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Objectives This study aimed to investigate perceptions of what it means to "age well" and to explore similarities and differences between a Western and non-Western culture (Britain and Java). Methods Qualitative interviews explored how Javanese and British older adults defined aging well, establishing the similarities and differences between cultures. Javanese (n  = 14) and British (n  = 15) adults aged 61–80 (mean age = 68) participated. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and organized with NVivo. Results Four themes were identified that captured what it means to age well across cultures: (a) good health is a springboard for aging well ; (b) holding a positive outlook is a decisive factor in aging well ; (c) "having enough" and "feeling safe" provide peace of mind ; and (d) spirituality and religiosity provide tranquility. Although both cultures mentioned similar factors, there were variations in the interpretations and emphasis within themes. For example, Javanese participants emphasized the importance of the social environment whereas British participants highlighted the physical environment. Discussion Differences between cultures are important for understanding how best to support people as they age. For example, in Java, aging well may be best supported by providing a vibrant social environment. For people in Britain, having a safe and secure physical environment may be more important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In aging societies, more people become vulnerable to experiencing cognitive decline. Simultaneously, the role of grandparenthood is central for older adults and their families. Our study investigates inequalities in the level and trajectories of cognitive functioning among older adults, focusing on possible intersectional effects of social determinants and grandparenthood as a life course transition that may contribute to delaying cognitive decline. Methods Using longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe, we analyzed a sample of 19,953 individuals aged 50–85 without grandchildren at baseline. We applied multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy to investigate variation in cognitive functioning across 48 intersectional strata, defined by sex/gender, migration, education, and occupation. We allowed the impact of becoming a grandparent on cognitive functioning trajectories to vary across strata by including random slopes. Results Intersectional strata accounted for 17.43% of the overall variance in cognitive functioning, with most of the stratum-level variation explained by additive effects of the stratum-defining characteristics. Transition to grandparenthood was associated with higher cognitive functioning, showing a stronger effect for women. Stratum-level variation in the grandparenthood effect was modest, especially after accounting for interactions between grandparenthood and the stratum-defining variables. Discussion This study highlights the importance of social determinants for understanding heterogeneities in older adults' level of cognitive functioning and its association with the transition to grandparenthood. Cumulative disadvantages negatively affect cognitive functioning, hence adopting an intersectional lens is useful to decompose inequalities and derive tailored interventions to promote equal healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay argues for a fuller integration of ageism and age discrimination into the productive aging framework. We briefly review the productive aging scholarship and the extent to which ageism has been considered in regard to working, volunteering, education, and caregiving. We suggest that ageism has not been adequately considered, and we identify how it permeates productive engagement in later life. We introduce modifications to the productive aging framework to more directly capture the roles of ageism and age discrimination in activity engagement and the outcomes achieved. We argue for the integration of key concepts from minority stress theory and critical race theory that may yield important insights for an increasingly diverse older population. We conclude with research directions that will guide intervention development to reduce ageism at the societal, organizational, and individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Due to health and/or financial limitations, older migrants may become especially dependent on their neighborhoods, highlighting the importance of investigating their experiences. We explored older Moroccan adults' views on the relative importance of neighborhood resources for aging in place. Research Design and Methods Thirty Moroccans aged ≥65 years residing in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht were interviewed and asked to perform a ranking task developed with the combined quantitative and qualitative Q methodology. They ranked the relative importance of 38 statements representing the World Health Organization's 8 global age-friendly cities domains, with explanation of their reasoning. By-person factor analysis was performed to identify factors representing distinct viewpoints, which were interpreted with reference to the interviewees' comments. Results Four viewpoints were identified: "home sweet home"; "connected, well-informed, and engaged"; "suitable and affordable living"; and "a lively neighborhood." The perceived importance of neighborhood resources for aging in place differed among viewpoints. Discussion and Implications Older Moroccan adults prioritize different neighborhood resources for aging in place. Our findings suggest that their diverse needs can be satisfied by enabling family to live in close proximity, providing diverse, inclusive neighborhoods with affordable, suitable housing, understandable information, social/cultural activities, and care services for vulnerable groups. Future studies may build on our findings to explore older (migrant) adults' views on needs for aging in place in the Netherlands and other western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Although the relationship between mortality and objective successful aging (health, functional ability, social engagement) is clear, the relationship between subjective successful aging (SSA) and mortality is inconclusive. Building on the broader literature regarding psychological well-being, these analyses examine the relationship between SSA and mortality, adjusting for demographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics with known mortality risks. Research Design and Methods We analyzed self-report data collected between 2006 and 2008 from 5,483 people. In addition to demographic, health, and lifestyle variables, we measured SSA using a valid, reliable measure. Over the course of 3,285 days, 695 people died. We computed 4 sequential Cox proportional hazard models to examine the association between SSA and time to death. The first model included only SSA; Model 2 added demographic characteristics; Model 3 added health characteristics; Model 4 added lifestyle characteristics. Results We found that SSA had a significant association with mortality, accounting for known mortality risk factors. Each 1-point rise in SSA decreased the risk of mortality by 3% (0.97; 95% confidence interval = 0.95–0.99; p <.05). The probability of death within 9 years for persons with SSA scores from 0 to 5 was 45%; for persons with SSA scores from 25 to 30, risk of mortality was less than 10%. Discussion and Implications Findings provide evidence that lower SSA scores reveal greater risk for mortality beyond demographic, health, and lifestyle variables. A brief assessment of SSA can provide unique clinical information and be used to identify people who might benefit from interventions to reduce mortality risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive Reserve (CR) reflects acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities throughout life, and it is known for modulating cognitive efficiency in healthy and clinical populations. CR, which was initially proposed to explain individual differences in the clinical presentation of dementia, has subsequently been extended to healthy ageing, showing its role in cognitive efficiency also during middle age. Recently, CR has been linked to affective processes in psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, major depressive and anxiety symptoms, and psychological distress, suggesting its potential role in emotional expression and regulation. Whether the role of CR in mental health extends to non-pathological adults, and whether this is only relevant in older age is not yet clear. The aim of this work was therefore to explore the relationship between CR and mental health in healthy adults, with a focus on middle adulthood (40–60). In a sample of 96 participants, we found a positive association between CR and mental health outcomes, such that a higher cognitive reserve index corresponded to fewer mental health reported symptoms. Specifically, a higher CR reflecting professional activities was associated with lower stress levels, especially in middle agers. Taken together, these data therefore suggest that engaging occupations may help maintain a robust mental health, especially by reducing stress symptoms during middle age. These results broaden previous findings suggesting that CR relates to affective components of mental health in middle aged and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the successful aging conditions of geriatric home health patients. Methods: The design of this study is descriptive and cross-sectional. The study was conducted with 605 patients aged 60 and over who received service from the home health unit of a training and research hospital. IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 program was used in the analysis of the data. Results: The successful aging score of geriatric home health patients was found to be 32.46±12.74, which is considered low. A significant relationship was found between successful aging score and patients' age, marital status, education level, and chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer (p<0.05). In addition, a significant relationship was found between the duration of the patients receiving service from the home health unit and their gender, as well as the presence of a patient's relative who looked after them (p<0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: As a result, successful aging scores of geriatric home health patients are low. In order to ensure successful aging, home health units should work in coordination with preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health institutions and develop training modules to increase healthy life activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber bearings are key components of base-isolated structures, and the monitoring of their damage states is an important task. Aging is a primary concern affecting the service life and isolation effect of rubber bearings. Therefore, this study combined an active sensing method and a data-driven approach to detect rubber aging. A shear stiffness, accelerated aging, and active sensing experiments were conducted on a scaled rubber specimen. As the aging level increased, the shear stiffness of the specimens gradually increased from 116.69 to 127.82 N/mm, but this change was not linear. Due to variations in the degree of aging, discrepancies may arise in the time and frequency domain characteristics of detection signals. However, establishing an empirical relationship between the degree of aging and the features of detection signals were highly challenging. A deep-learning-based data-driven method was used to predict the aging level and shear stiffness using detection signals. The deep learning model successfully detected the aging level, and the prediction accuracy on the validation and test sets reached 99.98%. For the deep learning model for aging level prediction, the optimal input vector length is 4096, the recommended number of layers is 3–5, and the recommended number of cells in each layer is 256–2048. Moreover, the deep learning model also detected the shear stiffness of the rubber specimen. The mean absolute error was 0.27 N/mm on the validation set and 0.28 N/mm on the test set. For the deep learning model for shear stiffness prediction, the optimal input vector length is 4096, and the optimal structure is seven layers with 2048 cells in each layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Soochow University Philosophy & Social Sciences Edition is the property of Soochow University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Nursing Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Purpose: Ageing has become one of the major global public issues and active ageing has become a global goal. Accurate and reproducible assessment tools are a prerequisite for robust and reliable measurement of active ageing and policy formulation. However, a broad scoping review describing the characteristics and heterogeneity of assessment tools for active ageing is lacking. This study aims to comprehensively portray current active ageing assessment tools and their features. Methods: We conducted a scoping review, focusing on the Active Ageing Assessment Tool, and searched seven databases: CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Medline, and Proquest. The research process adhered to the methodological framework of Arkey and O'Malley and the PRISMA-ScR specification. More so, we registered the research program with the Open Science Framework. Results: Ultimately, we included twenty-two pieces of literature. The development of the active ageing assessment tool predominantly occurred between 2012 and 2023, with a focus on foreign countries (16 studies). All included literature presented multidimensional Active ageing assessment tools. Eighteen studies examined active ageing assessment tools at the macro level, while four studies focused on the individual level. Also, fourteen out of the twenty-two studies were based on the World Health Organization's Theoretical Framework for Active Ageing. The literature contained only two active ageing assessment tools designed for specific subgroups of older people. Conclusion: Future development of active ageing assessment tools should integrate more comprehensive concepts and social theories of active ageing. Additionally, there is a need to explore active ageing measurement tools tailored for diverse subgroups of the older adults at various levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) revolves around healthy aging and active aging. Since the Introduction of the concept by the World Health Organization in 2015, a series of studies have been conducted by scholars from multiple fields. However, no bibliometric analysis has systematically investigated this issue. We aim to identify the current landscape and frontier trends of scientific achievements on IC in older adults through bibliometric approaches. Methods: Quantitative analysis of publications relating to IC in older adults from 2015 to 2023 was interpreted and graphed through the Web of Science Core Collection database on December 5, 2023. A variety of quantitative variables was analyzed, including publication and citation counts, H-index, and journal citation reports. Co-authorship, citation, co-citation, and co-occurrence analyses were performed for countries/regions, institutions, authors, and keywords using the VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Results: A total of 952 original and review articles in English were identified. The European countries possessed an absolute advantage in this field. The most contributive institution was the University of São Paulo. The most productive author is Cesari Matteo from France, followed by Qaisar Rizwan from the United Arab Emirates. However, a relatively low level of research cooperation existed between institutions and authors. Important topics mainly include the connotations, theoretical framework models, evaluation, screening tools, and application scenarios of IC. Among the promising hotspots, "biological aging", "ICOPE", "Covid-19", "prevention", "inflammation", "caf22", "prevalence", and "randomized controlled trial" displayed relatively latest average appearing year. Conclusion: Global trends indicate a growing scientific output on IC in older adults, and developed countries are leading the way. There is still room for improvement in research team collaboration. The focus gradually shifts from theoretical research to empirical research. It is recommended to pay attention to the latest hot spots, such as "biological aging", "ICOPE implementation", "post-COVID-19 syndrome", and "biomarkers". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Korean healthcare system is ill-equipped to manage geriatric diseases, even though we are on the verge of becoming a super-aged society. Current Concepts: In Korea's delivery of healthcare system, which is centered on subspecialty care from primary to tertiary care, older adults with multiple chronic diseases are forced to receive fragmented care from multiple doctors. In medical education and residency programs, even the most fundamental concepts of geriatrics are misunderstood, and geriatricians receive inadequate training. Consequently, along with the rapidly growing elderly population, elderly patients with complex health problems, frailty, and dysfunction are deprived of the opportunity to achieve healthy aging by taking multiple medications and suffering from geriatric syndromes caused by fragmented medical care. Discussion and Conclusion: Establishing a system for training geriatricians and strengthening geriatric education is necessary to ensure existing specialists can assign them the role of primary care geriatricians. Additionally, person-centered, integrated geriatric care that requires appropriate management of various complex diseases, as well as maintenance of function and frailty prevention, will be possible by establishing a geriatric healthcare system that ranges from frailty prevention, polypharmacy management, and home visits in primary healthcare to multidisciplinary geriatric care and transitional care in tertiary healthcare. Implementing this strategy as early as possible will help older adults age well and reduce the caregiving burden in later life. This could also ease concerns regarding physician shortages induced by the rapidly growing elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service accessibility plays a pivotal role in older adults' mental health. However, accessibility measures used in previous studies are either objective or perceived. This study aimed to integrate both objective and perceived measures of service accessibility to explore the relationship between environmental cognition on service accessibility and mental health in older adults and the pathways. We used both questionnaire data collected from 2,317 older adults in Hong Kong and geographical data to explore the direct and indirect effect of environmental cognition (i.e. positive, negative, and matching evaluation) relating to service accessibility on mental health and two pathways (i.e. physical activity and sense of belonging) based on a structural equation model. Physical activity mediated the positive relationship between non-negative perceptions toward access to convenience stores, leisure facilities, clinics, community centers, places of worship and mental health. Sense of community can significantly mediate the positive relationships between non-negative perceptions toward all 10 types of services and mental health. This study provides an empirical contribution to environmental cognition theory and person-environment fit theory; its findings have implications for urban planning policy. The findings from this study provide significant evidence that environmental cognition distortion, especially negative perception, can be significantly associated with lower mental health through physical activity and a sense of community. This suggests that policies focused on changing environmental cognitions could be a promising public health strategy. Environmental cognition theory suggests that improving awareness of setting could help improve the precision of cognitive mapping of environmental reality. This can be very important where it is difficult to change the objective environment due to the deep-rooted and long-standing urban structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tremella polysaccharide is the main active substance in Tremella, possessing various functions such as anti- oxidant and anti-aging effects. The widely occurring chemical contaminant in the environment, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), can be absorbed through the skin and metabolized, thereby posing a risk of carcinogenicity. In this experiment, the antioxidant activity of crude Tremella polysaccharide was measured in vitro, and then cellular assays were conducted to determine the changes in mRNA expression of collagen (Collagen I, Collagen III), Elastin and matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) in fibroblasts under the combined effect of BaP and Tremella polysaccharide, along with the protein content of Collagen I. The anti-aging effect of polysaccharides was also determined. It was found that Tremella polysaccharide had good in vitro antioxidant activity with the highest superoxide anion radical scavenging rate of 70.28%, DPPH scavenging rate of 50.10% and hydroxyl radical scavenging rate of 32.69%. Tremella polysaccharide only at 0.1 µg/mL could effectively inhibit the stimulation of related gene expression by BaP at 20 µmol/L (P<0.05). The expression of Collagen I, Collagen III and Elastin genes increased in a polysaccharide concentration-dependent manner. Under BaP exposure, although collagen gene expression increased to 1.26-fold, the heavily expressed MMP-1 caused the degradation of collagen, therefore, under the effect of Tremella polysaccharide, the content of Collagen-1 decreased to 3.06 µg/L (which was lower than the value of the blank control: 3.48 µg/L). The results indicated that Tremella polysaccharide could effectively inhibit the BaP-induced damage to cells and promote the expression of cell genes (on which the concentration had an important influence). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the backdrop of global aging, the escalating number of elderly individuals in poor health poses a growing social burden and impacts economic development and social stability. A fundamental question arises as to whether the advancements of digital finance (DF) can effectively enhance the physical health of the elderly. This study aims to investigate the impact of DF on the physical health of the elderly by utilizing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2013, 2015, and 2018. The results reveal a significant positive impact of DF on enhancing the physical health of the elderly. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that this impact is particularly pronounced among the elderly with higher educational attainment, stronger intergenerational links, and those residing in central cities. A mechanism analysis further reveals that DF contributes to improving the physical health of the elderly by augmenting household disposable income, alleviating liquidity constraints, and enhancing the utilization of medical services. These findings offer valuable insights for the future development of DF and the implementation of policies promoting healthy aging and active aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab is a human monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 pathways and has shown efficacy in five different atopic diseases marked by type 2 inflammation, including eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and adolescents. METHODS: In this phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned, in a 2:2:1:1 ratio, patients 1 to 11 years of age with active eosinophilic esophagitis who had had no response to protonpump inhibitors to 16 weeks of a higher-exposure or lower-exposure subcutaneous dupilumab regimen or to placebo (two groups) (Part A). At the end of Part A, eligible patients in each dupilumab group continued the same regimen and those in the placebo groups were assigned to higher-exposure or lower-exposure dupilumab for 36 weeks (Part B). At each level of exposure, dupilumab was administered in one of four doses tiered according to baseline body weight. The primary end point was histologic remission (peak esophageal intraepithelial eosinophil count, <6 per highpower field) at week 16. Key secondary end points were tested hierarchically. RESULTS: In Part A, histologic remission occurred in 25 of the 37 patients (68%) in the higherexposure group, in 18 of the 31 patients (58%) in the lower-exposure group, and in 1 of the 34 patients (3%) in the placebo group (difference between the higherexposure regimen and placebo, 65 percentage points [95% confidence interval {CI}, 48 to 81; P<0.001); difference between the lower-exposure regimen and placebo, 55 percentage points [95% CI, 37 to 73; PcO.OOl]). The higher-exposure dupilumab regimen led to significant improvements in histologic, endoscopic, and transcriptomic measures as compared with placebo. The improvements in histologic, endoscopic, and transcriptomic measures between baseline and week 52 in all the patients were generally similar to the improvements between baseline and week 16 in the patients who received dupilumab in Part A. In Part A, the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019, nausea, injection-site pain, and headache was at least 10 percentage points higher among the patients who received dupilumab (at either dose) than among those who received placebo. Serious adverse events were reported in 3 patients who received dupilumab during Part A and in 6 patients overall during Part B. CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab resulted in histologic remission in a significantly higher percentage of children with eosinophilic esophagitis than placebo. The higher-exposure dupilumab regimen also led to improvements in measures of key secondary end points as compared with placebo. (Funded by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; EoE KIDS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04394351.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban populations across the globe are ageing and much debate has centred on what constitutes an ‘age-friendly’ city. Historic environments, for example, often present physical challenges, such as steps and uneven surfaces – while today these are designed out. Smooth level surfaces, automatic doors and elevators to change level, require little exertion. However, has the fact that in order to keep our bodies healthy into older age, a level of physical exertion in our day to day lives is required, been overlooked? Can activity be designed back into environments without undoing the benefits of accessibility and causing harm to others? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAlthough older adults participating in volunteering promotes “active ageing” and reduces social service burden, not many retied people in China participate in volunteering. Utilizing data from semi-structured interviews with 15 retired individuals in Beijing, this research explores the factors influencing their involvement in community volunteer services. Informed by resource theory and social ecological system theory, a hybrid three-level social ecological systems model is developed following thematic analysis. At the micro-level, foundational factors for volunteering are their human capital, including good health status, ample free time, and satisfaction with pensions. At the meso-level, social capital from family and peers provides essential information and support, while a cohesive community environment fostered through community and volunteer management enhances the willingness to volunteer. At the macro-level, CPC ideologies and governmental policies nurture a culture of volunteerism that facilitates community involvement. The study also investigates interactions across these levels: the microsystem and mesosystem mutually enhance human and social capital, whereas the macrosystem and mesosystem reflect the reciprocal influence of cultural on social capital. Recommendations are offered to increase retired people’s participation in community volunteering, emphasizing community management and governmental policy adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the link between self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and healthy aging is well established, less is known about the association between social factors and SPA. The present study investigated whether higher social network diversity is associated with more positive and less negative SPA and whether this association is moderated by age. We examined cross-sectional data from the German Ageing Survey of 2008 (DEAS; N = 6205, 40–85 years, 49.5% female). Network diversity was assessed as the number of social roles in an individual's network (such as spouse, friend and colleague). Three domains of SPA were measured using the Aging-Related Cognitions Scale (AgeCog): ongoing development (positive SPA), social losses (negative SPA) and physical losses (negative SPA). We conducted multiple linear regression models and tested for a moderator effect of age using an interaction term of age and network diversity. Results showed that at higher ages older adults with higher network diversity reported more positive SPA related to ongoing development and more negative SPA related to social losses than those with less diverse networks, indicating that age has a moderating effect. We found no association between network diversity and negative SPA related to physical losses and no indication that age was relevant to this relationship. The present study adds to evidence on the role of social networks in SPA. Our findings suggest that in certain SPA domains and depending on age, network diversity is related to both more positive and more negative SPA, which emphasizes the importance of considering domain-specific SPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. How geriatric care models impact the health‐related behaviors of the elderly and the function of social support within this context. Methods. We conducted binary logistic regression and PSM‐DID analyses using data from the China Tracking Survey of Factors Influencing Elderly Health (CLHLS) and the China Health and Aging Tracking Survey (CHARLS). Results. Compared to living alone, other aging models negatively affected health behaviors. In the living with family model, parental intergenerational support attenuated these effects, while children's financial support reduced negative impacts on health‐protective behaviors. In the institutional model, negative effects on health‐hazardous behaviors were exacerbated by emotional and social support. Loneliness and a lack of self‐worth were crucial pathways. Discussion. Governments should offer public services to alleviate the intergenerational support burden on older individuals and strengthen social support for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood adversities may lead to decreased activity participation in later life, impacting memory health in ageing adults. Childhood adversities related to deprivation and threat, as conceptualized by the Dimensional Model of Adversity, can exhibit distinct impacts on cognitive and emotional outcomes in children and younger adults. This study examined the potential influence of childhood deprivation and threat on memory function in later life and the mediating role of activity participation in these relationships. Methods: This study used data from the first wave of Panel Study of Active Ageing and Society (PAAS), a representative survey of Hong Kong residents aged 50 or above (N = 1,005). Key variables included late-life memory function measured by delayed recall test, deprivation- and threat-related childhood adversities, and the frequency of participation in informal and formal types of activities. Mediation tests were used for analysis. Results: Childhood deprivation was associated with a lower late-life memory function, whereas threat was not. The negative effects of childhood deprivation and its subdomain, economic hardship, on memory function were mediated by activity participation. Total participation scores presented the strongest mediating effect (17.3–20.6%), with formal activities playing a more substantial mediating role than informal activities in mitigating the effect of childhood deprivation. Conclusions: These findings expand the applicability of the Dimensional Model of Adversity to ageing populations, highlighting the influence of deprivation on life-long cognitive development. Furthermore, this study revealed an indirect mechanism by which childhood deprivation affects memory health in old age through diverse activity participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid intelligence (Gf) involves rational thinking skills and requires the integration of information from different cortical regions to resolve novel complex problems. The effects of non‐invasive brain stimulation on Gf have been studied in attempts to improve Gf, but such studies are rare and the few existing have reached conflicting conclusions. The parieto‐frontal integration theory of intelligence (P‐FIT) postulates that the parietal and frontal lobes play a critical role in Gf. To investigate the suggested role of parietal cortices, we applied high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD‐tDCS) to the left and right parietal cortices of 39 healthy adults (age 19–33 years) for 20 min in three separate sessions (left active, right active and sham). After completing the stimulation session, the participants completed a logical reasoning task based on Raven's Progressive Matrices during magnetoencephalography. Significant neural responses at the sensor level across all stimulation conditions were imaged using a beamformer. Whole‐brain, spectrally constrained functional connectivity was then computed to examine the network‐level activity. Behaviourally, we found that participants were significantly more accurate following left compared to right parietal stimulation. Regarding neural findings, we found significant HD‐tDCS montage‐related effects in brain networks thought to be critical for P‐FIT, including parieto‐occipital, fronto‐occipital, fronto‐parietal and occipito‐cerebellar connectivity during task performance. In conclusion, our findings showed that left parietal stimulation improved abstract reasoning abilities relative to right parietal stimulation and support both P‐FIT and the neural efficiency hypothesis. Key points: Abstract reasoning is a critical component of fluid intelligence and is known to be served by multispectral oscillatory activity in the fronto‐parietal cortices.Recent studies have aimed to improve abstract reasoning abilities and fluid intelligence overall through behavioural training, but the results have been mixed.High‐definition transcranial direct‐current stimulation (HD‐tDCS) applied to the parietal cortices modulated task performance and neural oscillations during abstract reasoning.Left parietal stimulation resulted in increased accuracy and decreased functional connectivity between occipital regions and frontal, parietal, and cerebellar regions.Future studies should investigate whether HD‐tDCS alters abstract reasoning abilities in those who exhibit declines in performance, such as healthy ageing populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With autism first recognized in the 1940s, the early cohorts of autistic children are beginning to enter older adulthood. Little is known about the experiences and outcomes of autistic older adults. In the general population, "successful aging" is a dominant model among gerontologists and is used to evaluate outcomes in older adulthood. This narrative review aims to provide a framework for understanding and supporting successful aging in older autistic adults. Using Fernández-Ballesteros' four-domain model of "aging well" we review knowledge on aging and autism by examining outcomes in health and functioning, cognitive and physical functioning, positive affect and control, and social participation and engagement. Findings indicate that outcomes in autistic older adults are generally poor, marked by increased medical conditions, low adaptive skills, elevated risk of cognitive decline, limited physical activity, high rates of mental health conditions, low quality of life, and reduced social or community participation. Patterns of challenges are similar across cognitive abilities and profiles of autistic traits. Challenges and next steps in aging and autism research are identified, and future directions for the field are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged and elderly people with some pathological mechanisms including immune disorder, neuroinflammation, white matter injury and abnormal aggregation of alphasynuclein, etc. New research suggests that white matter injury may be important in the development of PD, but how inflammation, the immune system, and white matter damage interact to harm dopamine neurons is not yet understood. Therefore, it is particularly important to delve into the crosstalk between immune cells in the central and peripheral nervous system based on the study of white matter damage in PD. This crosstalk could not only exacerbate the pathological process of PD but may also reveal new therapeutic targets. By understanding how immune cells penetrate through the blood-brain barrier and activate inflammatory responses within the central nervous system, we can better grasp the impact of structural destruction of white matter in PD and explore how this process can be modulated to mitigate or combat disease progression. Microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and peripheral immune cells (especially T cells) play a central role in its pathological process where these immune cells produce and respond to pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-6(IL-6), and white matter injury causes microglia to become pro-inflammatory and release inflammatory mediators, which attract more immune cells to the damaged area, increasing the inflammatory response. Moreover, white matter damage also causes dysfunction of blood-brain barrier, allows peripheral immune cells and inflammatory factors to invade the brain further, and enhances microglia activation forming a vicious circle that intensifies neuroinflammation. And these factors collectively promote the neuroinflammatory environment and neurodegeneration changes of PD. Overall, these findings not only deepen our understanding of the complexity of PD, but also provide new targets for the development of therapeutic strategies focused on inflammation and immune regulation mechanisms. In summary, this review provided the theoretical basis for clarifying the pathogenesis of PD, summarized the association between white matter damage and the immune cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and then emphasized their potential specific mechanisms of achieving crosstalk with further aggravating the pathological process of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of easily accessible and usable social and cognitive enhancement trainings is becoming a priority to reduce the impact of aging on quality of life. Since most activities of daily living (e.g., making a meal) require problem-solving skills, problem-solving interventions could be used to improve and/or maintain functional abilities in aging to prolong independence. To design an effective problem-solving training and increase older adults' adherence to the training, this study examined older adults' perceptions of their challenges in activities of daily living, their skills and difficulties in using information technology (IT), and their motivations and expectations for participating in a web-based problem-solving training activity. Four focus groups (two in Italy and two in the Netherlands) were conducted with older adults aged between 65 and 84 years, a total of 27 participants. The data were analyzed using the Atlas.ti 8 software for the thematic analysis. The analysis identified five thematic areas: interests and activities, difficulties and concerns, experiences and motivations for training, expertise and resources, suggestions for the design of the new training. The results were used to develop a first prototype of a Shared, Web-based, Intelligent Flexible Thinking Training (SWIFT), adapted to future user needs. The participation of older adults in this design phase was critical to understanding their needs, motivations, and expectations regarding the implementation and use of a cognitive enhancement training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1; L1) are a family of transposons that occupy ~17% of the human genome. Though a small number of L1 copies remain capable of autonomous transposition, the overwhelming majority of copies are degenerate and immobile. Nevertheless, both mobile and immobile L1s can exert pleiotropic effects (promoting genome instability, inflammation, or cellular senescence) on their hosts, and L1's contributions to aging and aging diseases is an area of active research. However, because of the cell type-specific nature of transposon control, the catalogue of L1 regulators remains incomplete. Here, we employ an eQTL approach leveraging transcriptomic and genomic data from the GEUVADIS and 1000Genomes projects to computationally identify new candidate regulators of L1 RNA levels in lymphoblastoid cell lines. To cement the role of candidate genes in L1 regulation, we experimentally modulate the levels of top candidates in vitro, including IL16, STARD5, HSD17B12, and RNF5, and assess changes in TE family expression by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Remarkably, we observe subtle but widespread upregulation of TE family expression following IL16 and STARD5 overexpression. Moreover, a short-term 24-hour exposure to recombinant human IL16 was sufficient to transiently induce subtle, but widespread, upregulation of L1 subfamilies. Finally, we find that many L1 expression-associated genetic variants are co-associated with aging traits across genome-wide association study databases. Our results expand the catalogue of genes implicated in L1 RNA control and further suggest that L1-derived RNA contributes to aging processes. Given the ever-increasing availability of paired genomic and transcriptomic data, we anticipate this new approach to be a starting point for more comprehensive computational scans for regulators of transposon RNA levels. Author summary: Transposable elements, or jumping genes, are fragments of DNA that have or once had the ability to mobilize to a new location within our genome. In humans, the most abundant transposable element is LINE-1 (L1), accounting for ~17% of our total DNA. Though L1 is generally repressed in healthy human cells, depression of transposable elements (including L1) has been observed in aging and in aging-associated diseases. Additionally, there is increasing evidence that L1 transcriptional levels may promote features of aging, highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms that regulate L1 RNA levels. Here, we computationally identify new candidate regulators of L1 RNA levels, provide experimental evidence that candidate regulators influence L1 RNA levels, and demonstrate that genetic variants associated with differences in L1 RNA levels are co-associated with aging phenotypes. Our approach expands the toolkit that can be used to characterize transposable element regulation and highlights specific genes for further study. Importantly, our results reiterate the notion that L1 levels are linked with aging phenotypes and represent a potential therapeutic target for age-related decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system, primarily the motor nervous system, and occurs most often in older adults. A large number of studies have shown that high intelligence leads to an increased risk of PD. However, whether there is a causal relationship between intelligence on PD has not yet been reported. Methods: In this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed with intelligence (ebi-a-GCST006250) and fluid intelligence score (ukb-b-5238) as exposure factors and PD (ieu-b-7) as an outcome, which the datasets were mined from the IEU OpenGWAS database. MR analysis was performed through 3 methods [MR Egger, weighted median, inverse variance weighted (IVW)], of which IVW was the primary method. In addition, the reliability of the results of the MR analysis was assessed via the heterogeneity test, the horizontal polytropy test, and Leave-One-Out (LOO). Finally, based on gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, the genes corresponding to intelligence and fluid intelligence score related to SNPs were enriched for functional features and pathways. Results: The results of MR analysis suggested that elevated intelligence indicators can increase the risk of PD [p = 0.015, Odd Ratio (OR) = 1.316]. Meanwhile, fluid intelligence score was causally associated with the PD (p = 0.035), which was a risk factor (OR = 1.142). The reliability of the results of MR analysis was demonstrated by sensitivity analysis. Finally, the results of GO enrichment analysis for 87 genes corresponding to intelligence related SNPs mainly included regulation of synapse organization, developmental cell growth, etc. These genes were enriched in the synaptic vessel cycle, polycomb expressive complex in KEGG. Similarly, 44 genes corresponding to SNPs associated with fluid intelligence score were used for enrichment analysis. Based on the GO database, these genes were mainly enriched in regulation of developmental growth, negative regulation of neuron projection development, etc. In KEGG, 44 genes corresponding to SNPs associated with fluid intelligence score were enriched in signaling pathways including Alzheimer's disease, the cellular senescence, etc. Conclusion: The causal relationships between intelligence and fluid intelligence scores, and PD were demonstrated through MR analysis, providing an important reference and evidence for the study of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central nervous system (CNS) is widely recognized as the only organ system without lymphatic capillaries to promote the removal of interstitial metabolic by‐products. Thus, the newly identified glymphatic system which provides a pseudolymphatic activity in the nervous system has been focus of latest research in neurosciences. Also, findings reported that, sleep stimulates the elimination actions of glymphatic system and is linked to normal brain homeostatis. The CNS is cleared of potentially hazardous compounds via the glymphatic system, particularly during sleep. Any age‐related alterations in brain functioning and pathophysiology of various neurodegenerative illnesses indicates the disturbance of the brain's glymphatic system. In this context, β‐amyloid as well as tau leaves the CNS through the glymphatic system, it's functioning and CSF discharge markedly altered in elderly brains as per many findings. Thus, glymphatic failure may have a potential mechanism which may be therapeutically targetable in several neurodegenerative and age‐associated cognitive diseases. Therefore, there is an urge to focus for more research into the connection among glymphatic system and several potential brain related diseases. Here, in our current review paper, we reviewed current research on the glymphatic system's involvement in a number of prevalent neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases and, we also discussed several therapeutic approaches, diet and life style modifications which might be used to acquire a more thorough performance and purpose of the glymphatic system to decipher novel prospects for clinical applicability for the management of these diseases. Key points: Age‐associated dementia is growing rapidly leading to various neurological diseases and is currently one of the prime reasons for diseases and related morbidity which impacts a wide range of populations.Recently discovered glymphatic system, through which CNS is cleared of potentially harmful substances and plays a significant role in modulating various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric illnesses.To avert these diseases various natural interventions like traditional herbal medicine, non‐invasive neurological stimulation, regular sleep cycle and dietary additives may ameliorate disease pathogenesis by improving glymphatic activity are recently identified.Furthermore, investigations are going on the role of nutrigenomics and micronutrients in boosting the activity of glymphatic clearance in various neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One important challenge for global development is aging. China is one of the world's countries with the highest elderly population and the most rapid aging; in 2022, the percentage of the population over 65 was 14.9%; by 2050, it is expected to rise to 26.1%. China's health security, elderly care, and healthcare services are facing serious challenges as a result of this aging trend. With 80% of provinces including medical and elderly care in national basic public health care programs, China has adopted a proactive national plan to combat population aging. Moreover, geriatric departments have been established at 69.3% of public general hospitals at secondary and higher tiers, 48% of provinces have devises preventive interventions for disability and dementia in the elderly, 48 percent of provinces are serving as test regions for medical care related to rehabilitation, and 49 cities are involved in long-term care insurance (LTCI) trials that encompass 170 million people. There are 4,259 medical and health care facilities that provide hospice care services, 152 hospice care pilot regions, and 87,000 pairs of contracts between medical and health care facilities and elderly care providers. These developments provide a strong basis, but there are still major obstacles to overcome. The Chinese Government is urged to adopt early preventive measures, offer more ongoing, practical, and cost-effective diagnostic and treatment services, allocate resources equitably, and use intelligent technologies to enhance elderly care. The ultimate goals are to lessen the financial burden, enhance the health of the elderly, and offer a vital global resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene expression in skeletal muscle of older individuals may reflect compensatory adaptations in response to oxidative damage that preserve tissue integrity and maintain function. Identifying associations between oxidative stress response gene expression patterns and mitochondrial function, physical performance, and muscle mass in older individuals would further our knowledge of mechanisms related to managing molecular damage that may be targeted to preserve physical resilience. To characterize expression patterns of genes responsible for the oxidative stress response, RNA was extracted and sequenced from skeletal muscle biopsies collected from 575 participants (≥70 years old) from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging. Expression levels of 21 protein‐coding RNAs related to the oxidative stress response were analyzed in relation to six phenotypic measures, including maximal mitochondrial respiration from muscle biopsies (Max OXPHOS), physical performance (VO2 peak, 400‐m walking speed, and leg strength), and muscle size (thigh muscle volume and whole‐body D3Cr muscle mass). The mRNA level of the oxidative stress response genes most consistently associated across outcomes are preferentially expressed within the mitochondria. Higher expression of mRNAs that encode generally mitochondria located proteins SOD2, TRX2, PRX3, PRX5, and GRX2 were associated with higher levels of mitochondrial respiration and VO2 peak. In addition, greater SOD2, PRX3, and GRX2 expression was associated with higher physical performance and muscle size. Identifying specific mechanisms associated with high functioning across multiple performance and physical domains may lead to targeted antioxidant interventions with greater impacts on mobility and independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the experiences of older adults engaged in pickleball. In particular, we collected views from the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) ambassadors to identify how their experiences facilitate successful aging. A qualitative case study was utilized to obtain naturalistic data. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a total of 15 USAPA ambassadors, all of whom were interviewed in person. Data were analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis, and four overarching themes were generated: (a) a new way to stay active, (b) pickleball is social, (c) an intergenerational pastime, and (d) reestablishing an identity through pickleball. The findings support the view that engaging in pickleball is a promising means of achieving a healthy life as a senior citizen. The participants maintained a physically and mentally active lifestyle through pickleball, and their commitment to this sport led to their engagement as ambassadors in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, frailty is associated with a high prevalence of avoidable hospital admissions and emergency department visits, with substantial associated healthcare and personal costs. International guidelines recommend incorporation of frailty identification and care planning into routine primary care workflow to support patients who may be identified as pre-frail/frail. Our study aimed to: (1) determine the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and determinants of implementing a validated FRAIL Scale screening Tool into general practices in two disparate Australian regions (Sydney North and Brisbane South); and (2) map the resources and referral options required to support frailty management and potential reversal. Methods: Using the FRAIL Scale Tool, practices screened eligible patients (aged ≥75 years) for risk of frailty and referred to associated management options. The percentage of patients identified as frail/pre-frail, and management options and referrals made by practice staff for those identified as frail/pre-frail were recorded. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with practice staff to understand the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and determinants of implementing the Tool. Results: The Tool was implemented by 19 general practices in two Primary Health Networks and 1071 consenting patients were assessed. Overall, 80% of patients (n = 860) met the criterion for frailty: 33% of patients (n = 352) were frail, and 47% were pre-frail (n = 508). They were predominantly then referred for exercise prescription, medication reviews and geriatric assessment. The Tool was acceptable to staff and patients and compatible with practice workflows. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that frailty is identified frequently in Australians aged ≥75 years who visit their general practice. It's identification, linked with management support to reverse or reduce frailty risk, can be readily incorporated into the Medicare-funded annual 75+ Health Assessment. In older persons, the risk of developing frailty increases with age, and people with frailty experience higher morbidity, mortality and lower quality of life. However, frailty risk is not currently formally assessed and tracked in general practice in Australia. This pilot study demonstrates that frailty in Australians aged ≥75 years is identified frequently, and its identification and the subsequent management recommendations to reverse or reduce frailty risk, can be readily incorporated into the general practice workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a complex biological and physiological change that leads to a loss of function in all living organisms. Although the mechanism behind the aging process is still largely unknown, scientific studies have shown that oxidative stress and age-related low autophagy, which are associated with various chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, promote aging. Interestingly, many medicinal plants and their biologically active compounds have the ability to extend lifespan as they can inhibit oxidative stress and promote autophagy. This review evaluates and provides up-to-date information on the anti-aging potential of bioactive compounds in edible medicinal plants. In this study, seventeen (17) biologically active compounds from edible medicinal plants with anti-aging effects were reviewed. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that these biologically active compounds exhibit anti-aging effects via various mechanisms such as the activation of autophagy, increases in antioxidant enzymes, reductions in reactive oxygen species, the inhibition of inflammatory markers, and the downregulation of senescence genes. This study suggests that edible medicinal plants containing these bioactive compounds may promote health and extend lifespan. However, the exact mechanisms, effective doses, clinical trials, and chronic and genotoxic effects of bioactive compounds as anti-aging agents should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investing in the preparation of middle-aged individuals for healthy old age can empower them to surmount the challenges aging. This study was conducted to create and assess the reliability and validity of a scale designed to measure the readiness of middle-aged individuals for healthy aging, referred to as the Middle-Age Preparation Scale for Healthy Aging (MPHA). The research employed a mixed sequential exploratory design. During the qualitative phase, items for the questionnaire were generated by reviewing existing literature and conducting interviews with participants. Subsequently, in the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated by analyzing its face validity, content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and stability. The reliability and validity of the MPHA were tested with a sample of 440 middle-aged individuals in Tehran, Iran, in 2020. The statistical analyses performed included exploratory factor analysis, measures of internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Initially, the item pool contained 80 items, which was narrowed down to 44 items during the face and content validation phase. The structural validity assessment resulted in a final 33-item scale, encompassing five factors associated with preparation for healthy aging: financial preparation, maintenance and promotion of physical and mental health, psychological preparation, sustaining communication, and planning productive leisure time. These factors explained 60.37% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the overall MPHA was 0.90, and ranged from 0.79 to 0.91 for the five subscales. The MPHA exhibited satisfactory validity and reliability for assessing preparation for healthy aging in the Iranian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial comments on the article by Gilmore et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have reported an association between presurgical frailty and postoperative delirium. However, it remains unclear whether the frailty‐delirium relationship differs by measurement tool (e.g., frailty index vs. frailty phenotype) and whether frailty is associated with delirium, independent of preoperative cognition. Methods: We used the successful aging after elective surgery (SAGES) study, a prospective cohort of older adults age ≥70 undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery (N = 505). Preoperative measurement of the modified mini‐mental (3MS) test, frailty index and frailty phenotype were obtained. The confusion assessment method (CAM), supplemented by chart review, identified postoperative delirium. Delirium feature severity was measured by the sum of CAM‐severity (CAM‐S) scores. Generalized linear models were used to determine the relative risk of each frailty measure with delirium incidence and severity. Subsequent models adjusted for age, sex, surgery type, Charlson comorbidity index, and 3MS. Results: On average, patients were 76.7 years old (standard deviation 5.22), 58.8% of women. For the frailty index, the incidence of delirium was 14% in robust, 17% in prefrail, and 31% in frail patients (p < 0.001). For the frailty phenotype, delirium incidence was 13% in robust, 21% in prefrail, and 27% in frail patients (p = 0.016). Frailty index, but not phenotype, was independently associated with delirium after adjustment for comorbidities (relative risk [RR] 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–3.70; RR 1.61, 95% CI 0.77–3.37, respectively). Both frailty measures were associated with delirium feature severity. After adjustment for preoperative cognition, only the frailty index was associated with delirium incidence; neither index nor phenotype was associated with delirium feature severity. Conclusion: Both the frailty index and phenotype were associated with the development of postoperative delirium. The index showed stronger associations that remained significant after adjusting for baseline comorbidities and preoperative cognition. Measuring frailty prior to surgery can assist in identifying patients at risk for postoperative delirium. See related Editorial by Callahan and Kuchel in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successfully adjusting to retirement, in terms of achieving psychological comfort with one's retirement life, represents a major challenge for older workers. Although current literature emphasizes that it may depend on the availability and fluctuation of specific resources, little is known about which types and how resources allow recent retirees to adjust to retirement. Drawing on the resource‐based dynamic model for retirement adjustment and conservation of resources theory, the current study aims to elaborate theory on resources' types, relative importance and combinations in caravans, and the processes through which they shape successful retirement adjustment. In a consensual qualitative research using abductive reasoning with recent retirees aged 66–69, we find four major resource types. We show that their importance varies (from the most important to the least: social interactions, life conditions, time management and individuality) and that they travel in caravans within a resource type. We further propose a model highlighting how these resources shape successful retirement adjustment through resources signal, conservation and acquisition processes. Overall, our findings offer theoretical and empirical contributions to the resource perspective on retirement adjustment and to conservation of resources theory's understanding of resources' categorization, processes and caravans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research emphasizes the role of employees in managing their experiences of successful ageing at work. Following a lifespan developmental framework, we propose a new model in which employees, who proactively engage in cognitive job crafting and work uncertainty regulation, are more effective in altering their perceptions of remaining time at work. This, in turn, enhances their experiences of successful ageing in the workplace (i.e. the likelihood to sustain longer, healthier and more productive working lives). We test the conceptual model in two consecutive studies with workers from the United States of America (Study 1) and China (Study 2). The results replicate across the two studies, confirming the indirect positive effect of cognitive crafting on successful ageing at work through perceived remaining time at work. In addition, in Study 2, we find that the effect of cognitive crafting on perceived remaining time at work is stronger for employees with higher (vs. lower) levels of work certainty. Finally, work predictability indirectly moderates the relationship between cognitive crafting and perceived remaining time at work via work certainty. These findings offer important theoretical insights into the fields of work and ageing, job design and uncertainty regulation and provide the evidence base for building capacity, improving organizational practice and policymaking on active ageing at work and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of 3 months of velocity-based training (VBT) on chest press (CP) and leg press (LP) maximal strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM]), peak power (PP), and percentage load where PP was achieved (%1RMPP) in older adults. Twenty-nine subjects were assigned to either a velocity-deficit (VD) group or a force-deficit (FD) group for each exercise depending on their load-velocity (LV) curves. Changes in load were determined by the ability to maintain either 90% (VD) or 70% (FD) of their PP during training. Subjects' powers were tested before and after the training intervention at loads between 40 and 80%1RM. Separate 2 (group) x 2 (time) ANOVA was used to examine changes in each variable by group for each exercise. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to determine whether significant changes in %1RMPP for each exercise and group. For chest press 1 repetition maximum, there were no significant main effects or interaction. Significant main effects for time were observed for leg press 1 repetition maximum (p < 0 .001, η² = 0.547) and chest press peak power (p = 0.009, η²= 0.243). For LPPP, there were no significant main effects or interactions. For %1RMPP, CP median scores revealed no significant changes for either group. Significant declines in %1RMPP were observed for leg press velocity-deficit and leg press force-deficit (p < 0.03) groups. Velocity-based training was effective at improving 1RM, PP, and shifting %1RMPP in the LP groups. These results have implications for targeting power improvements at specific areas of the LV curve. Health care providers and trainers should consider these findings when constructing exercise programs to counter age-related declines in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaning and purpose in life are recognised health determinants. Evidence on the factors contributing to the experience of meaning and purpose in life is limited. The bidirectional associations between the experience of meaning in life and physical health, emotional ill-being and daily life functioning from a 6-year perspective are examined. Longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were analysed using generalised estimating equations. The sample included 16,361 middle-aged and older adults from 13 countries. Living a meaningful life was found to be associated with subsequent reduced risks of depression, loneliness, limitations in activities of daily living, and heart attack (at the 6-year follow-up). It was also found that prior experience of depression, loneliness and limited activities of daily living were associated with subsequent reduced sense of meaningful life. These associations were independent of demographics, socioeconomic status, personality, prior history of diseases and lifestyle. The sensitivity analyses provided evidence for the robustness of these associations. Evidence for health practitioners and policymakers on factors that may hamper the development and maintenance of meaningful life as well as on the role of sense of meaning in life for healthy aging was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health Recommender Systems are promising Articial-Intelligence-based tools endowing healthy lifestyles and therapy adherence in healthcare and medicine. Among the most supported areas, it is worth mentioning active aging. However, current HRS supporting AA raise ethical challenges that still need to be properly formalized and explored. This study proposes to rethink HRS for AA through an autonomy-based ethical analysis. In particular, a brief overview of the HRS’ technical aspects allows us to shed light on the ethical risks and challenges they might raise on individuals’ well-being as they age. Moreover, the study proposes a categorization, understanding, and possible preventive/mitigation actions for the elicited risks and challenges through rethinking the AI ethics core principle of autonomy. Finally, elaborating on autonomy-related ethical theories, the paper proposes an autonomy-based ethical framework and how it can foster the development of autonomy-enabling HRS for AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates Indigenous society and the environment from a religious perspective, concentrating on the Earth's deteriorating physical condition. This issue has caused substantial cultural confusion since it directly affects Indigenous society's active modes of being, which are profoundly based on nature as their home. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the following inquiry: What is the meaning of transforming home in indigenous society as a result of new environmental issues? The present analysis suggests that environmental pollution, which is both objective and subjective, disrupts indigenous society's social order by turning nature's inherent role as a life-giving entity into a source of hazardous substances. Consequently, the erosion of the concept of home has led to the emergence of an indigenous risk society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is one of the most significant health challenges worldwide and is a primary cause of chronic diseases and physiological decline. Among the myriad changes that occur with aging, alterations in adipose tissue distribution and function have gained considerable attention because of their profound impact on metabolic health and overall well-being. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are the two major depots of white adipose tissue, each with distinct roles in metabolism and health. Understanding the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of SAT and VAT is crucial for elucidating the aging process and developing strategies to promote healthy aging. This review focuses on delineating and analyzing the characteristics and intrinsic mechanisms underlying the aging of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue during the aging process, which can contribute to a better understanding of the aging process and enhance healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culinary medicine (CM) represents a novel strategy to promote healthy ageing, as it improves adherence to healthy dietary patterns by providing nutritional education and training in cooking skills. We conducted a comprehensive review of the current scientific literature (2011–2022) concerning CM programmes implemented among participants over the age of 40. This review includes fourteen culinary-nutritional interventions. Each CM programme was analysed according to seven variables: health goal, study design, theoretical basis of the intervention, intervention duration, main outcomes, culinary intervention and the effectiveness of intervention. Although CM programmes showed low effectiveness in achieving positive results on psychosocial outcomes, they were successful in improving dietary intake and health-related outcomes. The interventions lasting for at least 5 months and employing study designs with two or more groups seemed to be important factors associated with achieving significant results. Significant results were observed regardless of the prevention phase defined as the health objective of the CM programme. The use of theoretical frameworks as an educational resource did not influence the effectiveness of the interventions. Other variables such as the inclusion of culinary outcomes, the optimisation of the culinary curriculum taught to the participants and the participation of a chef in the intervention are factors that should be taken into account. In addition, several educational components (cooking classes, hands-on cooking, free food delivery, individualized counselling) were promising for achieving health outcomes in ageing people. Our review has shown that CM programmes can be a powerful tool to improve the health status of ageing people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between negative aging stereotypes and goal pursuit in daily life among older adults. We also explored the roles of stereotype threat and stereotype challenge reactions in mediating this association. Additionally, this study investigated whether variations in these associations exist among older adults based on their self-integrity levels. Methods Participants were 100 older adults who completed daily measures assessing negative aging stereotype experiences, threat and challenge reactions, goal pursuit activities, and self-integrity over a week. Results More daily experiences of negative aging stereotypes were associated with greater avoidance of responsibilities in goal pursuit and less progress toward goals. Increased threat reactions and decreased challenge reactions were mediators of the association between stereotype experiences and avoidance of responsibilities, as well as that between stereotype experiences and progress toward goals, respectively. Moreover, the associations between threat reactions and avoidance of responsibilities as well as between stereotype experiences and challenge reactions were more pronounced in older adults with lower self-integrity levels. Discussion This study is pioneering in demonstrating the real-life interplay between aging stereotypes and goal pursuit among older adults. Its findings not only expand upon the literature concerning aging stereotypes, but also offer theoretical insights for the development of interventions aimed at goal pursuit. These insights have significant implications for fostering healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]