Search

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and identify associated risk factors in a Chinese population aged 45 years and older. Study design: This study employed a cross-sectional research design. Data from the 4th wave survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2018 were utilized. Participants were assessed using self-reported questionnaires, and various demographic and comorbidity factors were analyzed to elucidate the risk factors associated with hearing loss. Methods: A total of 17,695 individuals from 10,257 households in 450 villages and urban settlements were included in the study. Hearing loss was assessed through self-reported questionnaires. Risk factors, including demographic characteristics and comorbidities, were analyzed to identify associations with hearing loss. Results: The study population had a hearing loss prevalence rate of 17.9% (n = 3,179). Regional variations were observed, with highest rates in Chongqing (28.67%), Yunnan (25.12%), and Qinghai (24.36%), and lowest rates in Zhejiang (17.71%), Tianjin (10.56%), and Shanghai (9.26%). Age ≥70 was associated with higher risk (OR = 3, p<0.05), while being female was associated with reduced risk (OR = 0.81, p<0.05). Higher education level showed lower risk (OR<1, p<0.05). Non-agricultural workers had lower risk (OR = 0.67, p<0.05). Fewer social activities were correlated with decreased risk (OR = 0.89, p = 0.024). Ethnic minorities had slightly higher risk (OR = 1.23, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors associated with hearing loss in the Chinese population aged 45 years and older. The findings emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention, particularly among older individuals and those residing in specific regions, for effective hearing loss management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ageing populations and care workforce shortages across Europe are causing challenges for care services for older people. Therefore, it is paramount that limited care resources are allocated optimally, based on the clients' care needs. Multiple functioning-related factors have been identified that determine the amount of care time clients receive, while organizational and other factors remain largely unexplored. The aim was to examine how various individual and organizational factors are associated with clients' received care time in different care settings. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study design with data from time and motion study, registers, and surveys was used. In total, 1477 home care clients and 1538 residents from assisted living facilities with 24/7 service participated, from 61 Finnish care units. Linear mixed-effect modeling was used to examine the association between individual and organizational-level variables and received care time. Results: Physical functioning was the strongest predictor of received care time in both care settings. In home care, greater pain, more unstable health, and higher team autonomy were associated with increased care time. In assisted living, depressive mood and higher staffing level of the organization were associated with care time. Clients who received informal care also received significantly more care time from nurses in both care settings. Conclusions: Physical functioning was the main driver of received care time. Interventions that maintain or improve physical functioning can help restrain the growing need of care resources, although it is important to ensure that each client receives care according to their holistic care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the current state of population aging in Sichuan Province, China, and proposes effective countermeasures to address this pressing issue. Through an in-depth analysis of data from the 2020 seventh population census, the research examines key aspects of population aging, including demographic profiles, self-reported health status of the elderly, primary livelihood sources, and old-age dependency ratios. The findings revealed that Sichuan Province has exceeded the national average in population aging, marking its entry into a deep aging stage. Notably, over half of the elderly population reported confidence in their overall health, and retirement pensions had become their primary income source. A comparative analysis with 2010 census data highlights evolving trends and challenges in Sichuan's population aging. The study recommends practical countermeasures, including exploring smart aging solutions, to address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a critical factor in many spine-related diseases and has an extremely high prevalence in the aging population, the potential pathogenesis remains to be clarified entirely. Immune cells have been found to perform an essential function during the onset and progression of IVDD in recent years. Therefore, we explored the association between immune cell characteristics and IVDD through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and further delved into the mediating role of potential metabolites. Based on the MR analysis, the association of 731 immune cell phenotypes and 1400 metabolites on IVDD were assessed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were closely associated the expression levels of immune cell characteristics and the concentrations of metabolites and have been used as instrumental variables for deducing them as risk factors or protective factors for IVDD. In addition, mediation analyses have been performed to identify potential metabolite mediators between immune cell characteristics and IVDD. MR analysis identified 27 immune cell phenotypes and 79 metabolites significantly associated with IVDD. In addition, mediation analysis was performed by selecting the immune cell phenotype that most significantly increased the risk of IVDD - CD86 on monocytes. A total of 4 metabolite-mediated mediation relationships were revealed (3 b-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid, X-22509, N-acetyl-L-glutamine, and N2-acetyl, N6, N6-dimethyllysine). The findings of this analysis identified underlying association between immune cell phenotypes, metabolite, and IVDD that may serve as predictive and prognostic clinical biomarkers and benefit IVDD pathogenesis research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportion of older adults in the United States is growing, and the older adult population is also becoming increasingly diverse. However, there are limited data on the aging process and older adults in underserved populations. Equitable participation in research studies on aging, the research workforce, and the healthcare workforce is critical to improving health outcomes for the entire U.S. population. Health disparities frameworks offer researchers and healthcare professionals the tools to develop and evaluate aging research that addresses all levels of analysis and domains of influence. Although there have been efforts to diversify the healthcare and research workforce, significant disparities in representation remain. In this perspective, we discuss existing aging health disparities, health disparities frameworks to use as tools to better conduct aging research, methods to enhance the proportion of underrepresented populations in aging research, and the current gaps in as well as efforts to enhance the diversity of the healthcare and research workforces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging population requires cutting-edge approaches to geriatric care, with digital health technologies playing a crucial part in meeting the challenging demands of healthcare. Current approaches frequently fall short of the goal of providing comprehensive, real-time monitoring and merging contextually complex information for use in the treatment of patients. This paper addresses these limitations by integrating the innovative approaches within the RO-SmartAgeing system and the NeuroPredict platform to boost geriatric-care outcomes. It emphasizes the multifaceted design and development processes of these digital health solutions, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach and a meticulous choice of decision-making tools. This paper presents the inclusion of decision-making tools, namely the Medical Blackbox and Gaitband, into the RO-SmartAgeing system and the NeuroPredict platform; these tools have been developed for the purpose of gathering complex physiological data and allow for in-depth evaluations of gait patterns and vital health parameters in elderly individuals. The present research emphasizes major breakthroughs in sensing technology and decision-making capabilities, illustrating the manner in which these tools enhance patient outcomes by providing timely, data-driven insights. The results demonstrate that these tailored decision-making tools significantly improve patient outcomes, underscoring the need for such ongoing improvements able to address digital health solutions tailored to the dynamic demands of an increasingly aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Data Pension Explorer (DAPE) introduces an innovative approach to delve into the intricacies of commercial pension insurance adoption within rural communities in China, particularly amid the challenges posed by an aging population. Leveraging advanced Deep Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) techniques within the domain of big data analysis, this study pioneers the analysis of extensive datasets. It systematically unravels intricate patterns, correlations, and pivotal determinants shaping the landscape of pension insurance adoption in rural areas. Going beyond conventional analyses, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing both the sustainability and uptake of pension insurance. The culmination of these efforts yields valuable insights that extend beyond the theoretical realm, directly informing strategic decision-making processes. These insights prove instrumental in designing and implementing policies tailored to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities in China. Thus, DAPE not only navigates the complexities of population aging but also serves as a guiding force in fostering widespread adoption and sustainability of pension insurance within rural landscapes in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging population has been rising rapidly in every country, slowing the labour force and causing lower per capita growth. Many policies incentivize working in old age as it can alleviate the challenges of the aging population. This study examines the impacts of the extended maternity leave reform in Vietnam on elderly labour market outcomes. As grandparents' childcare responsibility may be reduced by maternal childcare following the extended maternal leave, especially for elderly living with children smaller than 1 year old, the reform gives older adults or grandparents more flexibility to join the labour market. Using the difference‐in‐differences model, we find that older people in the treatment group are more likely to return to the labour market following the reform implementation. The effect is positive and most robust for the self‐employment group rather than waged employment and for males rather than females. Our study suggests that there is a need for a policy design to shift public finance into the healthcare and pension system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing cortical plasticity becomes increasingly important for identifying compensatory mechanisms and structural reserve in the ageing population. While cortical thickness (CT) largely contributed to systems neuroscience, it incompletely informs about the underlying neuroplastic pathophysiology. In turn, microstructural characteristics may correspond to atrophy mechanisms in a more sensitive way. Fractional anisotropy, a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measure, is inversely related to cortical histologic complexity. Axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity are assumed to be linked to the density of structures oriented perpendicular and parallel to the cortical surface, respectively. We hypothesized (1) that cortical DTI will reveal microstructural correlates for hemispheric specialization, particularly in the language and motor systems, and (2) that lateralization of cortical DTI parameters will show an age effect, paralleling age‐related changes in activation, especially in the prefrontal cortex. We analysed data from healthy younger and older adult participants (N = 91). DTI and CT data were extracted from regions of the Destrieux atlas. Diffusion measures showed lateralization in specialized motor, language, visual, auditory and inferior parietal cortices. Age‐dependent increased lateralization for DTI measures was observed in the prefrontal, angular, superior temporal and lateral occipital cortex. CT did not show any age‐dependent alterations in lateralization. Our observations argue that cortical DTI can capture microstructural properties associated with functional specialization, resembling findings from histology. Age effects on diffusion measures in the integrative prefrontal and parietal areas may shed novel light on the atrophy‐related plasticity in healthy ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stereotyping of older adults shapes our society and has significant implications for our future as an aging population. While considerable research addresses negative stereotypes across various contexts, a notable gap exists regarding teachers’ stereotypes. Given teachers’ unique role as agents of change, this quantitative study utilized a survey method to investigate the stereotypes and views of 236 preschool and elementary school teachers concerning older adults, along with factors influencing these stereotypes, such as age, gender, frequency, and nature of interaction with older adults, and aging anxiety. The Older Adult Stereotypes Questionnaire and the Anxiety about Aging Scale, supplemented with custom questions, were employed. Findings revealed that the participants generally exhibited a tendency to hold negative stereotypes about older adults. Positive stereotypes and views were linked to the perceived importance of interactions and coherence of views with older adults, while high aging anxiety correlated with negative stereotypes and views. Notably, the older teachers and the female teachers with high aging anxiety displayed more negative views regarding older adults. These findings suggest that age and gender should be considered when designing interventions to address teachers’ negative stereotypes and reduce their anxiety about aging. Also, with new educational policies, more opportunities for intergenerational interaction should be provided to build meaningful relationships among generations to promote a more inclusive and positive view of aging within the school environment. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering an age-inclusive education system and preparing future generations to value and respect older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper addresses the growing healthcare needs of an ageing population and the lack of advanced technologies with social capabilities that are cost effective, user friendly, and readily adopted. In response to this motivation, a socially assistive walker is designed to provide physical and cognitive support in activities of daily living for older adults. Methods: Physical and cognitive support is provided by walker's structure, sensors, and feedback interfaces to assist users daily living activities, as well as, in navigating environment safely and efficiently. The walker's design arises from semi-structured interviews conducted with ageing experts, leading to the development of two levels or modes of social interaction, namely low and high interaction. Results and discussion: In a cohort of 14 adults, the study found the device easy to use regardless of the interaction mode, with 78.5% expressing a preference for the version featuring embodiment, verbal feedback, and more proactive cues (p < 0.05). The results also prompted ideas and suggestions for new designs based on insights gleaned from the user. This research contributes to the field of socially assistive robotics by offering an example of a user centred approach to address the healthcare challenges an ageing population poses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home and community-based services are key to an aging society and the aging in place strategies that are preferred by older adults as well as policymakers. But the provision of these kinds of services is often inadequate in territorial terms, raising the question of how to increase their reach and efficiency. This article analyzes the spatial coverage of home support services in the Aveiro Region of Portugal, considering the distribution of their target population and identifying network configurations which would provide these services more efficiently, through a location analysis that minimizes the distance to potential users of these services. This approach showed that, in the Aveiro Region, the spatial coverage of these services is highly uneven and insufficient, considering that the population with difficulties in performing daily tasks exceeds the population benefiting from these services and that the level of coverage differs greatly between territories. It also showed that significant efficiency and equity gains are possible by optimizing the service providers’ location at the supra-municipal scale, decreasing the distances to be covered and reducing territorial inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a number researchers have acknowledged that the aging population inhibits firm digital transformation, others find it promoting digital transformation in some firms. As the relevant literature to clarify such paradox is still scare, this paper wants to fill the gap regarding the labor cost theory, the capital-skill complementarity hypothesis, and the human capital externality theory. Based on the empirical tests of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2001 to 2022, this study detected a U-shaped relationship between the aging population and digital transformation. In terms of the institutional environment, higher marketization strengthens the U-shaped relationship by making the slopes on either side of it steeper. However, higher minimum wage levels weaken the U-shaped relationship. In terms of firm strategy, firms with stronger marketing capabilities strengthened the U-shaped relationship. However, firms with higher customer concentration weakened the U-shaped relationship. Overall, we enriched scholarly understanding of the impact of the aging population on digital transformation and demonstrated the dual potential impact of aging populations. Instead of assuming they are detrimental to the economy and society, positive contributions in the form of innovation and progress for companies can be detected. Highlights: • Aging is an unavoidable demographic problem in China, with very complex social roots behind it. • Increased aging has thwarted China's digital economy, but aging is not the only negative impact on digitization. • The digital transformation process of Chinese listed companies is distinctly heterogeneous in the face of aging shocks. • By taking into account the institutional environment and strategic development, Chinese companies can seek a proactive path of development to adapt to aging, and even accelerate digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aging is the strongest risk factor for most chronic diseases. The rising burden of an aging population and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), contributes to escalating costs for society. Several non-pharmaceutical interventions can lower the risk of NCDs, including common mental disorders (CMDs), and may slow down biological aging, as evidenced by outcome markers such as epigenetic clocks. However, a comprehensive overview of whether and which non-pharmaceutical interventions may impact human epigenetic aging is missing. Synthesizing evidence of interventions on epigenetic aging that can be adopted by a wider population is key to guide healthy aging initiatives and to reduce the burden of NCDs and CMDs. This scoping review will identify and assess non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed to slow down epigenetic aging, including their intervention components, and the mode used for intervention delivery. Methods and analysis: This protocol will include single- and multicomponent intervention studies that target individuals ≥ 18 years of age and use epigenetic clocks as primary or secondary outcomes. Five electronic databases will be searched for studies between July 2011 until December 2023. The final search will include the search terms adults, non-pharmaceutical interventions, epigenetic aging and their respective synonyms. We will include randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies. Additionally, the reference list of other reviews will be screened for relevant articles. Study selection is carried out based on the defined eligibility criteria by two authors. Quality and risk of bias for the included studies will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Data extraction will include generic key information such as the research question and results, the intervention components, and specific epigenetic outcome measures used. Further data regarding the delivery mode of the treatment protocol will be collected. Ethics and dissemination: This scoping review will summarize the characteristics of non-pharmaceutical intervention studies on epigenetic aging. This review will be the first step to formally identify key intervention components and delivery modes to guide future research on healthy aging interventions. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and presented at relevant conferences. This review will synthesize information from available publications and does not require further ethical approval. Registration details: Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/FEHNB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-rated physical health (SRPH) is known as an important predictor of mortality. Previous studies mostly used baseline values of self-rated health to predict long-term mortality. The effect of change in self-rated physical health on mortality during the course of aging has rarely been researched. The present study aimed to determine SRPH over time in women and men of an aging population, assess whether and how change in SRPH affects mortality while adjusting for known determinants of mortality, and test effect modification by sex on the relation between course of SRPH and mortality. Methods: Data of N = 12,423 respondents of the 5-year follow-up of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) with participation at the baseline assessment were analysed. All-cause mortality from 5-year follow-up onwards was defined as the primary outcome. SRPH was assessed by a single item. Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for age, sex, socio-economic status and physical diseases were fitted to assess the predictive power of baseline score and course of SRPH. Additionally, effect modification by sex was assessed. Results: During a median follow-up period of 7.3 years (quartiles 6.0-8.5 years), 618 (5%) participants died. Overall, 70.9% of the participants indicated good or very good SRPH at baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2), 6.9% rated their SRPH as not so good at T1 and T2, and 0.6% reported bad SRPH at T1 and T2. An improvement of SRPH was indicated by 9.6% and 12.0% indicated deterioration of their SRPH. Change in SRPH added substantial predictive information to the Cox proportional hazards models, when adjusting for relevant covariates. In men, deterioration and constantly bad SRPH were associated with the strongest increase in risk of mortality by 87%, resp. 228%. While improvements increased mortality risk in men (67%), women with an improved SRPH had a lower risk (57%). Conclusion: A sizeable subgroup of aging participants reported deterioration of SRPH over five years. The association between change of SRPH and mortality is modified by sex. Deterioration of SRPH predicts mortality over baseline-assessment even when adjusted for relevant covariates. SRPH should be assessed regularly as part of an older individual's health evaluation. Deterioration, constantly bad and improved SRPH should be taken seriously as unfavorable prognostic indicators, the latter only in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many studies highlighted the potential of COVID-19 to reshape existing models of wildlife management, empirical research on this topic has been scarce, particularly in Europe. We investigated the potential of COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate the ongoing decline in an aging population of recreational hunters in Italy. Namely, we modelled spatiotemporal trends between 2011 and 2021 in the number of recreational hunters in 50 Italian provinces with a varying incidence of COVID-19, and temporally delayed waves of infection. Compared to projections from 2011–2019 data, we detected a lower number of hunters who enrolled for the hunting season, both in 2020 (14 provinces) and in 2021 (15 provinces). The provinces with the highest incidence of COVID-19 in the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions were also those experiencing the most marked decrease in hunting participation. Our findings revealed that a wildlife management system based on recreational hunting can be rapidly destabilized by epidemics and their associated public health measures, particularly when the average age of hunters is high, like in Italy. Considered the high incidence attained by COVID-19 in many European countries, where hunters are pivotal for the management of large ungulates and where they were already declining before the pandemic, our findings call for further large-scale research about the impact of COVID-19 on hunting participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the bidirectional association between metabolic syndrome(MS) and depression in middle - aged and elderly adults in China. Methods This study used participants aged 45 and above from publicly available longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018. The baseline was based on 2011 data. Stage I studied the longitudinal association of baseline MS with follow - up depression, while Stage II studied the association of baseline depression with follow - up MS. Stage III further investigated the bidirectional association between MS and depression using a cross - lagged panel model, and the follow - up data for all three stages used 2015 data including blood routine examination and physical examinations. Results There was a bidirectional association between the two diseases. The baseline MS and its components showed a positive correlation with the follow - up depression= 0. 052, P < 0. 01), and vice versa = 0. 305, P < 0. 01), but there were differences in gender subgroups. Conclusion There is a bidirectional correlation between MS and its components and depression in the middle - aged and elderly population in China. We should identify, monitor, and intervene in early MS and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing aging of the global population, the efficiency and accuracy of the elderly monitoring system become crucial. In this paper, a sensor layout optimization method, the Fusion Genetic Gray Wolf Optimization (FGGWO) algorithm, is proposed which utilizes the global search capability of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the local search capability of Gray Wolf Optimization algorithm (GWO) to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the sensor layout in elderly monitoring systems. It does so by optimizing the indoor infrared sensor layout in the elderly monitoring system to improve the efficiency and coverage of the sensor layout in the elderly monitoring system. Test results show that the FGGWO algorithm is superior to the single optimization algorithm in monitoring coverage, accuracy, and system efficiency. In addition, the algorithm is able to effectively avoid the local optimum problem commonly found in traditional methods and to reduce the number of sensors used, while maintaining high monitoring accuracy. The flexibility and adaptability of the algorithm bode well for its potential application in a wide range of intelligent surveillance scenarios. Future research will explore how deep learning techniques can be integrated into the FGGWO algorithm to further enhance the system's adaptive and real-time response capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the impact of an aging population in Eastern Iran on prehospital emergency medical services (EMS), with a focus on changes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was performed on data from 10,264 elderly individuals using EMS in Torbat-e Heydarieh County from March 2019 to March 2022. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and Chi-square tests, were conducted using SPSS software. Findings indicate that 30% of the 33,847 EMS calls received were from older adults. The nature of emergencies evolved from cardiovascular issues pre-pandemic to predominantly impaired consciousness during COVID-19, a statistically significant shift (p <.001). The study concludes with a call for research targeted at this demographic and suggests setting up dedicated EMS response units to cater to the elderly, responding to the increase in elderly-related EMS needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, with the spread of lifelong education and the increase in the aging population, the need for learning among older people has increased, resulting in a shortage of teachers for older learners. A literature review of both Western and Eastern cultures revealed that the turnover or shortage of older adult educators may be related to their attitudes toward aging and burnout. To confirm this hypothesis, this paper examines the mediating effect of burnout on the relationship between attitudes toward aging and turnover intentions among Chinese older adult educators. The Attitudes toward Aging Questionnaire, Turnover Intention Questionnaire, and Burnout Questionnaire were used to collect the data. Finally, a total of 774 samples from Shanghai, China, were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results revealed that when three components of attitudes toward aging, i.e. psychological growth, physical change, and psychosocial loss, are considered, burnout in Chinese older adult educators fully mediates the relationship between psychosocial loss and turnover intention, which means that if Chinese older adult educators suffer considerable psychosocial loss, burnout increases, leading to increased turnover intention. In other words, the negative experience of psychosocial loss can be decreased through a holistic approach to teaching aging along with intergenerational interaction, which in turn reduces burnout and decreases the intention to leave. Future follow-up studies should focus on how to develop a holistic teaching curriculum to facilitate the practical implementation of the findings of this research. We believe that this research can be beneficial with regard to attempts to address the shortage of older adult educators and promote teacher development in the context of older adult education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs the aging population issue worsens, people are experiencing increasing life pressures, and the elderly are unable to receive sufficient care, intensifying the demand for home-based intelligent massage healthcare robots. Addressing the challenges faced by users in expressing preferences for specific areas like the back through gestures or voice during the use of massage robots, and the issue of elderly individuals expressing imprecisely, which hinders effective communication of the desired massage target location to the robot, this paper proposes a new human-machine interaction mode for massage robots. The main innovations include: achieving precise control of the massage area through the representation of a virtual human body on the screen; proposing a virtual-to-real mapping algorithm based on human acupoints to address the consistency issue in human virtual-to-real mapping; introducing a multimodal intent understanding algorithm based on dynamic information entropy to address the current limitations of a single interaction mode and low intent comprehension rates in massage robot interactions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed multimodal massage localization algorithm achieves good massage intent recognition effects. By combining natural human-machine interaction with intent understanding, it not only accurately captures user massage intentions and assists in completing massage tasks but also reduces user psychological and cognitive loads, leading to more desirable interaction outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aging societies, social and economic burdens of aging‐related diseases are increasing significantly. Senotherapy, which targets aging by eliminating senescent cells (senolytics) or removing sources of chronic inflammation (senostatics), are proposed as novel strategies for aging‐related diseases. Aged or frail people suffer a decline of tissue reserve capacity during aging. Resilience, which is much reduced in older people, is essential for recovery from diseases, stresses or crises. Impaired resilience is one of the reasons why aged people experience a gradual waning of their daily activity and an increase of multimorbidity. Calorie restriction results in senostatic alleviation of chronic inflammation, whereas senolytic drugs induce apoptosis of senescent cells, which exacerbate aging by excreting inflammatory factors. Thus, both senolytics and senostatics are expected to reduce sterile inflammation, originating from senescent cells. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••–••. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing severity of aging populations in modern society, the accurate and timely identification of, and responses to, sudden abnormal behaviors of the elderly have become an urgent and important issue. In the current research on computer vision-based abnormal behavior recognition, most algorithms have shown poor generalization and recognition abilities in practical applications, as well as issues with recognizing single actions. To address these problems, an MSCS–DenseNet–LSTM model based on a multi-scale attention mechanism is proposed. This model integrates the MSCS (Multi-Scale Convolutional Structure) module into the initial convolutional layer of the DenseNet model to form a multi-scale convolution structure. It introduces the improved Inception X module into the Dense Block to form an Inception Dense structure, and gradually performs feature fusion through each Dense Block module. The CBAM attention mechanism module is added to the dual-layer LSTM to enhance the model's generalization ability while ensuring the accurate recognition of abnormal actions. Furthermore, to address the issue of single-action abnormal behavior datasets, the RGB image dataset RIDS (RGB image dataset) and the contour image dataset CIDS (contour image dataset) containing various abnormal behaviors were constructed. The experimental results validate that the proposed MSCS–DenseNet–LSTM model achieved an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 98.80%, 98.75%, and 98.82% on the two datasets, and 98.30%, 98.28%, and 98.38%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:To examine telehealth use in chronic care management and disparity reduction among the aging population. Methods:This longitudinal cohort study compared the changes in chronic care quality measures among patients with and without telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic relative to patients in the previous years and by patient sociodemographic subgroup. Participants were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years or older from an Accountable Care Organization in the Midwest United States. Three utilization-based measures included having 2+ A1C tests, breast cancer screening, and depression screening. Three outcome-based measures included A1C control, blood pressure control, and depression diagnosis. Results:During the study period, the pandemic cohort experienced 5–17 percentage points' decrease in utilization-based measures (e.g., 2+ A1C tests 63.9% vs. 51.1%; OR [95% confidence intervals] = 0.35 [0.34–0.36]) from baseline relative to the control cohort. The outcome-based measures also significantly decreased but at smaller magnitudes (3–5 percentage points). About 51.5% patients had at least one telehealth visit. The utilization-based measures for these patients were significantly higher than those without any telehealth visit (e.g., 2+ A1C 57.1% vs. 51.1%, p < 0.01). However, the outcome-based measures were comparable. Patients from historically underserved groups had a larger decline in health care outcomes than their counterparts. Among patient with at least one telehealth visit, these disparities were no longer significant. Discussions:Telehealth was associated with less negative impact of the pandemic and better performance in chronic care management, but more for utilization-based measures and less for outcome-based measures. Telehealth was also associated with less disparities in care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periprosthetic femoral fractures (PPFFs) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) present a significant clinical challenge due to their increasing incidence with an aging population and evolving surgical practices. Historically, classifications were primarily based on anatomical fracture location, the stability of the implant, and bone quality surrounding the implant. We critically analyzed 25 classification systems, highlighting the emergence and adaptations of key systems such as the Vancouver classification system (VCS) and the Unified classification system (UCS), which are lauded for their simplicity and effectiveness yet require further refinement. VCS, developed in 1995, categorizes fractures based on the site, implant stability, and bone quality, and remains widely used due to its robust applicability across different clinical settings. Introduced in 2014, UCS expands the VCS to encompass all periprosthetic fractures with additional fracture types, aiming for a universal application. Despite their widespread adoption, these systems exhibit shortcomings, including the incomplete inclusion of all PPFF types and the imprecise assessment of implant stability and surrounding bone loss. These gaps can result in misclassification and suboptimal treatment outcomes. This paper suggests the necessity for ongoing improvements in classification systems to include emerging fracture types and refined diagnostic criteria, ensuring that they remain relevant to contemporary orthopedic practices and continue to facilitate the precise tailoring of treatment to patient‐specific circumstances. This comprehensive historical review serves as a foundation for future innovations in classification systems, ultimately aiming to standardize PPFF treatment and improve patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tackling the issue of healthy aging in society is complex. It requires an interdisciplinary perspective and different forms of innovation. This article provides a commentary on the role of innovation policy in addressing healthy aging, particularly in the UK context. We argue that the wide range of economic activities related to healthy aging is part of a hybrid domain rather than a single sector. This represents a new generation of innovation policy for healthy aging which prioritizes understanding how different actors can be connected to support a spectrum of types of innovation which will contribute to providing better goods, services, and practices for older people. We explore social innovation as it relates to hybrid domains such as healthy aging and discuss the role of place in creating policy which generates both societal and market value. We recommend that policymakers use these concepts to build a better understanding of the economies that are evolving around healthy aging and where opportunities exist to better conceptualize, connect, and support actors, initiatives, and places to optimize economic potential and social outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the increasing number of cochlear implant (CI) recipients, growing indications, and the aging population, the reimplantation of CI recipients has become a focus of attention. The aim of this study is to examine the causes, timing, and postoperative speech understanding in a large cohort over the past 30 years. Methods: A retrospective data analysis was conducted on over 4000 CI recipients and 214 reimplanted children and adults from 1993 to 2020. This involved collecting and comparing data on causes, manufacturer information, and demographic data. In addition, a comparison of speech understanding in Freiburg monosyllables and numbers before and after reimplantation was carried out. Results: Children did not exhibit elevated rates of reimplantation. The overall reimplantation rate in the entire cohort was 5%. The CI overall survival rate after 10 years in the entire cohort was 95.2%. Device failure was the most common reason for reimplantation, with 48% occurring within the first 5 years after implantation. The second most common reason was medical complications, with the risk of reimplantation decreasing as more time passed since the initial implantation. There were no significant differences in Freiburg numbers and monosyllable comprehension before and after reimplantation, both in the overall cohort and in the subcohorts based on indications. Even a technical upgrade did not result in a significant improvement in speech understanding. Discussion: There was no significant difference in the frequency of reimplantation based on patient age, especially when comparing children and adults. Device failure is by far the most common indication for reimplantation, with no significant difference in implant survival between manufacturers. Patients most often choose the same manufacturer for reimplantation. The likelihood of reimplantation decreases with increasing time since the initial implantation. The indication for reimplantation should be carefully considered, as on average, no improved speech understanding is achieved, regardless of the cause, even with a technical upgrade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the 165,000 or so convicts transported from across the British Empire to Australia between 1788 and 1868, approximately 9,000 men entered the gates of the Port Arthur penal station in Van Diemen's Land. Over its lifetime (1830–1877) Port Arthur was reputed to be one of Australia's harshest places of incarceration. During its final years as a penal station (1856–1877), due to its aging and declining population, it earned a reputation for housing the old, decrepit, and useless dregs of the convict system. Despite the growing body of literature on Port Arthur's convict workers, there has been little discussion on the management of labour gangs after 1856. This article examines a cohort of 198 variously aged and skilled Port Arthur convicts discovered in six labour gang ledgers and places them within the broad landscape of the settlement's industrial activities. Through the examination of the Convict Department records, I will argue that despite its aging population Port Arthur was an efficient and productive place of industry. Moreover, I will show that many of these men were skilled and able-bodied workers and not just the aged and ailing remnants of the convict system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusions for lumbar spine diseases are widely performed and have a growing incidence, especially in elderly population. The goal of this study was to assess national trends of lumbar spinal fusions and examine the risk for reoperations after a lumbar fusion with a focus on 'epidemiologic transition' relating to age. The prospectively collected Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) nationwide cohort database was retrospectively reviewed. The total 278,815 patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusions for degenerative spine diseases between 2010 and 2018 were reviewed and used to assess trends in operative incidence. The 37,050 patients who underwent lumbar fusions between 1/2010 and 12/2011 were enrolled to determine 8-year reoperation rates. The overall number of lumbar spinal fusions were analyzed for the national annual trend. Demographic data, reoperation rates, and confounding clinical factors were evaluated. The overall number of lumbar spinal fusions was analyzed to determine the national annual trend of operative incidence. For the reoperation rate analysis, the primary outcome measured was the cumulative incidence of revision operations within a minimum 8-year follow-up period. Additional outcomes included comparative analyses of the reoperation rate with respect to age, sex, or other underlying comorbidities. Over time, elderly patients comprised a larger portion of the cohort (2010:24.2%; 2018:37.6%), while operations in younger patients decreased over time (2010:40.3%; 2018:27.0%). In the cohort of patients with a minimum 8-year follow-up (n=37,050), rates of reoperation peaked in patients aged 60–69 years (17.6 per 1000 person-years [HR 2.20 compared to <40years]) and decreased for more elderly patients (14.3 per 1000 person-years [HR 1.80 compared to <40years]). Age was the most significant risk factor for reoperation. Osteoporosis was also a risk factor for reoperation in postmenopausal females. Increasing incidence of lumbar fusions in elderly patients was seen however the risk of reoperation decreased in patients aged 70 or more. Lumbar fusion for elderly patients should not be hesitated in the decision-making process because of concerns about reoperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ageing of the population is one of the most significant social transformations that the twenty first century is showcasing and a challenge that impacts society at large. The elderly, inasmuch as everybody else, are confronted with continuous transformations that are induced by technology, although they seldom benefit from the opportunities that technology entails. The digital divide amongst various segments of the population is often age-related and due to different reasons, including biological, psychological, social and financial ones. There is an ongoing reflection pertaining to the factors that hinders the full adoption of ICTs by the elderly and a question regarding what can be done to overcome their poor involvement in technology. This article, based on the results of a recent research, which has been conducted in Italy, aims at highlighting the importance of engaging the elderly in the use of technology as a key to building bridges between generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article by Philippe Fargues examines the relationship between ageing and migration, focusing on individuals and populations. It discusses the benefits of ageing from a life cycle perspective, but also highlights the challenges it poses from a population perspective, such as a decrease in the workforce and economic productivity. The article explores the implications of ageing and migration in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Europe, and discusses the age profiles of migrant populations and the challenges they face in terms of social protection and pension benefits. Overall, the article emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues surrounding ageing and migration for the progress of humanity. [Extracted from the article]

This scoping review investigates instructional strategies implemented in recent studies to enhance the digital application usage experience for the elderly, addressing emerging issues in the context of a rapidly aging global population. With the World Health Organization predicting a significant increase in the proportion of individuals aged 60 years and above by 2030, the imperative for digital literacy among the elderly becomes crucial. The review, drawing from 14 eligible articles sourced from Web of Science and Scopus, categorizes findings into two main themes: i) intergenerational strategies of instruction and ii) contemporary issues associated with intergenerational approaches. By exploring these dimensions, the paper provides valuable insights for researchers seeking to understand and tackle current challenges in instructing the elderly on digital applications, contributing to the ongoing discourse on improving the quality of life for the aging population through digital technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth in the prevalence of dementias is associated with a phenomenon that challenges the 21st century, population aging. Dementias require physical and mental effort on the part of caregivers, making it difficult to promote controlled and active care. This review aims to explore the usability and integration of wearable devices designed to measure the daily activities of elderly people with dementia. A survey was carried out in the following databases: LILACS, Science Direct and PubMed, between 2018 and 2024 and the methodologies as well as the selection criteria are briefly described. A total of 27 articles were included in the review that met the inclusion criteria and answered the research question. As the main conclusions, the various monitoring measurements and interaction aspects are critically important, demonstrating their significant contributions to controlled, adequate and active monitoring, despite the incomplete compliance with the key aspects which could guarantee solutions economically accessible to institutions or other organizations through the application of the design requirements. Future research should not only focus on the development wearable devices that follow the essential requirements but also on further studying the needs and adversities that elderly people with dementia face as a pillar for the development of a feasible device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine the prevalence of toileting disability among older adults in India and its association with broad aspects of the physical and social environment. Methods: We use data from the inaugural wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India and focus on adults aged 65 and older (N = 20,789). We draw on the disablement process model and existing frameworks to identify environmental factors and other risk factors that may be associated with toileting disability. Hierarchical logistic regressions are implemented to analyze the health impacts from physical and social environment characteristics. Results: One in five older Indian adults had difficulties with toileting, and the prevalence rate of this functional disability varied across sub-national regions. We find that low neighborhood trust was associated with an increased likelihood of toileting disability, as was the use of assistive mobility devices. The negative effects of these social and external environment characteristics hold when we stratified the sample by rural and urban residency. Also, older adults in urban areas without access to toilets and using shared latrines had higher odds of being disabled in terms of toileting. Other factors important in explaining toileting disability among older adults included poor self-rated health, arthritis, currently working, living in the East or West region, and having functional limitations. Conclusions: Poor person-environment fit can compromise older adults' ability to perform self-care tasks. Policymakers need to look beyond the physical environment (e.g., dedicating resources to construct toilet facilities) to adopt a more holistic, multi-faceted approach in their sanitation policies. Improving the safety of neighborhood surroundings in which shared latrines are located and the availability of accessible toilets that cater to those with mobility impairments can help improve independence in toileting among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ageing of the population needs the automation of patient monitoring. The objective of this is twofold: to improve care and reduce costs. Frailty, as a state of increased vulnerability resulting from several diseases, can be seen as a pandemic for older people. One of the most common detection tests is gait speed. This article compares the gait speed measured outdoors using smartphones with that measured using manual tests conducted in medical centres. In the experiments, the walking speed was measured over a straight path of 80 m. Additionally, the speed was measured over 2.4 m in the middle of the path, given that this is the minimum distance used in medical frailty tests. To eliminate external factors, the participants were healthy individuals, the weather was good, and the path was flat and free of obstacles. The results obtained are promising. The measurements taken with common smartphones over a straight path of 80 m are within the same order of error as those observed in the manual tests conducted by practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the rapid aging phenomenon prevalent in Asian societies, which has led to a significant increase in elderly individuals relocating to nursing homes due to health-related issues. This trend has resulted in social isolation and loneliness among the elderly, contributing to physical and mental ailments such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). To mitigate these issues, the research proposes leveraging technology, specifically the integration of robotics, to alleviate the caregiver shortage and enhance human interaction for the elderly. The novel approach involves developing a social robot designed to bridge the gap between humans and machines, combining knowledge from embedded systems, robotics, and essential soft skills for effective interaction. The authors found that this technological solution holds promise in addressing the caregiver shortage and improving the well-being of elderly individuals by reducing their sense of isolation, fostering better mental and physical health outcomes, and potentially transforming the landscape of elderly care through innovative technological applications. Future work includes expanding pilot studies and collaborating with healthcare institutions to further validate the effectiveness of the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a lower middle-income country, Pakistan faces multiple issues that influence the course of healthy ageing. Although there is some understanding of these issues and the objective health outcomes of people in Pakistan, there is less knowledge on the perceptions, experiences, and priorities of the ageing population and their caretakers (hereafter, "stakeholders"). The aim of the study was to identify the needs and priorities of older adults and stakeholders across both urban and rural locations. We sought to explore the views of two groups of people, older adults and stakeholders on topics including the definition of ageing as well as areas of importance, services available, and barriers to older people living well. Two-day workshops were conducted in one rural city, Thatta and one urban city, Karachi. The workshops were designed using the Nominal Group Technique, which included plenary and roundtable discussions. The responses were ranked through rounds of voting and a consensus priority list was obtained for each topic and group. Responses were categorized using the socio-ecological framework. Responses were compared between stakeholders and older people and between different geographical areas. 24 urban and 26 rural individuals aged over 60 years and 24 urban and 26 rural stakeholders attended the workshops. There were few areas of agreement with respect to both geographical region and participant group. Comparing older adults' definition of ageing, there was no overlap between the top five ranked responses across urban and rural locations. With respect to areas of importance, there was agreement on free health care as well as financial support. In terms of barriers to healthy ageing, only nation-wide inflation was ranked highly by both groups. In addition, there were relatively few areas of congruence between stakeholder and older adult responses, irrespective of location, although engagement with family, adequate nutrition and monetary benefits were responses ranked by both groups as important for healthy ageing. Both groups ranked issues with the pension system and financial difficulties as barriers. When categorized using the socio-ecological model, across all questions, societal factors were prioritized most frequently (32 responses), followed by individual (27), relationship (15), and environment (14). Overcoming barriers to facilitate healthy ageing will require a multi-faceted approach and must incorporate the priorities of older individuals. Our results may serve as a guide for researchers and policymakers for future engagement and to plan interventions for improving the health of the ageing population in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing health inequalities among older adults is crucial to ensuring healthy aging is within reach for all. The current study provides a timely update on demographic- and geographic-related inequalities in healthy aging among older adults residing in Canadian communities. Methods: Data was extracted from the Canadian Health Survey on Seniors [2019–2020] for ~6 million adults aged 65 years and older residing in 10 provinces of Canada. Healthy aging was defined by two indices: 1] health-related quality of life and 2] functional health. Poisson regression models and spatial mapping were used to demonstrate inequalities among age, race, and sex categories, and health regions. Results: Approximately 90.3% of individuals reported less than perfect quality of life and 18.8% reported less than perfect functional health. The prevalence of less than perfect quality of life was higher for females [PR 1.14, 95% CI;1.02–1.29] and for older adults aged ≥80 years as compared to males and older adults aged ≤79 years [PR 1.66, 95% CI;1.49–1.85]. Similarly, the prevalence of less than perfect functional health was higher for females [PR 1.58, 95% CI;1.32–1.89] and for older adults aged ≥80 years [PR 2.71, 95% CI;2.59–2.84]. Spatial mapping showed that regions of lower quality of life were concentrated in the Prairies and Western Ontario, whereas regions of higher quality of life were concentrated in Quebec. Conclusions: Amongst older individuals residing in Canadian communities, less than perfect quality of life and functional health is unequally distributed among females, older adults aged ≥80 years, and those residing in the Prairie regions specifically. Newer policy should focus on interventions targeted at these subpopulations to ensure that healthy aging in within reach for all Canadians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population aging and the digital economy are two major elements affecting socio-economic development, and it is necessary to explore how these two factors interact and affect the labor market. From the perspective of the digital economy, and based on the twostage generation overlap model, this study integrated population aging, the digital economy, and employment structure into the same framework for theoretical analysis. Based on this, this study constructed panel data from 279 cities in China from 2010 to 2019 and used the two-way fixed effect model and threshold model to test the impact of population aging on employment skill structure. The study further discussed the moderating effect of the digital economy on this impact. The findings were as follows: ① Population aging increased employment in low-skilled industries and decreased employment in medium- and high-skilled industries, resulting in a unipolar trend biased towards low-skilled industries in the employment skill structure. ② The digital economy strengthened the positive role of aging in increasing employment in medium and low-skilled industries, weakened the negative role of aging in reducing employment in high-skilled industries, and shifted the employment skill structure from single-polarization in low-skilled industries to polarization between high and low-skilled industries. ③ With the acceleration of the development of the digital economy, population aging would first affect the employment of low-skilled industries, then medium-skilled industries, and lastly high-skilled industries. ④ The digital economy mainly adjusted the influence of aging on the employment skill structure through human capital upgrading and industrial upgrading. ⑤ Heterogeneity analysis showed that the digital economy mitigated the impact of aging on the employment skill structure. Therefore, it is suggested that local governments should combine the development direction of the aging industry with the characteristics of consumer demand, rationally plan the development path of the digital economy, give full play to the new development momentum brought by the digital economy, promote the integrated development of the digital economy and aging, and mitigate the negative impact of the aging population on the employment structure. At the same time, policies should be formulated and improved to provide the corresponding childcare guarantee of the ‘three-child policy’, vigorously develop universal childcare services, slow down the deepening speed of population aging, and promote the long-term balanced development of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European Union, the consequences of population aging are generally visible, including the negative impact of dynamically rising aging index and old-age dependency ratio. Besides the growing number of elders, the basis of the problem spiral can be identified with the excessively low population of child cohorts (aged 0--14 years) entering the working-age group (aged 15--64 years). The focus of the study is on childbearing behavior, i.e. fertility, in a geographical based approach, at the level of NUTS 2 regions. According to the results, it can be concluded that the total fertility rate exchanged significantly regionally in the European Union between 2010 and 2020. The previously outstanding values of Western and Northern Europe have decreased significantly, the Central and Eastern European regions, which were in an unfavorable situation at the beginning of the decade, have made a significant progress, while the low values of 2010 of the southern regions decreased even further. The average age of women at childbirth shows smaller differences than the total fertility rate, as births were brought forward in only one percent of the regions; on the other hand, the average age of having children has shifted later at different paces in certain parts of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing prevalence of age-related chronic diseases burdening healthcare systems, there is a pressing need for innovative management strategies. Our study focuses on the gut microbiota, essential for metabolic, nutritional, and immune functions, which undergoes significant changes with aging. These changes can impair intestinal function, leading to altered microbial diversity and composition that potentially influence health outcomes and disease progression. Using advanced metagenomic sequencing, we explore the potential of personalized probiotic supplements in 297 older adults by analyzing their gut microbiota. We identified distinctive Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium signatures in the gut microbiota of older adults, revealing probiotic patterns associated with various population characteristics, microbial compositions, cognitive functions, and neuroimaging results. These insights suggest that tailored probiotic supplements, designed to match individual probiotic profile, could offer an innovative method for addressing age-related diseases and functional declines. Our findings enhance the existing evidence base for probiotic use among older adults, highlighting the opportunity to create more targeted and effective probiotic strategies. However, additional research is required to validate our results and further assess the impact of precision probiotics on aging populations. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs and larger cohorts to conclusively demonstrate the benefits of tailored probiotic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's population is steadily aging, contributing to the increase in the number of deceased people and the growing disparity between supply and demand for cemeteries. To provide theoretical support and data reference for cemetery planning, this study considers Chongqing, a city with a high rate of aging population, as an example to apply the interval grey number model to model and predict the size of the death population in Chongqing. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The accuracy of the interval grey number prediction model in simulating the size of the death population in Chongqing exceeds 98%, indicating that the model employed in the study is suitable for medium- to long-term prediction; (2) The prediction results show that the annual death scale of registered population in Chongqing will range between 220 and 330 thousand from 2022 to 2030, with a fluctuating upward trend; (3) According to the size of the death population predicted, the cemetery market in Chongqing will experience a shortage of supply within 10 years. Therefore, in order to ensure a balance between the supply and demand of cemeteries in Chongqing, the government should actively promote the concept of green funerals and reduce the demand for cemeteries. Alternatively, it is also necessary to accelerate the planning and construction of cemeteries to avoid the predicament of people wanting to be buried without a tomb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we employ 'hidden workers' as a key concept to integrate the three vulnerable subgroups of aging workers: underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers. (1) Background: The challenges faced by underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers in the older population are complex. It would be beneficial to visualize the intellectual landscape of these three distinct groups in aging populations to understand which aspects have been highlighted by various disciplines and where gaps exist. (2) Method: Through a scientometric analysis of more than 50 years of research, this study identified the size, scope, and structure of knowledge on hidden workers in an aging population using 2831 articles collected from the Web of Science database in January 2024. (3) Results: Indeed, the multidisciplinary nature of hidden workers goes beyond welfare and labor economics and involves issues such as health, occupational science, behavior change, policy interventions, and circles around the keyword of unemployment. Keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis confirm that the spectrum of research on hidden workers is being carried out distinctly within distinct disciplines across the broader aging research horizon. (4) Conclusions: The relatively scattered and uneven intellectual, conceptual, and social landscape of research on hidden workers in aging populations evidently falls short of providing concerted policy recommendations for the population group. This study provides a conceptual understanding of hidden workers in different research clusters and identifies gaps and opportunities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article surveys the growing field of political demography, which explores the political consequences of structural population change. It underscores the importance of integrating demography and political sociology research to better understand the complex and nuanced relationship between demography and political dynamics. The existing research demonstrates profound and multifaceted impacts of demographic shifts on the political landscape, with different demographic factors having distinct political consequences. Notably, population composition and distribution tend to hold greater political significance than sheer population size and growth. Furthermore, while more research is needed, the existing work suggests that the effect of structural demographic factors is neither inevitable nor without limit; rather, the political consequences of demographic change often exhibit nonlinear patterns and interact with prevailing socioeconomic and institutional contexts. As demographic shifts continue to unfold globally, political demography stands as a promising and enlightening area of research that merits further inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The US has reached a crisis stage regarding mounting sovereign debt, but a change of mindset and adoption of practical solutions can restore the nation to fiscal health. Unless actions are taken now to change the trajectories, deficits and debt are anticipated to enlarge over the coming decades with an aging population boosting spending, increasing debt service, and insufficient revenues. While there is no silver bullet, there are myriad policy actions that can cut deficits, lower debt to a sustainable level, reduce financial stability risks, and support US economic growth over the long run. Moreover, focusing upon lowering debt over a 20- or 30-year horizon instead of the typical 10-year CBO forecasting period can help rein in federal debt without significant damage to the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global aging trends, service innovation targeting older adults is becoming increasingly crucial. Because the traditional focus areas of service innovation have predominantly been design and implementation, a significant gap in the existing literature overlooks the criticality of the testing phase. This oversight is particularly notable in relation to the unique attributes of the older adult population and their interaction dynamics with technology teams in service innovation. To bridge this lacuna, this study introduces a comprehensive framework, meticulously crafted for the testing stage of service innovation tailored to older adults. To validate this framework, a rigorous, four-year empirical research project was undertaken with one of the foremost service providers for older adults in Beijing. The findings robustly support the efficacy of the proposed framework, revealing the indispensable role of the testing phase in ensuring service innovations are aptly aligned with the needs and preferences of the aging demographic. This research enriches the discourse in service innovation, thus underscoring the imperative to integrate the testing phase as a fundamental component in the holistic approach aimed at catering effectively to an aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies show a significant increase in frailty prevalence among older adults worldwide. Fortunately, several well-established and user-friendly screening tools can effectively identify frailty in older adults. Objectives: This article examines the Clinical Frailty Scale's effectiveness in informing treatment decisions for older adults in ambulatory care settings, analyzing its potential to improve patient care. Methods: On April 1, 2024, the PubMed database was searched for articles on the Clinical Frailty Scale in elderly patients. The 116 most pertinent and current articles, written in English and published within the past few years, were analyzed, and 38 were selected and categorized by content and topic. Limitations: This study is limited because it is not a meta-analysis and thus does not examine the quality of the evidence presented in each article. Conclusions: Frailty research has illuminated aging and its potential biological causes. The Clinical Frailty Scale effectively identifies vulnerable individuals. By using the CFS to assess frailty risk, healthcare providers can personalize treatment plans and improve overall care for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]