| 1. |
- Andersson, Eva A, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Maximal Aerobic Power versus Performance in Two Aerobic Endurance Tests among Young and Old Adults
- 2011
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; :Aug, s. 1-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Aerobic fitness is of great value for reducing risk of mortality and cardiovascular diseases. Objective: This study evaluated the performance in and correlations between a new test (five-minute pyramid test, 5MPT), the six-minute walk-test (6MWT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) among old and young adults. Methods: Forty-four habitually active adults (females and males), 23 old (64-79 years) and 21 young (20-32 years) participated. In the 5MPT, the participants moved back and forth along a short walkway (5.5 m) over boxes (height: 'old people' 0.42 m, 'young people' 0.62 m) arranged like an elongated step pyramid for 5 min. Power in the pyramid test (5MPT(power)) was calculated as the product of numbers of laps, body weight, gravity and highest box level divided by time. A 6MWT and a maximal cycle ergometer test for direct measurements of VO(2max) were also performed. In all tests heart rate, with on-line electrocardiography, and perceived exertion were recorded. Results: There was a strong correlation between the 5MPT(power) and VO(2max) for the entire group studied (r = 0.98), and each of the four subgroups old and young females and males separately (r = 0.78-0.98). Contrary to several earlier studies, especially involving people with various diseases, the present data showed that 6MWT cannot be used to predict VO(2max) among old females and young adults. The correlation with VO(2max) was weaker for the 6MWT than for the 5MPT(power). The relative performance values for the old compared to the young (ratio old/young × 100) were considerably lower in 5MPT(power) and VO(2max) (47-55%) than in distance and 'work' in the 6MWT (82-86%). Conclusions: The results, with age and gender variations, can be valuable information in health-fitness contexts, since measuring physical aerobic capacity is very significant in connection with risk evaluations of mortality and various diseases. The 5MPT is a rapid, functional, easy and inexpensive tool for predicting assessed maximal aerobic power.
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| 2. |
- Bergman, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 in Development and Disease: A Mini-Review
- 2013
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 59, s. 240-249
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a protein hormone known to regulate cell proliferation, growth, migration, differentiation and survival. The gene is parentally imprinted in the sense that transcripts are almost exclusively derived from the paternal allele. Loss of imprinting of the IGF2 gene is a recurrent observation in growth disorders that combine overgrowth with a variety of malignant tumours. Moreover, IGF2 has been proposed to play a role in the development of a variety of seemingly unrelated cancers that play an important role in geriatric medicine, e.g. breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. Finally, IGF2 has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, since, for example, IGF2 has been shown to influence the size of atherosclerotic lesions. Objective: To summarize current knowledge about IGF2, its interactions with binding proteins and receptors and connections with key diseases. Methods: The contents of this paper were based on reviews of existing literature within the field. Results: There is a substantial amount of research linking IGF2 to growth disorders, cancer and to a much lesser degree cardiovascular disease. Some of the studies on IGF2 and tumour growth have yielded conflicting results, for instance regarding its effect on apoptosis. Conclusion: Today, our knowledge on how IGF2 is composed and interacts with receptors has come a long way. However, there is comparatively little information on how IGF2 affects tumour growth and cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Thus, further research will be needed to elucidate the impact of IGF2 on key diseases. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel
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| 3. |
- Carlsson, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Reference Values for 27 Clinical Chemistry Tests in 70-Year-Old Males and Females
- 2010
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 56:3, s. 259-265
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Reference values are usually defined based on blood samples from healthy men or nonpregnant women in the age range of 20-50 years. These values are not optimal for elderly patients, as many biological markers change over time and adequate reference values are important for correct clinical decisions. Objective: To validate NORIP (Nordic Reference Interval Project) reference values in a 70-year-old population. Methods: We studied 27 frequently used laboratory tests. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles for these markers were calculated according to the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry on the statistical treatment of reference values. Results: Reference values are reported for plasma alanine aminotransferase, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, pancreas amylase, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, creatine kinase, C-reactive protein, glucose, gamma-glutamyltransferase, HDL-cholesterol, iron, lactate dehydrogenase, LDL-cholesterol, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, sodium, transferrin, triglycerides, urate and urea. Conclusion: Reference values calculated from the whole population and a subpopulation without cardiovascular disease showed strong concordance. Several of the reference interval limits were outside the 90% CI of a Scandinavian population (NORIP).
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| 4. |
- Eklund, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Positive Experience of a Mobile Radiography Service in Nursing Homes.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-0003 .- 0304-324X. ; 58, s. 107-111
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: For elderly people living in nursing homes, a transport to hospital for a radiological examination can lead to increased anxiety, disorientation and other problems related to the new environment. Objective: To investigate the usefulness of a mobile radiography service for radiological assessment of patients in nursing homes from the patient and staff perspectives. Methods: Lightweight equipment with a digital flat-panel detector was used for mobile radiography on nursing home patients in their own rooms. Data on patient and staff experiences from the service were collected using a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. Image quality was evaluated by the radiographer and a radiologist. Results: The majority of 241 radiography examinations were of the musculoskeletal system (94%). Twelve of 123 patients had pathology that required hospital treatment, while 22 patients with radiographic pathology could be treated locally. The main beneficial factors were security and comfort, acceptance from the patients, no need for transportation, no need for staff to be absent from the nursing homes. Conclusion: Mobile radiography in nursing homes is technically feasible, with good image quality. The most beneficial results were that patients avoided unnecessary transport back and forth to the hospital, and that the majority of patients could be treated locally.
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| 5. |
- Gronstedt, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Individually Tailored Physical and Daily Activities in Nursing Home Residents on Activities of Daily Living, Physical Performance and Physical Activity Level : A Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2013
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 59:3, s. 220-229
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Nursing home residents are extremely inactive and deterioration in health and an increasing dependence in activities of daily living (ADL) are common. Physical activity and exercise play a major role in the preservation of physical function and quality of life late in life. However, evidence for the benefit of rehabilitation in nursing home residents is conflicting and inconclusive. Objective: To evaluate the effect of an individually tailored intervention program of 3 months, for nursing home residents, on ADL, balance, physical activity level, mobility and muscle strength. Methods:In this single-blind randomized clinical trial with parallel groups, nursing home residents >64 years of age from three Nordic countries were included. The intervention group (IG) was assigned to individually tailored physical and daily activities, while the control group (CG) received ordinary care. Primary outcomes were ADL and balance, and secondary outcomes physical activity level, mobility and muscle strength. Results: At baseline, 322 nursing home residents were included, of whom 266 were assessed after 3 months of intervention. Following the intervention, a significant difference was found between participants in the IG and CG on measures of balance, physical activity and transfers. The IG significantly improved walking/wheelchair speed and functional leg muscle strength. The CG had significantly deteriorated in ADL, balance and transfers. Persons who had taken part in the intervention for more than 150 min/week significantly improved their balance and physical activity level. Participation in more than 10 weeks of intervention significantly improved physical activity and walking/wheelchair speed, while a deterioration was seen in those who had participated less. Conclusion: Individually tailored intervention in nursing home residents focusing on physical and daily activities is effective in improving transfers, balance and physical activity level compared to usual care. The effect of the intervention is dependent on the total activity time.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Nilsson, Magnus, 1975-
(författare)
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Ageing and masculinity in the rural
- 2011
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 51, s. 339-339
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 8. |
- Patel, Mitesh, et al.
(författare)
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Change of Body Movement Coordination during Cervical Proprioceptive Disturbances with Increased Age.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-0003 .- 0304-324X. ; 56, s. 284-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: To date, there are very few studies on postural stability in older adults using body movement recordings to capture the postural movement pattern. Moreover, the importance of proprioception at key areas such as the calf or neck on the postural movement pattern in older adults has rarely been investigated. Objective: To investigate whether the body movement coordination strategy to calf or neck vibration was affected by aging. Methods: Body movement measurements were taken at five locations (ankle, knee, hip, shoulder and head) from 18 younger (mean age 29.1 years) and 16 older (mean age 71.5 years) adult subjects using a 3D movement measuring system while subjected to 50 s of pseudo-random calf or neck vibratory stimulation pulses with eyes open or closed. The positions from the knee, hip, shoulder and head markers were correlated against one another to give an indication of the body coordination. Results: During quiet standing, older adults had greater correlation between the head and trunk than the young. There was an age effect in the body movement coordination strategy. Older adults had a different movement pattern with neck vibration involving mainly more independent knee movements, indicating balance difficulty. Conclusions: Neck vibration affects the movement pattern in older adults more compared with younger adults and calf vibration, suggesting that, the regulation of body orientation in older adults is more difficult, especially during cervical proprioceptive disturbances.
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| 9. |
- Rizzuto, Debora, et al.
(författare)
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Lifestyle Factors Related to Mortality and Survival : A Mini-Review
- 2014
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 60:4, s. 327-335
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- As the world's population ages, elderly people are becoming an increasingly important group that merits special attention with regard to health and social issues. Lifestyles affect health and survival at all ages, but the consequences of poor lifestyle behaviors may be different for elderly people than for younger adults. They can also be heavily dependent on exposure earlier in life. Our current state of knowledge is based predominantly on studies conducted among middle-aged adults or young elderly people. Moreover, studies are sparse throughout the entire older age spectrum, from 65 to 90 years. This article summarizes the evidence regarding the impact of lifestyle behaviors on mortality among elderly people. It focuses on behaviors modifiable by individual actions and public health interventions, such as smoking, obesity and sedentary behavior, which predispose numerous people to diseases that rank among the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and dementia. These factors not only shorten life but, when they occur together, also have a major impact on survival beyond that associated with each single lifestyle factor. We propose an integrated life course model to guide research on longevity to answer questions that remain open and to find new strategies to ensure a longer and healthier life for future generations. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
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| 10. |
- Selander, Helena, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Does Automatic Transmission Improve Driving Behavior in Older Drivers?
- 2012
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : Karger. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 58:2, s. 181-187
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Most older drivers continue to drive as they age. To maintain safe and independent transport, mobility is important for all individuals, but especially for older drivers. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether automatic transmission, compared with manual transmission, may improve the driving behavior of older drivers. Method: In total, 31 older drivers (mean age 75.2 years) and 32 younger drivers used as a control group (mean age 39.2 years) were assessed twice on the same fixed route; once in a car with manual transmission and once in a car with automatic transmission. The cars were otherwise identical. The driving behavior was assessed with the Ryd On-Road Assessment driving protocol. Time to completion of left turns (right-hand side driving) and the impact of a distraction task were measured. Results:The older group had more driving errors than the younger group, in both the manual and the automatic transmission car. However, and contrary to the younger drivers, automatic transmission improved the older participants driving behavior as demonstrated by safer speed adjustment in urban areas, greater maneuvering skills, safer lane position and driving in accordance with the speed regulations. Conclusion: Switching to automatic transmission may be recommended for older drivers as a means to maintain safe driving and thereby the quality of their transport mobility.
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| 11. |
- Sternäng, Ola, et al.
(författare)
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Examination of the common cause account in a population-based longitudinal study with narrow age cohort design
- 2010
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0304-324X .- 1423-0003. ; 56:6, s. 553-563
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The common cause account suggests that there is a third factor causing aging effects in both sensory and cognitive functioning, hypothesized to be the integrity of the central nervous system [Lindenberger and Baltes; Psychol Aging 1994;9:339–355]. Importantly, the common cause account was developed based on cross-sectional data, which are especially biased by cohort effects. However, cohort effects can be controlled for in narrow age cohort (NAC) designs and by longitudinal examination. Findings from the few longitudinal studies that have studied the relation between age-related changes in sensory and cognitive functions are complex and give only partial support to the common cause account. Objective: The present paper examines the common cause account within a longitudinal setting. Method: Our study is unique in the sense that it tests the common cause account within a longitudinal NAC design using data from the Betula project. The participants (n = 1,057) were in the age range of 45–90 years. Results: The findings indicate that the relationship between sensory and memory functioning in both a longitudinal age-heterogeneous and a longitudinal NAC design are much weaker than that detected by an age-heterogeneous cross-sectional design. Conclusion: The demonstrated weak age-associated sensory-cognitive link raises questions regarding the explanatory value of the common cause account and related theoretical accounts for accounting for age-related cognitive changes.
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| 12. |
- Wick, MC, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical imaging assessments of knee osteoarthritis in the elderly: a mini-review
- 2014
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Ingår i: Gerontology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-0003 .- 0304-324X. ; 60:5, s. 386-394
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the elderly is one of the most common degenerative age-related joint diseases leading to typical degradation of articular cartilage with severe pain and limitation of joint motion. Its increasing prevalence due to the demographic development of the society has major implications for individual and public healthcare with the increasing necessity for clinical imaging assessment in a high number of individuals. Although conventional X-ray radiographs are widely considered as gold standard for the assessment of knee OA, in clinical and scientific settings they increasingly bare significant limitations in situations when high resolution and detailed assessment of cartilage is demanded. New imaging modalities are broadening the possibilities in knee OA clinical practice and are offering new insights to help for a better understanding of the disease. X-ray analysis in OA of the knee is associated with many technical limitations and increasingly is replaced by high-quality assessment using magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography both in clinical routine and scientific situations. These novel imaging modalities enable an in vivo visualization of the quality of the cartilaginous structure and bone as well as all articular and periarticular tissues. Therefore, the limitations of radiographs in knee OA assessment could be overcome by these techniques. This review article should provide an insight into the most important radiological features of knee OA and their systematic visualization with different imaging approaches that can be used in clinical routine.
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