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Objective: To quantify the contributions of epidemiological changes (age‐ and gender‐specific suicide rates) and demographic forces (population growth and aging) to global changes in years of life lost (YLLs) from suicide over the last 30 years. Method: A decomposition analysis was used to assess the impacts of population growth, population aging, and suicide prevalence on global changes in YLLs from suicide between 1990 and 2019. Results: From 1990 to 2019, global YLLs from suicide reduced by 2,073,714 years (5.9%), from 35,246,316 years to 33,172,602 years. This was mainly due to the decline in age‐specific suicide rates, which reduced the overall YLLs from suicide by 20,185,691 years (973.4%). However, this decline was offset by the impacts of population growth and population aging, which increased global YLLs from suicide by 14,949,110 years (−720.9%) and 3,442,074 years (−166.0%), respectively. The combined effects of epidemiological and demographic drivers were also reflected in different trends in YLLs from suicide across genders and World Bank income level regions, with particularly notable increases in low‐ income and lower‐middle income countries and the aging population. Conclusions: With the significant effects of epidemiological and demographic drivers, global and regional YLLs from suicide may be expected to change greatly in the future. Efforts to reduce the burden of suicide require appropriate allocation of resources for suicide‐prevention strategies and further consideration of demographic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the study protocol of the MEDiterranean ISlands‐Australia (MEDIS‐Australia) Study modelled on the MEDIS Study conducted in Greece. The present study aims to explore adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet pattern, determine enablers and barriers to adherence, explore the definition of Greek cuisine, and associations between adherence to the diet pattern and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome in older Greek Australians originally from Greek islands and Cyprus. Now long‐term immigrants, with at least 50 years in Australia, characteristics and risk factor profiles of older Greek islander‐born Australians will be compared and contrasted to their counterparts living on Greek islands to evaluate the influence of migration on adherence. Methods: The present study is an observational study of cross‐sectional design using a modified lifestyle and semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire to capture sociodemographic, health, psychosocial and dietary characteristics, including cuisine, of 150 older Greek islander‐born Australians. Anthropometric measures and medical history will be collected. Participants will be aged over 65 years, live independently, are originally from a Greek island and are free from CVD. Results: Data collection is underway. Conclusions: Characteristics and behaviours associated with adherence, if identified, could be evaluated in future studies. For example, exploration of enablers or barriers to adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern in an Australian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given the limitations of treatments for dementia, the characterisation of the early stages of dementia is crucial for the development of preventive programmes and interventions. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and examine its medical and lifestyle correlates in a nationally representative sample of the Spanish population.Methods: A total of 3625 participants (≥50 years of age) were interviewed in a cross-sectional study. MCI was defined as the presence of cognitive concerns, the objective evidence of impairment in one or more cognitive domains, the preservation of independence in functional abilities and no dementia. Participants were also asked to provide sociodemographic, health status and lifestyle information. Logistic regression analyses were performed using the overall sample and by age groups.Results: The overall prevalence of MCI was 9.6%, with higher rates in older people and women. In the overall model, after adjustment for potential confounders, depression [odds ratio (OR) = 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21, 2.66], diabetes (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.95), sleep disturbances (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.09, 2.55) and low level of physical activity (OR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.26, 2.31) were associated with significantly higher odds for MCI. When stratified by age groups, depression (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.35, 4.31), stroke (OR = 3.77; 95% CI = 1.44, 9.83) and obesity (OR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.20, 3.53) were significantly associated with MCI in middle-aged participants (50-64 years), whereas low level of physical activity (OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.32, 2.59) and sleep disturbances (OR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.05, 3.05) were associated with MCI in individuals aged 65+ years.Conclusions: Significant associations between MCI and psychological, cardiovascular and lifestyle factors were found. Targeting modifiable risk factors might reduce the risk for MCI and subsequent dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with low skeletal muscle mass (SMM), sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity using nationally representative samples of people aged ≥65 years from diverse geographical regions of the world. Methods Data were available for 18 363 people aged ≥65 years who participated in the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe survey conducted in Finland, Poland, and Spain, and the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health survey conducted in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa, between 2007 and 2012. A skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was created to reflect SMM. SMM, SMI, and percent body fat (%BF) were calculated with specific indirect population formulas. These estimates were based on age, sex, weight, height, and race. Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were defined with specific cut-offs. Results The prevalence of sarcopenia ranged from 12.6% (Poland) to 17.5% (India), and that of sarcopenic obesity ranged from 1.3% (India) to 11.0% (Spain). Higher %BF was associated with lower SMM in all countries, and with sarcopenia in five countries ( p < 0.001). Compared to high levels of physical activity, low levels were related with higher odds for sarcopenia [OR 1.36 (95%CI 1.11-1.67)] and sarcopenic obesity [OR 1.80 (95%CI 1.23-2.64)] in the overall sample. Also, a dose-dependent association between higher numbers of chronic diseases and sarcopenic obesity was observed. Conclusions Physical activity and body composition changes such as high %BF are key factors for the prevention of sarcopenia syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate factors associated with arterial blood pressure in a sample of older Mediterranean people without known cardiovascular disease. During 2005 to 2011, 2813 older (aged 65-100 years) individuals from 22 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) voluntarily enrolled. Standard procedures were used to determine arterial BP and pulse pressure and for the evaluation of dietary habits (including tea and alcoholic beverages consumption), lifestyle, and anthropometric and clinical characteristics of the participants. Participants who reported low alcohol consumption (ie, 0-1 glasses per day) were less likely to have hypertension (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.84) as compared with those who reported high alcohol consumption (ie, 5+ glasses per day). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with mean arterial pressure (β coefficient, -0.18; 95% confidence interval, -0.33 to -0.16). Alcohol drinking remains an important modifiable risk factor for hypertension. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with decreased arterial peripheral resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the crucial role that nutritional services provided both to public or private health-care systems on dietary habits among older people. Methods During 2005-2009, 744 men and 742 women (>65 years) from nine Greek Islands and Cyprus Republic were voluntarily enrolled in the Mediterranean Islands study ( MEDIS). Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics has been recorded. Information regarding practicing dietitians (n = 88) and nutritional services provided in these islands were also recorded. Results It has been demonstrated that the long-term presence of dietitian on an island increase the adherence to the Mediterranean diet by the participants ( P = 0.03). A positive association was also found between level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet by the older people and dietitian's education status (i.e. basic vs postgraduate, P = 0.003). According to the dietitians' reports, 40% of older adults have improved their dietary habits after the nutritional consultation. Conclusions Implementing nutritional services within the healthcare system seems to contribute to healthier dietary habits among older adults that may lead to a better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented concerning the link between coffee drinking, body mass index and lifestyle factors in a population-based sample of older people from the Mediterranean Islands.