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- Adedeji, Dickson O., et al.
(author)
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Longitudinal study of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, allostatic load, and cognition among memory clinic patients
- 2023
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In: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health. - : Elsevier BV. - 2666-3546. ; 28
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Allostatic load (AL) is defined as the cumulative dysregulation of neuroendocrine, immunological, metabolic, and cardiovascular systems that increases the susceptibility to stress-related health problems. Several dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk factors have been identified, yet little is known about the role of AL and its associations with AD biomarkers (e.g., beta-amyloid (Aβ) or tau) and cognitive function among memory clinic patients. Hence, this study aims to assess the association between AL and AD biomarkers, cognitive performance, and cognitive decline after 3-years of follow-up.Methods: Data from 188 memory clinic patients were derived from the Cortisol and Stress in AD (Co-STAR) study in Sweden. Participants underwent baseline assessments including blood tests for AL measures (including cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone, cobalamin, homocysteine, leukocytes, glycated hemoglobin, albumin, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling for AD biomarkers and neuropsychological tests including five cognitive domains. Linear regressions were conducted, adjusting for age, sex, and education.Results: Higher AL was associated with lower CSF Aβ1-42 levels (β = −0.175, p = 0.025), reflecting higher brain levels of Aβ1-42. Stratified analyses suggested a significant association among women but not men, although the AL-sex interaction was not statistically significant. AL was not significantly associated with T-tau level (β = −0.030, p = 0.682) and P-tau level (β = 0.091, p = 0.980). There were no significant associations between AL and cognition or cognitive decline after 3 years.Conclusion: This study showed that higher AL was associated with increased brain amyloid accumulation. This suggests that AL may play a role in AD/dementia pathophysiology. Potential sex-related differences should be assessed in further larger studies.
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| 2. |
- Agahi, Neda, et al.
(author)
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Alcohol consumption in very old age and its association with survival : A matter of health and physical function
- 2016
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In: Drug And Alcohol Dependence. - : Elsevier BV. - 0376-8716 .- 1879-0046. ; 159, s. 240-245
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Alcohol consumption in very old age is increasing; yet, little is known about the personal and health-related characteristics associated with different levels of alcohol consumption and the association between alcohol consumption and survival among the oldest old. Methods: Nationally representative data from the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD, ages 76-101; n=863) collected in 2010/2011 were used. Mortality was analyzed unti12014. Alcohol consumption was measured with questions about frequency and amount. Drinks per month were calculated and categorized as abstainer, light-to-moderate drinker (0.5-30 drinks/month) and heavy drinker (>30 drinks/month). Multinomial logistic regressions and Laplace regressions were performed. Results: Compared to light-to-moderate drinkers, abstainers had lower levels of education and more functional health problems, while heavy drinkers were more often men, had higher levels of education, and no serious health or functional problems. In models adjusted only for age and sex, abstainers died earlier than drinkers. Among light-to-moderate drinkers, each additional drink/month was associated with longer survival, while among heavy drinkers, each additional drink/month was associated with shorter survival. However, after adjusting for personal and health-related factors, estimates were lower and no longer statistically significant. Conclusions: The association between alcohol consumption and survival in very old age seems to have an inverse J-shape; abstention and heavy use is associated with shorter survival compared to light-to moderate drinking. To a large extent, differences in survival are due to differences in baseline health and physical function.
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| 3. |
- Agahi, Neda, et al.
(author)
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Trajectories of social activities and mobility problems from middle to old age
- 2012
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In: The 21st Nordic Congress of Gerontology, Dilemmas in Ageing Societies, Abstracts and Program, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 10th - 13th, 2012. ; , s. 207-
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate how trajectories of social activities, suchas spending time with family and friends, observed during a34-year period (from middle age to old age) were associated withtrajectories of mobility problems during the same time periodamong men and women.Methods: Nationally representative data from the Swedish Levelof Living Survey (LNU) and the Swedish Panel Study of the OldestOld (SWEOLD) were used. LNU data from 1968, 1981, 1991 and2000 were merged with SWEOLD data from 1992 and 2002 tocreate a longitudinal dataset with four observation periodscovering the period 1968-2002. The sample consisted of thoseaged 40-60 years at baseline who survived through the period,and participated in at least three observation periods (n=698).Trajectories of social activity were identified through clusteranalysis, and then used as predictors of mobility trajectories inmultilevel regression models.Results: Most people had a socially active life as they moved frommiddle age into old age. Five trajectories of social activity wereidentified: continuously very active, continuously active,increasing social activity, decreasing social activity, and continuouslyinactive. Upholding a very active social life was morecommon among women than men.Mobility problems increased significantly over time for bothwomen and men. Among men, decreasing activity levels overtime were associated with a faster increase in mobility problems.Among women, those who were continuously inactive or whodecreased their activity levels had higher levels of mobilityproblems, but the increase in mobility problems with age wassimilar across trajectories of social activity.Conclusions: Most men and women had high levels of socialactivity in midlife, and continued their high activity levels into latelife. Decreasing social activity was related to worse mobility inboth men and women. The nature and direction of theseassociations need to be explored further.
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| 5. |
- Augustsson, Erika, et al.
(author)
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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Swedish adults aged 77 years and older : Age differences in lifestyle changes
- 2023
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : Sage Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 51:5, s. 764-768
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: This study aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle and social activities among older adults in Sweden, with a special focus on differences between the ‘younger old’ (aged 77–84) and ‘older old’ (aged 85–109).Methods: This study is based on a nationally representative sample of older adults (aged ⩾77 years) in Sweden (SWEOLD). Data were collected between May 2021 and April 2022, when many recommendations were removed but the virus was still classified as a public health disease. We studied occurrences and differences between the two age groups in several lifestyle factors and social activities.Results: The younger old displayed larger changes in lifestyles because of the pandemic than the older old. Most changes were found in social interactions with family.Conclusions: Our results highlight the large heterogeneity within the Swedish population aged ⩾77 years, and that the younger old experienced a bigger lifestyle change than the older old. Previous activity levels might be important to consider in order to understand how regulations may affect the older population. Finally, our findings indicate large age differences in Internet use, which require attention to prevent digital exclusion of an already vulnerable group.
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| 6. |
- Barysheva, Galina A., et al.
(author)
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Educational Impact On Older Adults' Well-Being : A Local Case For General Conclusions
- 2019
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In: Business Management Theories And Practices In A Dynamic Competitive Environment. - : Euromed Press. - 9789963711819 ; , s. 1577-1580
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The prolongation of life expectancy has opened unprecedented opportunities for the growth of aggregate resources, accumulation of human capital, and the use of individual human potential. Moreover, as the measure of human responsibility for personal development throughout life increases (Blair and Schroeder 2000), the importance of education level increases, especially with regard to ensuring the continued social, economic, psychological, and emotional well-being of older adults. The focus on the association between education level and the subjective perception of well-being among older adults is motivated by the fact that this is currently the fastest growing age group in the world. Regarding Russia, the number of people past retirement age is 24% of the population now. An aging society requires fundamental changes in socioeconomic policies, especially those that focus on the needs of senior citizens. However, it is important to consider regional differences. In particular, the Tomsk region has been recognized as one of the country’s top producers of university students. In fact, the region exceeds the Russian average by more than one-and-a half. In addition, one in five citizens is in the older age group while the proportion of those aged 60 years and above is steadily increasing.
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| 7. |
- Baumann, I., et al.
(author)
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Do cognitively stimulating activities affect the association between retirement timing and cognitive functioning in old age?
- 2022
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In: Ageing & Society. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0144-686X .- 1469-1779. ; 42:2, s. 306-330
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In response to the rising financial pressure on old-age pension systems in industrialised economies, many European countries plan to increase the eligibility age for retirement pensions. We used data from Sweden to examine whether (and if so, how) retirement after age 65 - the eligibility age for basic pension - compared to retiring earlier affects older adults' (between ages 70 and 85) cognitive functioning. Using a propensity score matching (PSM) approach, we addressed the selection bias potentially introduced by non-random selection into either early or late retirement. We also examined average and heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs). HTEs were evaluated for different levels of cognitive stimulation from occupational activities before retirement and from leisure activities after retirement. We drew from a rich longitudinal data-set linking two nationally representative Swedish surveys with a register data-set and found that, on average, individuals who retire after age 65 do not have a higher level of cognitive functioning than those who retire earlier. Similarly, we did not observe HTEs from occupational activities. With respect to leisure activities, we found no systematic effects on cognitive functioning among those working beyond age 65. We conclude that, in general, retirement age does not seem to affect cognitive functioning in old age. Yet, the rising retirement age may put substantial pressure on individuals who suffer from poor health at the end of their occupational career, potentially exacerbating social- and health-related inequalities among older people.
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| 10. |
- Bazzi, May, 1979, et al.
(author)
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Factors affecting radiographers' use of dose-reduction measures
- 2024
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In: JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 0952-4746 .- 1361-6498. ; 44:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigates radiographers' views on implementing dose-reduction measures, with a focus on verifying patient identity and pregnancy status, practising gonad shielding in men and using compression. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to radiographers working in general radiography and/or computed tomography. The questionnaire was based on factors from a framework for analysing risk and safety in clinical medicine. Ordered logistic regressions were used to analyse associations among factors and use of dose-reduction measures. In total, 466 questionnaires were distributed and 170 radiographers (36%) completed them. Clear instructions and routines, support from colleagues, knowledge and experience, a strong safety culture, managerial support and access to proper equipment influence the likelihood of using dose-reduction measures. The strongest associations were found between support from colleagues and verifying pregnancy status (OR = 5.65, P = 0.026), safety culture and use of gonad shielding (OR = 2.36, P = 0.042), and having enough time and use of compression (OR = 2.11, P = 0.003). A strong safety culture and a supportive work environment appears to be essential for the use of dose-reduction measures, and education, training and stress management can improve utilisation of dose-reduction measures.
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