Aging
Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Therapy in Patients With Versus Without Dementia
Discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy has increased in recent years, but whether this trend extends to patients with Alzheimer disease and related dementia remains unclear.A Feasibility Study of Primary Care Liaisons: Linking Older Adults to Community Resources
Programs and services available through the aging services network can help community-dwelling older adults to age in place but are often not discussed in routine primary care. The primary care liaison was developed as a novel integration intervention to address this disconnect.Cannabis and Prescription Drug Use Among Older Adults With Functional Impairment
Psychoactive substance use may be risky for adults with functional impairments. This study investigates cannabis use and prescription opioid and tranquilizer/sedative (mis)use among adults aged ≥50 years reporting functional impairments in the U.S.Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk Reduction: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Blood Pressure Control
There is an immediate need to increase public health focus on the prevention of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). The population upward shift in age drives this imperative, with 1 in 5 Americans expected to be aged ≥65 years by 2030.1 In 2020, there were an estimated 5.8 million people aged ≥65 years with ADRD in the U.S., and as the population ages, the number of people with ADRD is expected to reach 8.4 million by 2030 and 13.8 million by 2050.2 Research shows that the modifiable risk factors for ADRD are, for the most part, the same risks associated with cardiovascular disease.Trends in Opioid Use Disorder Among Older Adults: Analyzing Medicare Data, 2013–2018
Opioid use disorder has grown rapidly over the years and is a public health crisis in the U.S. Although opioid use disorder is widely studied, relatively little is known about it among older adults. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of opioid use disorder among older Medicare beneficiaries over time and across several sociodemographic dimensions.Physical Function in Midlife and Older Adults From an African American Church-Based Health Screening
Limitations in physical function are predictive of adverse health outcomes, and screening has been recommended in clinical settings for older adults. Rarely assessed in community-based settings, physical function could provide insight for tailoring health-related community-based programs and raise awareness about this important aspect of health. This cross-sectional study seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating physical function assessments into health screenings in African American churches in Chicago, Illinois, through a large health partnership and to determine the prevalence and correlates of physical function limitations among midlife (aged 40–59 years) and late-life (aged ≥60 years) participants.Suicide in Older Adults With and Without Known Mental Illness: Results From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003–2016
Suicide risk increases with age, and evidence exists for the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of suicide risk in older adults. Recent data suggest that many U.S. adults who die from suicide do not have a known mental health condition. This study compares the characteristics and precipitating circumstances of geriatric suicide decedents with and without known mental illnesses.Physical Activity and Performance Impact Long-term Quality of Life in Older Adults at Risk for Major Mobility Disability
Older adults are a rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population. Mobility problems that lead to further disability can be addressed through physical activity interventions. Quality of life outcome results are reported from a large trial of physical activity for sedentary older adults at risk for mobility disability.Changing Faces of Cognitive Impairment in the U.S.: Detection Strategies for Underserved Communities
Between 2015 and 2050, the U.S. population aged 65 years and older will nearly double in size, from 48 million to 88 million and with it, the number of older American adults with cognitive impairment will surge, challenging a healthcare system that is ill-equipped to meet their related health and social needs. More than 5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease, the best known and most frequent form of cognitive impairment.1 By 2050, this number may rise to more than 13 million people.
