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Background: Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) have become increasingly prevalent, with a notable rise in the United States due to legalization and greater accessibility. Moreover, there is a growing interest in cannabis use among older adults, who often turn to it form medicinal purposes. However, the association between cannabis use and mental health in older adults remains complex and requires further investigation to better understand if cannabis could have potential therapeutic benefits. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informing policy and clinical interventions, including formulating guidelines for use and early interventions. The goal of this dissertation is to better understand the relationship between cannabis and mental health in middle-aged and older adults via the following three aims (chapters). Methods: Chapter 1- A scoping review was conducted on the existing literature to synthesize current research on cannabis use and depression or anxiety in middle-aged and older adults. Secondary analyses were conducted in chapters 2 and 3 with data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) to investigate the relationship between cannabis use and mental health in middle-aged and older adults. Chapter 2- A logistic regression analyses was run to examine the association between a diagnosis of mood or anxiety disorder and cannabis use disorder controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, education, physical health, heavy alcohol use, tobacco use, and other drug use. Chapter 3- A zero inflated negative binomial regression model was run including interaction terms for sex, heavy alcohol use, other drug use, and tobacco use. All analyses use an alpha of .05. Results: Our scoping review revealed an unclear association between cannabis use and depression or anxiety in middle-aged and older adults, with a multitude of articles reporting different associations. Findings from our two analytical aims found a posi

We examined time perspective and self-esteem in adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Time perspective was measured with scales that assess relative orientations and relationships among the past, present, and future. Age effects were examined with standard analytic strategies to determine categorical differences between age groups and with new statistical techniques designed to show continuous age patterns. Findings indicated that (1) thinking about the future was greatest for adolescents and young adults and lowest for middle-aged and older adults, and thinking about the present increased across ages; (2) fewer adolescents and middle-aged participants perceived that the time periods were interrelated compared to younger and older adults; and (3) across ages, a greater emphasis towards the past compared to other time periods was associated with lower self-esteem, whereas emphasizing the present and the future jointly was associated with higher self-esteem.

We examined time perspective and self-esteem in adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Time perspective was measured with scales that assess relative orientations and relationships among the past, present, and future. Age effects were examined with standard analytic strategies to determine categorical differences between age groups and with new statistical techniques designed to show continuous age patterns. Findings indicated that (1) thinking about the future was greatest for adolescents and young adults and lowest for middle-aged and older adults, and thinking about the present increased across ages; (2) fewer adolescents and middle-aged participants perceived that the time periods were interrelated compared to younger and older adults; and (3) across ages, a greater emphasis towards the past compared to other time periods was associated with lower self-esteem, whereas emphasizing the present and the future jointly was associated with higher self-esteem.

Evidence for diet quality representing a modifiable risk factor for age-related cognitive decline and mood disturbances has typically come from retrospective, cross-sectional analyses. Here a diet screening tool (DST) was used to categorize healthy middle-aged volunteers (n = 141, 40–65 years) into “optimal” or “sub-optimal” diet groups to investigate cross-sectional associations between diet quality, cognitive function, and mood. The DST distinguished levels of nutrient intake as assessed by Automated Self-Administered 24-h dietary recall and nutrient status, as assessed by blood biomarker measures. Compared with the “sub-optimal” group, the “optimal” diet group showed significantly higher intake of vitamin E (p = 0.007), magnesium (p = 0.001), zinc (p = 0.043) and fiber (p = 0.015), higher circulating levels of vitamin B6 (p = 0.030) and red blood cell folate (p = 0.026) and lower saturated fatty acids (p = 0.012). Regarding psychological outcomes, the “optimal” diet group had significantly better Stroop processing than those with a “sub-optimal” diet (p = 0.013). Regression analysis revealed that higher DST scores were associated with fewer mood disturbances (p = 0.002) and lower perceived stress (p = 0.031), although these differences were not significant when comparing “optimal” versus “sub-optimal” as discrete groups. This study demonstrates the potential of a 20-item diet screen to identify both nutritional and psychological status in an Australian setting.

Neisseria meningitidis is often asymptomatically carried in the nasopharynx but may cause invasive meningococcal disease, leading to morbidity and mortality. Meningococcal conjugate vaccinations induce functional protective antibodies against capsular antigens, but seroprotection wanes over time. We measured functional antibody titers five years after administration of a single dose of the meningococcal ACWY-polysaccharide-specific tetanus toxoid-conjugated (MenACWY-TT) vaccine in adolescents and middle-aged adults in the Netherlands, using the serum bactericidal antibody with baby rabbit complement (rSBA) assay. Protection was defined as rSBA titer >= 8. The meningococcal ACWY-specific serum IgG concentrations were measured with a multiplex immunoassay. Duration of protection was estimated by a bi-exponential decay model. Sufficient protection for MenC, MenW, and MenY was achieved in 94-96% of the adolescents five years postvaccination, but, in middle-aged adults, only in 32% for MenC, 65% for MenW and 71% for MenY. Median duration of protection for MenCWY was 4, 14, and 21 years, respectively, in middle-aged adults, while, in adolescents, it was 32, 98, and 33 years. Our findings suggest that adolescents, primed in early childhood with MenC conjugate vaccination, remain sufficiently protected after a single dose of MenACWY-TT vaccine. Middle-aged adults without priming vaccination show fast waning of antibodies, particularly MenC, for which protection is lost after four years.

Oral and general health are linked to each other, and both are contributed by many sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Information on tooth loss, as a simple indicator of oral health of an individual, can easily be collected through self-report for research purposes in population studies. This cross-sectional study was conducted among the 46-year-old members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 10,321), providing a comprehensive and representative sample of middle-aged Finns. First, it was explored if smoking (history), as a harmful health behavior, associated with tooth loss. In addition, the duration of smoking history and the presumed benefits of cessation on tooth loss were investigated. The validity of self-report as a substitute for clinically determined number of teeth was also evaluated. Finally, the usefulness of number of teeth as an indicator of impaired glucose metabolism (prediabetes and diabetes) was tested. Tooth loss, as the outcome, was assessed by clinically measured (N = 1,946) and/or self-reported (N = 5,950) number of teeth. Questionnaires inquired about socioeconomic and behavioral factors, with smoking as the exposure of interest. Impaired glucose metabolism was determined through different sources, with oral glucose tolerance test as the primary screening tool. Negative binomial and logistic regression models served to statistically explore the associations while controlling for relevant confounders. Intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot were the primary tools for validation analysis. Smoking had an exposure-dependent association with tooth loss, mainly among males. It also seemed that those males who had stopped smoking started to gradually reclaim the aptitude for tooth retention. Self-reported number of teeth was in good agreement with the corresponding clinical measure in this study population. A reduced number of teeth associated with impaired glucose metabolism, mainly among females. The findin, Tiivistelmä Suun terveys ja yleisterveys ovat yhteydessä toisiinsa, ja monet sosiodemografiset ja käyttäytymistekijät vaikuttavat niihin. Hampaiden menetystä voidaan pitää yksinkertaistettuna yksilön suun terveyden indikaattorina ja tieto siitä voidaan helposti kerätä itseraportoinnin avulla väestötutkimuksissa. Tämä poikittaistutkimus perustui tietoihin 46-vuotiaista Pohjois-Suomen vuoden 1966 syntymäkohortin jäsenistä (N = 10 321), joka muodostaa edustavan otoksen keski-ikäisistä suomalaisista. Ensiksi tarkasteltiin tupakointia haitallisena terveyskäyttäytymisenä suhteessa hampaiden menetykseen, ja lisäksi tutkittiin tupakointihistorian pituuden ja lopettamisen oletettujen hyötyjen vaikutusta tähän liittyen. Myös itseraportoidun hampaiden lukumäärän validiteettia arvioitiin suhteessa vastaaviin kliinisessä tutkimuksessa saatuihin arvoihin. Hampaiden lukumäärän toimivuutta sokeriaineenvaihdunnan häiriöiden indikaattorina testattiin. Hampaiden menetys määritettiin kliinisesti mitatun (N = 1 946) ja/tai itseraportoidun (N = 5 950) hampaiden lukumäärän perusteella. Kyselylomakkeilla tiedusteltiin sosioekonomisia ja käyttäytymistekijöitä, joista tupakointi oli tutkimuksen keskeinen muuttuja. Sokeriaineenvaihdunnan häiriöt määritettiin eri tietolähteistä ja sokerirasituskoetta käytettiin seulontamenetelmänä. Negatiiviseen binomijakaumaan perustuvaa regressiomallia ja vastaavia logistisia malleja hyödynnettiin tilastoanalyyseissä, kun tutkittiin olennaisten sekoittavien tekijöiden suhteen vakioituja yhteyksiä. Sisäkorrelaatio (ICC) ja Bland-Altman -kuvaaja olivat ensisijaiset työkalut validointianalyysissä. Tupakoinnilla havaittiin altistustasosta riippuva yhteys hampaiden menetykseen, joskin yhteys esiintyi lähinnä miehillä, joilla myös tupakoinnin lopettamisesta näytti olevan hyötyä suhteessa oman hampaiston pysyvyyteen. Itseraportoidut hampaiden lukumäärät olivat tässä tutkimuksessa pääsääntöisesti yhtäpitäviä kliiniseen tarkastukseen perustuvien lukujen kanssa. Vähen

BACKGROUND: Hong Kong faces several public health problems including malnutrition and osteoporosis. Considering the typical Chinese diet and overall low physical activity levels of Chinese adults, timely interventions to improve nutritional status and bone health are needed. OBJECTIVES: We examined the effects of a nutrition plus exercise intervention on serum vitamin B-12 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], bone turnover markers, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations in apparently healthy Chinese middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: In this 24-wk randomized controlled trial, 180 Chinese adults (85 women, mean ± SD age: 61 ± 6 y) were randomly assigned to receive a fortified milk supplement (2 × 30 g/d) and an exercise program (2 × 1 h/wk including resistance, balance, and aerobic training) or no intervention. The primary outcome was physical performance. In this article we analyzed the secondary outcomes serum vitamin B-12 and 25(OH)D concentrations, assessed at baseline, 12 wk, and 24 wk. Also, bone turnover markers and PTH concentrations were studied. Linear mixed models evaluated group differences over time. RESULTS: A significant time × group interaction (P < 0.001) was found for serum vitamin B-12 and 25(OH)D concentrations and the bone turnover markers, but not for serum PTH concentrations (P = 0.09). The intervention increased mean ± SD vitamin B-12 concentrations from baseline (345 ± 119 pmol/L) to 24 wk (484 ± 136 pmol/L), whereas concentrations remained stable within the control. For 25(OH)D concentrations, the intervention group had a greater increase from baseline (54.7 ± 14.2 nmol/L) to 24 wk (80.1 ± 19.2 nmol/L) than the control (60.6 ± 15.2 compared with 65.6 ± 14.6 nmol/L). The ratio of the net effect of bone formation and resorption was greater in the intervention group, suggesting less bone remodeling, irrespective of sex. CONCLUSIONS: A fortified milk supplement and exercise intervention successfully improved vitamin B-12 and 25(OH)D conc

Reducing social inequalities in physical activity (PA) has become a priority for public health. However, evidence concerning the impact of interventions on inequalities in PA is scarce. This study aims to develop and test the application of a strategy for re-analyzing equity-specific effects of existing PA intervention studies in middle-aged and older adults, as part of an international interdisciplinary collaboration. This article aims to describe (1) the establishment and characteristics of the collaboration; and (2) the jointly developed equity-specific re-analysis strategy as a first result of the collaboration. To develop the strategy, a collaboration based on a convenience sample of eight published studies of individual-level PA interventions among the general population of adults aged ≥45 years was initiated (UK, n = 3; The Netherlands, n = 3; Belgium, n = 1; Germany, n = 1). Researchers from these studies participated in a workshop and subsequent e-mail correspondence. The developed strategy will be used to investigate social inequalities in intervention adherence, dropout, and efficacy. This will allow for a comprehensive assessment of social inequalities within intervention benefits. The application of the strategy within and beyond the collaboration will help to extend the limited evidence regarding the effects of interventions on social inequalities in PA among middle-aged and older adults. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES: High-intensity exercise is a potential therapeutic tool to postpone or prevent the onset of cognitive decline. However, there is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the longitudinal effects of structured resistance training on cognitive function in healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two ecologically valid, intense 12-week resistance training programs on cognitive function in late middle-aged adults. DESIGN: Single-site parallel randomised controlled trial at the Department of Exercise Science strength and conditioning laboratory. Groups allocated by minimisation randomisation. METHODS: Forty-five healthy adults (age range=41-69 years) were enrolled and randomised into (A) high-load, long rest resistance training (n=14), or (B) moderate-load, short rest resistance training (n=15) twice per week for 12 weeks, or a non-exercising control (n=16). Follow-up within seven days. Data were collected September 2016-December 2017. Cognitive function assessed using the CogState computerised battery. Assessors were blinded to participant group allocation. Secondary outcomes were maximal muscle strength and body composition. RESULTS: Forty-four participants were analysed in 2018. Delayed verbal memory performance was improved (p=0.02) in resistance training groups (g=0.67-0.79) when compared to the control group, with no differences between training groups. Likewise, increases in maximal muscle strength were observed (p CONCLUSIONS: 12 weeks of intense resistance training improves delayed verbal memory irrespective of training design (i.e., high-load vs. moderate-load). TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12616000690459.

Introduction: Prevention of infectious diseases in the elderly is essential to establish healthy aging. Yet, immunological aging impairs successful vaccination of the elderly. Predictive biomarkers for vaccine responsiveness in middle-aged adults may help to identify responders and non-responders before reaching old age. Therefore, we aimed to determine biomarkers associated with low and high responsiveness toward a primary vaccination in middle-aged adults, for which a tetravalent meningococcal vaccine was used as a model. Methods: Middle-aged adults (50-65 years of age, N = 100), receiving a tetravalent meningococcal vaccination, were divided into low and high responders using the functional antibody titers at 28 days postvaccination. A total of 48 parameters, including absolute numbers of immune cells and serum levels of cytokines and biochemical markers, were determined prevaccination in all participants. Heat maps and multivariate redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to reveal immune phenotype characteristics and associations of the low and high responders. Results: Several significant differences in prevaccination immune markers were observed between the low and high vaccine responders. Moreover, RDA analysis revealed a significant association between the prevaccination immune phenotype and vaccine responsiveness. In particular, our analysis pointed at high numbers of CD4 T cells, especially naïve CD4 and regulatory T subsets, to be associated with low vaccine responsiveness. In addition, low responders showed lower prevaccination IL-1Ra levels than high responders. Conclusion: This explorative biomarker study shows associations between the prevaccination immune phenotype and vaccine responsiveness after a primary meningococcal vaccination in middle-aged adults. Consequently, these results provide a basis for predictive biomarker discovery for vaccine responsiveness that will require validation in larger cohort studies.

Background Strategies to prevent or attenuate the age-related decline in physical and physiological function and reduce chronic disease risk factors are of clinical importance. Objective To examine the health benefits of recreational soccer in middle-aged and older adults. Design Systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data sources All available records up until 9 June 2017 in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies All randomised trials with or without a control group (randomised controlled trials or randomised uncontrolled trials) and non-randomised controlled trials that used recreational soccer, which includes small-sided soccer games, as the sole or principal intervention, and reported relevant effects in untrained/sedentary, healthy or unhealthy adults aged 40 years and above were included. Results Five trials described in 13 articles were included, which scored 6–9 out of 12 points on the modified Delphi quality rating scale. The duration was from 12 to 52 weeks, with various frequencies, volumes and game formats performed both outdoors and indoors with men and women. The trials indicate that recreational soccer may result in improvement in cardiovascular function, body composition and functional ability, although no significant changes were observed in postural balance. Conclusion Recreational soccer should be considered an alternative exercise modality for untrained, healthy or unhealthy middle-aged and older adults of both sexes to maintain an active lifestyle and mitigate a wide array of physical and physiological age-related changes.

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) places a large burden on society through health professional services and medication use, and interferences with work, normal and physical activities. Widely used and accepted questionnaires for measuring the impact of musculoskeletal pain (including LBP) exist, but do not cover all these aspects and may be too lengthy for some epidemiologic research and clinical practice settings. We evaluated the use of five single items of LBP impact on professional service, medication, and interferences with work, normal and physical activities; and compared these five items against established validated questionnaires of LBP disability and multi-dimensional screening of pain disability. Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses of two population-based cohorts (with young adults and middle-aged adults). In both cohorts, LBP (Nordic questionnaire) and LBP impact (using the proposed five single items) were assessed. Validated questionnaires for multi-dimensional screening of long-term musculoskeletal pain disability (Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire) for young adults and LBP disability (Oswestry Disability Index) for middle-aged adults were used. Results: In both cohorts, participants who reported LBP with impact on the proposed items displayed higher scores on validated questionnaires compared to those reporting LBP without impact. Number of LBP impacts increased with increasing scores on validated questionnaires and showed high predictive value. The five proposed items of LBP impact are able to distinguish people with different clinically important scores (from established questionnaires), showing their construct validity. Conclusion: The described items provide a relevant and feasible tool to establish LBP impact in epidemiological research and clinical practice.

Objective. To evaluate the differences in the dimensions of psychological well-being in reference to age, gender and their interaction. Method. A sample with 706 participants was obtained and then divided in three age groups (young, middle-aged adults and elderly adults), who responded to the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale A MANOVA was calculated taking into account the group variables of age, gender and their interaction. Later, an ANOVA was done to know among which groups there were differences for each dimension. Results. The analysis showed a decrease, with age, in the dimensions of psychological well-being of positive relationships with others, and personal growth, domain of the environment and loss of autonomy in the elderly adults. In addition, the dimension of self-acceptance differs between the genders with age; women showed a decrease in their personal growth with age, while the domain of the environment increases with the adult age being more stable among women. Conclusion. Based on the above, it is suggested that a work in negative and maladaptive thoughts in women, since men get a better score in dimensions that diminish the appearance of pathologies related to the mood. A work in the social relationships as well as the individuals’aptitudes should be encouraged., Escopo. Avaliar as diferenças nas dimensões do bem-estar psicológico em função dos grupos de idade, sexo e sua interação. Metodologia. Foi obtida uma amostra de 706 participantes, dividida em três grupos de idade (jovens, adultos e idosos), os quais responderam às Escalas de Bem-estar Psicológico de Ryff. Foi calculado um MANOVA levando em conta as variáveis grupo de idade, sexo e sua interação. Depois, foram feitas ANOVAs para conhecer entre quais grupos existem diferenças para cada dimensão. Resultados. A análise mostrou uma diminuição, com a idade, nas dimensões de bem-estar psicológico de relações positivas com outros e crescimento pessoal, domínio do entorno e perdida de autonomia em idosos. Por sua parte, a dimensão de auto-aceitação difere entre sexos com a idade; as mulheres mostraram um descenso em seu crescimento pessoal com a idade, em quanto que o domínio do entorno aumenta com a idade adulta com maior estabilidade em mulheres. Conclusão. Pelo anterior, sugere-se promover o trabalho dos pensamentos negativos e desadaptativos em mulheres, já que os homens obtêm melhores pontuações em dimensões que diminuem a aparição de patologias relacionadas com o estado de ânimo. Também é recomendável fomentar o trabalho em relações sociais assim como nas próprias habilidades dos sujeitos., Objetivo. Evaluar las diferencias en las dimensiones del bienestar psicológico en función de los grupos de edad, sexo y su interacción. Método. Se obtuvo una muestra de 706 participantes, dividida en tres grupos de edad (jóvenes, adultos y adultos mayores), quienes respondieron a las escalas de bienestar psicológico de Ryff. Se calculó un Manova teniendo en cuenta las variables grupo de edad, sexo y su interacción. Posteriormente, se realizaron varios Anova para conocer entre cuáles grupos existían diferencias para cada dimensión. Resultados. El análisis mostró una disminución, con la edad, en las dimensiones de bienestar psicológico de relaciones positivas con otros y crecimiento personal, dominio del entorno y pérdida de autonomía en adultos mayores. Por otro lado, la dimensión de autoaceptación difiere entre sexos con la edad; las mujeres mostraron un descenso en su crecimiento personal con la edad, mientras que el dominio del entorno aumenta con la edad adulta, con mayor estabilidad en mujeres. Conclusión. Por lo anterior, se sugiere promover el trabajo de los pensamientos negativos y desadaptativos en mujeres, ya que los hombres obtienen mejores puntuaciones en dimensiones que disminuyen la aparición de patologías relacionadas con el estado de ánimo. Además, deben fomentarse las relaciones sociales y las propias capacidades de los sujetos.

A healthy diet has been shown to prevent diabetes complications. However, the eating habits of individuals with diabetes who are aware of their glycemic condition have been poorly studied. This study's objective was to assess the dietary behavior overall and according to dietary recommendations in adults diagnosed with diabetes compared with those of a general population of the same age (45 to 74 years) in a nationally representative survey carried out in France in 2006-2007 (Etude Nationale Nutrition Santé) (n=1,476 including 101 patients with diabetes). Trained dietitians assessed diet using three 24-hour recalls and diabetes was self-declared. After weighting and using multiple adjustments, mean food and nutrient intakes were compared according to diabetes status. Interactions with age and sex were sought. Adults with diabetes had lower intakes of sweetened foods (40 g/day vs 125 g/day), alcohol (1.45 g/day vs 1.64 g/day), energy (1,790 kcal/day vs 1,986 kcal/day), and simple sugar (63.1 g/day vs 89.8 g/day) and higher intakes of meat (126 g/day vs 109 g/day), complex carbohydrates (26.3% energy intake vs 23.6% energy intake), and vitamins B and E (628 μg/day vs 541 μg/day). In addition, 45- to 59-year-old individuals with diabetes ate more fruits and vegetables, fiber, beta carotene, folate, vitamin C, and potassium than adults of the same age who did not have diabetes. Overall, 45- to 74-year-old adults with diabetes had a higher-quality diet than individuals without diabetes. However, compared with recommendations, a healthy diet continues to represent a public health challenge in terms of preventing diabetes complications., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Bakgrund: Sömnens påverkan på viktkontroll har större betydelse än vad forskarna tidigare trott. God sömn innebär återhämtning av livsnödvändiga funktioner och är en grund för god hälsa. Studier visar att människor sover mindre idag jämfört med tidigare. Sömnens påverkan på viktkontrollen behöver lyftas fram i sjuksköterskans hälsopreventiva arbete för att främja hälsa. Syfte: Att belysa sömnens relevans för viktkontroll hos medelålders vuxna. Metod: En allmän litteraturstudie gjordes där elva kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar ligger till grund för resultatet. Resultat: Kort sömnlängd ger ökad sannolikhet för fetma vilket kan ge rubbad hormonbalans med förändrad aptitreglering och viktökning som följd. Osammanhängande sömn är förenat med högre body mass index och ökad risk för fetma. Mest gynnsam sömnlängd för optimal viktkontroll är sju till åtta timmar. Slutsats: Fler studier behövs för att förstå sambandet mellan sömn och viktkontroll. Kvalitativa studier där patienternas upplevelser belyses är önskvärda. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i att försöka skapa ett bra möte och samtal om sömnens betydelse för viktkontroll. Ett förtroendefullt samtal där öppenhet och lyhördhet är grundpelare. Under samtalet kan sjuksköterskan inta en stödjande och rådgivande roll där ett gemensamt beslut kan resultera i en förståelse för sambandet mellan sömn och viktkontroll., Background: The effects of sleep on weight control is more important than researchers previously believed. Good sleep means recovery of essential life functions and is a foundation for good health. Studies show that less time is spent sleeping today than before. Therefore the importance of sleep needs to be raised in the health preventive work of the nurse to promote health. Aim: To illuminate the relevance of sleep in weight control in middle-aged adults. Method: A literature review was done where eleven quantitative scholarly articles form the foundation for the result. Result: Short sleep duration will lead to an increased likelihood of obesity which can lead to disorder in the hormone balance with changed appetite regulation and an increase in body weight as a result. Fragmented sleep is related to increased body mass index and a higher risk of obesity. The most favourable sleep duration for optimal weight control is seven to eight hours. Conclusion: More studies are needed to understand the relationship between sleep and weight control. Qualitative studies where the patients ́ own experiences are illuminated. The nurse has an important role to create a good meeting and a dialogue where openness and sensitivity are essential pillars. The nurse can take a supportive and advisory role, where a common decision can result in an understanding in the association between sleep and weight control.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproducibility and utility of a standardised and externally paced field test (15-m Incremental Shuttle Walk and Run Test [15 mISWRT]) to assess aerobic fitness in middle-aged adults. 14 middle-aged participants performed the 15-m ISWRT 3 times within one week (Test 1, Test 2, Test 3). Reproducibility of the 15-m ISWRT was tested by comparing 15-m ISWRT performance (distance completed), HRmax, and V˙O2max for each test. The utility of the 15-m ISWRT for evaluating V˙O2max over a wide range in middle-aged adults was tested by comparing the range of V˙O2max obtained from the portable expired gas analyzer with the V˙O2max reference values and ranges for health promotion published by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. A multiple comparison of distance completed in the 15-m ISWRT Test 1, Test 2, and Test 3 found no significant difference between Test 2 and Test 3. The ICC was 0.99 for Test 2 vs. Test 3. V˙O2max measured from the 15-m ISWRT in Test 3 had a minimum value of 22.8 ml/kg/min and a maximum value of 38.7 ml/kg/min. In conclusion, the 15-m ISWRT is reliable and useful for evaluating V˙O2max in middle-aged adults., International Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(05), pp.346-350; 2012

Nederland vergrijst, maar vergrijst de cumelasector ook? En hoe gaan bedrijven en werknemers daarmee om, zeker als ze straks langer moeten doorwerken? Vandaar deze serie: De vergrijzing. In deze achtste aflevering Kees Poldervaart (64) aan het woord, uitvoerder bij Dick Klok Cultuurtechniek in Heenvliet. Door zijn kennis en ervaring heeft hij een meerwaarde voor het bedrijf.

Nederland vergrijst, maar vergrijst de cumelasector ook? En hoe gaan bedrijven en werknemers daarmee om, zeker als ze straks langer moeten doorwerken: Daarom deze serie: De vergrijzing. In deze negende aflevering het antwoord op de vraag: hoe slaag je erin als werkgever je personeel zo lang mogelijk op het bedrijf te houden en wat betekent langer doorwerken tot 67 jaar voor de werkgever? Vier cumelabedrijven geven hun eigen kijk hierop.

Nederland vergrijst, maar vergrijst de cumealasector ook? En hoe gaan bedrijven en werknemers daarmee om, zeker als ze straks langer moeten doorwerken? Vandaar deze serie: De vergrijzing. In deze tiende aflevering een portret van Martien Vriends, medewerker bij de Coremans Groep uit Breda. Op latere leeftijd heeft hij zich het werken met GPS nog eigen weten te maken, waardoor hij als modern graafmachinist zijn loopbaan kan voltooien.

Nederland vergrijst, maar vergrijst de cumelasector ook? En hoe gaan bedrijven en werknemers daarmee om, zeker als ze straks langer moeten doorwerken? Vandaar deze serie: De vergrijzing. In deze elfde aflevering een beeld van de zzp'er. Hoe spaart hij voor zijn pensioen in deze economisch mindere tijden?

In de laatste aflevering van de serie De Vergrijzing een portret van Loonbedrijf Huinink uit Groenlo, een traditioneel agrarisch loonbedrijf dat er nog vol voor gaat, ook al ligt er geen opvolging in het verschiet. Voor dit bedrijf zijn zzp'ers een uitkomst. Daarbij een portret van twee zzp'ers die het nog wel zien zitten.

Dierenwelzijn speelt tegenwoordig een steeds grotere rol in de maatschappij zowel bij huisdieren als landbouwhuisdieren. Om burgers hierbij meer te betrekken en over dierenwelzijn te informeren heeft de Dierenbescherming Limburg besloten om een Dierenwelzijnscentrum (DWC) op te richten in Limbricht. Dit centrum wordt een multifunctionele locatie waar het welzijn van mens en dier voorop staat. Een gedeelte van dit centrum is bedoeld voor de educatie van bezoekers. In dit educatieplan wordt een advies gegeven hoe de educatie voor de doelgroep 'vrouwen van 45 tot 60 jaar' het beste kan gebeuren.

There is a growing recognition of the usefulness of Blenkner's (1965) concept of filial maturity for theory and practice in the domain of adult development. This concept refers to a dynamic state of continuous successful coping with the normative task of parent care in middle-aged adult children. The objectives of the present study were (a) to begin construction of psychometrically sound filial maturity measures; (b) to test a comprehensive model of filial maturity; and (c) to explore gender differences and the role of adult child, elderly parent, and context variables as predictors of filial maturity. Subjects were 298 middle-aged adults. The Louvain Filial Maturity Scale (LFMS-A) contains seven a priori scales probing for Filial Love, Filial Obligation, Filial Helpfulness, Filial Help, Filial Autonomy, Parental Consideration, and Family Solidarity and Help. A LISREL analysis yielded a model in which Filial Love and Filial Autonomy occupied central positions and a considerable percentage of the variance in Filial Helpfulness and Help was explained by the other filial maturity dimensions. Gender differences emerged on the Filial Obligation, Filial Help, and Filial Autonomy subscales, with women scoring higher on the first two scales and men scoring higher on the last. A set of adult child, aged parent, and context variables explained a noticeable percentage of the variance in the scores on the subscales in both men and women.

Luo, H., Newton, R. U., Ma'Ayah, F., Galvão, D. A., & Taaffe, D. R. (2018). Recreational soccer as sport medicine for middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 4(1). Available here

Marston, K. J., Peiffer, J. J., Rainey-Smith, S. R., Gordon, N., Teo, S. Y., Laws, S. M., ... Brown, B. M. (2019). Resistance training enhances delayed memory in healthy middle-aged and older adults: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22, 1226-1231. Available here