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BackgroundThe effects of aging on circadian patterns of behavior are insufficiently described. To address this, we characterized age-specific features of rest-activity rhythms (RAR) in community dwelling older adults both overall, and in relation, to sociodemographic characteristics.MethodsWe examined cross-sectional associations between RAR and age, sex, race, education, multimorbidity burden, financial, work, martial, health, and smoking status using assessments of older adults with wrist-worn free-living actigraphy data (N=820, Age=76.4 yrs, 58.2% women) participating in the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA). RAR parameters were determined by mapping an extension to the traditional cosine curve to activity data. Functional principal component analysis determined variables accounting for variance.ResultsAge was associated with several metrics of dampened RAR; women had stronger and more robust RAR vs. men (all P < 0.05). Total activity (56%) and time of activity (20%) accounted for most the RAR variance. Compared to the latest decile of acrophase, those in the earliest decile had higher average amplitude (P

Successful cognitive aging is often thought to result from resistance to the accumulation of pathology, resilience to the effects of pathological accumulation, or some combination of the two. While evidence for resilience has been found in typical aging populations, the oldest-old provide us with a unique window into the role of pathological accumulation in impacting cognition. Here, we aimed to assess group differences in measures of amyloid and tau across older age groups using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI age: 60-89) and The 90+ Study (age: 90-101). Additionally, using the ADNI dataset, we performed exploratory analyses of regional cingulate AV-45 SUVRs to assess if amyloid load in particular areas was associated with Top Cognitive Performance (TCP). Consistent with the literature, results showed no group differences in amyloid SUVRs both regionally and in the whole cortex. For tau with AV-1451, we also observed no differences in Braak composite SUVRs. Interestingly, these relationships persisted in the oldest-old. This indicates that Top Cognitive Performance throughout aging does not reflect resistance to amyloid and tau burden, but that other mechanisms may be associated with protection against amyloid and tau related neurodegeneration.

IntroductionThere is no consensus on either the definition of successful cognitive aging (SA) or the underlying neural mechanisms.MethodsWe examined the agreement between new and existing definitions using: (1) a novel measure, the cognitive age gap (SA-CAG, cognitive-predicted age minus chronological age), (2) composite scores for episodic memory (SA-EM), (3) non-memory cognition (SA-NM), and (4) the California Verbal Learning Test (SA-CVLT).ResultsFair to moderate strength of agreement was found between the four definitions. Most SA groups showed greater cortical thickness compared to typical aging (TA), especially in the anterior cingulate and midcingulate cortices and medial temporal lobes. Greater hippocampal volume was found in all SA groups except SA-NM. Lower entorhinal 18 F-Flortaucipir (FTP) uptake was found in all SA groups.DiscussionThese findings suggest that a feature of SA, regardless of its exact definition, is resistance to tau pathology and preserved cortical integrity, especially in the anterior cingulate and midcingulate cortices.HighlightsDifferent approaches have been used to define successful cognitive aging (SA). Regardless of definition, different SA groups have similar brain features. SA individuals have greater anterior cingulate thickness and hippocampal volume. Lower entorhinal tau deposition, but not amyloid beta is related to SA. A combination of cortical integrity and resistance to tau may be features of SA.

Objectives An individual's past, and reflections on it, may influence current and future well-being. Recent qualitative studies suggest retirees' recollections about their careers relate to well-being in retirement. We investigated associations between life course events and subjective career evaluations, gender differences in these associations, and their subsequent association with retirement adjustment. Methods We used data from 3 waves (2015, 2018, and 2023) of the NIDI Pension Panel Study (NPPS), a longitudinal survey of Dutch older workers. Using a sample of 6,109 respondents, we used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to investigate associations between employment stability facilitators and inhibitors (e.g. promotion, demotion, unemployment) and personal shocks (e.g. divorce, widowhood) and subjective evaluations of satisfaction with the work and family domains of career between genders. Using a follow-up sample (N  = 4,106), we employed ordinal logistic regression models to investigate the impact of these baseline subjective evaluations on retirement adjustment at follow-up. Results Employment stability factors such as demotion and unemployment, and personal shocks such as poor psychological health were associated with subjective evaluations of the work and family career domains. Gender differences in these associations were found. Evaluations in both the work and family domains were associated with retirement adjustment at follow-up. Discussion Our results demonstrate the importance of life course events on older workers' evaluations of their careers and the long-term impact of subjective career evaluations. Further research is needed to evaluate the predictive utility of these evaluations for other outcomes in older adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current exploratory study investigates self-reported perceptions of successful ageing, and preferences for information access and support, amongst sexually and gender diverse people living with HIV in Australia. Cross-sectional data, derived from a larger survey, were extracted for 12 participants who self-reported as living with HIV and completed questions pertaining to successful ageing and information/support preferences. Qualitative responses regarding successful ageing were explored through thematic analysis while descriptive statistics were used to analyse information/support preferences. Themes of (1) social factors, agency, and autonomy; (2) physical and mental wellbeing; and (3) considerations of care needs and information were generated from qualitative data about successful ageing. General practitioners (83.3%) and HIV support services (75.0%) were the most preferred sources of information about ageing and care supports. Findings from this exploratory study identify opportunities for policy improvements, provision of funding, and coordinated community support to enable sexually and gender diverse people living with HIV to experience successful ageing in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative divergent thinking involves the generation of unique ideas by pulling from semantic memory stores and exercising cognitive flexibility to shape these memories into something new. Although cognitive abilities decline with age, semantic memory tends to remain intact. This study aims to utilize that memory to investigate the effectiveness of a brief cognitive training to improve creative divergent thinking. Older adults were trained using a semantic retrieval strategy to improve creativity in the Alternate Uses Task (AUT) and the Divergent Association Task (DAT). Participants were tested on the AUT and DAT across three time points: before the strategy was introduced (T0 and T1) and afterward (T2). Results showed that the strategy enhances idea novelty in the AUT; additionally, participants that initially scored lowest on the AUT showed the greatest increase in AUT performance. This finding suggests that older adults can use a semantic retrieval strategy to enhance creative divergent thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging results in changes in resting state functional connectivity within key networks associated with cognition. Cardiovascular function, physical activity, sleep, and body composition may influence these age-related changes in the brain. Better understanding these associations may help clarify mechanisms related to brain aging and guide interventional strategies to reduce these changes. Methods: In a large (n = 398) sample of healthy community dwelling older adults that were part of a larger interventional trial, we conducted cross sectional analyses of baseline data to examine the relationships between several modifiable behaviors and resting state functional connectivity within networks associated with cognition and emotional regulation. Additionally, maximal aerobic capacity, physical activity, quality of sleep, and body composition were assessed. Associations were explored both through correlation and best vs. worst group comparisons. Results: Greater cardiovascular fitness, but not larger quantity of daily physical activity, was associated with greater functional connectivity within the Default Mode (p = 0.008 r = 0.142) and Salience Networks (p = 0.005, r = 0.152). Better sleep (greater efficiency and fewer nighttime awakenings) was also associated with greater functional connectivity within multiple networks including the Default Mode, Executive Control, and Salience Networks. When the population was split into quartiles, the highest body fat group displayed higher functional connectivity in the Dorsal Attentional Network compared to the lowest body fat percentage (p = 0.011; 95% CI − 0.0172 to − 0.0023). Conclusion: These findings confirm and expand on previous work indicating that, in older adults, higher levels of cardiovascular fitness and better sleep quality, but not greater quantity of physical activity, total sleep time, or lower body fat percentage are associated with increased functional connectivity within key resting state networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the film "Mary Poppins" and its portrayal of personal growth, intergenerational connections, and community bonds. It critiques societal norms and emphasizes the importance of empathy, creativity, and mutual support. The film highlights the benefits of intergenerational interactions in combating social isolation and promoting well-being. The article suggests that the film's messages are still relevant today as societies address issues such as aging and the need for greater intergenerational understanding and support. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Progranulin (PGRN) is a holoprotein that is internalized and taken to the lysosome where it is processed to individual granulins (GRNs). PGRN is critical for successful aging, and insufficient levels of PGRN are associated with increased risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases like AD, PD, and FTD. A unifying feature among these diseases is dysregulation of peripheral immune cell populations. However, considerable gaps exist in our understanding of the function(s) of PGRN/GRNs in immune cells and their role in regulating centralperipheral neuroimmune crosstalk. One of the most upregulated genes and proteins in humans with GRN haploinsufficiency and in aged Grn knock-out (KO) mice is glycoprotein non-metastatic B (GPNMB) but its normal role within the context of immune crosstalk has not been elucidated. Methods: To address this gap, peritoneal macrophages (pMacs) from 5-to-6-month old WT and Grn KO mice were assessed for Gpnmb expression and stimulation-dependent cytokine release in the presence or absence of the Gpnmb extracellular domain (ECD). Cellular localization, as well as inhibition of, the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was assessed to determine its mechanistic role in Gpnmb overexpression in Grn KO pMacs. Results: We observed an increase in GPNMB protein and mRNA as a result of insufficient progranulin in peripheral immune cells at a very early age relative to previous reports on the brain. Stimulation-dependent cytokine release was decreased in the media of Grn KO pMacs relative to WT controls; a phenotype that could be mimicked in WT pMacs with the addition og GPNMB ECD. We also found that MITF is dysregulated in Grn KO pMacs; however, its nuclear translocation and activity are not required to rescue the immune dysregulation of Grn KO macrophages, suggesting redundancy in the system. Discussion: These findings highlight the fact that knowledge of early-stage disease mechanism(s) in peripheral populations may inform treatment strategies to delay disease progression at an early, prodromal timepoint prior to development of neuroinflammation and CNS pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Conclusion It was aimed to explore the relationship between successful aging and self‐neglect and factors affecting successful aging among community‐dwelling older people.This cross‐sectional study was conducted with 316 participants aged 60 years and older in a Family Health Center (FHC). The data were collected by using the questionnaire form, Successful Aging Scale and Self‐Neglect Scale. The questionnaire form includes sociodemographic characteristics, independence (Katz Daily Life Activities Scale) and well‐being status (WHO‐5 Well‐Being Index), psychosocial support (Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale), and depressive symptoms (two questions‐complaints such as feeling depressed or hopeless and loss of interest and inability to enjoy life).Participants had a mean age of 67.5 (SD: 6.5) years, 55.4% were female. A strong positive correlation was determined between successful aging score and self–neglect score (r = 0.741, p < 0.001). Factors affecting successful aging were age, working status, education level, body mass index, physical activity, subjective health perception, health screening status, self‐neglect level, depressive symptoms, independence in activities, well‐being status, and psychosocial support. Gender, income status, chronic disease presence, cigarette and alcohol use, living alone, and family type did not affect it. According to multivariate linear regression, the factors affecting successful aging were age, psychosocial support presence, and self‐neglect level (p < 0.05).Older people have low successful aging and self‐neglect scores. Successful aging is better at a young age, in the presence of psychosocial support and a low level of self‐neglect. It is recommended to increase the existence of psychosocial support for them and to plan interventions to reduce self‐neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined Sa'di's works through a descriptive-analytical lens, drawing upon contemporary expert perspectives on successful aging. Sa'di, employing a moral approach grounded in religious teachings and personal experiences, endeavored to portray successful elderly individuals. With concision and eloquence, he proposed methods to mitigate the losses associated with aging, enabling older adults to live their remaining years with greater serenity and assume new roles befitting their circumstances in society. The research findings revealed that, according to Sa'di, the key attributes of successful elderly individuals included: 1. Accepting the realities of aging 2. Living wisely and approaching challenges prudently 3. Maintaining a purposeful existence 4. Seeking meaning and transcendence 5. Cultivating a realistic awareness of mortality 6. Preserving hope 7. Engaging in social roles 8. Practicing kindness 9. Cultivating a positive reputation 10. Prioritizing physical and mental well-being This analysis bridged classical Persian literature with contemporary gerontological concepts, offering valuable insights into the timeless nature of successful aging strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted descriptively and cross-sectional to determine the successful aging and social support perceptions of chronically ill elderly people and the relationship between these two factors. The study sample consists of 258 elderly individuals with a diagnosis of chronic disease. Introductory Information Form, Successful Aging Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to collect data. It was found that the perceptions of successful aging of elderly individuals with chronic diseases were high and their perceptions of social support were moderate. A positive significant (p<0.05) relationship was found between successful aging and social support scores. It was found that the perceptions of successful aging and social support were significantly (p<0.05) and higher in the elderly who lived with their spouses, evaluated their health as moderate, met their relatives frequently, and were eager for social activities. The results show that older people's perceptions of successful aging are affected by social support. For this reason, healthcare professionals should support and develop social support factors for the elderly with chronic diseases to perceive themselves as aging successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the determinants of resilience phenotype in aging, operationalized as the maintenance of cognitive, physical, and psychological health in very old individuals (80+), we investigated the structure and interrelated impact of the main resilience-enhancing factors, which are usually studied in separate research fields. Methods Participants were older adults without dementia recruited for the fifth wave of the InveCe.Ab population-based cohort study (aged 83–87 years). Multidimensional evaluation comprised blood sampling, social and lifestyle survey, and geriatric and neuropsychological assessment. We classified resilient individuals as displaying normal cognition, functional independence, and mental health. First, we performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the underlying structure of the relevant cognitive, lifestyle, physical, and psychological resilience-enhancing factors. The factors obtained were included as predictors of the resilience phenotype in the logistic regression model, controlling for sociodemographic and cumulative exposure to physical and psychosocial stressors, including COVID-19 infection. Results Among the 404 enrolled participants, 153 (38%) exhibited the resilience phenotype. EFA resulted in the identification of six factors (59% of variance): cognitive reserve, affective reserve, insecure attachment, current lifestyle, physical reserve, and avoidant attachment. Among these factors, cognitive reserve, affective reserve, and current lifestyle significantly and independently predicted resilience status, controlling for cumulative exposure to age-related stressors and COVID-19 infection. Discussion Our findings showed that, even in very old age, both early and late life modifiable factors affect individuals' ability to adapt to the aging process, thus confirming the importance of a life-course approach to improve health outcomes in the aged population. Clinical Trials Registration Number NCT01345110 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Successful aging is a mainstay of the gerontological literature, but it is not without criticism, including the often-limited way that it is studied and measured as well as the exclusion of older adults' voices in its formulation and understanding. This study sought to address these issues through a qualitative investigation across multiple countries. Research Design and Methods This was a mixed-methods, cross-sectional, exploratory study using an online survey. Nations that received the survey included Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the Unites States. Participants aged 65 and older were asked to describe what successful aging means to them in an open-ended survey item. Summative content analysis was utilized to examine the responses. Results Successful aging was defined by 1,994 participants, and 6 themes along with 20 subthemes were found. In contrast to conception that successful aging is solely or predominantly related to the absence of disease and decline, the most prominent theme in this study was "active, independent, and engaged" as the hallmark of success. Discussion and Implications Although health and health maintenance were present in other themes, these findings support a multidimensional definition of successful aging that promotes the perspectives of older people. Future research should seek to further investigate the ways in which person-in-environment factors influence definitions of successful aging, including culture, gender and gender identity, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature suggests that on average, social participation declines after retirement. However, there likely remains substantial variability in individual experiences. We rely on seven waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging to identify contrasting social participation trajectories of individuals 45 years and older after leaving work, and their individual-level correlates. Informal and formal social participation were measured through self-reported frequencies of meeting a friend and attending a group respectively. Group-based trajectory modeling delineated heterogeneous changes over time and multinomial logit regressions estimated individual-level correlates of the trajectories. While a minority of respondents experienced trajectories of decreasing social participation (6%–12%), a majority exhibited stable trajectories (79%–81%), and some even experienced increasing participation (7%–8%). There was also a U-shaped trajectory of decline and recovery in formal social participation (7%). Our findings challenge the belief that disengagement is the norm and illustrate the heterogeneous experiences of social participation after retirement. Returning to work, vs. stopping work for an extended period, was associated with favorable trajectories, pointing to the strong connection between work and social participation, and the potential for interventions that promote bridge employment and lifelong learning. Interestingly, the high stable trajectory of informal participation was associated with certain factors that may be considered vulnerabilities, such as being older, female, single, living in non-metropolitan regions, and retiring from irregular work. This highlights the possibility that despite facing challenges, older adults can aspire towards high social participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing a significant demographic transition, with a substantial increase in the proportion of older persons, as well as long-lived persons (especially nonagenarians and centenarians). One of the popular beliefs is that old age is synonymous with disease and disability. However, the successful aging hypothesis suggests that those older persons with advanced chronological age who maintain their functional capacity derive from it a delay in biological aging, enhancing the quality of organic aging and regulation. Therefore, regardless of chronological age, even in cases of extreme longevity, those older adults with a successful aging phenotype and favorable functional capacity would be expected to have satisfactory post-surgical recovery with a low risk of morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is a significant gap between the availability of high-certainty surgical evidence that allows for evidence-based interventions applicable to the long-lived population—taking into account the actual conditioning factors of the health phenotype in older persons—and, above all, predictors of satisfactory post-surgical evolution. The application of meta-research to geriatric surgery emerges as a fundamental tool to address this knowledge gap and reveals opportunities and limitations that need to be resolved in the near future to establish evidence-based surgical care for older persons. The aim of this manuscript was to present a real and globally relevant scenario related to surgical care, addressing the longevity, the availability, and the quality of surgical evidence applicable to this population, and also to present variables to consider in analysis and future perspectives in research and meta-research in geriatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Developing realistic expectations of future old age constitutes an adaptational process which facilitates the anticipation of and adjustment to challenges, such as relocation to a nursing home. Developing such expectations might minimize the negative impacts of relocation. This pre-registered study examined (1) to which extent lower levels and declines in health (i.e., functional limitations and self-rated health) and life satisfaction before relocation were associated with higher levels and increases in expectations to relocate and (2) to which extent higher expectations to relocate were associated with more positive changes in health and life satisfaction after relocation. Methods: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2006–2018), we selected older adults (aged 65 years and older) who relocated to a nursing home. We used latent growth curve models to assess the longitudinal links between self-reported measures of health, life satisfaction, and expectations to relocate to a nursing home from up to 7 years before (n = 1,048) until up to 5 years after relocation (n = 307). Results: As hypothesized, more functional limitations and lower self-rated health were related to higher expectations of relocation. Surprisingly, changes in expectations to relocate were not related to changes in health and life satisfaction before relocation. Moreover, expectations to relocate were not associated with changes in health and life satisfaction after relocation. Conclusion: The absence of a link between expectations to relocate to a nursing home with changes in health and well-being suggests that these expectations did not constitute adaptational processes before or after this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMethodResultsConclusionAimed to test an association model for Successful Aging (SA), with mindfulness and self-compassion factors as predictor variables, and components of subjective well-being (SWB) as mediating variables in older adults.This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted using the Google Forms platform and printed questionnaires, applied in an interview format with older adult participants from the Brazilian states of Bahia and Sergipe. A total of 233 older adults participated, residing in the states of Bahia (34.8%) and Sergipe (65.2%), with a mean age of 69.2 years (SD = 7.33).The multiple linear regression (MLR) results indicated that SA was associated with mindfulness, the positive factor of self-compassion, and positive affect (PA). Subsequently, structural equation modeling (SEM) suggested that both mindfulness and self-compassion, which positively correlated with each other, were significantly and positively associated with PA, while PA was positively and significantly associated with SA.Mindfulness and the positive facet of self-compassion, mediated by PA, were indirectly associated with SA, while PA was significantly and more strongly associated with SA. Finally, mindfulness and the positive facet of self-compassion were positively correlated with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We estimated the short-term effects of an educational workshop and 10-week outdoor walk group (OWG) compared to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) on increasing outdoor walking (primary outcome) and walking capacity, health-promoting behavior, and successful aging defined by engagement in meaningful activities and well-being (secondary outcomes) in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. Methods: In a 4-site, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, two cohorts of community-living older adults (≥ 65 years) reporting difficulty walking outdoors participated. Following a 1-day workshop, participants were stratified and randomized to a 10-week OWG in parks or 10 telephone WR reinforcing workshop content. Masked evaluations occurred at 0, 3, and 5.5 months. We modeled minutes walked outdoors (derived from accelerometry and global positioning system data) using zero-inflated negative binomial regression with log link function, imputing for missing observations. We modeled non-imputed composite measures of walking capacity, health-promoting behavior, and successful aging using generalized linear models with general estimating equations based on a normal distribution and an unstructured correlation matrix. Analyses were adjusted for site, participation on own or with a partner, and cohort. Results: We randomized 190 people to the OWG (n = 98) and WR interventions (n = 92). At 0, 3, and 5.5 months, median outdoor walking minutes was 22.56, 13.04, and 0 in the OWG, and 24.00, 26.07, and 0 in the WR group, respectively. There was no difference between groups in change from baseline in minutes walked outdoors based on incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) at 3 months (IRR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.47, 1.14) and 5.5 months (IRR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.44, 1.34). Greater 0 to 3-month change in walking capacity was observed in the OWG compared to the WR group (βz-scored difference = 0.14, 95% CI 0.02, 0.26) driven by significant improvement in walking self-efficacy; other comparisons were not significant. Conclusions: A group, park-based OWG was not superior to WR in increasing outdoor walking activity, health-promoting behavior or successful aging in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors; however, the OWG was superior to telephone WR in improving walking capacity through an increase in walking self-efficacy. Community implementation of the OWG is discussed. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03292510 Date of registration: September 25, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores LGBT retirees as agents of change who are renegotiating the terms of healthy aging in place and expanding our understanding of lifestyle and retirement migration. For the first time in history, a generation of self-identified lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals have entered retirement. However, their subjective experiences have largely been glossed over in popular discourses of successful aging and migration in heteronormative society. This article explores why and how older LGBT people are choosing housing options to age "out of place" in order to support their sexual lives and identities. Examining the everyday experiences of these seniors—members of a double minority, both aged and LGBT—allows us to disrupt the idea of what healthy "aging in place" means and when it might actually be unhealthy. Employing standpoint theory pushes the analysis of marginalized voices to the fore and allows us to ask about these seniors' subjective realities. What results is a reimagining of the aging landscape. Interview data from LGBT seniors who have migrated to LGBT naturally occurring retirement communities or LGBT-focused housing complexes in France, Sweden, and Germany are used to stretch our notions of wellbeing and aging in place for these diverse retirees. One finding is that for these LGBT seniors, disrupting social norms by aging out of place is not escapist or amenity-seeking, but is key to honoring their sexuality and aging process in a safe and supportive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indicators of innate immunity and the composition of the microbiome in the nasopharyngeal mucosa in centenarians with different aging phenotypes were analyzed. A significant increase in the expression of pattern-recognizing receptor genes (TLR2, TLR4, and NLRP3) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL1B, IL18) was shown in the group of centenarians with pathological aging phenotype. In centenarians with successful aging phenotype, increased diversity of the microbiome composition was observed. At the same time, a moderate inverse correlation was found between an increase in the growth of the commensal bacterium Streptococcus salivarius and a decrease in the expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes IL1B and IL18. These findings can serve as biomarkers for the timely identification of the phenotype of aging in senile and elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is an exceptionally complex process that depends on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Previous studies within the International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop (IHIWS) component "Immunogenetics of Ageing" showed that longevity is associated with positive selection of HLA-DRB1*11- and DRB1*16-associated haplotypes, shown to be protective against diseases. Within the 18th IHIWS, we aimed to investigate the relevance of telomere length for successful aging and its association with classical HLAs. In total 957 individuals from Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, and Poland in two age groups, elderly individuals (age 65–99 years) and ethnically matched young group (age 18–64 years), were investigated. The obtained results confirmed interpopulation differences in the distribution of HLA alleles, documented the lengths of telomeres in analyzed populations, and demonstrated significant associations of telomere length with aging as well as with the presence of some HLA class I or class II alleles. They suggest that telomere length assessment combined with HLA genotyping may help identify immunogenetic profiles associated with longevity. The associations between HLA and telomeres support the theory that HLA genes influence the aging process. However, further research is needed to clarify the biological basis of the observed relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Existing literature highlights notable health and social inequalities for people aging with a lifelong disability and the need for research to better understand how we can support this group to age well. This scoping review mapped existing literature related to "aging well" in people with lifelong disabilities. Research Design and Methods Five scientific databases and gray literature sources were searched for studies related to "aging well" and "lifelong disability" (defined as a disability that a person had lived with since birth or early childhood). Results We identified 81 studies that discussed aging well with a lifelong disability, with most (70%) focusing on intellectual disabilities. Two themes captured existing research on aging well with a lifelong disability: (1) framing aging well with a lifelong disability, which included the ways that people with lifelong disability, their supporters, and existing research frame aging well for this group and (2) supporting people to age well with a lifelong disability, which involves the micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors where research suggests interventions to facilitate aging well could be situated. Discussion and Implications This synthesis highlights how aging well is currently framed in the literature and where interventions to improve aging well in this group could be situated. Literature highlights the importance of considering multilevel interventions to improve aging well. Evidence gaps include the lack of research conducted with groups other than those with intellectual disabilities and the need for more research examining aging well interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, scholars have highlighted the detrimental consequences of technology-based ageism. Digital technology (DT) is commonly discoursed as an opportunity to promote Successful Aging. Nevertheless, the theoretical implications of ageism, DT, and Successful Aging are underexplored. This paper presents a new theoretical model of Digital Engagement and Ageism (D-EngAge), which elaborates on the potential impacts of ageism on digital engagement and participation in later life and explains how ageism may pose a threat to realizing the potential of DT to promote Successful Aging. The D-EngAge model was developed based on a synthesis of findings from 12 recent studies we conducted on the intersection of ageism and DT. Findings were synthesized through Iversen's clasification of four dimensions of ageism, demonstrating how ageism as a multifaceted construct has a reciprocal relationship with digital engagement on the micro- (individual), meso- (social interaction), and macro-levels (discourses and societal practices). Consequently, digital engagement on these levels may exacerbate or reduce technology-based ageism. This forum paper identifies ageism as a barrier to utilizing DT, critically discusses power imbalances, and deconstructs Successful Aging discourses regarding digital engagement. Theoretical implications and recommendations for future interventions and policy measures to mitigate ageism and promote digital engagement and participation in later life are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the impact of yoga on successful aging based on the selection, optimization, and compensation model in elderly women. Design: Quasi‐experimental study. Sample: Seniors' meeting points and parks and clubs for the old age pensioners of the ministry of education, ministry of healthcare, and the oil corporation in Shiraz, Iran. 68 elderly women within the age range of 60–86 years were divided into a yoga and a control group. Measurements: The subjects in both groups were asked to complete the selection, optimization, and compensation model questionnaire before and after the intervention. Successful aging was measured using the selection, optimization, and compensation questionnaire. Intervention: The yoga training program was implemented in 1‐h sessions twice a week for eight weeks. Results: After eight weeks of yoga training, the results showed a significant difference between the pretest and posttest successful aging total scores of the yoga group (P =.005). However, the difference between the yoga and control groups' posttest mean total scores was not significant (P =.601). Conclusion: Based on the results, it seems that yoga training can improve successful aging. Thus, yoga is recommended as an inexpensive and entertaining method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The prevalence of SA was 71.1% in Korean adults aged 70 and older, and those with SA significantly decreased by 7.8% over 4 years. • Older adults who preserved SA (54%) maintained the fulfillment of the criteria for SA, and the proportion of successfully maintaining indicators such as chronic diseases, employment, and volunteer activities was relatively low. • There was a significant increase in older adults with declined physical function or experiencing depressive symptoms between 2016 and 2020. • SA of older adults in response to unexpected social transition requires strengthening the physical and psychological functions of older adults and improvement of social engagement. This study aims to determine the prevalence of successful aging (SA) and examine the association of changes in the indicators of SA and variations in SA status between 2016 and 2020. The study included 548 participants recruited for the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). Compared to participants who achieved SA in 2016 (N = 393, 71.7%), the number of older adults with SA decreased by 7.8% in 2020. Among older adults preserving SA (SA→SA group, 54%), there were relatively small numbers of older adults who successfully maintained indicators, including chronic diseases (no→no, 9.5%), employment (yes→yes, 12.2%), and volunteer activities (yes→yes, 2.9%). Our findings suggest that interventions to strengthen the physical and psychological function of older adults are needed, and social support needs to be guaranteed to improve social engagement for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increased interest in the topic, the global rise in life expectancy has not been associated with better aging. This is influenced by the quality of life at the different stages of the life cycle in older adults. Less attention is paid to aging in urban indigenous older adults who, as in other Latin American contexts, have built their identity facing historically diverse cultural, social and political difficulties associated with an old age with greater vulnerability. Using a quantitative, crosssectional and correlational methodology, this study sought to evaluate direct relationships between identity affirmation, autonomy and successful aging in a sample of 355 urban Mapuche indigenous older adults. The results showed that identity affirmation and autonomy are associated with successful aging. These findings offer empirical and theoretical support for the formulation of social policies such as the implementation of favorable conditions for successful aging and well-being of urban indigenous older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Associations of weight changes and intentionality of weight loss with longevity are not well described. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the Womens Health Initiative (N = 54 437; 61-81 years), we examined associations of weight changes and intentionality of weight loss with survival to ages 90, 95, and 100. Weight was measured at baseline, year 3, and year 10, and participants were classified as having weight loss (≥5% decrease from baseline), weight gain (≥5% increase from baseline), or stable weight (

Abstract Background Insufficient or excessive sleep duration are associated with increased risk of individual adverse outcomes. However, it remains largely unknown whether sleep duration trajectories are associated with overall health among older adults. This study aimed to examine the association between sleep duration trajectories and successful aging. Methods In the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), 3,306 participants without major chronic diseases at baseline and survived to aged 60 years and older at the end of follow-up were potentially eligible participants. Total sleep duration was assessed in 2011, 2013, and 2015, and successful aging was evaluated in 2020 and was defined as being free of major chronic diseases, no physical impairment, high cognitive function, good mental health, and active engagement with life. Latent class mixed model (LCMM) was used to identify sleep duration trajectories and logistic regression was performed to explore the association between these trajectories and successful aging. Results During the 9-year follow-up, 455 individuals (13.8%) met the criteria for successful aging. Five sleep duration trajectories were identified: normal stable, long stable, decreasing, increasing, and short stable. Compared with the normal stable trajectory, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for achieving successful aging for participants with long stable, decreasing, increasing, and short stable trajectories were 1.00 (0.77, 1.30), 0.64 (0.40, 1.03), 0.64 (0.45, 0.92), and 0.48 (0.35, 0.66), respectively. The stratified and sensitivity analyses were generally consistent with the main results. Conclusions Increasing and short stable trajectories of sleep duration are associated with lower odds of successful aging relative to participants in the normal stable trajectory. The findings underscore the critical importance of monitoring dynamic changes in sleep duration in middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

Abstract Background Aging results in changes in resting state functional connectivity within key networks associated with cognition. Cardiovascular function, physical activity, sleep, and body composition may influence these age-related changes in the brain. Better understanding these associations may help clarify mechanisms related to brain aging and guide interventional strategies to reduce these changes. Methods In a large (n = 398) sample of healthy community dwelling older adults that were part of a larger interventional trial, we conducted cross sectional analyses of baseline data to examine the relationships between several modifiable behaviors and resting state functional connectivity within networks associated with cognition and emotional regulation. Additionally, maximal aerobic capacity, physical activity, quality of sleep, and body composition were assessed. Associations were explored both through correlation and best vs. worst group comparisons. Results Greater cardiovascular fitness, but not larger quantity of daily physical activity, was associated with greater functional connectivity within the Default Mode (p = 0.008 r = 0.142) and Salience Networks (p = 0.005, r = 0.152). Better sleep (greater efficiency and fewer nighttime awakenings) was also associated with greater functional connectivity within multiple networks including the Default Mode, Executive Control, and Salience Networks. When the population was split into quartiles, the highest body fat group displayed higher functional connectivity in the Dorsal Attentional Network compared to the lowest body fat percentage (p = 0.011; 95% CI − 0.0172 to − 0.0023). Conclusion These findings confirm and expand on previous work indicating that, in older adults, higher levels of cardiovascular fitness and better sleep quality, but not greater quantity of physical activity, total sleep time, or lower body fat percentage are associated with increased functional connectivity within key resting state networks.

Abstract This study examined Sa'di's works through a descriptive-analytical lens, drawing upon contemporary expert perspectives on successful aging. Sa'di, employing a moral approach grounded in religious teachings and personal experiences, endeavored to portray successful elderly individuals. With concision and eloquence, he proposed methods to mitigate the losses associated with aging, enabling older adults to live their remaining years with greater serenity and assume new roles befitting their circumstances in society. The research findings revealed that, according to Sa'di, the key attributes of successful elderly individuals included: Accepting the realities of aging Living wisely and approaching challenges prudently Maintaining a purposeful existence Seeking meaning and transcendence Cultivating a realistic awareness of mortality Preserving hope Engaging in social roles Practicing kindness Cultivating a positive reputation Prioritizing physical and mental well-being This analysis bridged classical Persian literature with contemporary gerontological concepts, offering valuable insights into the timeless nature of successful aging strategies. Keywords: Aging, Successful Aging, Educational Literature, Old Age, Sa'di Introduction Old age represents a significant phase in the human lifespan—a period when individuals, having traversed the majority of their lives, experience a decline in certain abilities and often find themselves marginalized by societal structures. However, maintaining influence and fulfilling social roles during this stage can significantly preserve or even enhance one's quality of life. This study aimed to explore the concept of successful aging as portrayed in Sa'di's works. It sought to answer the question: What characteristics did Sa'di attribute to a successfully aging individual, taking into account the social conditions of his era? To achieve this, Sa'di's literary corpus was thoroughly examined and both his explicit statements and implicit views were meticulously described and analyzed. Materials & Methods This research employed a descriptive-analytical approach to examine the didactic works of Sa'di Shirazi, with a focus on identifying patterns of successful aging. The methodology involved: A comprehensive review of Sa'di's literary works Identification and extraction of relevant passages pertaining to aging Analysis of these passages in light of contemporary theories of successful aging Synthesis of findings to construct a cohesive picture of Sa'di's perspective on aging well By applying this rigorous methodology, the study aimed to bridge classical Persian wisdom with modern gerontological insights, potentially offering timeless strategies for navigating the challenges of advanced age.

Objectives: Following the emergence of population aging phenomenon in the world, “successful aging” as a quality concept has recently attracted the attention of many researchers and policy makers; yet it seems that there is no single and clear definition of it presented in the literature. This study aims to analyze the concept of successful aging. Materials & Methods: The study was conducted with Walker and Avant’s 8-step approach. For this purpose, articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected through searching the SID, Magiran, Noormags, ISI, Pubmed, Scopus and Proquest databases and using the keywords of aging, successful aging and related concepts during the years 2000-2022. Then they were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis method to extract the successful aging concept's applications, characteristics, antecedents and consequences. Results: The content analysis of 83 selected articles revealed the characteristics of successful aging in the following seven categories: 1) "manageable process", 2) "multi-dimensional and comprehensive", 3) "socio-cultural context-bounded", 4) "enjoyment of physical, psychological and social health", 5) "non-dependence on others", 6) "happiness", and 7) "continuity and active participation in different fields of life". Conclusions: A comprehensive definition of successful aging was presented using the identified characteristics, antecedents and consequences, which can help to better understand this concept, recognize its various dimensions, and ultimately, plan for its realization.

Background Objective Design Setting Participants Results Conclusions Implications Identifying priority challenges of older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is critical to designing interventions aimed at improving their well‐being and independence.To prioritize challenges of older adults with COPD and those who care for them to guide refinement of a telephonic nurse coach intervention for patients with COPD and their family caregivers (EPIC: Empowering People to Independence in COPD).Multiphase study guided by Baltes Theory of Successful Aging and the 5Ms Framework: Phase 1: Nominal group technique (NGT), a structured process of prioritizing responses to a question through group consensus. Phase 2: Rapid qualitative analysis. Phase 3: Intervention mapping and refinement.Ambulatory, virtual.Older adults with COPD, family caregivers, clinic staff (nurses, respiratory therapists), clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners), and health system leaders.NGT sessions were conducted by constituency group with 37 participants (n = 7 patients, n = 6 family caregivers, n = 8 clinic staff, n = 9 clinicians, n = 7 health system leaders) (Phase 1). Participants generated 92 statements across five themes (Phase 2): (1) “Barriers to care”, (2) “Family caregiver needs”, (3) “Functional status and mobility issues”, (4) “Illness understanding”, and (5) “COPD care complexities”. Supplemental oxygen challenges emerged as a critical problem, and prioritized challenges differed by group. Patients and clinic staff prioritized “Functional status and mobility issues”, family caregivers prioritized “Family caregiver needs”, and clinicians and health system leaders prioritized “COPD care complexities”. Intervention mapping (Phase 3) guided EPIC refinement focused on meeting patient priorities of independence and mobility but accounting for all priorities.Diverse constituency groups identified priority challenges for older adults with COPD. Functional status and mobility issues, particularly related to supplemental oxygen, emerged as patient prioritized challenges.Patient‐centered interventions for older adults with COPD must account for their prioritized functional and supplemental oxygen needs and explore diverse constituent perspectives to facilitate intervention enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between social determinants of health (SDOH), inflammation, and postoperative delirium in older adults. The study finds that individual-level SDOH, such as household income and private health insurance, are associated with an increased risk of delirium. However, neighborhood-level SDOH, such as area deprivation, do not show a significant association with delirium. The findings suggest that different biological pathways may be triggered by different levels of SDOH, highlighting the need for further research to better understand the mechanisms underlying the impact of SDOH on delirium. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying interventions to prevent delirium, which can significantly affect the quality of life for older adults. [Extracted from the article]

Using information and communication technologies (ICT) can be a major challenge for older people. Some data exists in the literature on the elements that enable their use, but none has focused specifically on the elderly. ICT provide individuals with a means to interact with each other, thus, ICT represent a factor facilitating interactions. However, although such technologies are ever more present in our physical environment, some older adults still do not use ICT, suggesting that other barriers could exist. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the psychological barriers that prevent older people from using ICT and to identify the facilitators. These facilitators could promote the use of ICT and thus enable older adults to age well through maintaining a high level of social interactions. Thirteen older adults participated in a semi-structured interview and Nvivo 12 software was used to analyze the content. Three themes were identified: sense of self-efficacy, perception of available resources, and individual and environmental components. Each of these themes included sub-themes which were either facilitators or barriers and those of the first two themes (sense of self-efficacy, and individual and environmental components) can fluctuate from facilitator to barrier depending on the individual. By identifying psychological facilitators and barriers to older adults’ use of ICT can help public and not-for-profit organizations to develop training designed for this public. Promoting older adults’ use of ICT could provide a means to maintain social interactions and, thus, contribute to successful aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Engagement with life is central to aging well. There is currently a lack of flexible programs for promoting engagement that tailor to the unique interests, capacities, and life circumstances of individuals. We designed and evaluated a new program for promoting engagement with later life based on principles of behavioral activation. Methods: A total of 135 adults aged 65 years and older who scored at or below the median on the Life Engagement Test were randomly assigned to either a 6-week behavioral activation program (n = 69) or a 6-week well-being program based on brief positive psychology interventions (the active control; n = 66). Participants completed assessments at baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome was engagement with life, and secondary outcome measures included social network characteristics, measures of mental health, well-being, and psychological and self-regulatory resources. Results: Participants in both conditions showed improvements in engagement with life post-intervention that were sustained at 3 months. Post-intervention improvements in both conditions were observed across most secondary outcomes; however, for several outcomes, participants with more limited functional and cognitive resources benefitted from participation in the positive psychology (active control) condition, but not the treatment condition. Conclusion: Similar levels of improvement in engagement with life and well-being were evident for participants who completed a behavioral activation-focused intervention, compared with participants who completed a positive psychology-focused intervention. The positive psychology approach may confer greater benefits for emotional well-being among those with poorer functional and cognitive abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous literature has demonstrated that engagement in serious leisure (SL) is associated with subjective well-being among older adults, while the relationship between successful aging (SA) and SL remains unexplored. This study aims to investigated the association between SL, social support (SS), flow experience (FE), and SA. Methods: A total of 435 older adults participating in air volleyball events were included in this study. Results: The findings revealed that: (i) SL directly and positively influences on SS, FE, and SA; (ii) SS is positively related to FE, and FE is positively associated with older adults’SA; (iii) Both SS and FE fully mediate the relationship between SL and SA, with SS partially explaining this mediation through FE. Discussion: This study builds upon prior research in this field and highlights the significance of SL for the SA among older adults. Future studies should further explore the underlying mechanisms linking serious sport experiences to successful elderly life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The number of older adults who are cancer survivors is rapidly growing. Evidence is needed to inform interventions to support successful aging among older adults (including older adult cancer survivors). Active engagement with life, that is, spending time with family and/or close friends, may be related to health outcomes, but this concept remains understudied. Methods: We used survey data to assess active engagement among older adults (ages 50 + years) from seven mid-Atlantic US states (n = 2,914), and geocoded their residence to collect collected measures of community availability of social interaction. Outcomes were physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL), assessed with the SF-12. We used multivariable, multilevel linear regression to evaluate relationships between social interactions (i.e., "active engagement with life," or visiting with family and/or friends at least once per week and having at least three close friends, and community-level availability, measured with census tract-level park land and walkability and with county-level availability of social associations) and HRQoL. Finally, we explored differences in these relationships by recent cancer survivorship. Results: Overall, 1,518 (52.3%) participants were actively engaged. Active engagement was associated with higher physical HRQoL (estimate = 0.94, standard error [SE] = 0.46, p =.04) and mental HRQoL (estimate = 2.10, SE = 0.46, p <.001). The relationship between active engagement and physical HRQoL was stronger for recent cancer survivors (estimate = 4.95, SE = 1.84, p <.01) than for the general population (estimate = 1.10, SE = 0.43, p =.01). Community-level availability of social interaction was not associated with HRQoL. Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrated promising associations between active engagement with life and HRQoL among older adults, with large benefits for older cancer survivors. Additional research is needed on how active engagement is associated with better HRQoL, which can inform future policies and programs to optimize the aging process in the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of successful aging has raised much debate and intrigued researchers for over four decades. However, a consensus regarding its definition and measurement has not yet been reached, which narrates the main impediment of successful aging research. The main goal of this study was to validate a proposed multidimensional model of successful aging, with its five components: physiological/physical, cognitive, psychological/emotional, social, and subjective self-rated successful aging. A community-dwelling sample of 790 older adults living in the Republic of Croatia participated in the study, but the final analyzes were conducted on a sample of 767 participants, aged 65 to 98 years (M = 73.86 years, SD = 6.53), 58.8% of which were women. The construct validity of the proposed 5-component model was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis, and by comparing the model with several other theoretical models with 2, 3 or 4 components of successful aging. Results showed that the 5-component model fits the data the best thus confirms the multidimensional nature of successful aging. Partial metric invariance of the structure of the proposed model was found for younger and older age groups, and full metric invariance was established for both gender groups. This 5-factor model is a step forward in the development of a sound and comprehensive multidimensional definition of successful aging. Clear and comprehensive conceptualization of the successful aging construct is important, not only for research purposes, but also within the context of its practical application in developing policies which promote successful aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to compare a series of subjective indicators of healthy aging. We analyzed two samples of people 60 years or older enrolled in university courses in two public universities, the National University (Costa Rica, N = 206) and the University of Valencia (Spain, N = 857). The subjective indicators of successful aging analyzed were social support (social network and functional social support), perceived health, spirituality, and subjective well-being (life satisfaction and psychological well-being), all variables conditioned by country, age, and gender. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) or Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was estimated, depending on the number of dependent variables analyzed. Overall, relatively high subjective indicators of healthy aging have been achieved in both samples. We found group differences in both samples by comparing age and gender, but not by country in these healthy aging indicators, suggesting invariant comparison evidence in both cultures compared. This study found that the subjective successful aging indicators analyzed in both cultures were similar. These findings are discussed within the cross-cultural emphasis and successful aging models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association of workplace social engagement (WSE) and information technology ability (ITA) with successful ageing and validated a brief scale measuring WSE. The interaction of WSE and ITA on successful ageing was also assessed. A cross-sectional design was adopted, and the participants were 1186 older adults living in Kenya (n = 350), Nigeria (n = 260), and Ghana (n = 576). Pearson's correlation and factor analyses of two datasets (i.e., waves 1 and 2) from the sample were utilised to validate the WSE scale. Hierarchical linear regression analysis with relevant sensitivity analyses were utilised to assess the associations with wave 2 data. The WSE scale produced satisfactory psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and validity) as a unidimensional measure. WSE and ITA were positively associated with successful ageing in Kenya and Ghana and in the consolidated data. The interaction between WSE and ITA was positively associated with successful ageing and its domains (i.e., illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life) in Kenya, Ghana, and consolidated data. At higher ITA or the use of information technologies, WSE is less strongly associated with successful ageing. WSE is more strongly associated with successful ageing only at moderate ITA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteerism among older adults has been actively encouraged and adopted as a policy measure among developed countries in view of its benefits and impact on the wellbeing of the elderly. However, there is a paucity of research related to the same effort in Asia even though this region is projected to have the fastest-growing ageing population by the year 2050. Utilising the eight determinants of active ageing as posited by WHO Active Ageing Policy Framework, this paper aimed to identify emerging themes in the existing literature grounded upon older adults’ recent volunteering policies and practices in Asia. A systematic review was performed to explore the literature on older adults’ volunteerism in peer-reviewed journals published in the past decade in two main databases (Scopus and Web of Science). The findings identified from the 19 articles were analysed according to the following themes: (1) culture, (2) gender, (3) behavioural determinants, (4) personal determinants, (5) physical environment, (6) social determinants, (7) economic factors, and (8) health and social services. From the review, behavioural, personal and social environment determinants appeared to be the focal point of active ageing research agenda. A robust and strategic collaboration between policymakers and volunteering stakeholders is key to amplify older adults’ volunteer efforts in line with successful active ageing in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the relationship between cognitive function and social participation in community-dwelling older adults, and to analyze the mediating role of self-perceived aging and the moderating effect of the number of chronic diseases. Methods In total 555 community -dwelling older adults selected by convenience sampling in Xinxiang city was suiTeyed using the Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination, social participation questionnaire, and chronic disease survey from May to October 2022. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis were conducted, and a moderated mediating model was constructed using Mplus 83. Results Cognitive function positively influenced social participation (r=0.256, P<0.01). Self-perceived aging mediated the relationship between cognitive function and social participation 0=0.095, SE二0.029, 95%CI: 0.047 to 0.159, R=0,001》accounting for 26.4% of the total effect. The number of chronic diseases moderated the first half of the mediating effect path 俗二一183, P<0.05), showing that the impact of cognitive function on self-perceived aging strengthened with an increase in the number of chronic diseases (simple slope=- 0.883, 95%CI: -L164 to 一0.602, PvO.001). When the number of chronic diseases was low, the influence of cognitive function on self-perceived aging was weaker (simple slope =-0.517, 95% CI: 一0.863 to 一 0.164, P=0.004). Conclusion Cognitive function and self-perceived aging are important factors influencing social participation in older adults. Self-perceived aging partially mediates the relationship between cognitive function and social participation, and the number of chronic diseases moderates this relationship. This suggests that interventions to improve social participation in community -dwelling older adults and promote successful aging should target self-perceived aging, cognitive function, and chronic disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonagenarians and centenarians serve as successful examples of aging and extended longevity, showcasing robust regulation of biological mechanisms and homeostasis. Given that human longevity is a complex field of study that navigates molecular and biological mechanisms influencing aging, we hypothesized that microRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs implicated in regulating gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level, are differentially regulated in the circulatory system of young, middle‐aged, and nonagenarian individuals. We sequenced circulating microRNAs in Okinawan males and females <40, 50–80, and >90 years of age accounting for FOXO3 genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2802292 (TT ‐ common vs. GT ‐ longevity) and validated the findings through RT‐qPCR. We report five microRNAs exclusively upregulated in both male and female nonagenarians with the longevity genotype, play predictive functional roles in TGF‐β, FoxO, AMPK, Pi3K‐Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways. Our findings suggest that these microRNAs upregulated in nonagenarians may provide novel insight into enhanced lifespan and health span. This discovery warrants further exploration into their roles in human aging and longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cross‐sectional definitions of successful cognitive aging have been widely utilized, but longitudinal measurements can identify people who do not decline. We performed this study to contrast maintenance with declining trajectories, including clinical conversion. Methods: We included baseline cognitively unimpaired Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants with 3 or more cognitive testing sessions (n = 539, follow‐up 6.1 ± 3.5 years) and calculated slopes of an episodic memory composite (MEM) to classify them into two groups: maintainers (slope ≥ 0) and decliners (slope < 0). Within decliners, we examined a subgroup of individuals who became clinically impaired during follow‐up. These groups were compared on baseline characteristics and cognitive performance, as well as both cross‐sectional and longitudinal Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker measures (beta‐amyloid [Aβ], tau, and hippocampal volume). Results: Forty‐one percent (n = 221) of the cohort were MEM maintainers, and 33% (n = 105) of decliners converted to clinical impairment during follow‐up. Compared to those with superior baseline scores, maintainers had lower education and were more likely to be male. Maintainers and decliners did not differ on baseline MEM scores, but maintainers did have higher non‐MEM cognitive scores. Maintainers had lower baseline global Aβ, lower tau pathology, and larger hippocampal volumes than decliners, even after removing converters. There were no differences in rates of change of any AD biomarkers between any cognitive trajectory groups except for a higher rate of hippocampal atrophy in clinical converters compared to maintainers. Interpretation: Using longitudinal data to define cognitive trajectory groups reduces education and sex bias and reveals the prognostic importance of early onset of accumulation of AD pathology. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:378–389 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Longevity, a hallmark of successful aging, is a multifactorial trait with influences from birth onwards. However, limited evidence exists on the pathways linking diverse life-course exposures to longevity, especially within a single cohort. Methods We investigated associations between life-course factors and longevity among community-dwelling adults aged 79 (N = 547) from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 with a mortality follow-up of 24 years. Cox proportional hazards and structural equation (path) models were used to explore how factors from early life (social class, childhood intelligence quotient [IQ], education), midlife (social class), and later life (health, lifestyle, psychosocial well-being), as well as sex, personality, and apolipoprotein E e4 status, influence survival time in days. Results During follow-up (1999–2023), 538 participants (98%) died (mean age of death = 89.3 years) and 9 survived (mean age = 101.6 years). Factors associated with lower mortality risk in the multivariable Cox model were higher cognitive function (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59–0.88), better physical function (HR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.44–0.85), and greater physical activity (HR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.71–0.92), while history of cancer was associated with higher mortality risk (HR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.22–2.77). The life-course path model identified the same direct predictors, with additional contributions from female sex and nonsmoking status, to greater longevity. Early- and midlife factors (IQ, education, social class), and emotional stability, conscientiousness, and female sex, were indirectly and positively associated with survival trajectories via multiple dimensions of adult health. Conclusions In understanding why people live to very old ages it is necessary to consider factors from throughout the life course, and to include demographic, psychosocial, and health variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the intersection of ageing and migration and its implications for various aspects of society. It highlights that the global population is experiencing a significant increase in the number of older individuals, with projections showing that the number of people aged 65 and over will more than double by 2050. Additionally, it notes that there are approximately 281 million international migrants, with older migrants comprising 12.3% of the world's migrant population. The article emphasizes the need for research that examines the life course of migrants and the impact of migrancy on individuals and their networks. It also calls for a deeper understanding of the experiences of older migrants in relation to racism and social stratification. Finally, the article suggests that the ageing-migration nexus offers opportunities to challenge methodological nationalism and explore alternative understandings of society and integration. [Extracted from the article]

Knowledge of the time of deposition is pivotal in forensic investigations. Recent studies show that changes in intrinsic fluorescence over time can be used to estimate the age of body fluids. These changes have been attributed to oxidative modifications caused by protein–lipid interactions. This pilot study aims to explore the impact of these modifications on body fluid fluorescence, enhancing the protein–lipid model system for age estimation. Lipid and protein oxidation markers, including protein carbonyls, dityrosine, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), were studied in aging semen, urine, and saliva over 21 days. Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluorescence spectroscopy were applied. Successful detection of AGE, dityrosine, MDA, and HNE occurred in semen and saliva via SPRi, while only dityrosine was detected in urine. Protein carbonyls were measured in all body fluids, but only in saliva was a significant increase observed over time. Additionally, protein fluorescence loss and fluorescent oxidation product formation were assessed, showing significant decreases in semen and saliva, but not in urine. Although optimization is needed for accurate quantification, this study reveals detectable markers for protein and lipid oxidation in aging body fluids, warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of theater-based interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults. It emphasizes the negative impacts of social isolation and loneliness on physical and mental well-being. Theater-based interventions provide social tasks and interactions that can strengthen social cognition and promote successful aging. The article highlights the prevalence of social isolation and loneliness in older adults and the need for interventions to address these issues. It suggests that theater-based interventions can be effective in promoting social interaction and improving cognitive functioning in older adults. Overall, theater-based interventions offer a promising approach to reducing social isolation and improving well-being in older adults. The document is a list of references to research articles and studies on social isolation, loneliness, and interventions for older adults. The references cover a range of topics and provide a comprehensive overview of the current research in this field. [Extracted from the article]