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Objectives Methods Results Conclusions To investigate: (i) whether mood states associated with bipolar disorder are associated with poorer quality of life in older adults, and (ii) what are some of the predictors of quality of life in older adults with mood states associated with bipolar disorder.The authors completed a cross‐sectional multilevel analysis of panel data from seven waves of The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing dataset. The main analysis included 567 participants who reported experiencing mood states associated with bipolar disorder. Some participants reported this in more than one wave, resulting in 835 observations of mood states associated with bipolar disorder across the seven waves. Quality of life was assessed using the Control, Autonomy, Self‐realization, and Pleasure‐19 (CASP‐19) measure.The presence of mood states associated with bipolar disorder was significantly associated with poorer quality of life, even after controlling for multiple covariates (age, sex, social isolation, loneliness, alcohol use, education level, and economic status). Loneliness significantly predicted poorer quality of life in older adults with mood states associated with bipolar disorder. In contrast, higher educational attainment and being female predicted better quality of life in this group.Older adults with mood states associated with bipolar disorder have potentially worse quality of life compared to the general population, which may be partly driven by loneliness. This has ramifications for the support offered to this population and suggests that treatments should focus on reducing loneliness to improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore what ageing well means to older adults with bipolar disorder. Methods: Older adults with bipolar disorder took photographs of aspects of their lives that they felt represented ageing well. They then completed audio‐recorded photo elicitation interviews to explore what it meant to age well with bipolar disorder in detail. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Seventeen participants met the criteria for bipolar disorder I or II. The analysis resulted in four key themes to ageing well with bipolar disorder: (1) Lifelong learning – referring to how participants accumulated a wealth of knowledge about bipolar disorder and used this to maintain stability in later life; (2) Finding where you belong – relating to how participants prioritised finding new communities, utilised family support and refined their support networks over time to age well; (3) Recognising your value and worth – which involved participants using their strengths and experiences to support others; and (4) Continuity of support – older adults with bipolar disorder highlighted the benefits of continuous support that allowed them to be actively involved in their treatment. Conclusions: Participants ageing with bipolar disorder identified unique challenges indicating that services require adaptation to meet their needs and support them to age well. Findings suggested that services should provide continuous care that allows this group to actively engage with their treatment, build upon their strengths, and develop meaningful connections with professionals and peers. This approach may enhance support for older adults with bipolar disorder and reduce the inequalities they experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive frailty (CF) is defined as the clinical syndrome of the combination of physical frailty and cognitive impairment, without dementia. Numerous risk factors for CF have been previously identified but this scoping review focusses on the critical need for social engagement and the association with cognition. The focus of this scoping review on the opportunity for social engagement rather than on perception or experience of loneliness. Based on the results of 55 studies were synthesised into four social engagement categories, namely participation, household, network, and habitat. Social engagement is associated with maintaining or improving cognition, particularly through active participation in social roles. Habitat (i.e., rural or urban settings) also influences cognition and the challenge is to enable social participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ascertain the prevalence and predictors of physical health comorbidities in older adults with bipolar disorder. The authors conducted a systematic review and narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed journal articles reporting on physical health comorbidities in older adults (aged ≥50) with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) assessed study quality. 23 papers reporting on 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. The literature on diabetes, obesity and renal disease was inconclusive. There was some tentative evidence to higher rates of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer in older adults with bipolar disorder in comparison to the general population, but this requires further investigation. We identified no studies looking at oral health. The quality ratings of the identified research were generally low. Very few studies included a comparison sample from the general population or controlled for key covariates in their analysis. Existing literature provides tentative evidence that some physical health comorbidities are elevated in older adults with bipolar disorder. Clinicians should consider interventions that improve the physical health of this group, alongside the chronic mental health difficulties they experience. • Literature on diabetes, obesity and renal disease was inconclusive • Tentative evidence to higher rates of cardiovascular disease in older adults with bipolar disorder • The quality ratings of the identified research were generally low • Few studies included a 'healthy' comparison sample or controlled for key covariates in their analysis. • Physical health should be a focus of interventions for older adults with bipolar disorder [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As teachers work to ensure that their students meet and exceed standards set by state and national governing bodies, the need for teacher support becomes greater and greater. Teachers, who play the most important role in a student's education, are faced with a classroom full of children who understand concepts on many different levels. To gain knowledge about each student's depth of understanding, teachers must consider formative assessments that go beyond typical paper-and-pencil assessments. With this in mind, authors Jenni McCool and Carol Holland--a researcher and a veteran fifth-grade teacher, respectively--collaborated to investigate students' knowledge of measure. They worked intensively with two of Holland's students in an attempt to determine any misconceptions they held. The teacher then used this information to direct her instructional and assessment planning for all her students. (Contains 4 figures.)

In this article, we share outcomes from the implementation of a ninth-grade academy in a large, comprehensive, Northern Plains, United States, school district. The article discusses the effectiveness of this reform in terms of the academic and social preparedness for students during the ninth-grade year and transition to high school. Findings include results from achievement data, student and parent surveys, teacher focus groups, and interviews with administrators and school counselors. In addition, we present implications of the study and recommendations for additional research. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)