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.Volunteering as an Equalizer: A Quasi-Experimental Study Using Propensity Score Analysis
Formal volunteering in later life is beneficial for both physical and psychological well-being. However, research points to potential selection bias because older adults with key advantages, such as wealth, are more likely to volunteer and reap its benefits. Accordingly, this study addresses this selection bias by considering the characteristics of volunteers and nonvolunteers using the inverse probability of treatment weighting. It also examines whether volunteering has differential impacts between the highest and lowest wealth quintiles using inverse probability of treatment weighting.Risk Patterns and Mortality in Postmenopausal Women Using Latent Class Analysis
Although risk factors often co-occur, previous studies examining lifestyle or psychosocial factors often treat these factors as individual predictors of health. This study aims to identify the underlying subgroups of women characterized by distinct lifestyle and psychosocial risk patterns and to investigate the prospective associations between risk patterns and mortality among postmenopausal women.Variability in Cardiometabolic and Inflammatory Parameters and Cognitive Decline
The relationship between variability in cardiometabolic and inflammatory parameters and cognitive changes is unknown. This study investigates the association of visit-to-visit variability in BMI, mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, ferritin, and fibrinogen with cognitive decline.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.Adapted Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries Questions for Falls Risk Screening: Predictive Ability in Older Drivers
Fall fatality rates among U.S. older adults increased 30% from 2007 to 2016. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries algorithm for fall risk screening, assessment, and intervention. The current Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries algorithm with 2 levels (at risk and not at risk) was adapted to an existing cohort of older adult drivers.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.Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dementia: Interactions With Social Capital in the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study Cohort
This study investigated whether individual-level social capital modifies the association between adverse childhood experiences and dementia onset.Impact of Social Isolation on Physical Functioning Among Older Adults: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study of a U.S.-Representative Sample
Social isolation among older adults is associated with poor health and premature mortality, but its impact on physical functioning is not fully understood. Previous studies have typically relied on community samples, cross-sectional data, and suboptimal prospective designs. This study generates more robust evidence by investigating the longitudinal associations between social isolation and physical functioning in a large panel of older adults.Disparities in Preventable Hospitalization Among Patients With Alzheimer Diseases
System-level care coordination strategies can be the most effective to promote continuity of care among people with Alzheimer's disease; however, the evidence is lacking. The objective of this study is to determine whether accountable care organizations are associated with lower rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations for people with Alzheimer's disease and whether hospital accountable care organization affiliation is associated with reduced racial and ethnic disparities in preventable hospitalizations among patients with Alzheimer's 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.Neighborhood Green Land Cover and Neighborhood-Based Walking in U.S. Older Adults
Greenspace exposure has been associated with physical activity, but few studies have investigated its association with physical activity in the residential neighborhood. This study investigates whether greater amounts of neighborhood open space and forest are associated with neighborhood-based walking in older adults.Suicide Distribution and Trends Among Male Older Adults in the U.S., 1999–2018
This study examines the distribution and trends in suicide death rates among male adults aged ≥65 years in the U.S. from 1999 to 2018.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.Allostatic Load Among U.S.- and Foreign-Born Whites, Blacks, and Latinx
The objective of this study is to examine how allostatic load, a multidimensional measure of the body's cumulative response to stressors experienced throughout the life course, has changed over time and by age among U.S.- and foreign-born Whites, Blacks, and Latinx.Misuse of Prescription Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquilizers, and Sedatives Among U.S. Older Adults Aged ≥50 Years
Misuse of prescription medications has led to higher mortality and morbidity in the U.S. This study investigates medical and nonmedical use of prescription medications (prescription pain relievers, stimulants, prescription tranquilizers, and sedatives) among adults aged ≥50 years.Adverse Childhood Experiences and Decreased Renal Function: Impact on All-Cause Mortality in U.S. Adults
Evidence suggests that individuals with a history of adverse childhood experiences have higher odds of developing kidney disease than individuals with no adverse childhood experiences. However, no study has examined the influence of coexisting adverse childhood experiences and kidney disease on mortality risk. This study uses a longitudinal survey of adults to examine the influence of coexisting adverse childhood experiences and decreased renal function on all-cause mortality in a sample of U.S.Associations of Activity and Sleep With Quality of Life: A Compositional Data Analysis
Associations between time spent on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep and quality of life are usually studied without considering that their combined time is fixed. This study investigates the reallocation of time spent on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep during the 24-hour day and their associations with quality of life.Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach
Growing evidence documents strong associations between volunteering and favorable health and well-being outcomes. However, epidemiological studies have not evaluated whether changes in volunteering are associated with subsequent health and well-being outcomes.Shingles Vaccination of U.S. Adults Aged 50–59 Years and ≥60 Years Before Recommendations for Use of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine
In 2006, zoster vaccine live was recommended for adults aged ≥60 years. In 2011, zoster vaccine live was approved for use but not recommended for adults aged 50–59 years. This study assessed zoster vaccine live coverage among adults aged 50–59 years and ≥60 years.Trends in Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries Among Older Americans, 2004–2017
This study (1) provides annual population estimates of fatal and nonfatal injury incidence rates for older adults for 2004–2017; (2) determines if trends differ by whether the injury was fatal or nonfatal, a fall or nonfall injury, and for nonfatal injuries, minor or serious; and (3) investigates whether trends vary by age, sex, and race.Older Adults’ Physical Activity and Healthcare Costs, 2003–2014
Research has documented the health benefits of physical activity among older adults, but the relationship between physical activity and healthcare costs remains unexplored at the population level. Using data from 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, this study investigates the extent to which physical activity prevalence is associated with healthcare costs among older adults.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.Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults Aged ≥65 Years: Cost-Effectiveness and Health Impact in U.S. Populations
Recommending both the conjugate and polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines to all U.S. seniors may have little public health impact and be economically unreasonable. Public health impact and cost-effectiveness of using both vaccines in all adults aged ≥65 years were estimated compared with an alternative strategy (omitting pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the nonimmunocompromised) and with the newly revised recommendation (giving or omitting conjugate vaccine based on patient–physician shared decision making).Fall Prevention Self-Management Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Adequate self-management could minimize the impact of falls in older adults. The efficacy of fall prevention self-management interventions has been widely studied, yet little is known about why some older adults engage in fall prevention self-management actions and behaviors, whereas others do not. Through a systematic review of fall prevention self-management studies, this study identified characteristics and the personal, social, and environmental factors of older adults who engage in self-management actions and behaviors.Neighborhood Food Environment and Dementia Incidence: the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study Cohort Survey
Interventions targeting built environmental factors may encourage older people to engage in favorable behaviors and decrease dementia risk, but epidemiologic evidence is limited. This study investigated the association between neighborhood food environment and dementia incidence.Urban–Rural Differences in Older Adult Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies
Depression among older adults (aged 60 years or older) is a problem that could be exacerbated by global trends in urbanization and population aging. The study purpose was to assess whether urban, relative to rural, residence is associated with depression among older adults and whether associations differ in countries with developed versus developing economies.Compressed Influenza Vaccination in U.S. Older Adults: A Decision Analysis
Tradeoffs exist between efforts to increase influenza vaccine uptake, including early season vaccination, and potential decreased vaccine effectiveness if protection wanes during influenza season. U.S. older adults increasingly receive vaccination before October. Influenza illness peaks vary from December to April.Optimism and Healthy Aging in Women
Optimism—the expectation that good things will happen—has emerged as a promising health asset, as it appears to be related to healthier behaviors and reduced disease risk. Growing research finds that higher optimism is associated with lower mortality, yet it is critical to understand whether this prolonged longevity is accompanied by good health. This study tested whether higher optimism was associated with increased likelihood of healthy aging.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.The Potential to Reduce Falls and Avert Costs by Clinically Managing Fall Risk
Falls often cause severe injuries and are one of the most costly health conditions among older adults. Yet, many falls are preventable. The number of preventable medically treated falls and associated costs averted were estimated by applying evidence-based fall interventions in clinical settings.Low Systolic Blood Pressure From Treatment and Association With Serious Falls/Syncope
With the growing emphasis on intensive blood pressure control, the potential for overtreatment and treatment-related adverse outcomes has become an area of interest. A large representative population within a real-world clinical environment with successful hypertension control rates was used to evaluate serious falls and syncope in people with low-treated systolic blood pressure (SBP).Hearing Disability Prevalence and Risk Factors in Two Recent National Surveys
Hearing loss is a worldwide societal and public health concern. Globally, disabling hearing loss affects 538 million adults (men, 12.2%; women, 9.8%). This study examined the prevalence and risk factors associated with deafness or serious difficulty hearing in two nationally representative surveys.Use of Time and Energy on Exercise, Prolonged TV Viewing, and Work Days
The goal of this study was to describe differences in time use and energy expenditure associated with exercise, prolonged TV viewing, and work days in a longitudinal study of older adults.Effects of Primary Cardiovascular Prevention on Vascular Risk in Older Adults
Primary cardiovascular prevention through simultaneously targeting multiple risk factors may be even more effective than single risk factor modification in older adults. The effects of multicomponent cardiovascular prevention on cardiovascular risk are explored.Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Retirement: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Physical activity and sedentary behavior are major risk factors for chronic disease. These behaviors may change at retirement, with implications for health in later life. The study objective was to describe longitudinal patterns of moderate to vigorous and domain-specific physical activity and TV watching by retirement status.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.BMI and Central Obesity With Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults
This study examined the associations of BMI category and central obesity status, with falls among community-dwelling older adults in the U.S.Fall Risk Factors in Mid-Age Women: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health
In contrast to older adults, little is known about risk factors for falls in adults aged 50–64 years, despite a high prevalence of falls in this age group. The aim was to identify risk factors for falls in mid-age women and explore how associations change with age.Individualized Fracture Risk Feedback and Long-term Benefits After 10 Years
This study aimed to determine if beneficial effects of individualized feedback of fracture risk on osteoporosis preventive behaviors and bone mineral density observed in a 2-year trial were sustained long-term.Secular Trends in Dementia and Cognitive Impairment of U.S. Rural and Urban Older Adults
This is a nationally representative study of rural−urban disparities in the prevalence of probable dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND).Use of Welcome to Medicare Visits Among Older Adults Following the Affordable Care Act
To encourage greater utilization of preventive services among Medicare beneficiaries, the 2010 Affordable Care Act waived coinsurance for the Welcome to Medicare visit, making this benefit free starting in 2011. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Welcome to Medicare visit utilization.Walking in Relation to Mortality in a Large Prospective Cohort of Older U.S. Adults
Engaging in >150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity weekly is recommended for optimal health. The relationship between walking, the most common activity especially for older adults, and total mortality is not well documented.Older Suicide Decedents: Intent Disclosure, Mental and Physical Health, and Suicide Means
This study examined: (1) associations of suicide intent disclosure with depressed mood and health problems; (2) age-group differences in those associations; and (3) relationship between disclosure and suicide means among suicide decedents aged ≥50 years (N=46,857).Psychological Well-being’s Link with Cardiovascular Health in Older Adults
Favorable cardiovascular health (FCH) is associated with healthy longevity and reduced cardiovascular mortality risk. However, limited work has investigated the distribution of FCH in older age or considered the antecedents of FCH. Based on prior work linking psychological well-being with cardiovascular endpoints, higher psychological well-being was hypothesized to be associated with increased likelihood of maintaining FCH over time.Combined Healthy Behaviors and Healthcare Services Use in Older Adults
Data on the combined impact of healthy behaviors on healthcare use in older adults are limited.Neighborhood Environment and Cognition in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Some evidence suggests that treating vascular risk factors and performing mentally stimulating activities may delay cognitive impairment onset in older adults. Exposure to a complex neighborhood environment may be one mechanism to help delay cognitive decline.Recent Hepatitis C Virus Testing Patterns Among Baby Boomers
Approximately 3.5 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the U.S., 80% of whom are “baby boomers” (born between 1945 and 1965).1 Most infected individuals are not aware of their infections despite availability of treatments that may reduce their risk of HCV-related diseases, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.2 To curb the growing burden of these HCV-associated diseases, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended one-time HCV testing for baby boomers in 2013.The Healthy Aging Research Network: Modeling Collaboration for Community Impact
As the first Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Prevention Research Centers Program thematic network, the Healthy Aging Research Network was established to better understand the determinants of healthy aging within older adult populations, identify interventions that promote healthy aging, and assist in translating research into sustainable community-based programs throughout the nation. To achieve these goals requires concerted efforts of a collaborative network of academic, community, and public health organizational partnerships.Cut Points for Clinical Muscle Weakness Among Older Americans
Muscle weakness is an important indicator of disability, chronic disease, and early mortality. Grip strength is a simple, cost-effective measure of overall muscle strength. The Foundation of the National Institutes of Health recently proposed sex-specific grip strength cut points for clinical muscle weakness. However, these criteria were established using non−nationally representative data. This study used nationally representative data on Americans aged ≥65 years to identify race- and sex-specific cut points for clinical muscle weakness and quantify prevalence among older blacks and whites by sex.The Built Environment and Cognitive Disorders: Results From the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II
Built environment features have been related to behavior modification and might stimulate cognitive activity with a potential impact on cognitive health in later life. This study investigated cross-sectional associations between features of land use and cognitive impairment and dementia, and also explored urban and rural differences in these associations.A Trial of Financial and Social Incentives to Increase Older Adults’ Walking
Despite evidence that regular physical activity confers health benefits, physical activity rates among older adults remain low. Both personal and social goals may enhance older adults’ motivation to become active. This study tested the effects of financial incentives, donations to charity, and the combined effects of both interventions on older adults’ uptake and retention of increased levels of walking.Smoking Habits and Body Weight Over the Adult Lifespan in Postmenopausal Women
The inter-relationships between smoking habits and weight gain are complex. However, few studies have examined the association of smoking habits with weight gain over the life course.Maintaining a Healthy BMI: Data From a 16-Year Study of Young Australian Women
The aims of this prospective cohort study were to examine 16-year trajectories of weight and BMI in young adult women who had a healthy BMI in 1996 and determinants of remaining in the healthy BMI category.Cigarette Smoking and Mortality in Adults Aged 70 Years and Older: Results From the NIH-AARP Cohort
Tobacco use remains a leading modifiable cause of cancer incidence and premature mortality in the U.S. and globally. Despite increasing life expectancy worldwide, less is known about the effects of cigarette smoking on older populations. This study sought to determine the effects of smoking on mortality in older age.Correlates of Receiving a Recommendation for More Physical Activity From a Primary Care Provider
Primary care providers (PCPs) are strategically positioned to communicate with their overweight/obese patients about positive behavioral changes to improve health and functioning. Demographic and behavioral correlates of receiving a recommendation for more physical activity (PA) from a PCP by overweight/obese patients were assessed.Activity and Sedentary Time 10 Years After a Successful Lifestyle Intervention: The Diabetes Prevention Program
This study aims to determine if evidence exists for a lasting effect of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention on activity levels by comparing objectively collected activity data between the DPP Outcome Study (DPPOS) cohort and adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2003–2006).Exercise Capacity, Heart Failure Risk, and Mortality in Older Adults: The Health ABC Study
Data on the association between exercise capacity and risk for heart failure (HF) in older adults are limited.National and State-Specific Shingles Vaccination Among Adults Aged ≥60 Years
Shingles (herpes zoster) causes substantial morbidity, especially among older adults. The shingles vaccine has been recommended for people aged ≥60 years since 2006. This study assessed recent shingles vaccination at national and state levels among adults aged ≥60 years.Smoking and the Reduced Life Expectancy of Individuals With Serious Mental Illness
People with serious mental illness experience substantially reduced life expectancy, likely due in part to their higher smoking rates relative to the general population. However, the extent to which smoking affects their life expectancy, independent of mental illness, is unknown. This study quantifies the potential contribution of smoking to reduced life expectancy among individuals with serious psychological distress (SPD), a measure that screens for serious mental illness in national surveys.Influence of Age and Comorbidity on Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Elderly
Expert recommendations differ for colorectal cancer screening in the elderly. Recent studies suggest that healthy adults aged >75 years may benefit from screening. This study examined screening use and follow-up, and how they varied by health status within age strata, among a large cohort of elderly individuals in community settings.The National Adult Immunization Plan: Strengthening Adult Immunization Through Coordinated Action
Despite the widespread availability of safe and effective vaccines, adult vaccination rates remain low in the U.S. and far below Healthy People 2020 targets.1–3 Vaccine-preventable diseases exert a heavy toll on adults aged 18 years and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that among U.S. adults, each year there are roughly 40,000 cases and 4,000 deaths attributable to invasive pneumococcal disease,4 between 3,000 and 49,000 deaths due to seasonal influenza,5 9,000 reported cases of pertussis,6 approximately 3,000 reported cases of acute hepatitis B,7 and about 1 million cases of herpes zoster.Neighborhood Walkability and Adiposity in the Women’s Health Initiative Cohort
Neighborhood environments may play a role in the rising prevalence of obesity among older adults. However, research on built environmental correlates of obesity in this age group is limited. The current study aimed to explore associations of Walk Score, a validated measure of neighborhood walkability, with BMI and waist circumference in a large, diverse sample of older women.Predictors of the Onset of Cigarette Smoking: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Population-Based Studies in Youth
The onset of cigarette smoking typically occurs during childhood or early adolescence. Nicotine dependence symptoms can manifest soon after onset, contributing to sustained, long-term smoking. Previous reviews have not clarified the determinants of onset.Health Literacy and Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity During Aging, 2004–2013
Health literacy (the ability to read and understand health information) may help to support sustained participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during aging; this relationship has never been examined longitudinally. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health literacy and participation in weekly MVPA over an 8-year period among older adults.Neighborhood Greenness and Chronic Health Conditions in Medicare Beneficiaries
Prior studies suggest that exposure to the natural environment may impact health. The present study examines the association between objective measures of block-level greenness (vegetative presence) and chronic medical conditions, including cardiometabolic conditions, in a large population-based sample of Medicare beneficiaries in Miami-Dade County, Florida.Retirement—A Transition to a Healthier Lifestyle?: Evidence From a Large Australian Study
Population aging is associated with a rising burden of non-communicable disease, profoundly impacting health policy and practice. Adopting and adhering to healthy lifestyles in middle or older age can protect against morbidity and mortality. Retirement brings opportunities to reconfigure habitual lifestyles and establish new routines. This study examines the longitudinal association between retirement and a range of lifestyle risk behaviors among a large population-based sample of Australian adults.Older Adult Falls Seen by Emergency Medical Service Providers: A Prevention Opportunity
Among people aged ≥65 years, falling is the leading cause of emergency department visits. Emergency medical services (EMS) are often called to help older adults who have fallen, with some requiring hospital transport. Chief aims were to determine where falls occurred and the circumstances under which patients were transported by EMS, and to identify future fall prevention opportunities.Associations of Relative Handgrip Strength and Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in U.S. Adults, 2011–2012
Although decline in muscle mass and quality and resulting declines in muscle strength are associated with aging, more research is needed in general populations to assess the utility of handgrip strength as an indicator of muscle strength and cardiovascular disease risk.Pneumococcal Disease Prevention Among Adults: Strategies for the Use of Pneumococcal Vaccines
Use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines among children in the U.S. since 2000 has dramatically reduced pneumococcal disease burden among adults. Significant vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal infections still remains, especially among older adults. The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recently recommended the routine use of both pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) and polysaccharide vaccines (PPSV23) for adults ≥65 years. These recommendations were based on the remaining burden of illness among adults and the importance of non-bacteremic pneumonia prevention in light of new evidence confirming the efficacy of PCV13 to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia among older adults.Precision Lifestyle Medicine: A New Frontier in the Science of Behavior Change and Population Health
Despite marked strides in population health and increased life expectancy in the U.S. over the past two decades, chronic disease and disability dominate the U.S. health burden,1 leading to poor quality of life, high healthcare use and costs, functional impairment, psychological distress, and premature death. An estimated one in seven U.S. adults has at least two of five major chronic conditions: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and arthritis.2 These chronic conditions are highly related to unhealthy lifestyle factors, particularly smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet quality, and worsening or stagnant rates of obesity.Healthcare Stereotype Threat in Older Adults in the Health and Retirement Study
Healthcare stereotype threat is the threat of being personally reduced to group stereotypes that commonly operate within the healthcare domain, including stereotypes regarding unhealthy lifestyles and inferior intelligence. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which people fear being judged in healthcare contexts on several characteristics, including race/ethnicity and age, and to test predictions that experience of such threats would be connected with poorer health and negative perceptions of health care.Cardiovascular Health and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: The Women’s Health Initiative
The American Heart Association’s “Simple 7” offers a practical public health conceptualization of cardiovascular health (CVH). CVH predicts incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in younger populations, but has not been studied in a large, diverse population of aging postmenopausal women. The extent to which CVH predicts cancer in postmenopausal women is unknown.Effects of a Community-Based Fall Management Program on Medicare Cost Savings
Fall-related injuries and health risks associated with reduced mobility or physical inactivity account for significant costs to the U.S. healthcare system. The widely disseminated lay-led A Matter of Balance (MOB) program aims to help older adults reduce their risk of falling and associated activity limitations. This study examined effects of MOB participation on health service utilization and costs for Medicare beneficiaries, as a part of a larger effort to understand the value of community-based prevention and wellness programs for Medicare.Trends in the Average Age of Quitting Among U.S. Adult Cigarette Smokers
Quitting smoking at any age confers health benefits. However, studies have suggested that quitting by age 35 years leads to mortality rates similar to never smokers. This study assessed whether the mean and median ages of past-year quitting and prevalence of past-year quit attempts and successful quitting by age group changed over time.Effect of Community Volunteering on Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Older adults with a high number of chronic conditions and who live in environments that do not promote physical activity have great difficulty initiating and adhering to exercise programs. Novel lifestyle activity interventions that can effectively increase physical activity may address disparities in health in these populations. This study evaluates the effects of the Baltimore Experience Corps program, a community-based volunteer program, on walking activity in older adults.Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Falls, and Fall Injuries in Middle-Aged Adults
Although exercise and strength training have been shown to be protective against falls in older adults (aged 65 years and older), evidence for the role of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in the prevention of falls and resulting injuries in middle-aged adults (aged 45–64 years) is lacking. In the present study, we investigate the association between self-reported engagement in LTPA and the frequency of falls and fall-related injuries among middle-aged and older adults, while controlling for key sociodemographic and health characteristics.Grip Strength as a Marker of Hypertension and Diabetes in Healthy Weight Adults
Muscle strength may play a role in cardiometabolic disease. We examined the relationship between hand grip strength and diabetes and hypertension in a sample of healthy weight adults.Causes of Death Associated With Prolonged TV Viewing: NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study
TV viewing is the most prevalent sedentary behavior and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality, but the association with other leading causes of death is unknown. This study examined the association between TV viewing and leading causes of death in the U.S.Smoking and All-cause Mortality in Older Adults: Results From the CHANCES Consortium
Smoking is known to be a major cause of death among middle-aged adults, but evidence on its impact and the benefits of smoking cessation among older adults has remained limited. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the influence of smoking and smoking cessation on all-cause mortality in people aged ≥60 years.Tai Chi and the Protection of Cognitive Ability: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies in Healthy Adults
Age-related cognitive decline has become an important public health issue. Tai Chi may be an effective intervention to protect the cognitive ability of healthy adults, but its effects are uncertain. This study systematically evaluated the protective effects of Tai Chi on healthy adults’ cognitive ability.Patterns of Physical Activity Among Older Adults in New York City: A Latent Class Approach
Little research to date has explored typologies of physical activity among older adults. An understanding of physical activity patterns may help to both determine the health benefits of different types of activity and target interventions to increase activity levels in older adults. This analysis, conducted in 2014, used a latent class analysis approach to characterize patterns of physical activity in a cohort of older adults.Physical Activity and Mental Well-being in a Cohort Aged 60–64 Years
Although evidence suggests physical activity (PA) may be associated with mental well-being at older ages, it is unclear whether some types of PA are more important than others. The purpose of this study is to investigate associations of monitored total PA under free-living conditions, self-reported leisure-time PA (LTPA), and walking for pleasure with mental well-being at age 60–64 years.Prospective Study of Physical Activity and Sleep in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Few prospective cohort studies have examined the association between physical activity (PA) and insomnia prevention, and the effective PA intensity remains unclear. This prospective study explores how PA intensity prevents incident short sleep duration and subjective insufficient sleep in middle-aged and older adults.Secular Changes in Prediabetes Indicators Among Older-Adult Americans, 1999−2010
Sex-specific prediabetes estimates are not available for older-adult Americans.Suicide Later in Life: Challenges and Priorities for Prevention
Suicide in later life is a major public health concern in the U.S., where more than 6,000 older adults take their own lives every year. Suicide prevention in this age group is made challenging by the high lethality of older adults’ suicidal behavior; few survive their first attempt to harm themselves. Research has revealed that factors in each of five domains place older adults at increased risk for suicide—psychiatric illness, personality traits and coping styles, medical illness, life stressors and social disconnectedness, and functional impairment.Regular Fish Consumption and Age-Related Brain Gray Matter Loss
Brain health may be affected by modifiable lifestyle factors; consuming fish and antioxidative omega-3 fatty acids may reduce brain structural abnormality risk.Non-Exercise Physical Activity and Survival: English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
The activity patterns of older adults include more light/mild-intensity or “non-exercise” activity and less moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity. The health benefits of this type of activity pattern remain unclear.Patterns of Chronic Conditions in Older Adults: Exploratory Spatial Findings from the ElderSmile Program
The increasing prevalence of primary care–sensitive conditions, notably diabetes and hypertension, among older adults presents a challenge to the public health community. Systems science conceptualizations of health, along with considerations of the social and environmental context in which older adults live, are needed before effective interventions can be designed and implemented.Long-Term Obesity and Cardiovascular, Inflammatory, and Metabolic Risk in U.S. Adults
People worldwide are becoming obese at earlier ages, increasing exposure to long-term obesity.Age and Cancer Risk: A Potentially Modifiable Relationship
This article challenges the idea that cancer cannot be prevented among older adults by examining different aspects of the relationship between age and cancer. Although the sequential patterns of aging cannot be changed, several age-related factors that contribute to disease risk can be. For most adults, age is coincidentally associated with preventable chronic conditions, avoidable exposures, and modifiable risk behaviors that are causally associated with cancer. Midlife is a period of life when the prevalence of multiple cancer risk factors is high and incidence rates begin to increase for many types of cancer.Opportunities for Cancer Prevention During Midlife: Highlights from a Meeting of Experts
This paper provides highlights from a CDC-hosted meeting on opportunities for cancer prevention during midlife (roughly ages 45–64 years). Positive changes during this phase of life have the potential to prevent cancer incidence later in life, making this phase an opportune time for targeted prevention efforts to facilitate healthy aging and increased longevity. Risk and protective factors discussed during the meeting included exposure to radiation from medical imaging procedures, circadian disruption, chemical exposures, dietary factors, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical activity, diabetes, and the human microbiome.Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: The Contribution of Age and Workplace Characteristics
The workplace is an important domain for adults, and many effective interventions targeting physical activity and weight reduction have been implemented in the workplace. However, the U.S. workforce is aging, and few studies have examined the relationship of BMI, physical activity, and age as they relate to workplace characteristics.Forging an Integrated Agenda for Primary Cancer Prevention During Midlife
The aging of the Baby Boomer population, the roughly 69 million adults who were born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964, presents a number of important public health challenges. This cohort that now represents 26.4% of the total U.S. population is living longer than any cohort that came before it. Men aged 65 years are projected to live to age 83 years, and women aged 65 years are projected to live to 85 years, compared to about 46 years for men and 48 years for women in 1900.1,2 This trend toward increased longevity is expected to continue, with the number of adults aged ≥65 years increasing from 35 million, or 13% of the U.S.Temporal Shifts in Cardiovascular Risk Factor Distribution
Complementary strategies to shift risk factor population distributions and target high-risk individuals are required to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).Discrimination, Racial Bias, and Telomere Length in African-American Men
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is an indicator of general systemic aging, with shorter LTL being associated with several chronic diseases of aging and earlier mortality. Identifying factors related to LTL among African Americans may yield insights into mechanisms underlying racial disparities in health.Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in Older Women: The Women’s Health Initiative
Although epidemiologic studies have shown associations between sedentary behavior and mortality, few have focused on older women with adequate minority representation and few have controlled for both physical activity and functional status.Age-Related Eye Diseases and Visual Impairment Among U.S. Adults
Visual impairment is a common health-related disability in the U.S. The association between clinical measurements of age-related eye diseases and visual impairment in data from a national survey has not been reported.Mortality Rates and Cause-of-Death Patterns in a Vaccinated Population
Determining the baseline mortality rate in a vaccinated population is necessary to be able to identify any unusual increases in deaths following vaccine administration. Background rates are particularly useful during mass immunization campaigns and in the evaluation of new vaccines.
