, Ian R. Jones, Rachel Collins, Fiona E. Matthews, Christina R. Victor, Catherine Quinn, Claire Pentecost, Jeanette M. Thom, Linda Clare
Summary: This study explored the social, cultural, and economic capital of spousal carers of people with dementia, and the profiles of carers with different levels of capital. The results showed that carers with lower capital experienced less stress and reported more positive experiences in caring over time. However, compared to carers with better capital, those with poorer capital were more likely to be depressed over time.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Gerontology
Serena Sabatini, Anthony Martyr, Laura D. Gamble, Rachel Collins, Fiona E. Matthews, Robin G. Morris, Jennifer M. Rusted, Claire Pentecost, Catherine Quinn, Linda Clare
Summary: This study examines the involvement of people with dementia in everyday decision-making and the factors that explain the variability in their involvement. The results show that female, single, and younger people with dementia tend to have greater involvement in everyday decision-making. Factors such as better cognition, fewer functional difficulties, fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms, less caregiver stress, and better relationship quality are associated with higher involvement in everyday decision-making.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Hamidul Huque, Ranmalee Eramudugolla, Benjamin Chidiac, Nicole Ee, Lauren Ehrenfeld, Fiona E. Matthews, Ruth Peters, Kaarin J. Anstey
Summary: This study examines sex differences in the incidence and prevalence of dementia globally, and evaluates whether country-level indicators of gender inequality account for these differences. The results show that there are no sex differences in the incidence of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia, except in the 90+ age group. However, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is higher in women, and this difference is associated with gender differences in life expectancy and education.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Connor D. Richardson, Hannah Roscoe, Emma Green, Racheal Brooks, Linda Barnes, Fiona E. Matthews, Carol Brayne
Summary: The prevalence of loneliness among older people has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. Factors associated with prevalent loneliness include prior loneliness, living alone, being female, living in a deprived area, separation from family during the pandemic, and frequent pre-pandemic social contact at community groups. Weekly technology-mediated contact using telephone or video calls is associated with lower odds of loneliness.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deborah L. O. King, Richard Henson, Rogier Kievit, Noham Wolpe, Carol Brayne, Lorraine K. Tyler, James B. A. Rowe, Kamen A. Tsvetanov, Cam-CAN
Summary: Cardiovascular ageing is associated with cognitive impairment, but the specific contributions of different cardiovascular factors to cognitive function are not clear.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Asri Maharani, David R. Sinclair, Tarani Chandola, Peter Bower, Andrew Clegg, Barbara Hanratty, James Nazroo, Neil Pendleton, Gindo Tampubolon, Chris Todd, Raphael Wittenberg, Terence W. O'Neill, Fiona E. Matthews
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between household wealth and neighborhood deprivation with frailty status, and found that individuals with lower wealth and living in deprived neighborhoods are at a higher risk of frailty.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alex Tsui, Natalie Yeo, Samuel D. Searle, Helen Bowden, Katrin Hoffmann, Joanne Hornby, Arley Goslett, Maryse Weston-Clarke, David Lanham, Patrick Hogan, Anna Seeley, Mark Rawle, Nish Chaturvedi, Elizabeth L. Sampson, Kenneth Rockwood, Colm Cunningham, E. Wesley Ely, Sarah J. Richardson, Carol Brayne, Graciela Muniz Terrera, Zoe Tieges, Alasdair M. J. MacLullich, Daniel Davis
Summary: This study examines the relationship between cognitive function and the severity of delirium in older adults. The authors find a U-shaped relationship, indicating that both lower and higher cognitive function are associated with more severe delirium symptoms. This highlights the importance of cognitive function in the prevention and treatment of delirium.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Michelle C. Odden, Adina Zhang, Neal Jawadekar, Annabel Tan, Andrew E. Moran, M. Maria Glymour, Carol Brayne, Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri, Sebastian Calonico
Summary: Regression discontinuity design (RDD) is a quasi-experimental method used for causal inference. This study aims to estimate the effect of statins on myocardial infarction (MI) using RDD and compare it with other methods. The findings suggest that RDD is superior in replicating the protective effect of statins with MI, although precision is poor.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Richard Merrick, Fiona E. Matthews
Summary: A new study on neuropathology trends in autopsy results from two large US cohorts reveals the declining incidence of dementia. While the prevalence of neurodegenerative pathologies remained similar, a reduction in vascular pathologies suggests that improvements in cardiovascular health and cognitive reserve contribute to reducing dementia risk. This study on postmortem neuropathology trends over the past 25 years provides important insights into secular trends in dementia risk, highlighting the role of cardiovascular health and cognitive reserve in the reduced risk.
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Zhirong Yang, Chang Wei, Xiaojuan Li, Jinqiu Yuan, Xuefeng Gao, Bingyu Li, Ziyi Zhao, Sengwee Toh, Xin Yu, Carol Brayne, Zuyao Yang, Feng Sha, Jinling Tang
Summary: This study found that the regular use of laxatives is associated with a higher risk of all-cause dementia, especially in individuals who use multiple types of laxatives or osmotic laxatives.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mohammed D. Rajab, Emmanuel Jammeh, Teruka Taketa, Carol Brayne, Fiona E. Matthews, Li Su, Paul G. Ince, Stephen B. Wharton, Dennis Wang
Summary: This study applies machine learning approaches to identify critical features of Alzheimer-related pathologies associated with dementia. Results show that Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage, beta-amyloid, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy are the most important features for dementia classification. The best-performing dementia classifier achieved 79% sensitivity, 69% specificity, and 75% precision using the top eight neuropathological features.
ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Communication
Ahmet Begde, Manisha Jain, Maria Goodwin, Carol Brayne, Linda Barnes, Rachael Brooks, Emma Green, Connor Richardson, Tom Dening, Thomas Wilcockson, Eef Hogervorst
Summary: Technology is seen as a solution for the aging population in the UK to improve independence and health. However, factors such as age, gender, access to technology, and physical health affect older adults' willingness to use memory assistive and ADL supportive technologies. Healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology producers should target older people, females, and those with less access to technology to promote healthy and independent aging.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION & SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anthony Martyr, Madhumathi Ravi, Laura D. Gamble, Robin G. Morris, Jennifer M. Rusted, Claire Pentecost, Fiona E. Matthews, Linda Clare, DEAL study team
Summary: This study compared the trajectories of cognition and instrumental activities of daily living (iADL) in people with dementia. The results showed that cognition and self-rated iADL declined at a similar rate, while informant-rated iADL declined at a significantly higher rate than cognition. This suggests that either cognition and self-rated iADL decline at different rates or informants overestimate iADL difficulties compared to both cognition and self-ratings.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Sebastian Walsh, Richard Merrick, Carol Brayne
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Emma Nichols, Richard Merrick, Simon Hay, Dibya Himali, Jayandra J. Himali, Sally Hunter, Hannah A. D. Keage, Caitlin S. Latimer, Matthew R. Scott, Jaimie Steinmetz, Jamie M. Walker, Stephen B. Wharton, Crystal Wiedner, Paul K. Crane, Dirk Keene, Lenore J. Launer, Fiona E. Matthews, Julie Schneider, Sudha Seshadri, Lon White, Carol Brayne, Theo Vos
Summary: This study aimed to harmonise neuropathology measures across multiple community-based autopsy cohorts and assess the prevalence, correlation, and co-occurrence of neuropathologies in the ageing population. The results showed that the co-occurrence of neuropathologies in older adults was strongly associated with dementia status, highlighting the complexity of underlying brain pathologies. Rating: 9 out of 10.
LANCET HEALTHY LONGEVITY
(2023)
