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Grip strength is an indicator for physical performance and highly correlated with general health among older adults. To date, there is limited knowledge regarding the factors contributing to grip strength exclusively among the oldest old based on data from large representative samples and also including institutionalized individuals. Consequently, the purpose of our current study was to address this gap in knowledge. A large representative, longitudinal study. Survey on quality of life and subjective well-being of the very old in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW80+), including individuals ≥80 years (residing in institutionalized settings and living in private households) in North Rhine-Westphalia (n = 1824, mean age was 86.7 years, 80 to 104 years). In accordance with other large cohort studies, isometric grip strength was measured using a dynamometer (Smedley Dynamometer, 100 kg). Linear fixed effects regressions showed that decreases in grip strength were significantly associated with increases in age (β = −0.70, P <.001), decreases in social network size (β = 0.08, P <.05), and worsening self-rated health (β = 0.80, P <.01). In contrast, decreases in grip strength were not significantly associated with changes in marital status, changes in living situation, changes in the number of chronic conditions, changes in depressive symptoms, and changes in health literacy. It has been shown that age, social network size, and self-rated health were associated with grip strength among the oldest old longitudinally. Our current study may assist in identifying individuals at risk for low grip strength. For example, efforts to maintain social contacts may be beneficial to maintain grip strength. This is relevant because low grip strength contributes to unfavorable outcomes such as poor quality of life, functional impairment, cognitive decline, and reduced longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing the optimal sarcopenia screening tool for a specific clinical scenario is challenging. We aimed to summarize all validated sarcopenia screening tools with diagnostic accuracy tested in one or more study populations. Scoping review. Hospitals, nursing homes, communities, or health checkups. We systematically searched 3 databases in April 2022: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. Two review authors independently performed the study selection and data extraction. The included tools' contents, characteristics, and number of citations were summarized and visualized. We summarized 102 diagnostic accuracy studies involving 53 screening tools, classified into 7 groups: questionnaires (n = 13); serum biomarkers (n = 10); formulas, algorithms, and models (n = 9); physical ability tests (n = 9); integration tools (n = 7); anthropometric indices (n = 3); and ultrasound or bioimpedance analysis (n = 2). The most commonly used questionnaire was SARC-F (770 citations), followed by SARC-CalF (254 citations) and MSRA-7 (61 citations). Handgrip strength and Ishii score were the most widely used physical performance tests (331 citations) and formulas (294 citations), respectively. Sarcopenia index (based on serum cystatin C and creatinine) and calf circumference were the most commonly used serum biomarkers (123 citations) and anthropometric indexes (127 citations), respectively. Ultrasound was the most commonly used imaging tool for screening sarcopenia (57 citations). The included tools varied significantly in content. Various tools assessed some or all components of sarcopenia with different methods, and others assessed different domains, such as age, body mass index, falls, diet, and even mental health. We also summarized the screening tools that were validated in different clinical settings (hospitals, communities, nursing homes, and health checkups). More than 50 validated tools are currently available for screening sarcopenia in different clinical settings. The results of this review may help clinicians and researchers in selecting optimal tools for sarcopenia in different clinical scenarios and in developing future tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effects of a home-based lower-extremity strengthening exercise program in community-dwelling older women with knee osteoarthritis. Randomized controlled trial. Women aged ≥60 years with knee osteoarthritis and Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1 or 2 on anteroposterior/lateral radiographs of both knee joints. Patients (n = 36) were randomly divided into experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups. The EG performed home-based remote rehabilitation lower-extremity strengthening exercises for 8 weeks, whereas the CG received no intervention. Assessment was performed at baseline and week 8. The primary outcome was the five-times sit-to-stand test (FTSST) result. Secondary outcomes included timed up-and-go (TUG) test results, knee extensor and flexor strength, quadriceps (rectus femoris) muscle activity, skeletal muscle index, blood pressure (BP), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, C-reactive protein level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A statistically significant difference in the FTSST times was observed between the groups after 8 weeks of intervention (EG: 7.95 ± 1.08 seconds, CG: 10.01 ± 2.03 seconds, P <.001). In the EG, the TUG test score decreased by 0.75 ± 0.80 seconds (P =.002), right and left knee flexor strength increased by 4.69 ± 6.05 kg (P =.007) and 3.98 ± 6.98 kg (P =.038), respectively, and the right knee extensor root mean square (RMS) ratio increased by 1.24 ± 0.39 (P =.027). Additionally, systolic and diastolic BP decreased by 9.50 ± 10.75 mm Hg (P =.005) and 4.25 ± 4.91 mm Hg (P =.003), respectively. In the CG, the VAS scores decreased by 9.10 ± 13.68 mm (P =.022). The home-based exercise program using a remote rehabilitation medical device was effective in improving lower extremity strength and function in community-dwelling older women with knee osteoarthritis. This finding suggests that the remote rehabilitation medical device may be used as an alternative to exercise interventions for patients with knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between sarcopenia diagnosis according to various diagnostic criteria and falls is unclear. We examined the association between sarcopenia defined by 5 different international criteria, and fall and injurious fall numbers among older community-dwelling Japanese women. Prospective observational study. Two population-based cohort studies in Itabashi, Japan, were integrated, including 552 community-dwelling Japanese women >75 years of age. Muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were assessed by bioimpedance analysis, handgrip strength, and gait speed, respectively. We recorded the fall and injurious fall numbers for 1 year using a diary. The association between sarcopenia diagnosis defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), International Working Group on Sarcopenia, and Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disorders, and fall numbers was assessed by Poisson regression analysis to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI for the presence or absence of sarcopenia. Of 470 participants (mean age 77.1 ± 8.1 years), 144 reported a combined 352 falls. Overall, 80 individuals experienced a single fall, 64 experienced multiple falls, and 91 experienced injurious falls. Sarcopenia defined by the AWGS 2019 (IRR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.76) and FNIH (IRR 2.55, 95% CI 1.99-3.26) was significantly associated with the number of falls. In addition, sarcopenia defined by the FNIH (IRR 2.72, 95% CI 1.84-4.03) was significantly associated also with the number of injurious falls. No significant association was observed between sarcopenia diagnosis based on the other definitions and fall outcomes. The AWGS 2019 and FNIH sarcopenia definitions were associated with the fall and injurious fall numbers in older Japanese women, indicating they can help in predicting falls in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association between combinations of sarcopenia criteria by the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 guideline and incident adverse health outcomes. Longitudinal analyses of a cohort study. We conducted prospective 2-year follow-up analyses (N = 1959) among community-dwelling older adults enrolled in the nationwide Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). From the KFACS, 1959 older adults (52.8% women; mean age = 75.9 ± 3.9 years) who underwent assessments for appendicular skeletal mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, handgrip strength, usual gait speed, 5-times sit-to-stand test, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at baseline were included. Participants with each adverse health outcome [mobility disability, falls, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disabilities] at baseline were excluded for each corresponding analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine whether sarcopenia defined by different diagnostic criteria was associated with incident adverse health outcomes after 2 years. A total of 444 participants (22.7%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia as defined by AWGS 2019. In the multivariable analysis, sarcopenia defined as both low muscle mass and low physical performance increased the risk of mobility disability (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.35-3.38) and falls (1.74, 95% CI 1.21-2.49). Only the criterion defined as both low muscle mass and physical performance using the SPPB increased the risk of falls with fracture (2.53, 95% CI 1.01-6.35) and IADL disabilities (2.77, 95% CI 1.21-6.33). However, sarcopenia defined as both low muscle mass and low hand grip strength showed no associations with the incidence of any of the adverse health outcomes. Our study suggests that the predictive value of adverse health outcomes for community-dwelling older adults is better when diagnosed with sarcopenia based on low muscle mass and physical performance. Furthermore, using the SPPB as a diagnostic tool for low physical performance may improve the predictive validity for falls with fracture and IADL disability. Our findings may be helpful for the early detection of individuals with sarcopenia who have a higher risk of adverse health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is uncertainty about effects of physical activity on physical performance, such as gait speed, among community-dwelling older adults according to their physical frailty status. We determined whether a long-term, moderate-intensity physical activity program was associated with different responses on gait speed over 4 m and 400 m based on physical frailty status. Post hoc analysis from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) (NCT01072500), a single-blind randomized clinical trial testing the effect of physical activity intervention compared with health education program. We analyzed data on 1623 community-dwelling older adults (78.9 ± 5.2 years) at risk for mobility disability. Physical frailty was assessed at baseline using the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures frailty index. Gait speed over 4 m and 400 m was measured at baseline, and 6, 12, and 24 months. We estimated significantly better 400-m gait speed at 6, 12, and 24 months for nonfrail older adults in the physical activity group, but not for frail participants. Among frail participants, physical activity showed a potentially clinically meaningful benefit on 400-m gait speed at 6 months (0.055; 95% CI 0.016–0.094; P =.005), compared with the healthy educational intervention, only in those who, at baseline, were able to rise from a chair 5 times without using their arms. A well-structured physical activity program produced a faster 400-m gait speed potentially able to prevent mobility disability among physically frail individuals with preserved muscle strength in lower limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the comparative effectiveness of interventions in treatment of sarcopenia. The primary outcome was the measure of treatment effect on muscle mass, and secondary outcomes were the treatment effect on muscle strength and physical performance. Systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). Participants with sarcopenia receiving interventions targeting sarcopenia in any setting. Data sources : Relevant RCTs were identified by a systematic search of several electronic databases, including CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from January 1995 to July 2019. Duplicate title and abstract and full-text screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed. Data extraction : All RCTs examining sarcopenia interventions [mixed exercise (combined aerobic and resistance exercise), aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, balance exercise, physical activity and protein or nutrition supplementation, acupuncture, whole-body vibration, protein supplement or interventions to increase protein intake, any nutritional intervention other than protein, and pharmacotherapy] were included. Comparators were standard care, placebo, or another intervention. Data synthesis : We performed Bayesian NMA; continuous outcome data were pooled using the standardized mean difference effect size. Interventions were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) for each outcome. A total of 59 RCTs were included after screening of 4315 citations and 313 full-text articles. Network meta-analysis of muscle mass outcome (including 46 RCTs, 3649 participants, 11 interventions) suggested that mixed exercise were the most effective intervention (SUCRA = 93.94%) to increase muscle mass. Physical activity and protein or nutrition supplementation, and aerobic exercise were the most effective interventions to improve muscle strength and physical performance, respectively. Overall, mixed exercise is the most effective intervention in increasing muscle mass and was one of the 3 most effective interventions in increasing muscle strength and physical performance. Mixed exercise and physical activity with nutritional supplementation are the most effective sarcopenia interventions. Most of the included studies have a high risk of bias. More robust RCTs are needed to increase the confidence of our NMA results and the quality of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of an exercise program on falls in intermediate and high-level long-term care (LTC) residents and to determine whether adherence, physical capacity, and cognition modified outcomes. Randomized controlled trial. Residents (n = 520, aged 84 ± 8 years) from 25 LTC facilities in New Zealand. Individually randomized to Staying UpRight, a physical therapist–led, balance and strength group exercise program delivered for 1 hour, twice weekly over 12 months. The control arm was dose-matched and used seated activities with no resistance. Falls were collected using routinely collected incident reports. Baseline fall rates were 4.1 and 3.3 falls per person-year (ppy) for intervention and control groups. Fall rates over the trial period were 4.1 and 4.3 falls ppy respectively [ P =.89, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.76, 1.27]. Over the 12-month trial period, 74% fell, with 63% of intervention and 61% of the control group falling more than once. Risk of falls (P =.56, hazard ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.85, 1.36) and repeat falling or fallers sustaining an injury at trial completion were similar between groups. Fall rates per 100 hours walked did not differ between groups (P =.42, IRR 1.15, 95% CI 0.81, 1.63). Program delivery was suspended several times because of COVID-19, reducing average attendance to 26 hours over 12 months. Subgroup analyses of falls outcomes for those with the highest attendance (≥50% of classes), better physical capacity (Short Physical Performance Battery scores ≥8/12), or cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores ≥ 18/30) showed no significant impact of the program. In intermediate and high-level care residents, the Staying UpRight program did not reduce fall rates or risk compared with a control activity, independent of age, sex, or care level. Inadequate exercise dose because of COVID-19–related interruptions to intervention delivery likely contributed to the null result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The updated definition of sarcopenia by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) recommends both low muscle mass and quality to diagnose sarcopenia; concurrent poor physical performance is considered indicative of severe sarcopenia; however, the relationship between the revised definition and disability incidence among Japanese older adults is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine the associations between EWGSOP2-defined sarcopenia and disability incidence among community-dwelling older Japanese adults. Nationwide study. We included 4561 individuals aged ≥65 years and enrolled in the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology–Study of Geriatric Syndromes (NCGG-SGS). Skeletal muscle mass was assessed using a bioimpedance analysis device; handgrip strength and walking speed were measured as physical performance indicators. We used the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia cutoffs to define low muscle mass and poor physical performance. We stratified all participants into nonsarcopenia, sarcopenia, and severe sarcopenia groups. Disability incidence was prospectively determined over 49 months using data extracted from the Japanese long-term care insurance system. The prevalence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia was 3.4% and 1.7%, respectively. Participants with any form of sarcopenia were at a higher risk of disability [hazard ratio (HR) 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-2.49]. Although participants with severe sarcopenia showed a higher risk of disability (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.32-3.02), there was no significant disability risk in the sarcopenia group (HR 1.54, 95% CI 0.97-2.46). Grip strength (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98) and walking speed (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.12-0.30) negatively correlated with disability incidence. Severe sarcopenia, involving low muscle mass and poor physical performance, might increase disability risk in older adults, as opposed to low muscle mass alone. Further studies are needed to determine whether sarcopenia without poor physical performance increases disability risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An individualized, multicomponent exercise program is effective to reverse the functional and cognitive decline that frequently occur during acute care hospitalization in older patients. The aim was to determine whether improvements in cognition mediate improvements in physical function in acutely hospitalized older patients. A single-center, single-blind randomized clinical trial. Acute care for elderly (ACE) unit in a tertiary public hospital in Navarre (Spain). Hospitalized patients were randomly assigned to an exercise intervention (n = 185) or usual-care group (n = 185). The intervention consisted of a multicomponent exercise-training program performed during 5 to 7 consecutive days (2 sessions/day). The usual-care group received habitual hospital care, which included physical rehabilitation when needed. The main endpoints were changes in cognitive function assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination test and verbal fluency ability, and changes in physical performance by the Short Physical Performance Battery from baseline to discharge. Mediation regression models were generated using ordinary least squares with the PROCESS version 3.2 to determine links between exercise-induced improvements. Mediation regression model analysis indicated a significant and direct beneficial effect of physical exercise on physical function (β = 2.14; P <.0001), and a significant indirect effect of global cognitive function on the direct effect (indirect effect = 0.26; 0.10 to 0.49). Verbal fluency ability also had an indirect effect (0.32; 0.16 to 0.53) on the positive effect of exercise-training on physical function. Cognitive function enhancements mediate physical function improvements in acutely hospitalized older adults after an individualized, multicomponent exercise-training program. ClinicalTrials.gov registration (NCT02300896) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustaining benefits of an exercise program is difficult as adherence is often poor after supervised intervention is over. This study aimed to determine whether the effects of active learning education on physical activity, dietary habits, and physical function were maintained 24 weeks after intervention termination in older adults. Non-randomized controlled trial. Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years who were independent in activities of daily living. The intervention group (n = 36) underwent 24 weeks of active learning education. The control group (n = 59) attended a health education class didactically. In both groups, the education program focused on exercise, diet and nutrition, and cognitive activity for health promotion. Active learning included exploratory learning, group work, and self-planning for behavior change that promoted healthy lifestyles. Outcome measures were obtained at baseline (pre), 24 weeks (post), and 48 weeks (follow-up). Physical activity was objectively measured as physical activity level (PAL) using a triaxial accelerometer. Food intake was assessed by obtaining a dietary variety score. Physical function, including gait speed and Timed Up & Go score, was tested as secondary outcome. We used a linear mixed model to estimate the effects of intervention in intention-to-treat analyses. All outcomes in the intervention group significantly improved compared with the control group at 24 weeks, and the improvements were sustained over a 48-week follow-up period. For PAL, between-group difference in change from baseline was 0.043 (95% confidence interval = 0.007, 0.080) at 24 weeks and 0.061 (0.023, 0.099) at 48 weeks. Active learning education is effective in enhancing healthy lifestyles and physical function sustainability beyond intervention cessation. A randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size is needed to conclusively clarify the beneficial effects of active health education learning on sustainable behavior change and functional improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited data exist regarding association between physical performance and in-hospital falls. This study was performed to investigate the association between physical performance and in-hospital falls in a high-risk population. Retrospective cohort study. The study population consisted of 1200 consecutive patients with a median age of 74 years (50.8% men) admitted to a ward with high incidence rates of falls, primarily in the departments of geriatrics and neurology, in a university hospital between January 2019 and December 2021. Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was measured after treatment in the acute phase. As the primary end point of the study, the incidence of in-hospital falls was examined prospectively based on data from mandatory standardized incident report forms and electronic patient records. SPPB assessment was performed at a median of 3 days after admission, and the study population had a median SPPB score of 3 points. Falls occurred in 101 patients (8.4%) over a median hospital stay of 15 days. SPPB score showed a significant inverse association with the incidence of in-hospital falls after adjusting for possible confounders (adjusted odds ratio for each 1-point decrease in SPPB: 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.28; P <.001), and an SPPB score ≤6 was significantly associated with increased risk of in-hospital falls. Inclusion of SPPB with previously identified risk factors significantly increased the area under the curve for in-hospital falls (0.683 vs. 0.740, P =.003). This study demonstrated an inverse association of SPPB score with risk of in-hospital falls in a high-risk population and showed that SPPB assessment is useful for accurate risk stratification in a hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) recently updated the definition of sarcopenia in order to reflect scientific and clinical evidences. The aim is to explore the prevalence of sarcopenia (according to the new EWGSOP2 definition) and related risk factors among an unselected sample of subjects living in community. The Longevity Check-up 7+ project is an ongoing cross-sectional study started in June 2015 and conducted in unconventional settings (ie, exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns). Candidate participants are eligible for enrollment if they are at least 18 years of age. Muscle strength was assessed by handgrip strength and physical performance was evaluated by chair stand test. The mean age of 11,253 subjects was 55.6 (standard deviation 11.5, from 18 to 98 years) years, and 6356 (56%) were women. Using the EWGSOP2 algorithm, 973 participants (8.6%) were identified as affected by sarcopenia, and the prevalence of sarcopenia significantly increased with age. Sarcopenia was associated with diabetes prevalence ratio (PR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.89, impairment in 400-m walking performance (PR 2.16, 95% CI 1.74-2.17), and self-reported unhealthy status (PR 1.77, 95% CI 1.45-2.17). Conversely, a decreased probability of being sarcopenic was detected among subjects following a healthy diet (PR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.98) and involved in regular physical activity (PR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.99). Muscle strength and physical performance assessment should be considered as the recommended methods for the early detection of individuals at risk of probable sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing home (NH) residents are often undernourished and physically inactive, which contributes to sarcopenia and frailty. The Older Person's Exercise and Nutrition Study aimed to investigate the effects of sit-to-stand exercises (STS) integrated into daily care, combined with a protein-rich oral nutritional supplement (ONS), on physical function, nutritional status, body composition, health-related quality of life, and resource use. Residents in 8 NHs were randomized by NH units into an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG) (n = 60/group). The IG was a combination of STS (4 times/day) and ONS (2 bottles/day providing 600 kcal and 36 g protein) for 12 weeks. The participants resided in NH units (dementia and somatic care), were ≥75 years of age, and able to rise from a seated position. The 30-second Chair Stand Test was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were balance, walking speed, dependence in activities of daily living, nutritional status and body composition, health-related quality of life, and resource use. Altogether, 102 residents (age 86 ± 5 years, 62% female) completed the study. No improvement in the physical function assessments was observed in the IG, whereas body weight increased significantly (2.05 ± 3.5 kg, P =.013) vs the CG. Twenty-one (of 52) participants with high adherence to the intervention (ie, at least 40% compliance to the combined intervention) increased their fat free mass (2.12 kg (0.13, 4.26 interquartile range), P =.007 vs CG). Logistic regression analyses indicated that the odds ratio for maintained/improved 30-second Chair Stand Test was 3.5 (confidence interval 1.1, 10.9, P =.034) among the participants with high adherence compared with the CG. Twelve-week intervention of daily STS combined with ONS in NH residents did not improve physical function, but increased body weight. Subgroup analyses indicated that high adherence to the combined intervention was associated with maintained or improved physical function and a gain of fat free mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the prevalence of sarcopenia in a large group of community-dwelling older adults using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 definition and algorithm. Cross-sectional data analysis of a cohort study. The Nationwide Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). A total of 2123 ambulatory community-dwelling older adults, aged 70 to 84 years (mean, 75.9 ± 3.9 years; 49.5% women) were enrolled in the KFACS. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Physical function was assessed by handgrip strength, usual gait speed, the 5-times-sit-to-stand test, the timed up-and-go test, and the Short Physical Performance Battery. In a case-finding assessment, screening for sarcopenia was performed using the calf circumference (CC), SARC-F questionnaire, and SARC-F combined with CC (SARC-CalF). According to the AWGS 2019 algorithm, 43.5%, 7.5%, and 26.0% of the subjects in the whole study sample were classified as those at risk for sarcopenia according to CC, SARC-F, and SARC-CalF, respectively. The prevalence rates of possible sarcopenia using 3 screening tools for case-finding and muscle strength or physical performance tests according to the AWGS 2019 diagnostic algorithm were 20.1% in men and 29.2% in women. The prevalence rates of sarcopenia, when defined as low muscle mass plus low handgrip strength and/or slow gait speed, were significantly higher according to the AWGS 2019 (21.3% in men and 13.8% in women) than the AWGS 2014 (10.3% in men and 8.1% in women) definitions. The prevalence of severe sarcopenia was 6.4% in men and 3.2% in women. The results of our study suggest that the use of CC and SARC-CalF to screen for possible sarcopenia may be more suited than using the SARC-F questionnaire alone according to the AWGS 2019 diagnostic algorithm in community-dwelling adults aged 70 to 84 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly higher according to the AWGS 2019 than AWGS 2014 criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to examine the associations of osteosarcopenia with physical performance, balance, and falls and fractures in community-dwelling older adults. Additionally, we aimed to determine which clinical outcomes are associated with specific components of osteosarcopenia. Cross-sectional study. 253 participants (77% women; aged 77.9 ± 0.42 years) who presented for a falls and fractures risk assessment in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were mobile, community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) free of cognitive impairment. Body composition (via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), physical performance [via Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)], and balance [via Four-Square Step test (FSS) and posturography] were examined. Falls in the past year and fractures in the past 5 years were self-reported. Osteosarcopenia was defined as (1) low bone mineral density (BMD) [T score <–1 standard deviation (SD)] combined with sarcopenia and (2) osteoporosis (BMD T score ≤–2.5 SD) combined with severe sarcopenia. For sarcopenia, we employed the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP1), the revised criteria (EWGSOP2), and that of the Foundation for the National Institutes for Health (FNIH). Kruskal-Wallis and logistic regression tests were used for statistical analysis. Osteosarcopenia was associated with worse SPPB, TUG, FSS, limit of stability, and falls and fractures history. Additionally, osteosarcopenia (using the severe sarcopenia classification) conferred an increased rate of falls [odds ratios (ORs) from 2.83 to 3.63; P <.05 for all] and fractures (ORs from 3.86 to 4.38; P <.05 for all) when employing the EWGSOP2 and FNIH definitions, respectively. Compared with the nonosteosarcopenic group, those with osteosarcopenia had greater impairment of physical performance and balance. The EWGSOP2 and FNIH criteria resulted in the strongest associations with physical performance and self-reported falls and fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine home-based gait speed performance and its associations with sociodemographic and health-related factors among older adults. Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative US population sample. Homes of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants. Walk test data measured at home over 2.5 m were aggregated for 6983 individuals, aged ≥65 years (mean age 74.8 ± 6.9 years, 54.2% women), from the 2006 and 2008 HRS waves. Means for gait speed at normal pace were determined for demographic and clinical groupings; association of gait speed with demographic, socioeconomic status, and health factors were examined. Four-year mortality was predicted from baseline slow gait status defined using demographic-based cutoff scores as well as commonly recommended cutoff scores (100 or 60 cm/s). Home-based gait speed (cm/s) means were lower for female than male (9.6% difference), older than younger (18.0% difference), African American than white (20.5% difference), and Hispanic than Non-Hispanic (10.3% difference) participants. Differences by age group, race, and ethnicity remained significant within sexes (P <.001). Lower speed was associated with African American race and all health problems; higher speed was associated with higher socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption. Four-year mortality was predicted by slow gait status. Predictive validity was, in general, higher for slow gait cutoff scores defined by demographic characteristics. Mean gait speed measured at home differs among older (aged ≥65 years) US resident population groups defined by sex, age, race, ethnicity, health status, and combinations of these factors, and predicts 4-year mortality when substantially slower than group-based norms. These findings may assist researchers and clinicians in determining normal and abnormal gait performance in older adults in community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older patients experience increased loss of mobility after hospitalization, largely because of physical disabilities and inactivity. There are, however, no current recommendations for prescribing physical activity (PA) at hospital discharge. Develop a decisional tree for the systematic prescription of an individualized, adapted, nonsupervised home-based PA program for older adults after hospital discharge; investigate its feasibility, acceptability, and safety; and estimate its efficacy at improving physical function and mobility. Pragmatic prospective single-arm pilot study. Geriatric assessment unit (GAU). Participants: Age ≥65 years, Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥18, hospitalization >7 days, discharge to home, no PA contraindications, understand French or English. Development of a decisional tree for prescription of home-based exercise programs (Preventing loss of Autonomy by Treatment Post-Hospitalization: PATH tool) through meetings with a group of experts. The PATH tool was implemented in a short-term geriatric hospital. Feasibility, acceptability, and safety outcomes were measured and potential efficacy estimated after a 12-week period. The decisional tree has 3 main components (cognitive, cardio strength, and balance) and comprises 27 different mobility profiles and PA programs. Fifty-six of the first 100 successively admitted GAU patients were found eligible, of whom 29 agreed to participate and 17 completed the protocol. Most were satisfied (14/17) and enjoyed (13/17) the program, and most health professionals found it relevant to patients (7/8) without extra burden (6/8) to patient care. Adherence to the PA program was 5 sessions/wk, and a medium to large effect size on walking speed (P <.01, d = 1.04), chair stand performance (P =.04, d = 0.75), and PA level (P =.07, d = 0.56) was observed after a 12-week period. This study suggests that implementing the PATH tool might be feasible across GAUs, as well as safe and acceptable for patients and health care professionals. If this intervention proves beneficial after conducting a randomized controlled trial, this hospital-initiated care transition strategy should be implemented in short-term geriatric hospitals to prevent long-term mobility disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of an exercise intervention on physical function, maximal muscle strength, and muscle power in very old hospitalized patients. In a randomized controlled trial, 130 hospitalized patients were allocated to an exercise intervention (n = 65) or a control group (n = 65). The intervention consisted of a multicomponent exercise training program performed during 5-7 consecutive days (2 sessions/d). The usual care group received habitual hospital care, which included physical rehabilitation when needed. Acute care for elderly unit. Older adults age >75 years. Physical function, assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery test and the Gait Velocity Test (GVT), were the primary endpoints. The GVT was also administered under dual-task conditions (ie, verbal and arithmetic GVT). The functional tasks were recorded using an inertial sensor unit to determine the movement pattern. The secondary endpoints were maximal muscle strength and muscle power output. The exercise intervention program provided significant benefits over usual care. At discharge (primary time point), the exercise group showed a mean increase of 1.7 points in the Short Physical Performance Battery scale (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98, 2.42) and 0.14 m·s-1 in the GVT (95% CI 0.086, 0.194) over the usual care group. The intervention also improved the verbal (0.151; 95% CI 0.119, 0.184 vs −0.001; 95% CI –0.025, 0.033 in the control group) and arithmetic GVT (0.115; 95% CI 0.077, 0.153 vs −0.004; 95% CI –0.044, 0.035). Significant benefits were also observed in the intervention group in movement pattern, as well as in muscle strength and muscle power. An individualized multicomponent exercise training program improves physical function, maximal muscle strength, and muscle power in acutely hospitalized older patients. These findings support the importance of physical exercise for avoiding the loss of physical functional capacity that frequently occurs during hospitalization in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying strong predictors for falls and mobility limitations in older adults with a falls-related emergency department visit is crucial. This study aimed to compare, in this clinical population, the incremental predictive value of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) component tests for incident falls, injurious falls, and mobility limitations. Prospective cohort study. A total of 323 community-dwelling older adults with a falls-related emergency department visit participated. Baseline physical performance was measured by the SPPB standing balance test, sit-to-stand test, and habitual gait speed test. Six-month prospective fall rate and self-reported mobility limitations at 6 months post baseline assessment were also measured. An injurious fall was defined as a fall for which the participant sought medical attention or that restricted his or her daily activities for at least 48 hours. In multivariable proportional odds analyses adjusted for demographics and clinical covariates, higher levels of full-tandem balance and sit-to-stand performance were significantly associated with fewer incident falls (P =.04 and.02, respectively) and lower odds of mobility limitations (P =.05 and.03, respectively) and marginally associated with lower odds of injurious falls (P =.06 and.07, respectively). Habitual gait speed was the weakest predictor of falls but the strongest predictor (odds ratio 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.70; P <.001) of mobility limitations. In high-fall-risk older adults, the SPPB balance and sit-to-stand tests predicted falls whereas the SPPB gait speed test was adept at predicting mobility limitations. No one test is best across all situations, so the choice of test will depend on the goal of the assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives Falls in hospitals lead to adverse patient outcomes and prevention of falls is of upmost importance. Little is known about fall and injury rates in chronic care facilities, which are similar to skilled nursing facilities in the United States. Current fall risk tools in this setting are not well studied. Enhancing the understanding of how patient characteristics relate to fall circumstances is also needed. Design Retrospective analysis of falls over 3 years on consecutive admissions and discharges. Setting and Participants A 104-bed geriatric chronic care facility. Measures Fall and injury data, descriptive data for patients measuring mobility, balance, cognition, function, and frailty in relation to risk of falls and fall circumstances were analyzed. Results There were 1141 falls, with an overall fall rate of 8.48 falls per 1000 occupied bed days. The overall injury rate was 37.2 injuries per 100 falls. Being male and frail, having a mobility aid, poor mobility, balance, or cognition were associated with falling. Patients with good balance but poor cognition was more likely to fall outside their room, while those with poor mobility/balance fell more often in their room. The Clinical Frailty Scale performed modestly well at predicting falls with an odds ratio of 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.9-3.2). Conclusions and Implications Fall rates in chronic care facilities differ from what is reported in other settings. Patient characteristics such as male, use or misuse of a mobility aid, and poor cognition are more common in fallers. Fall circumstances differ in those with poor cognition compared with those with poor mobility and balance. More research focusing on frailty, cognition, and mobility/balance is needed to develop accurate tools that can predict those at a high risk of falls in these facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the additive effects of sarcopenia and low serum albumin level on the risk of incident disability in older adults. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting A Japanese community. Participants Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years, without disability at baseline (N = 4452). Measures Sarcopenia was defined as the presence of both poor muscle function (low physical performance or muscle strength) and low muscle mass. Low serum albumin level was defined as ≤4.0 g/dL. Other potential confounding factors (demographics, medical history, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function) were also assessed. Incident disability was monitored based on Long-Term Care Insurance certification during follow-up. Results The median follow-up duration was 30 (interquartile range, 28-32) months. Participants were classified into mutually exclusive groups based on sarcopenia status and serum albumin levels: nonsarcopenia/normal serum albumin (n = 3719), low serum albumin alone (n = 552), sarcopenia alone (n = 132), and sarcopenia/low serum albumin (n = 49). A Cox hazards regression showed that the low serum albumin alone [hazard ratios (HR) = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26-2.33], sarcopenia alone (HR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.58-4.77), and sarcopenia/low serum albumin groups (HR = 3.73, 95% CI = 1.87-7.44) had higher risk of disability than the nonsarcopenia/normal serum albumin group after adjusting for the covariates. Conclusions/Implications Sarcopenia and low serum albumin level synergistically increase the risk of incident disability in older adults. Sarcopenia in older adults at risk of malnutrition should be detected early, and appropriate interventions should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Sarcopenia has been defined as age-related loss of muscle mass and function. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of a 10-week instructor-led resistance training program on functional strength and body composition in men and women aged 70 years with pre-sarcopenia. Design, Setting, and Participants Participants were randomized to either 10 weeks of a physical training regimen including optional nutritional supplementation (n = 36) or to a control group (n = 34) (ClinicalTrials.gov , no. NCT03297632). The main outcome was changes in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Secondary outcomes included the Timed Up and Go test, chair sit-stand time, lean body mass, and fat mass. Results The intervention had no significant effect on SPPB in the total cohort (P =.18), when comparing changes in the intervention group with the control group. However, those given the intervention in the male subcohort increased 0.5 ± 0.4 (mean ± standard error for the difference) points in SPPB during follow-up (P =.02) compared to male controls. With respect to secondary outcomes, the intervention group decreased 0.9 ± 0.6 seconds in chair sit-stand time compared to controls (P =.01). Furthermore, the intervention resulted in significantly greater improvements for the training group than control group in all measures of body composition (P ≤.01 for all). For example, lean body mass increased by a mean of 1147 ± 282 g (P <.001), and total fat mass decreased by a mean of 553 ± 225 g (P =.003), favoring the intervention group. Conclusion/Implications The main finding of this intervention study is that an easy-to-use, functional resistance training program was effective in maintaining functional strength and increasing muscle mass in older adults with pre-sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine the incidence of new onset depressive symptoms and associated factors over a 1-year period in an older Chinese suburban population. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting and Participants The sample comprised 691 Chinese community-dwelling participants (304 men; mean age 67.5 ± 5.7 years) without depressive symptoms at baseline, recruited from Chadian of Tianjin, China. Measures We had documented detailed information regarding sociodemographics, behavioral characteristics, and medical conditions. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. The outcome was new onset depressive symptoms at 1-year follow-up, defined as a score of ≥11 on the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Results We found that 83 (12.0%) of the 691 participants without depressive symptoms at baseline had developed depressive symptoms. After multivariate adjustments, it was found that the incidence of new onset depressive symptoms was associated with sarcopenia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. People with a higher level of muscle mass and better sleep quality were significantly less likely to develop depressive symptoms than their counterparts. Conclusions/Implications We found that the incidence of depressive symptoms increased with some chronic diseases, such as sarcopenia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, muscle mass was the most related protective factor among sarcopenia's 3 basic diagnosis components—muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Hence, maintaining enough muscle mass could be beneficial in the prevention of depressive symptoms for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA), a new sarcopenia screening tool, has 2 versions: MSRA-7 (full version, 7 items) and MSRA-5 (short version, 5 items). We aimed to compare the diagnostic values of MSRA-7 and MSRA-5 to SARC-F for screening sarcopenia. Design A diagnostic accuracy study. Setting A community in Chengdu, China. Participants Older adults. Measurements Muscle mass, strength, and physical performance were tested using a bioimpedance analysis (BIA) device, handgrip strength, and walking speed, respectively. Using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria as the gold standard, the sensitivity/specificity analyses of the 3 scales were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curves (AUC) were used to compare the overall diagnostic accuracy of the 3 scales. Results We recruited 384 participants. Against the AWGS criteria, SARC-F had a sensitivity of 29.5% and a specificity of 98.1%, and the MSRA-7 had a sensitivity of 86.9% and a specificity of 39.6%, whereas the MSRA-5 had a sensitivity of 90.2% and a specificity of 70.6%. The AUCs of SARC-F, MSRA-7, and MSRA-5 were 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.86-0.92], 0.70 (95% CI, 0.65-0.74), and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81-0.89), respectively. The differences in AUCs between SARC-F and MSRA-7 and in those between MSRA-7 and MSRA-5 were statistically significant (P <.001), but the difference between SARC-F and MSRA-5 was not statistically significant (P =.130). Conclusion MSRA-5 may serve as a novel screening tool for sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. SARC-F, a class screening tool, is also suitable for this population. MSRA-5 and SARC-F demonstrated a similar diagnostic accuracy in our study population. MSRA-5 has better sensitivity, whereas SARC-F has better specificity. However, the diagnostic value of MSRA needs to be further validated in different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives To examine whether higher obesity level was associated with extensive staffing assistance (from 2 or more persons) for completing activities of daily living (ADL) among older nursing home residents. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting US government–certified nursing homes. Participants Medicare beneficiaries residing in a nursing home on April 1, 2015. Exclusion criteria were age less than 65 years and body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 (underweight). Measures Residents were divided by obesity level according to established BMI cutoffs, as follows: nonobese (BMI = 18.5-29.9) or mild (BMI = 30.0-34.9), moderate (BMI = 35.0-39.9), or severe (BMI ≥40) obesity. Level of staffing assistance for completing each of 10 ADL (bed mobility, transfer, walking in room, walking in corridor, on- and off-unit locomotion, dressing, eating, toileting, and personal hygiene) was dichotomized as below 2 and 2 or more. Robust Poisson regression was used to test whether obesity conferred excess risk for needing 2 or more staff to complete each ADL. Adjusted models included individual-level covariates and nursing home fixed effects. Results A total of 1,063,383 nursing home residents were identified, including 309,263 (29.0%) with obesity. Adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for 2-person assistance with bed mobility associated with mild, moderate, and severe obesity were 1.17 (1.15, 1.18), 1.28 (1.25, 1.31), and 1.40 (1.36, 1.43), respectively. Adjusted relative risks for 2-person assistance with transferring associated with mild, moderate, and severe obesity were 1.15 (1.13, 1.17), 1.24 (1.22, 1.27), and 1.36 (1.33, 1.39), respectively. Obesity was associated with 2-person assistance for all other ADL except for eating. Conclusions Higher obesity level was significantly associated with assistance from 2 or more staff for completing 9 of 10 ADL. Given increasing obesity rates in nursing homes, payment mechanisms that do not adjust for obesity or comprehensively account for excess ADL assistance may need revision to prevent adverse impacts on the long-term care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dietary protein intake is inversely associated with physical frailty risk. However, it is unknown whether an association exists between dietary protein intake and comprehensive frailty. Objective To evaluate the association between protein intake and comprehensive frailty in older Japanese adults. Design, setting and participants This cross-sectional study included 5638 Japanese participants (2707 men and 2931 women) aged ≥65 years from Kameoka City, Kyoto, Japan. Measurements Dietary intake was estimated using a validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Comprehensive frailty was assessed using a 25-item Kihon Checklist (KCL), which comprised instrumental activities of daily living, mobility disability, malnutrition, oral or eating function, socialization and housebound, cognitive function, and depression domains. A KCL score of 4 to 6 was defined as prefrailty, and ≥7 as frailty. Results In women, but not in men, protein intake showed a lower prevalence for prefrailty (Q1-Q4, 40.2%, 34.3%, 34.3%, and 36.0%). Higher protein intake was associated with lower prevalence of frailty both in men (32.5%, 28.4%, 28.3%, and 27.3%) and women (35.7%, 31.4%, 27.6%, and 28.2%). Moreover, higher dietary protein intake decreased the odds ratio (OR) for frailty after adjustment for potential confounding factors in both men (OR for highest vs lowest quartile, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.89; P for trend = 0.016) and women (OR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45-0.91; P for trend = 0.017). Conclusions/implications The higher dietary protein intake may be inversely associated with the prevalence of comprehensive frailty in Japanese men and women. Future studies are needed to examine associations of dietary protein intake within KCL domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine whether The Ending PyJama (PJ) Paralysis campaign, focused on increasing in-hospital physical activity, affects objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity patterns and if these are associated with changes in physical and functional performance in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients. Quasi-experimental study. Within the REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT) observational, longitudinal cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients, the Ending PJ Paralysis campaign was implemented on 2 out of 4 wards. Objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured by an inertial sensor (ActivPAL4) for 1 week, comparing control (non-PJ) and intervention (PJ) groups using linear mixed models. Mean sedentary behavior and physical activity measures and their association with physical and functional performance changes were investigated by linear regression analyses, stratified by low vs high performance at admission using the median as a cut-off. A total of 145 (n = 68 non-PJ and n = 77 PJ) inpatients with a mean age of 83.0 (7.7) years (55.9% female inpatients) were included. The median nonupright time was 23.1 [22.1-23.6] and 23.0 [21.8-23.6] hours/day for non-PJ and PJ groups, respectively. Objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity measures did not significantly change over measurement days and were independent of the Ending PJ Paralysis campaign. For inpatients with low performance at admission, lower sedentary behavior [B(SE) −0.013 (0.005) to −0.157 (0.045), P <.01] and higher physical activity [B(SE) 0.033 (0.007) to 0.814 (0.200), P <.01] measures were associated with improved physical performance. In addition, lower sedentary behaviour [B(SE) = -0.058 (0.024), P <.05 and higher physical activity [B (SE) 0.060 (0.024) to 0.683 (0.182), P <.05] were associated with improved instrumental functional performance. In geriatric rehabilitation inpatients, the Ending PJ Paralysis campaign did not affect objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity patterns. Lower mean sedentary behaviour and higher physical activity measures were associated with improved physical and functional performance in inpatients with low performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance Although participation in physical and cognitive activities is encouraged to reduce the risk of dementia, the preventive efficacy of these activities for patients with mild cognitive impairment is unestablished. Objective To compare the cognitive and mobility effects of a 40-week program of combined cognitive and physical activity with those of a health education program. Design A randomized, parallel, single-blind controlled trial. Setting A population-based study of participants recruited from Obu, a residential suburb of Nagoya, Japan. Participants Between August 2011 and February 2012, we evaluated 945 adults 65 years or older with mild cognitive impairment, enrolled 308, and randomly assigned them to the combined activity group (n = 154) or the health education control group (n = 154). Interventions The combined activity program involved weekly 90-minute sessions for 40 weeks focused on physical and cognitive activities. The control group attended 90-minute health promotion classes thrice during the 40-week trial period. Measurement The outcome measures were assessed at the study's beginning and end by personnel blinded to mild cognitive impairment subtype and group. The primary endpoints were postintervention changes in scores on (1) the Mini-Mental State Examination as a measure of general cognitive status and memory, (2) the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised–Logical Memory II, and (3) the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. We applied mobility assessments and assessed brain atrophy with magnetic resonance imaging. Results Compared with the control group, the combined activity group showed significantly greater scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (difference = 0.8 points, P  = .012) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised–Logical Memory II (difference = 1.0, P  = .004), significant improvements in mobility and the nonmemory domains and reduced left medial temporal lobe atrophy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment ( Z- score difference = −31.3, P  < .05). Conclusion Combined physical and cognitive activity improves or maintains cognitive and physical performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, especially the amnestic type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Sarcopenia is an aging-related health problem in the geriatric population. Sarcopenia reduces muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Although physical activity is protective against sarcopenia for older adults, there are limited studies in this area. The purpose of this study was to integrate and analyze research on physical activity and sarcopenia in the geriatric population. Methods Studies that assess sarcopenia were searched across electronic databases that included Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies that implemented physical activity-related intervention or research were included. A critical appraisal skills program was used for quality assessment of the selected articles. Study selection and data extraction were counted by 2 independent reviewers. Results Of the 149 references identified through the database search, 10 studies were included in this systematic review. Seven studies were randomized controlled trials, and 3 were cross-sectional or longitudinal. The results of 8 studies indicated significant improvement in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance through exercise intervention, as determined by long-term observation. Conclusions Physical activity is an effective protective strategy for sarcopenia. Most studies of older adults exercise intervention indicated that the participants achieved positive results, but maintenance of muscle strength appeared to depend on continuous implementation of certain types of physical activities. A limitation of these 10 reviewed studies was that there was no consistency in the measurement of sarcopenia. Therefore, sarcopenia measurement needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine the ability of each item of the Fried phenotype of frailty to predict physical limitation and physical performance measures after 4 years, walking speed and hospitalization after 7 years, and mortality after 12 years. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Community-living older people in Hong Kong SAR, China. Participants 4000 community-living Chinese men and women aged 65 and older were recruited using stratified sampling so that approximately 33% each would be aged 65-69, 70-74, and 75 and older. Those who were unable to walk independently, had had bilateral hip replacement, or were not competent to give informed consent were excluded. Measurements Information was collected from questionnaire to include sociodemographic and lifestyle data, medical history, cognition, mood, and ability to carry out daily functional tasks. Frailty was assessed using the 5-item Fried phenotype, or Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) scale. Measurements include grip strength, 6-m walking speed, and chair stand. Length of hospital stay was obtained from the hospital records. Death was ascertained from the Death Registry. Statistical analysis Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between individual items and health outcomes, adjusting for age, education, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, current smoker, Mini–Mental State Examination score, and depression. The predictive ability of each item was examined using the area under the curve (AUC), and stepwise models were applied to assess the incremental predictive validity. Results In men, all items of the CHS scale predicted increased risk of physical limitation after 4 years with similar AUC values. The lowest quintile of walking speed and grip strength predicted increased risk of walking speed <0.8 m/s at 4 and 7 years. The other items had variable predictive ability for outcomes. For women, low walking speed and grip strength were the only 2 items that predicted all the adverse outcomes except mortality. When each item was entered into a stepwise model to predict adverse outcomes, low walking speed predicted nearly as well as the combined 5-item CHS. Conclusion The 5-item Fried phenotype in frailty screening in clinical management may be replaced by a single physical performance measure such as walking speed or grip strength, but cut-off values derived from individual populations need to be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Falls prevention is an international priority, and residents of long-term aged care fall approximately 3 times more often than community dwellers. There is a relative scarcity of published trials in this setting. Objectives Our objective was to undertake a randomized controlled trial to test the effect of published best practice exercise in long-term residential aged care. The trial was designed to determine if combined high level balance and moderate intensity progressive resistance training (the Sunbeam Program) is effective in reducing the rate of falls in residents of aged care facilities. Method A cluster randomized controlled trial of 16 residential aged care facilities and 221 participants was conducted. The broad inclusion criterion was permanent residents of aged care. Exclusions were diagnosed terminal illness, no medical clearance, permanent bed- or wheelchair-bound status, advanced Parkinson's disease, or insufficient cognition to participate in group exercise. Assessments were taken at baseline, after intervention, and at 12 months. Randomization was performed by computer-generated sequence to receive either the Sunbeam program or usual care. A cluster refers to an aged care facility. Intervention The program consisted of individually prescribed progressive resistance training plus balance exercise performed in a group setting for 50 hours over a 25-week period, followed by a maintenance period for 6 months. Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure was the rate of falls (number of falls and days followed up). Secondary outcomes included physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery), quality of life (36-item Short-Form Health Survey), functional mobility (University of Alabama Life Space Assessment), fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale International), and cognition (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Evaluation–revised). Results The rate of falls was reduced by 55% in the exercise group (incidence rate ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.74); an improvement was also seen in physical performance ( P = .02). There were no serious adverse events. Conclusion The Sunbeam Program significantly reduced the rate of falls and improved physical performance in residents of aged care. This finding is important as prior work in this setting has returned inconsistent outcomes, resulting in best practice guidelines being cautious about recommending exercise in this setting. This work provides an opportunity to improve clinical practice and health outcomes for long-term care residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives After a hip fracture, 50% of senior patients are left with permanent functional decline and 30% lose their autonomy. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate whether seniors who are in a caregiver role have better functional recovery after hip fracture compared with noncaregivers. Design Prospective observational study. Setting A total of 107 Swiss patients with acute hip fracture age 65 years and older (84% women; 83.0 ± 6.9 years; 87% community-dwelling). Measurements At baseline, participants were asked if they were caregivers for a person, a pet, or a plant. Lower-extremity mobility was measured using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test at baseline during acute care (day 1–12 after hip fracture surgery) and at 6 and 12 months follow-up. Subjective physical functioning (SPF) was rated for prefracture values and at 6 and 12 months follow-up using the Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire. Differences in TUG performance or SPF between caregivers and noncaregivers at 6 and 12 months were assessed using multivariable repeated-measures analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, Mini-Mental State Examination, living condition, baseline TUG, and treatment (vitamin D, home exercise program as part of the original trial). Results At baseline, adjusted TUG performance was better in caregivers of any kind compared with noncaregivers (40.9 vs 84.4 seconds, P < .0001). At 6 months, and after adjustment for baseline TUG performance and other covariates, TUG was better in caregivers of any kind (−6.4 seconds, P = .007) and caregivers of plants (−6.6 seconds, P = .003) compared with noncaregivers. At 12 months, only caregivers of persons had better TUG performance compared with noncaregivers (−7.3 seconds, P = .009). Moreover, at 12 months, SPF was better in caregivers of persons (58.9 vs 45.6, P = .01) and caregivers of any kind (50.8 vs 39.3, P = .02) compared with noncaregivers. Conclusions Senior hip fracture patients who have a caregiver role of any kind, and especially of plants, had better short-term recovery after hip fracture assessed with the TUG. For long-term recovery, senior hip fracture patients who are caregivers for other persons appeared to have a significant benefit. These benefits were independent of baseline function and all other covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To explore the association between prestroke mobility dependency and dementia on functioning and mortality outcomes after stroke in patients>65 years of age. Design Longitudinal cohort study based on SveDem, the Swedish Dementia Registry and Riksstroke, the Swedish Stroke Registry. Participants A total of 1689 patients with dementia >65 years of age registered in SveDem and suffering a first stroke between 2007 and 2014 were matched with 7973 controls without dementia with stroke. Measurements Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for intrahospital mortality, and functioning and mortality outcomes at 3 months were calculated. Functioning included level of residential assistance (living at home without help, at home with help, or nursing home) and mobility dependency (independent, needing help to move outdoors, or needing help indoors and outdoors). Results Prestroke dependency in activities of daily living and mobility were worse in patients with dementia than controls without dementia. In unadjusted analyses, patients with dementia were more often discharged to nursing homes (51% vs 20%; P < .001). Mortality at 3 months was higher in patients with dementia (31% vs 23% P < .001) and fewer were living at home without help (21% vs 55%; P < .001). In adjusted analyses, prestroke dementia was associated with higher risk of 3-month mortality (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.18–1.52), requiring a higher level of residential assistance (OR 4.07; 3.49–.75) and suffering from more dependency in relation to mobility (OR 2.57; 2.20–3.02). Patients with dementia who were independent for mobility prestroke were more likely to be discharged to a nursing home compared with patients without dementia with the same prestroke mobility (37% vs 16%; P < .001), but there were no differences in discharge to geriatric rehabilitation (19% for both; P = .976). Patients, who moved independently before stroke, were more often discharged home (60% vs 28%) and had lower mortality. In adjusted analyses, prestroke mobility limitations were associated with higher odds for poorer mobility, needing more residential assistance, and death. Conclusions Patients with mobility impairments and/or dementia present a high burden of disability after a stroke. There is a need for research on stroke interventions among these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate, among nursing home residents, the extent to which the various operational definitions of frailty predict mortality and falls at 1 year. Methods We studied 662 participants from the Sample of Elderly Nursing home Individuals: An Observational Research (SENIOR) cohort aged 83.2 ± 8.99 years, including 484 (72.5%) women and living in nursing homes. Among this cohort, 584 and 565 participants, respectively, were monitored over 12 months for mortality assessment and for occurrence of falls (ie, by mean of their medical records). Each patient was subjected to a clinical examination at baseline, during which many original clinical characteristics were collected. Stepwise regression analyses were carried out to predict mortality and falls. Results Among the participants included in the study, 93 (15.9%) died and 211 (37.3%) experienced a fall during the 1-year of follow-up. After adjustment, none of the definitions of frailty assessed predicted the 1-year occurrence of negative health outcomes. When comparing the clinical characteristics of deceased participants and those still alive, being a man (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.19-3.01; P = .002) and being diagnosed with sarcopenia (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.92; P = .03) were independent factors associated with 1-year mortality. Other independent factors that were significantly associated with the 1-year occurrence of falls were the results obtained with the Tinetti test (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87-0.98; P = .04), with the grip strength test (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.90-0.98, P = .03), and with the isometric strength test of elbow extensors (OR = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.87-0.97; P = .04). Conclusions Within the operational definitions of frailty assessed, none is sufficiently sensitive to predict the occurrence of falls and deaths at 1 year among nursing home residents. Globally, the frequency of undesirable health outcomes seems to be higher among participants with lower muscle strength and mobility. Medical strategy or adapted physical activity, with the aim of improving specific isometric muscle strength and mobility could potentially, but significantly, reduce the occurrence of falls and even deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Screening for sarcopenia in daily practice can be challenging. Our objective was to explore whether the SARC-F questionnaire is a valid screening tool for sarcopenia (defined by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health [FNIH] criteria). Moreover, we evaluated the physical performance of older women according to the SARC-F questionnaire. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Data from the Toulouse and Lyon EPIDémiologie de l’OStéoporose study (EPIDOS) on 3025 women living in the community (mean age: 80.5 ± 3.9 years), without a previous history of hip fracture, were assessed. Measurements The SARC-F self-report questionnaire score ranges from 0 to 10: a score ≥4 defines sarcopenia. The FNIH criteria uses handgrip strength (GS) and appendicular lean mass (ALM; assessed by DXA) divided by body mass index (BMI) to define sarcopenia. Outcome measures were the following performance-based tests: knee-extension strength, 6-m gait speed, and a repeated chair-stand test. The associations of sarcopenia with performance-based tests was examined using bootstrap multiple linear-regression models; adjusted R 2 determined the percentage variation for each outcome explained by the model. Results Prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.7% (n = 504) according to the SARC-F questionnaire and 1.8% (n = 49) using the FNIH criteria. Sensibility and specificity of the SARC-F to diagnose sarcopenia (defined by FNIH criteria) were 34% and 85%, respectively. Sarcopenic women defined by SARC-F had significantly lower physical performance than nonsarcopenic women. The SARC-F improved the ability to predict poor physical performance. Conclusion The validity of the SARC-F questionnaire to screen for sarcopenia, when compared with the FNIH criteria, was limited. However, sarcopenia defined by the SARC-F questionnaire substantially improved the predictive value of clinical characteristics of patients to predict poor physical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives There is no gold standard in diagnosing sarcopenia. We aimed to assess the validity of screening sarcopenia using SARC-F (sluggishness, assistance in walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, falls). Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Community hospital in Taiwan. Participants Community-dwelling senior citizens. Measurements Participants were interviewed with a structured questionnaire annually. The questionnaire items were recoded into the 5 items of SARC-F (sluggishness, assistance in walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, falls). In the baseline year, a subgroup was tested for grip strength and body composition. Healthcare utilization and mortality were based on self-report and hospital records. Our main outcome was 4-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization, emergency care use, and quality of life (QOL) measured using the CASP-12 scale (control, autonomy, self-realization, pleasure (control, autonomy, self-realization, pressure). Results There were 670 participants. The mean age was 76.1 (standard deviation 6.36). One-half were men (n = 340, 50.7%). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.1% (n = 41). SARC-F scores were inversely associated with grip strength ( P = .001) and skeletal muscle composition ( P = .045). Participants with sarcopenia were mostly women ( P = .005) and older ( P < .001). In univariate analysis, sarcopenia was associated with 1- to 4-year mortalities ( P = .033, .001, .001, <.001, respectively), overall hospitalization ( P = .004), overall emergency care use ( P = .017), and QOL ( P < .001). In multivariate model, sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR) 7.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.67-20.18], age (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.29 for each year), and taking vitamin D supplements (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11-0.74) were factors associated with mortality. Conclusions Sarcopenia screened using SARC-F was associated with subsequent QOL, overall hospitalization, overall emergency care use, and 4-year mortality. SARC-F can serve as a quick screening tool of sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objectives of this study were to cross-culturally adapt and validate the FRAIL scale in Mexican community-dwelling adults. Design Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. Setting The FraDysMex study, a 2-round evaluation of community-dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City. Participants Participants were 606 men and women living in the designated area in Mexico City. Measurements Interviewers obtained data regarding demographics, comorbidities, mental status, nutritional status, dependency in activities of daily living, quality of life, mobility, balance, and strength. The FRAIL scale translated to Spanish and the Fried criteria were applied to screen frailty. Results The Mexican Spanish version of the FRAIL scale showed internal consistency (4 of 5 items in the scale correlated to the scale's total score, rho = 0.41–0.74), external consistency (interrater correlation CCI = 0.82), known-group validity based on age (9.6% of frailty in persons ≥50 years × 3.2% in persons <50 years, P = .001), convergent validity with the Fried criteria (CCI = 0.63), and the scale was also correlated with other measures related to frailty (such as age, quality of life, self-rated health status, cognition, dependency, nutritional status, depression, and physical performance). Conclusion The FRAIL scale was successfully adapted to Mexican Spanish and validated in community-dwelling Mexican adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to verify the effects of multicomponent and resistance training on the physical performance in older adult residents in long-term care, as well as to compare these modalities. Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Older adults age over 60 years who are nursing home residents in long-term care. Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Central, Web of Science, SportDiscus, LILACS, and SCIELO) were searched from their inception until May 1, 2022. The methodological quality was assessed using PEDro scale. Mean difference and 95% confidence interval were pooled using a random-effects model. The significance level established was P value of ≤.05 for all analyses. A total of 30 studies were included in the qualitative review (n = 1887, mean age 82.68 years and 70% female). Multicomponent training appeared in 19 studies and resistance training in 12 studies. Out of these, 17 studies were incorporated into the meta-analysis. Multicomponent training and resistance training showed statistically significant difference (P ≤.05) in the physical performance of institutionalized older adults compared with the control groups (usual care); this was evaluated with the Short Physical Performance Battery (+1.2 points; +2 points), 30-second chair-stand (approximately +3 repetitions; both), and Timed Up and Go (−4 seconds on mean; both) tests. Comparisons between multicomponent and resistance training did not show statistically significant differences in any of the physical outcomes evaluated. The studies provide evidence that both multicomponent training and resistance training may be effective in improving the physical performance of institutionalized older adults. Further studies with more representative sample numbers, an improvement in methodological quality, and a more specified prescription of the training used are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geriatric inpatient rehabilitation aims to restore function, marked by physical performance, to enable patients to return and remain home after hospitalization. However, after discharge some patients are soon readmitted, institutionalized, or may die. Whether changes in physical performance during geriatric rehabilitation are associated with these short-term adverse outcomes is unknown. This study aimed to determine the association of changes in physical performance during geriatric inpatient rehabilitation with short-term adverse outcomes. Observational longitudinal study. Geriatric rehabilitation inpatients of the REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT) cohort study of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne, Australia) were included. The change from admission to discharge in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, balance, gait speed (GS), chair stand test (CST), and hand grip strength (HGS) were calculated and analyzed using logistic regression analysis with readmission, incidence of institutionalization, and mortality, and ≥1 adverse outcome within 3 months postdischarge. Of 693 inpatients, 11 died during hospitalization and 572 patients (mean age 82.6 ± 7.6 years, 57.9% female) had available physical performance data. Within 3 months postdischarge, 47.3% of patients had ≥1 adverse outcome: readmission was 20.8%, institutionalization was 26.6%, and mortality was 7.9%. Improved SPPB score, balance, GS, CST, and HGS were associated with lower odds of institutionalization and mortality. Improved GS was additionally associated with lower odds of readmission [odds ratio (OR) 0.35, 95% CI 0.16-0.79]. CST score had the largest effect, with a 1-point increase associating with 40% lower odds of being institutionalized (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.86), 52% lower odds of mortality (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29-0.81), and a 24% lower odds of ≥1 adverse outcome (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.97). Improvement in physical performance was associated with lower odds of short-term institutionalization and mortality indicating the prognostic value of physical performance improvement during geriatric inpatient rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the difference in resilience across frailty status by measuring the impact of unplanned hospitalization across people with different frailty condition on (1) 2-year changes in lean mass, physical performance, and quality of life, and (2) subsequent hospitalization. A prospective cohort study. Three thousand seventeen older people (73.7 ± 4.9 years) were recruited from the community in Hong Kong. Frailty status was defined using the Cardiovascular Health Study scale at baseline. Unplanned hospitalization between the 2 visits was obtained from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. The interaction of frailty and hospitalization status on the 2-year changes in lean mass, physical performance, and quality of life were examined using 2-way analysis of covariance. Risk of subsequent hospitalization was estimated using Poisson regression. The effect of prolonged hospitalization, which was defined as 6 or more total hospitalized days, was also examined. Upon unplanned hospitalization, frail older people had significantly augmented decline than prefrail and robust people in appendicular skeletal mass (−0.44 ± 0.08 kg), height-adjusted appendicular skeletal mas (−0.13 ± 0.03 kg/m2), 5-time chair-stand (4.79 ± 0.60 s), and mental health (−3.72 ± 0.88). The reduction increased with the length of hospitalization. Unplanned hospitalization conferred an augmented risk of subsequent hospitalization for those who were prefrail and frail (IRR = 1.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.30-1.59 and IRR = 1.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.45-1.97, respectively). The resilience of older people varies according to their frailty status, and the poor resilience may translate to a higher chance of having subsequent hospitalization for prefrail and frail people. These findings emphasized the importance of having the frailty screening in making posthospitalization plans for older people depending on their frailty status and encouraging prefrail and frail older people to build up their resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow gait speed and sit-to-stand performance are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in older adults. Identifying older adults with functional performance "below norms" is the first step toward prevention. We aimed to (1) examine the associations of age, body height, and gender with gait speed and sit-to-stand performance and (2) develop subgroup-specific reference ranges in older adults with no self-reported mobility limitations. Cross-sectional study. This study analyzed data from 775 community-dwelling older adults who reported no difficulty walking 100 m, climbing stairs, and rising from the chair. Gait speed and sit-to-stand performance were measured by the 10-m gait speed test and 5-times sit-to-stand test, respectively. Bayesian linear regression was used to derive 95% reference ranges for gait speed and sit-to-stand performance, defined by different levels of age, body height, and gender. Overall, 95% reference range was 0.89-1.79 m/s for habitual gait speed and 7.4-27.9 stands/30 s for sit-to-stand pace. Age had the highest posterior probability (>99%) of a meaningful association with both functional outcomes. Additionally, height was strongly associated with gait speed: a 10-cm increase in height was associated with 0.07 m/s (95% credible interval, 0.05-0.10) faster gait speed. For sit-to-stand test, the lower 95% reference range limits tended to be similar across gender and gender-specific height subgroups, owing to the associations of faster sit-to-stand pace with shorter height and male gender. Because extensive tables of reference ranges are impractical, a web-based application (https://sghpt.shinyapps.io/ippts/) is created to provide subgroup-specific reference ranges. In a large sample of mobile-intact older adults, reference ranges for gait speed and sit-to-stand performance differed meaningfully by age. Furthermore, gait speed was stature dependent. Although requiring validation, our findings may be used to define subgroup-specific "below-range" values and to complement existing universal clinical cut points for gait speed and sit-to-stand performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim is to inspect the effects of exercise and nutritional intervention on prefrail older adults' physical function. Systematic review and meta-analysis registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021261197). Randomized controlled trials involving prefrail older adults who received exercise and/or nutritional interventions. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Clinical Trials, and PubMed were searched from inception to September 1, 2021. Primary outcomes were physical function, including physical performance, mobility, and grip strength. The short physical performance battery score and chair sit-to-stand test were used to assess the physical performance. Timed up and go and gait speed were applied to assess the mobility. Secondary outcomes were frailty status, weight, body mass index, Barthel index, and quality of life (Euro quality of life 5 dimension index values). We included 16 randomized controlled trials comprising 1199 prefrail older adults (intervention group, n = 593; control group, n = 606). Exercise and nutritional interventions significantly improved the short physical performance battery score [n = 5, mean difference 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21‒1.42, I2 = 62%], handgrip strength (n = 7, mean difference 1.52, 95% CI 0.70‒2.34, I2 = 6%), and gait speed (n = 4, standard weighted mean difference −1.06, 95% CI -1.87 to −0.25, I2 = 89%). There were no significant differences among the chair sit-to-stand test, timed up and go, weight, body mass index, and Barthel index. Our systematic review and meta-analysis shows that the receipt of exercise and nutritional intervention significantly improved physical function in prefrail older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying individuals at risk of developing dementia may be aided by early detection of functional impairments. The aims of the present study were to examine differences in informant-reported and performance-based measures of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and to assess whether a performance-based IADL measure contributes additional unique variance over informant reports in predicting incident dementia over 4 years. Prospective cohort study (Sydney Memory and Ageing Study). Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Australia. 307 community-dwelling individuals (60.6% female) aged between 76 and 96 years with normal cognition (NC; n = 190) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 117). IADL ability was assessed with the performance-based Sydney Test of Activities of Daily Living in Memory Disorders (STAM) and the Bayer-Activities of Daily Living (B-ADL) informant report, at baseline and 4-year follow-up. Covariates included age, sex, education, Mini-Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale scores, arthritis, vision impairment, cardiovascular risk, and number of medications. Logistic regressions were conducted to examine the longitudinal association between the 2 types of IADL measures and incident dementia. Logistic regressions showed that performance-based IADL impairment at baseline [odds ratio (OR) = 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77, 0.90; P <.001] and decline in performance-based IADL function (OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.73, 0.91; P <.001) were associated with incident dementia over 4 years, with the association provided by the STAM being statistically significant over and above the B-ADL. Performance-based measures of IADL can predict progression to dementia over 4 years beyond that provided by an informant report of IADL. Performance-based IADL measures are promising tools for clinical practice to identify individuals at greater risk of developing dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Life-space mobility, assessed with the Life-Space Assessment (LSA), reflects an individual's mobility in terms of the spatial area, frequency, and need for assistance. The aims were to study associations between life-space mobility and disability status in activities of daily living (ADL), and to define cutoff scores for baseline LSA and LSA change over time identifying individuals who developed ADL inability during 2 years of follow-up. Robustness of the cutoff scores was tested accounting for potential confounders. Design Longitudinal analyses of the “Life-space mobility in old age” cohort study. Setting Home-based interviews at baseline and phone interviews 2 years later. Participants A total of 755 community-dwelling 75- to 90-year-old people living in Central Finland. Measurements LSA score (range 0–120) and ADL disability status (no difficulty, difficulty in ≥1 tasks, or inability in ≥1 tasks) were determined based on self-reports. Results Participants who developed difficulty or inability in ADL over time presented lower LSA scores at baseline and larger declines compared to those who remained without task difficulty or inability during the follow-up, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity analyses showed that baseline LSA ≤52.3 (0.86 and 0.74, respectively) and LSA decline of >11.7 (0.76 and 0.71, respectively) identified participants who developed ADL inability over the follow-up. Multinomial regression showed that, after adjustment for potential confounders, these cutoff scores increased the odds to develop new difficulty in ADL tasks, and the odds to develop ADL inability among those with baseline difficulty. Conclusion Our results suggest that restrictions and declines in life-space mobility may be early signs of increasing vulnerability to disability in old age. These longitudinally defined cutoff points may help to find clinical applications for the LSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Physical exercise interventions have benefits for older individuals and improve the health and well-being of individuals living with a dementia, specifically those living in nursing homes. Purpose Report evidence from randomized controlled trials and cluster randomized control trials that evaluated the effects of physical exercise interventions on individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes. Data sources Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Academic Search Complete, Proquest Central, British Medical Journal Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, Informit, Informa, and Nursing Consult were searched for relevant clinical trials and snowballing of recommended studies. Study selection One reviewer screened articles on inclusion criteria and identified relevant studies. Data extraction Data extraction was performed by 1 reviewer and checked by second and third reviewers. Two authors assessed the methodological quality and risk of bias of the relevant studies. Data synthesis Twelve study populations consisting of individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes were included (n = 901). Different types of physical exercises were undertaken: multimodal (n = 6), walking (n = 5), music and movement (n = 2), and hand exercises (n = 1). The parameters of the interventions varied across the studies. Most of the studies reported significant positive effects of physical exercise on cognition, agitation, mood, mobility, and functional ability for individuals living with dementia in nursing homes. Limitations The main limitations were the heterogeneity of design, small samples, and short interventions. Conclusions There is emerging evidence that physical exercise significantly benefits individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes. Higher quality research is required adopting more rigorous methods, including longer interventions and larger samples to determine optimum parameters of the physical exercise interventions evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]