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BACKGROUND: Disability in activities of daily living (ADL) might be more prevalent among elderly with low income due to higher prevalence of chronic diseases and impairments, as well as stronger associations of these factors with ADL-disability. METHODS: In the Leiden 85-plus Study, we defined disability as being unable to perform one or more basic ADL activities. Presence of chronic diseases was obtained from medical records, impairments were assessed with performance-tests. RESULTS: Elderly with low income had higher prevalence of ADL-disability (23% versus 12%; odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.3-3.2), higher prevalence of impairments and equal prevalence of chronic diseases, except for dementia and co-morbidity. Associations of these factors with ADL-disability were not stronger. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ADL-disability is more prevalent in elderly with low income. Neither prevalence of chronic diseases nor the association with disability could explain this.

It has been suggested that the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes are manifestations of the inflammatory host response. This host response is orchestrated by the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are under genetic control. We therefore hypothesized that a low production capacity of interleukin-10 (IL-10), a centrally operating cytokine with strong anti-inflammatory properties, associates with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes in old age. In the current study, 599 inhabitants of the city of Leiden, age 85 years, were visited at their place of residence. The production capacity of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was assessed in a whole-blood assay in which lipopolysaccharide was used as a stimulus. Serum concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, and HbA1c were determined, and a history of type 2 diabetes was obtained. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and HbA1c gradually decreased over strata representing higher IL-10 production capacity, whereas the concentration of HDL cholesterol gradually increased (all P < 0.01). The odds ratio for type 2 diabetes was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.5–4.9) when subjects with the lowest IL-10 production capacity were compared with those with the highest IL-10 production capacity. These findings showed that low IL-10 production capacity (i.e., a pro-inflammatory response) is associated with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Item does not contain fulltext OBJECTIVE: Hepatic lipase (HL) is involved in the metabolism of several lipoproteins and may contribute to the atherogenic lipid profile in type 2 diabetes. Little is known about the effect of cholesterol synthesis inhibitors on HL activity in relation to sex and the hepatic lipase gene, the LIPC promoter variant in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we studied the effect of atorvastatin 10 mg (A10) and 80 mg (A80) on HL activity in 198 patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients (aged 45-75 years, without manifest coronary artery disease, total cholesterol 4.0-8.0 mmol/l, and fasting triglycerides [TG] 1.5-6.0 mmol/l) were included in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial for 30 weeks (Diabetes Atorvastatin Lipid Intervention study). RESULTS: HL activity at baseline was significantly higher in our population compared with an age-matched control group without type 2 diabetes (406 +/- 150 vs. 357 +/- 118 units/l). HL activity in men versus women (443 +/- 158 vs. 358 +/- 127 units/l), in carriers of the LIPC C/C allele versus carriers of the T/T allele (444 +/- 142 vs. 227 +/- 96 units/l), and in Caucasians versus blacks (415 +/- 150 vs. 260 +/- 127 units/l) all differed significantly (P < 0.001). Atorvastatin dose-dependently decreased HL (A10, -11%; A80, -22%; both P < 0.001). Neither sex nor the LIPC C-->T variation influenced the effect of atorvastatin on HL activity. CONCLUSIONS: Sex, LIPC promoter variant, and ethnicity significantly contribute to the baseline variance in HL activity. Atorvastatin treatment in diabetic dyslipidemia results in a significant dose-dependent decrease in HL activity, regardless of sex or the LIPC promoter variant.

Background — Experimental evidence indicates that interleukin-10 (IL-10) deficiency is associated with the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. We analyzed the relation between low IL-10 production levels, history of stroke, and incident fatal stroke. Summary of Report — All 85-year-old inhabitants of Leiden, Netherlands (n=599) were visited at their place of residence (response rate, 87%). Production levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were assessed in a whole blood assay whereby lipopolysaccharide was used as a stimulus. Plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were also used as a marker of inflammation. A history of stroke was obtained at baseline (prevalence, 10%). The number of fatal strokes was prospectively obtained for a median follow-up of 2.6 years (incidence, 1.82 per 100 person-years at risk). Subjects with a history of stroke had significantly lower median IL-10 production levels at baseline than subjects without stroke (558 versus 764 pg/mL; P P Conclusions — Our data support the hypothesis that subjects with low IL-10 production levels have an increased risk of stroke.

It has been suggested that the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes are manifestations of the inflammatory host response. This host response is orchestrated by the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are under genetic control. We therefore hypothesized that a low production capacity of interleukin-10 (IL-10), a centrally operating cytokine with strong anti-inflammatory properties, associates with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes in old age. In the current study, 599 inhabitants of the city of Leiden, age 85 years, were visited at their place of residence. The production capacity of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was assessed in a whole-blood assay in which lipopolysaccharide was used as a stimulus. Serum concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, and HbA(1c) were determined, and a history of type 2 diabetes was obtained. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and HbA(1c) gradually decreased over strata representing higher IL-10 production capacity, whereas the concentration of HDL cholesterol gradually increased (all P0.01). The odds ratio for type 2 diabetes was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.5-4.9) when subjects with the lowest IL-10 production capacity were compared with those with the highest IL-10 production capacity. These findings showed that low IL-10 production capacity (i.e., a pro-inflammatory response) is associated with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Background Successful aging is a worldwide aim, but it is less clear which indicators characterize elderly persons as successfully aged. We explored the meaning of successful aging from 2 perspectives. Methods Analysis of data from the first cross-sectional part of the longitudinal Leiden 85-plus Study, conducted in Leiden, the Netherlands. All inhabitants of Leiden aged 85 years were eligible. Data were obtained from 599 participants (response rate, 87%). Successful aging from a public health perspective was defined as a state of being. All participants were classified as successful or not successful based on optimal scores for physical, social, and psychocognitive functioning and on feelings of well-being, using validated quantitative instruments. Qualitative indepth interviews on the perspectives of elderly persons were held with a representative group of 27 participants. Results Although 45% (267/599) of the participants had optimal scores for well-being, only 13% (79/599) had optimal scores for overall functioning. In total, 10% (58/599) of the participants satisfied all the criteria and could be classified as successfully aged. The qualitative interviews showed that most elderly persons viewed success as a process of adaptation rather than a state of being. They recognized the various domains of successful aging, but valued well-being and social functioning more than physical and psychocognitive functioning. Conclusions If successful aging is defined as an optimal state of overall functioning and well-being, only a happy few meet the criteria. However, elderly persons view successful aging as a process of adaptation. Using this perspective, many more persons could be considered to be successfully aged.

It is possible that gender differences in cognitive function in aged persons can be explained by limited formal education, which is more common in women than in men. This study measured cognitive speed and memory in 85-year-old men and women in Leiden, The Netherlands, to confirm whether sex influences cognition and whether differences in formal education are relevant. A total of 599 individuals, 87% of Leiden residents 85 years of age, were visited at their residences and completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cognitive speed and memory were estimated by neuropsychological tests when the MMSE score exceeded 18 points. Cognitive speed was measured using the abbreviated 40-item Stroop test of attention and the letter-digit coding test of processing speed. Memory function was estimated with the 12-word learning test of immediate and delayed recall. Significantly more women than men had had no schooling or primary school education only (70 vs. 53%). Nevertheless, women had better scores for both cognitive speed and memory than did men. After adjusting for educational differences and depressive symptoms, the odds ratio for women having higher cognitive speed was 1.7, and for better memory, 1.8. Women recalled more words than men on the immediate word learning test but had similar test scores on the delayed word learning measure. Those with more education had significantly higher test scores for cognitive speed. Men and women lacking depressive symptoms scored significantly better on all tests. The effects of educational level and depression on cognitive function were similar in women and men. Despite a lower educational level, women aged 85 years in this study exhibited better overall cognitive function than did men of the same age. Rather than education being the controlling factor, better cognitive function in women is likelier to represent some biological factor, such as atherosclerotic disease.