1. |
- Agahi, N, et al.
(author)
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Leisure activities and mortality: does gender matter?
- 2008
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In: Journal of aging and health. - : SAGE Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 20:7, s. 855-871
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: This study examines the association between participation in leisure activities and mortality risk among older men and women. Methods: A representative sample of 1,246 men and women ages 65 to 95, interviewed in 1991-1992, were followed for 12 years. Cox regressions analyzed mortality risk. Results : Participating in only a few activities doubled mortality risk compared to those with the highest participation levels, even after controlling for age, education, walking ability, and other health indicators. Women had a dose-response relationship between overall participation and survival. Strong associations with survival were found for engagement in organizational activities and study circles among women and hobby activities and gardening among men. Discussion: Results suggest gender differences in the association between leisure activities and mortality. Women display a decreasing mortality risk for each additional activity. Social activities have the strongest effects on survival among women, whereas men seem to benefit from solitary activities.
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2. |
- Andel, R, et al.
(author)
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Complexity of primary lifetime occupation and cognition in advanced old age
- 2007
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In: Journal of aging and health. - : SAGE Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 19:3, s. 397-415
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: The authors explored the association between complexity of primary lifetime occupation and cognition in older adulthood. Method: The study included 386 participants from the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old, a nationally representative sample aged 77 years or older. The authors examined complexity of work with data, people, and things in relation to cognitive functioning, measured with a shortened version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and cognitive impairment based on MMSE score cutoff. Results: Complexity of work with data and people were associated with better MMSE scores, controlling for age, sex, childhood socioeconomic status, and education. The association between complexity of work with data and MMSE remained statistically significant when adult occupational status was substituted for education as a covariate. Discussion: Complexity of primary lifetime occupation may be reflected in cognitive functioning even in advanced old age. This effect may be independent of education or occupational status.
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3. |
- Berg, Stig, et al.
(author)
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The use of psychoactive medications and cognitive function i older adults
- 1996
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In: Journal of Aging and Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 8:1, s. 136-149
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study examined the relationship between cognitive function and psychotropic medication use in a population sample ( n = 743) of elderly persons. Approximately one third of subjects received such agents, which consisted primarily of anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressants. Subjects received a battery of cognitive tests at three time points: when they were 70, 75, and 79 years of age. Data on medication use revealed that the use of psychoactive agents increased with age, and was greater for females. A cross-sectional analysis showed that those using psychoactive medicines had lower cognitive test scores compared with those who did not receive such drugs. Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that psychotropics had a negative and cumulative effect on cognition, with the function of subjects who received psychoactive agents consistently poorer than those who did not. The magnitude of this effect is relatively small and for several cognitive tests subjects who received these drugs averaged only a few points lower than individuals not using psychoactive medicines.
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4. |
- Crowe, Michael, et al.
(author)
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Diabetes and cognitive decline : investigating the potential influence of factors related to health disparities
- 2010
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In: Journal of Aging and Health. - Newbury Park, CA ; Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 22:3, s. 292-306
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated whether factors related to health disparities--race, rural residence, education, perceived racial discrimination, vascular disease, and health care access and utilization--may moderate the association between diabetes and cognitive decline.METHOD: Participants were 624 community-dwelling older adults (49% African American and 49% rural) who completed in-home mini-mental state examination at baseline and 4-year follow-up.RESULTS: Diabetes at baseline predicted four-year cognitive decline in regression models adjusted for a number of possible confounds. Only perceived discrimination and health utilization showed significant interaction effects with diabetes. Among African Americans who reported experiencing racial discrimination, there was a stronger relationship between diabetes and cognitive decline. Among participants who reported absence of visiting a physician within the past 6 months, the association between diabetes and cognitive decline was substantially larger.DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that factors related to health disparities may influence cognitive outcomes among older adults with diabetes.
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5. |
- Darin-Mattsson, Alexander, et al.
(author)
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Are Occupational Complexity and Socioeconomic Position Related to Psychological Distress 20 Years Later?
- 2015
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In: Journal of Aging and Health. - : Sage Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 27:7, s. 1266-1285
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To assess occupational complexity in midlife in relation to psychological distress in older adulthood (69+ years) and explore the role of socioeconomic position.Method: Baseline data from the Swedish Level of Living Survey and follow-up data from the Swedish Longitudinal Study ofLiving Conditions of the Oldest Old were combined, resulting in 20+ years of follow-up. Data were analyzed using ordered logistic regressions.Results: Higher occupational complexity was associated with less psychological distress 20 years later adjusted for age, sex, follow-up year, hours worked the year before baseline, and psychological distress at baseline. Higher socioeconomic position yielded the same pattern of results. Socioeconomic position partially accounted for the association between occupational complexity and psychological distress.Discussion: With social gradient not easily amenable to modification, efforts to increase engagement at work may offer a viable option to attenuate the influence of work environment on psychological distress later in life.
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7. |
- Ekström, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Effects of Walking Speed and Results of Timed Get-Up-and-Go Tests on Quality of Life and Social Participation in Elderly Individuals With a History of Osteoporosis-Related Fractures
- 2011
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In: Journal of aging and health. - : SAGE Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 23:8, s. 1379-1399
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between physical performance, quality of life (QoL), and social participation among elderly men and women with a history of osteoporosis-related fractures. METHOD: The study was a population-based cross-sectional study including 155 participants aged 60 to 93 years from the Swedish longitudinal investigation, "Good Aging in Skåne." The participants had suffered fracture of the vertebrae, hip, pelvis, or ankle. Physical performance was expressed as walking speed (WS) and timed get-up-and-go (TUG). QoL was measured as using the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and Life Satisfaction (LS) scales. Social participation was defined as taking part in social, cultural, and leisure activities. RESULTS: Lower WS and/or TUG were associated with lower HRQoL, lower LS, and a reduction in social participation, after adjustment for confounding factors. DISCUSSION: Measurements of WS and TUG could be used to determine QoL and social participation in elderly people having sustained fractures.
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8. |
- Fauth, Elizabeth B., et al.
(author)
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Associations between Fine Motor Performance in Activities of Daily Living and Cognitive Ability in a Nondemented Sample of Older Adults : Implications for Geriatric Physical Rehabilitation
- 2017
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In: Journal of Aging and Health. - : Sage Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 29:7, s. 1144-1159
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Fine motor ability (FMA) is essential in certain activities of daily living (ADL) and is considered mostly as a component of physical function. We hypothesize that cognitive ability explains significant variance in ADL-related FMA, above and beyond what is explained by physical ability (grip strength).Method: Origins of Variance in the Old Old Study (OCTO)-Twin participants (n = 218), aged 80+ (dementia, stroke, Parkinson's disease excluded) were assessed on depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale [CES-D]), a cognitive battery, grip strength, and FMA.Results: In a series of ordinary least squares regression models, FMA was not associated with gender or depressive symptoms, but was associated with age (marginally; β = '.164, p =.051), grip strength (β = '.381, p <.01), and one cognitive measure, perceptual speed (β = '.249, p <.01).Discussion: In nondemented older adults, cognitive speed predicts ADL-related FMA after controlling for age and physical ability. Physical rehabilitation of FMA in ADL tasks should consider the importance of cognitive ability, even in nondemented older adults.
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9. |
- Finkel, Deborah, et al.
(author)
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Cohort by Education Interactions in Longitudinal Changes in Functional Abilities
- 2020
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In: Journal of Aging and Health. - : Sage Publications. - 0898-2643 .- 1552-6887. ; 32:3-4, s. 208-215
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Investigations of cohort differences in relationships between education and health tend to focus on mortality or self-reported health. We report one of the first analyses of cohort differences in relationships between education and objective measures of functional abilities across the lifespan.METHOD: Up to 26 years of follow-up data were available from 859 adults from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. The sample was divided into two cohorts by birth year: 1900-1924 and 1925-1948. Latent growth curve models (LGCM) were compared across cohort and educational levels.RESULTS: LGCM indicated divergence between adults with lower and higher educational attainment in longitudinal trajectories of change with age in the Balance and Flexibility factors for the later born cohort only.DISCUSSION: Results support the cumulative advantage theory and suggest that education-health disparities are increasing in recent cohorts, even in counties with national health care systems and strong support of education.
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