Intellectual ability in young adulthood as an antecedent of physical functioning in older age.

Objectives: low cognitive ability is associated with subsequent functional disability. Whether this association extends across adult life has been little studied. The aim of this study was to examine the association between intellectual ability in young adulthood and physical functioning during a 10-year follow-up in older age.Methods: three hundred and sixty persons of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (HBCS) male members, born between 1934 and 1944 and residing in Finland in 1971, took part in The Finnish Defence Forces Basic Intellectual Ability Test during the first 2 weeks of their military service training between 1952 and 1972. Their physical functioning was assessed twice using the Sh…

Trajectories of mobility limitations over 24 years and their characterization by shift work and leisure-time physical activity in midlife.

Abstract Background We aimed to investigate trajectories of mobility limitations (MLs) over a period of 24 years. In addition, we aimed to study how shift work and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in midlife predict assignment to MLs trajectories separately for those retired on statutory pensions (SPs) and on disability pensions (DPs). Methods Subjects who responded MLs questionnaires (1985–2009, N = 3048) in Finnish Longitudinal Study on Aging Municipal Employees were included in this prospective cohort study. LTPA and shift work were measured during baseline. International Classification of Functioning was used to code MLs. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify the trajectorie…

Telomere Length and Frailty: The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Objectives: Telomere length is associated with aging-related pathologies. Although the association between telomere length and frailty has been studied previously, only a few studies assessing longitudinal changes in telomere length and frailty exist. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting and participants: A subpopulation of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study consisting of 1078 older adults aged 67 to 79 years born in Helsinki, Finland, between 1934 and 1944. Measures: Relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL) was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction at the average ages of 61 and 71 years, and at the latter the participants were assessed for frailty according to …

The impact of maternal weight in pregnancy on glucose metabolism in non-diabetic offspring in late adulthood

Aims: We aimed to examine the association between maternal adiposity and glucose metabolism in adult offspring without diabetes, simultaneous taking offspring own adiposity into account. Methods: This longitudinal birth cohort study (Helsinki Birth Cohort Study) included 1,440 non-diabetic subjects examined at a mean age of 62 years. Subjects were divided into quartiles according to maternal body mass index (BMI). The impact of maternal BMI on offspring body composition was also studied. Results: There were no differences in fasting glucose between the groups. In men, maternal BMI was inversely associated with mean 2-hour glucose concentration after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (p <0.…

Glucose regulation and pain in older people-The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Aims: To assess if individuals with diabetes or prediabetes report more pain or have increased use of pain medication compared to normoglycaemic individuals. Methods: Using cross-sectional data, we studied 928 men and 1075 women from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study in 2001-2004 at a mean age of 61.5 years. Glucose regulation was assessed with a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and applying World Health Organization criteria, participants were defined as having normoglycaemia, prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance), newly diagnosed diabetes or previously diagnosed diabetes. Self-reported pain intensity and interference during the previous 4 weeks was estima…

Birth cohort differences in cognitive performance in 75- and 80-year-olds: a comparison of two cohorts over 28 years.

Abstract Objective To evaluate cohort differences in cognitive performance in older men and women born and assessed 28 years apart. Methods Data in this study were drawn from two age-homogeneous cohorts measured in the same laboratory using the same standardized cognitive performance tests. Participants in the first cohort were born in 1910 and 1914 and assessed in 1989–1990 (Evergreen project, n = 500). Participants in the second cohort were born in 1938 or 1939 and 1942 or 1943 and assessed in 2017–2018 (Evergreen II, n = 726). Participants in both cohorts were assessed at age 75 and 80 years and were recruited from the population register. Cognitive performance was measured using the Dig…

Changes in physical performance according to job demands across three cohorts of older workers in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

This study set out to evaluate the association between job demands at baseline and physical performance over a six-year period across three cohorts of older Dutch workers examined 10 years apart. Data were drawn from three cohorts (1992–1999, 2002–2009 and 2012–2019) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Individuals aged 55–65 years from each cohort who worked for pay were included (n = 274, n = 416, n = 618, respectively). Physical performance was measured using gait speed and chair stand performance. A population-based job exposure matrix was used to indicate levels of exposure probability of physical (use of force and repetitive movements) and psychosocial (cognitive demands and tim…

Physical heaviness of work and sitting at work as predictors of mortality : a 26-year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

ObjectivesTo examine the relationships of late-career physical heaviness of work and sitting at work with mortality. A national-level job exposure matrix was used to determine the occupation-specific level of physical heaviness and sitting.DesignProspective cohort study between years 1990 and 2015.SettingCommunity.Participants5210 men and 4725 women from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study with an occupational code at baseline (ages 45–57 years).Primary and secondary outcome measuresTotal, cardiovascular (International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision I00–I99), cancer (C00–C97) and external (S00–Y84) mortality.ResultsThe exposures, physical heaviness and sitting had a non-linear, invers…

Work strain in midlife and 28-year work ability trajectories

We investigated the 28-year development trajectories of work ability among initially middle-aged male and female municipal employees and the association of perceived mental and physical work strain in midlife by work ability trajectory groups.The baseline data of the Finnish longitudinal study of municipal employees (FLAME) were collected in 1981 (N=6257) with follow-ups in 1985, 1992, 1997, and 2009. Work ability was assessed in all the waves as present perceived work ability relative to lifetime best. Altogether, N=2690 had work ability data in 1981 and 2009, and at least for one wave in between these years, and were included in group-based semi-parametric mixture modeling trajectory anal…

Higher carotid-radial pulse wave velocity is associated with non-melancholic depressive symptoms in men - findings from Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Background: Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are major causes of global disease burden that are interrelated through mostly unknown mechanisms. We studied the relationship of melancholic and non-melancholic depressive symptoms with arterial stiffness, an important underlying mechanism of CVD. Methods: The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study recruited 683 previously extensively phenotyped subjects for this sub-study. Cross-sectional data along with responses regarding depressive symptoms were obtained for each participant. For evaluation of depressive symptoms, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)and subscales were used to measure melancholic and non-melancholic depressive symptoms. Arteri…

Adiposity-Related Predictors of Vascular Aging From a Life Course Perspective : Findings From the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Construct and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of preclinical mobility limitation.

Abstract Manty M, Heinonen A, Leinonen R, Tormakangas T, Sakari-Rantala R, Hirvensalo M, von Bonsdorff MB, Rantanen T. Construct and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of preclinical mobility limitation. Objectives To validate self-reported preclinical mobility limitation concept and self-report assessment method against muscle power and walking speed, and to study the predictive validity of preclinical mobility limitation with respect to future risk of manifest mobility limitation. Design Observational prospective cohort study and cross-sectional analysis. Setting Research laboratory and community. Participants A total of 632 community-living (age range, 75−81y) women and men t…

Early-Life Factors as Predictors of Age-Associated Deficit Accumulation Across 17 Years From Midlife Into Old Age

Abstract Background Early-life exposures have been associated with the risk of frailty in old age. We investigated whether early-life exposures predict the level and rate of change in a frailty index (FI) from midlife into old age. Methods A linear mixed model analysis was performed using data from 3 measurement occasions over 17 years in participants from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (n = 2 000) aged 57–84 years. A 41-item FI was calculated on each occasion. Information on birth size, maternal body mass index (BMI), growth in infancy and childhood, childhood socioeconomic status (SES), and early-life stress (wartime separation from both parents) was obtained from registers and health ca…

Work ability in midlife as a predictor of mortality and disability in later life: a 28-year prospective follow-up study.

Background: Poor work ability correlates with increased morbidity and early retirement from the workforce, but the association in old age is not known. We investigated work ability in midlife among white-collar and blue-collar employees as a predictor of mortality and disability 28 years later. Methods: A total of 5971 occupationally active people aged 44–58 years participated in the Finnish Longitudinal Study of Municipal Employees (FLAME) in 1981. Perceived work ability relative to lifetime best was categorized as excellent, moderate or poor. In 2009, the ability to perform activities of daily living was assessed among 2879 respondents (71.0% of the survivors). Mortality data were availab…

A healthy Nordic diet and physical performance in old age : findings from the longitudinal Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

AbstractEpidemiological studies have shown that a number of nutrients are associated with better physical performance. However, little is still known about the role of the whole diet, particularly a healthy Nordic diet, in relation to physical performance. Therefore, we examined whether a healthy Nordic diet was associated with measures of physical performance 10 years later. We studied 1072 participants from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Participants’ diet was assessed using a validated 128-item FFQ at the mean age of 61 years, and a priori-defined Nordic diet score (NDS) was calculated. The score included Nordic fruits and berries, vegetables, cereals, PUFA:SFA and trans-fatty acids ra…

Body composition as a predictor of physical performance in older age : A ten- year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Background: This study assessed how different measures of body composition predict physical performance ten years later among older adults. Methods: The participants were 1076 men and women aged 57 to 70 years. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) were measured at baseline and physical performance (Senior Fitness Test) ten years later. Linear regression analyses were adjusted for age, education, smoking, duration of the follow-up and physical activity. Results: Greater BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, and percent body fat were associated with poorer physical performance in both sexes (standardized regression coefficient [beta…

Occupational Gerontology: Work-Related Determinants of Old Age Health and Functioning

Work is one of the essential functions during the human life span. We spend almost half of our lives occupationally active. Therefore, several different work-related determinants are affecting our lives. In recent years, there has been an increasing knowledge about work-related factors and their effect on health and functioning. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have provided strong evidence that both positive and negative exposures in work influence our well-being. This chapter gives an overview of recent literature about the associations between work, working conditions, and health. Within this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge on the association between work-related…

Glucose regulation and physical performance among older people: the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Aims To assess whether disturbances in glucose regulation are associated with impairment in physical performance during a 10-year follow-up. Methods 475 Men and 603 women from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study were studied. Glucose regulation was evaluated with a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 2001-2004. Subjects were categorised as having either impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), newly diagnosed diabetes or previously known diabetes. Physical performance was assessed approximately 10 years later using the validated senior fitness test (SFT). The relationship between glucose regulation and the overall SFT score was estimated using multiple linear…

Body composition and changes in health-related quality of life in older age: a 10-year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Abstract Purpose Most studies examining the associations between body composition and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older age have been cross-sectional and analyzed only fat or lean mass. Hence, it is poorly known whether fat and lean mass are independently associated with subsequent changes in HRQoL. We investigated whether baseline lean and fat mass are associated with changes in HRQoL over a 10-year period in older adults. Methods We studied 1044 men and women from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (age 57–70 years at baseline). Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to derive baseline fat mass index (FMI, fat mass/height2) and lean mass index (lean mass/height2), dichotomiz…

Mid-career work patterns and physical and mental functioning at age 60-64: evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort.

Background: Previous studies of the associations between unemployment and health have primarily focused on mental health and long-term associations have not often been explored. This study investigated if discontinuous employment in mid-career was related to self-reported physical and mental functioning at age 60–64 years. Methods: Data come from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, a British cohort that has been followed-up since birth in 1946. A total of 2061 study members had data available on mid-career employment patterns and physical and mental functioning assessed using the Short Form 36 questionnaire at age 60–64. Employment patterns in mid-career …

Work-related biomechanical exposure and job strain in midlife separately and jointly predict disability after 28 years: a Finnish longitudinal study

Objectives We investigated whether the extent of biomechanical exposures and job strain in midlife separately and jointly predict disability in old age. Methods Participants of the Finnish Longitudinal Study on Aging Municipal Employees (FLAME) in 1981 (aged 44–58 years) responded to disability questionnaires in 2009 (1850 women and 1082 men). Difficulties in performing five activities of daily living (ADL) and seven instrumental ADL (IADL) were used to assess severity of disability (score range: 0–12, 0=no disability). Information on biomechanical exposures and job strain was collected by questionnaire at baseline. Adjusted prevalence proportion ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95…

Early Life Origins of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Disability Pension: Findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

BackgroundThere is some evidence linking sub-optimal prenatal development to an increased risk of disability pension (DP). Our aim was to investigate whether body size at birth was associated with transitioning into all-cause and cause-specific DP during the adult work career.Methods10 682 people born in 1934-44 belonging to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study had data on birth weight extracted from birth records, and on time, type and reason of retirement between 1971 and 2011 extracted from the Finnish Centre for Pensions.ResultsAltogether 21.3% transitioned into DP during the 40-year follow-up, mainly due to mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular disease. Average age …

Early Life Influences on Hearing in Adulthood : a Systematic Review and Two-Step Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Adverse prenatal and early childhood development may increase susceptibility of hearing loss in adulthood. The objective was to assess whether indices of early development are associated with adult-onset hearing loss in adults ≥18 years. Design: In a systematic review and meta-analysis, four electronic databases were searched for studies reporting associations between indices of early development (birth weight and adult height) and adult-onset hearing loss in adults ≥18 years. We screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Authors were contacted to provide adjusted odds ratios from a logistic regression model for relationships between birth weight/adult height a…

EFFECT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COUNSELING ON HOME CARE USE IN OLDER PEOPLE

Job strain in the public sector and hospital in-patient care use in old age : a 28-year prospective follow-up

Background: high job strain increases the risk of health decline, but little is known about the specific consequences and long-term effects of job strain on old age health. Objectives: purpose was to investigate whether physical and mental job strain in midlife was associated with hospital care use in old age. Methods: study population included 5,625 Finnish public sector employees aged 44–58 years who worked in blue- and white-collar professions in 1981. The number of in-patient hospital care days was collected from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register for the 28-year follow-up period. Results: rates of hospital care days per 1,000 person-years for men were 7.78 (95% confidence interval…

The healthy Nordic diet predicts muscle strength 10 years later in old women, but not old men

Background a number of nutrients have been found to be associated with better muscle strength and mass; however, the role of the whole diet on muscle strength and mass remains still unknown. Objective to examine whether the healthy Nordic diet predicts muscle strength, and mass 10 years later among men and women. Methods about 1,072 participants belong to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, born 1934–44. Diet was assessed with a validated food-frequency questionnaire during 2001–04. The Nordic diet score (NDS) was calculated. The score included Nordic fruits, vegetables, cereals, ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, low-fat milk, fish, red meat, total fat and alcohol. Higher scor…

Type of retirement as a determinant of pre- and post-retirement hospital in-patient care use: a prospective study

Background We examined prospectively the use of all-cause hospital in-patient care among public sector employees by using a 3-year pre- and post-retirement study window. Methods A total of 5269 participants of the Finnish Longitudinal Study of Municipal Employees had retired during January 1984 and July 2000. They had register-based data on retirement (non-disability retirement n = 3411, men 40%, and diagnose-specific disability retirement n = 1858, men 50%) and all-cause hospital in-patient admissions and discharges. Analyses were conducted using Generalized Estimating Equation model. Results The prevalence of hospital care use for non-disability retirees remained stable during the 6-year …

Benefits of formal voluntary work among older people. A review

Background and aims: A narrative review of quantitative population-based longitudinal studies was conducted to examine the association of formal voluntary work and personal well-being among older people doing the voluntary work and those being served. Methods: To be included, the study had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, written in English and conducted in Western countries, participants were at least 60 years of age, the study employed a longitudinal or experimental design, the methodology and outcomes were explicitly described, and voluntary work quantified as visits or hours within a certain time frame. Results: Sixteen studies out of 2897 met the inclusion criteria for the r…

Association of childhood adversities and home atmosphere with functioning in old age: the Helsinki birth cohort study

Objectivechildhood adversities have been linked with adverse health outcomes, but less is known about the long-term consequences of childhood home atmosphere. We investigated whether childhood adversities and home atmosphere were associated with physical and mental functioning in older age.Methodsin the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study 2003, participants born in the year 1934–44 had data available on nine childhood home atmosphere items, e.g. whether it was supportive and warm (sum score ranged between 0 and 36, higher score indicating better atmosphere), and nine childhood adversities, e.g. unemployment and divorce (sum score 0–9, coded into no; one; and two or more adversities) assessed in 200…

Impaired glucose regulation, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life

IntroductionThis study aims to investigate whether the associations between impaired glucose regulation and health-related quality of life are modified by severity or type of depressive symptoms.Research design and methodsFor this cross-sectional study, we included 1939 individuals (mean age 61.5 years) from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Between 2001 and 2004, a standard 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was applied to define normoglycemia, pre-diabetes, and newly diagnosed diabetes. Information on previously diagnosed diabetes was collected from national registers and questionnaires. Pre-diabetes was defined as having either impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. …

Socioeconomic Status and Life-Space Mobility in Old Age.

Life-space mobility describes the extent of community mobility of older persons. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and life-space mobility and to investigate whether associations might be explained by SES-related disparities in health and functioning. The participants (n = 848) were community-dwelling adults aged 75–90. Education and occupation were used to indicate SES. Life-space assessment (range 0–120) was used to indicate distance and frequency of moving and assistance needed in moving. People with low education had lower life-space mobility scores than those with intermediate or high education: marginal means 63.5,…

Perspectives on Dynamic Retirement and Active Ageing

One central goal in ageing individuals’ late-career stages is to participate in working life, subsequently transition successfully into retirement, and to lead a satisfying and healthy life in retirement. In many ways, these goals are aligned with the policy orientation of countries facing challenges with global ageing. This chapter describes some of the current themes of retirement and late-career research, with a specific interest on the role of individual resource allocation strategies and human resource management in promoting the work ability of older employees. It will present the concept of bridge employment in the Finnish context, and the effects of normal retirement, i.e. after rea…

DS_10.1177_0149206316662314_Supplement – Supplemental material for Employee Age and Company Performance: An Integrated Model of Aging and Human Resource Management Practices

Supplemental material, DS_10.1177_0149206316662314_Supplement for Employee Age and Company Performance: An Integrated Model of Aging and Human Resource Management Practices by Monika E. von Bonsdorff, Le Zhou, Mo Wang, Sinikka Vanhala, Mikaela B. von Bonsdorff and Taina Rantanen in Journal of Management

Mobility limitations and cognitive deficits as predictors of institutionalization among community-dwelling older people.

&lt;i&gt;Purpose:&lt;/i&gt; Mobility limitations and cognitive disorders have often been observed as risks for institutionalization. However, their combined effects on risk of institutionalization among initially community-dwelling older people have been less well reported. &lt;i&gt;Design:&lt;/i&gt; A prospective cohort study with 10-year surveillance on institutionalization. &lt;i&gt;Subjects:&lt;/i&gt; Study population (n = 476) consisted of 75- and 80-year-old people who were community-dwelling, had not been diagnosed with dementia, and participated in tests on walking speed and cognitive capacity at a research centre. &lt;i&gt;Measures:&lt;/i&gt; Cognitive capacity was measured with th…

Use of antidepressants among Finnish family caregivers : a nationwide register-based study

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the use of antidepressants over 6 years between family caregivers providing high-intensity care and a matched control population using register-based data. Methods The study includes all individuals, who received family caregiver’s allowance in Finland in 2012 (n = 29,846 females, mean age 66 years; n = 12,410 males, mean age 71 years) and a control population matched for age, sex, and municipality of residence (n = 59,141 females; n = 24,477 males). Information on purchases of antidepressants, including the number of defined daily doses (DDD) purchased, between 2012 and 2017 was obtained from the national drugs reimbursement registe…

Perceived stress symptoms in midlife predict disability in old age: a 28-year prospective cohort study.

Background Stress has damaging effects on individual's health. However, information about the long-term consequences of mental stress is scarce. Methods This 28-year prospective cohort study examined on the associations between midlife stress and old age disability among 2,994 Finnish municipal professionals aged 44-58 years at baseline. Self-reported stress symptoms were assessed at baseline in 1981 and 4 years later in 1985 and perceived disability in 2009. For the baseline data, principal component analysis was used for differentiation into stress symptom profiles. The regression coefficient estimates for self-care disability (activities of daily living) and instrumental activities of da…

Effect of Physical Activity Counseling on Disability in Older People: A 2-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of a physical activitycounseling intervention on instrumental activity of dailyliving (IADL) disability.DESIGN: Primary care–based, single-blind, randomizedcontrolled trial.SETTING: City of Jyva¨skyla¨, central Finland.PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred thirty-two people aged 75to 81 who were able to walk 500 meters without assistance,were at most moderately physically active, had a Mini-Mental State Examination score greater than 21, had nomedical contraindications for physical activity, and gaveinformed consent for participation.INTERVENTION: A single individualized physical activitycounseling session with supportive phone calls from a physio-therapist every 4 month…

Barriers to outdoor physical activity and unmet physical activity need in older adults

Abstract Objective To profile participants based on reported outdoor physical activity barriers using a data-driven approach, describe the profiles and study their association with unmet physical activity need. Method Cross-sectional analyses of 848 community-dwelling men and women aged 75–90 living in Central Finland in 2012. Barriers to outdoor physical activity and unmet physical activity need were enquired with a questionnaire. The latent profiles were identified by profiling participants into latent groups using a mixture modeling technique on the multivariate set of indicators of outdoor physical activity barriers. A path model was used to study the associations of the profiles with u…

Retirement as a predictor of physical functioning trajectories among older businessmen

Abstract Background Associations between retirement characteristics and consequent physical functioning (PF) are poorly understood, particularly in higher socioeconomic groups, where postponing retirement has had both positive and negative implications for PF. Methods Multiple assessments of PF, the first of which at the mean age of 73.3 years, were performed on 1709 men who were retired business executives and managers, using the RAND-36/SF-36 instrument, between 2000 and 2010. Questionnaire data on retirement age and type of pension was gathered in 2000. Five distinct PF trajectories were created using latent growth mixture modelling. Mortality- and covariate-adjusted multinomial regressi…

Change in physical activity and health-related quality of life in old age-A 10-year follow-up study.

The aim of the study was to examine the association between change in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of depression during a 10-year follow-up. This prospective study included 1036 men and women (mean age at baseline = 61.2 years) from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Leisure-time physical activity was measured with a questionnaire, HRQoL with SF36 and depression symptoms with Beck's depression inventory (BDI). The association between the change in LTPA and change in HRQoL and BDI were investigated with sex-stratified general linear models adjusted for age, smoking, educational attainment, comorbidity score, and baselin…

Progression of functional limitations in relation to physical activity: a life course approach

Abstract In this minireview, we summarize the research results to date on the progression of functional limitations and the role of physical activity during the life course in preventing risk factor accumulation. In addition, socioeconomic and health disparities play a role in the development process of functional limitation throughout life. We discuss the potential role of physical activity in alleviating this process. Functional limitations usually develop gradually over an extended period of time while the level of physical functioning varies greatly already from midlife onwards. Current research strongly suggests that physical activity has a beneficial effect on functional limitations a…

Telomere length and physical performance among older people-The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Telomere length has been suggested a biomarker of aging and is associated with several chronic diseases. However, the association between telomere length and physical performance is not well known. Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we studied 582 women and 453 men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study at two time-points; a baseline examination in 2001-2004 at a mean age of 61 years and a follow-up examination approximately 10 years later in 2011-2013. Telomere length was measured both at baseline and at follow-up using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Physical performance was evaluated only at follow-up using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), which assesses stre…

Working hours and sleep duration in midlife as determinants of health-related quality of life among older businessmen

Background long working hours and short sleep duration are associated with a range of adverse health consequences. However, the combined effect of these two exposures on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been investigated. Methods we studied white men born between 1919 and 1934 in the Helsinki Businessmen Study (HBS, initial n = 3,490). Data on clinical variables, self-rated health (SRH), working hours and sleep duration in 1974, and RAND-36 (SF-36) HRQoL survey in the year 2000 were available for 1,527 men. Follow-up time was 26 years. By combining working hours and sleep duration, four categories were formed: (i) normal work (≤50 hours/week) and normal sleep (>47 hours/week);…

Mortality Risk Among Older People Who Did Versus Did Not Sustain a Fracture: Baseline Prefracture Strength and Gait Speed as Predictors in a 15-Year Follow-Up

Abstract Background Physiological reserve, as indicated by muscle strength and gait speed, may be especially determinant of survival in people who are exposed to a health stressor. We studied whether the association between strength/speed and mortality risk would be stronger in the time period after a fracture compared to other time periods. Methods Participants were population-based sample of 157 men and 325 women aged 75 and 80 years at baseline. Maximal 10-m gait speed and maximal isometric grip and knee extension strength were tested at the baseline before the fracture. Subsequent fracture incidence and mortality were followed up for 15 years. Cox regression analysis was used to estimat…

Early life body mass trajectories and mortality in older age: Findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Overweight and obesity in childhood have been linked to an increased risk of adult mortality, but evidence is still scarce.We identified trajectories of body mass index (BMI) development in early life and investigated their mortality risk. Data come from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, in which 4943 individuals, born 1934-1944, had serial measures of weight and height from birth to 11 years extracted from health care records, weight and height data in adulthood, and register-based mortality data for 2000-2010.Three early BMI trajectories (increasing, average, and average-to-low for men and increasing, average, and low-to-high BMI for women) were identified. Women with an increasing or low-…

Executive function and life-space mobility in old age

Life-space assessment incorporates all movements in terms of the distance from home, the frequency of movement and the need of assistance for movement. Executive function (EF) is an important higher order cognitive ability that controls and guides people’s goal-directed actions. We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between EF and life-space mobility, and investigated if perceived walking difficulties, lower extremity performance, and transportation difficulties explain the association. Methods 157 community-dwelling persons aged 76–91 years participated in the study at the baseline, and 103 of them in 2-year follow-up study. Based on the distribution on the Trail Ma…

Maternal body mass index, change in weight status from childhood to late adulthood and physical activity in older age

This study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of maternal body mass index (BMI), weight status in childhood and late adulthood and device-measured total physical activity (TPA) in older age. The study involves 552 participants from Helsinki Birth Cohort Study who were born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1934-1944. TPA was measured with a multisensory body monitor at a mean age of 70 years and expressed in metabolic equivalent of task hours/day (METh/d). Childhood overweight (BMI > 85th percentile) was based on school health records at 6-7 years of age, and late adulthood overweight (BMI >= 25 kg/m(2)) was based on clinical measurements at the mean age of 61 years. Childhood overweight…

Glucose regulation and grip strength in adults: Findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Aim: this study aimed to assess the association between grip strength and glucose regulation in a cross-sectional setting.Methods: using data from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, 924 men and 953 women were studied at a mean age of 61.6 years. Grip strength was assessed in the dominant hand using a Newtest Grip Force dynamometer. A standard 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was used to define glucose regulation. The participants were classified into four groups: normoglycaemia, prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance), newly diagnosed diabetes and previously known diabetes. The association between grip strength and glucose regulation was assessed using …

Coronary artery calcium and physical performance as determinants of mortality in older age: The AGES-Reykjavik Study

Background. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and physical performance have been shown to be associated with mortality, but it is not clear whether one of them modifies the association. We investigated the association between the extent of CAC and physical performance among older individuals and explored these individual and combined effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and non-CVD mortality. Methods. We studied 4074 participants of the AGES–Reykjavik Study who were free from coronary heart disease, had a CAC score calculated from computed tomography scans and had data on mobility limitations and gait speed at baseline in 2002–2006 at a mean age of 76 years. Register-based mortalit…

Job strain among blue-collar and white-collar employees as a determinant of total mortality: a 28-year population-based follow-up.

Objectives To investigate the effect of job demand, job control and job strain on total mortality among white-collar and blue-collar employees working in the public sector. Design 28-year prospective population-based follow-up. Setting Several municipals in Finland. Participants 5731 public sector employees from the Finnish Longitudinal Study on Municipal Employees Study aged 44–58 years at baseline. Outcomes Total mortality from 1981 to 2009 among individuals with complete data on job strain in midlife, categorised according to job demand and job control: high job strain (high job demands and low job control), active job (high job demand and high job control), passive job (low job demand a…

Investigating the links between resilience, perceived HRM practices, and retirement intentions

Purpose Human resource management (HRM) scholars’ interest in older employees’ resilience has only recently started to emerge. Little is known about how resilience and perceived HRM are linked to different retirement intentions. Drawing on the conservation of resources and social exchange theories, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the links between perceived HRM practices, resilience and retirement intentions. Additionally, the paper examines the possible mediating role of resilience in the relationship between perceived HRM practices and retirement intentions. Design/methodology/approach In 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted among older (50+) nursing professionals work…

Additional file 1 of Retirement as a predictor of physical functioning trajectories among older businessmen

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1. Model Fit Statistics, Group Sizes and Average Latent Class Probabilities for Most Likely Class Membership. Figures. Reproduced with permission from [15]. Supplementary Fig. 1. Individual observations belonging to each of the five identified physical functioning trajectories. Reproduced with permission from [15].

Body size at birth and coronary heart disease-related hospital care in adult men : Findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Aim: We investigated, among those who had been hospitalized at least once due to coronary heart disease (CHD), the relationship between ponderal index (PI, birthweight/length3) at birth, a measure of thinness, and the age at first hospitalization due to CHD, the number of CHD-related hospital care episodes, and cost of CHD-related hospital care from young adulthood to old age. Methods and results: Data from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study included 964 men born in Helsinki, Finland during 1934–1944, who had been hospitalized due to CHD and had birth anthropometrics data. PI (kg/m3) was categorized into low (27.5). CHD-related hospital care data were available from 1971 to 2013. We observed a…

Living alone vs. living with someone as a predictor of mortality after a bone fracture in older age

Abstract Background Living alone is a risk factor for health decline in old age, especially when facing adverse events increasing vulnerability. Aim We examined whether living alone is associated with higher post-fracture mortality risk. Methods Participants were 190 men and 409 women aged 75 or 80 years at baseline. Subsequent fracture incidence and mortality were followed up for 15 years. Extended Cox regression analysis was used to compare the associations between living arrangements and mortality risk during the first post-fracture year and during the non-fracture time. All participants contributed to the non-fracture state until a fracture occurred or until death/end of follow-up if th…

Work-loss years among people diagnosed with diabetes: a reappraisal from a life course perspective

Aims Early exit from the workforce has been proposed to be one of the unfavorable consequences of diabetes. We examined whether early exit from the workforce differed between persons who were and were not diagnosed with diabetes during their work career. Methods The cohort included 12,726 individuals of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, born between 1934 and 1944. Using data from nationwide registers, the cohort was followed up from early adulthood until they transitioned into retirement or died. Work- loss years were estimated using the restricted mean work years method. Results During a follow-up of 382,328 person-years for men and 349 894 for women, 36.8% transitioned into old age pension…

Long-term effect of physical activity counseling on mobility limitation among older people: a randomized controlled study.

Background. Physical activity counseling increases physical activity among older people, but its effectiveness on mobility, that is, maintaining the ability to move independently, is unknown. We studied the effect of physical activity counseling on mobility among older people and evaluated whether counseling-induced benefi ts persist after cessation of the intervention. Methods. In a 2-year, single-blinded, randomized controlled study, 632 sedentary participants aged 75 – 81 years were randomly assigned into the intervention ( n = 318) or control ( n = 314) group. The intervention group received a single individualized physical activity counseling session with a supportive telephone contact…

Balance confidence and functional balance are associated with physical disability after hip fracture.

Abstract Background This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between balance confidence, functional balance, and physical disability among older people after hip fracture. Material and methods The study utilizes baseline data of two randomized controlled trials (ISRCTN34271567 and ISRCTN53680197). The participants were 159 community-dwelling over 60-year-old people. Health, fracture status, the date and type of surgery, and contraindications for participation were assessed in a clinical examination. Balance confidence was assessed by the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and functional balance by the Berg Balance Scale. Physical disability was assessed by a …

Birth Size and Childhood Growth as Determinants of Physical Functioning in Older Age: The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

The study reports on the associations of infant and childhood anthropometric measurements, early growth, and the combined effect of birth weight and childhood body mass index with older age physical functioning among 1,999 individuals born in 1934–1944 and belonging to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Physical functioning was assessed by the Short Form 36 scale. Anthropometric data from infancy and childhood were retrieved from medical records. The risk of lower Short Form 36 physical functioning at the mean age of 61.6 years was increased for those with birth weight less than 2.5 kg compared with those weighing 3.0–3.5 kg at birth (odds ratio (OR) = 2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57…

Ontological diversity in gaming disorder measurement: a nationally representative registered report

Gaming-related health problems have been researched since the 1980s with numerous different ontologies as reference systems, from self-assessed ‘game addiction’ to ‘pathological gambling’ (in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM]-IV), ‘internet gaming disorder’ (in the third section of the DSM-5) and most recently ‘gaming disorder’ (in the International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-11). Our goal was to investigate how screening instruments that derive from different ontologies differ in identifying associated problem groups. By using four central screening instruments, each representing a different ontological basis, we hypothesized differences and similarities…

Work-Related Biomechanical Exposure and Job Strain as Separate and Joint Predictors of Musculoskeletal Diseases: A 28-Year Prospective Follow-up Study

We investigated how work-related biomechanical exposure and job strain in midlife separately and jointly predicted back and degenerative musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs). A total of 6,257 employees participated in the Finnish Longitudinal Study on Aging Municipal Employees (FLAME) in 1981 and were followed up for 28 years. Risk ratios and the relative excessive risk due to interaction and 95% confidence intervals were modeled for separate and joint prediction estimates, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, job strain predicted degenerative MSDs among women after 4 and 11 years of follow-up. After 11 years, both exposures predicted both types of MSDs among men. Joint exposure predi…

Employee Age and Company Performance: An Integrated Model of Aging and Human Resource Management Practices

This study investigated the relationships among company average age, company work ability, and company performance by examining (a) the effects of employee average use of selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) personal strategies and high-involvement work practices (HIWPs) on employee work ability; (b) the buffering effects of both employee average use of SOC and HIWPs on the negative relationship between company-level average age of employees and employee work ability; and (c) the link between company average age and company performance as mediated by company work ability. Analysis was conducted on data from 70 Finnish companies in the retail and metal industries and their 889 em…

Retirement age and type as predictors of frailty : a retrospective cohort study of older businessmen

ObjectivesTo study the association between retirement characteristics and frailty in a homogenous population of former business executives.DesignCross-sectional cohort study using data from the Helsinki Businessmen Study.SettingHelsinki, Finland.Participants1324 Caucasian men, born in 1919–1934, who had worked as business executives and managers and of whom 95.9% had retired by the year 2000. Questions on age at and type of retirement, lifestyle and chronic conditions were embedded in questionnaires.Primary and secondary outcome measuresFrailty assessed according to a modified phenotype definition at mean age 73.3 years.ResultsMean age at retirement was 61.3 years (SD 4.3) and 37.1% had ret…

Physical activity history and end-of-life hospital and long-term care

Background: Little is known about the early predictors of need for care in late life. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether physical activity from midlife onward was associated with hospital and long-term care in the last year of life. Methods: We studied a decedent population of 846 persons aged 66–98 years at death, who, on average 5.8 years prior to death, had participated in an interview about their current and earlier physical activity. Data on the use of care in the last year of life are register-based data and complete. Results: Men needed on average 96 days (SD 7.0) and women 138 days (SD 6.2) of inpatient care in the last year of life. Among men, the risk for all-cau…

Body size at birth and age-related macular degeneration in old age

Purpose To study associations between body size at birth and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in old age. Methods The study sample consists of 1497 community-dwelling individuals (56.1% women) aged 67-89 years with birth data and retinal data collected twice in old age 5 years apart. Birth data (weight, length, birth order) were extracted from original birth records. Digital retinal photographs were graded to determine AMD status. Data on covariates were collected at the baseline physical examination in old age. Multivariable regression analyses were used to study the association between birth data and AMD adjusting for known confounding factors, including birth year cohort effects. R…

Associations of overweight and metabolic health with successful aging: 32-year follow-up of the Helsinki Businessmen Study

Background & aims: Prognostic significance of metabolically healthy overweight and obesity (MHO) is under debate. However the relationship between MHO and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is less studied. We compared successful aging (longevity plus HRQoL) in men with MHO, metabolically healthy normal weight (MHN) and metabolically unhealthy overweight and obesity (MUO). Methods: In the Helsinki Businessmen Study longitudinal cohort, consisting of men born 1919 to 1934. In 1985/86, overweight (BMI >= 25 kg/m(2)) and metabolic health were determined in 1309 men (median age 60 years). HRQoL was assessed using RAND-36/SF-36 in 2000 and 2007, and all-cause mortality retrieved from registe…

The Healthy Nordic Diet and Mediterranean Diet and Incidence of Disability 10 Years Later in Home-Dwelling Old Adults.

Background/Objective: Diet has a major impact on a person's health. However, limited information exists on the long-term role of the whole diet on disability. We investigated the association of the healthy Nordic diet and the Mediterranean diet with incident disability 10 years later. Design: Longitudinal, with a follow-up of 10 years. Settings/Participants: A total of 962 home-dwelling men and women from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, mean age 61.6 years, who were free of disability at baseline. Measurements: At baseline, 2001-2004, the Nordic diet score (NDS) and modified Mediterranean diet score (mMDS) were calculated using a validated 128-item food-frequency questionnaire. Higher scor…

Midlife work ability and mobility limitation in old age among non-disability and disability retirees - a prospective study

Little is known about the wellbeing and mobility limitation of older disability retirees. Personal and environmental factors, such as time spent in working life, may either exacerbate or mitigate the onset of mobility limitation in general population. We aimed to study perceived midlife work ability as a determinant of self-reported mobility limitation in old age among municipal employees who transitioned into non-disability and disability retirement. METHODS: 4329 participants of the Finnish Longitudinal Study of Municipal Employees (FLAME) had retired during January 1985 and July 2000. They had data on retirement, perceived work ability in 1985, and self-reported mobility limitation (non-…

Folkhälsans seniorboende och aktivt åldrande : BoAktiv-studien

Syftet med denna enkät-studien är att utreda samband mellan aktivt åldrande, gemenskap och delaktighet hos åldringar som bor i seniorhus. Utöver detta syftar forskningen till att producera beskrivande information om hälsa och välmående hos åldringar i seniorhus. Målgruppen var självständigt boende i Folkhälsans seniorhus. Största delen av respondenterna var över 80 år gamla, kvinnor, svenskspråkiga och bodde ensamma. De mest aktiva seniorerna hade bättre hälsorelaterad livskvalitet samt mindre symptom av depression, och deltog mer i verksamheten i seniorhuset och hade en högre känsla av samhörighet. Respondenternas känsla av samhörighet korrelerade positivt med psykiskt välmående, högre vit…

Early Life Stress and Physical and Psychosocial Functioning in Late Adulthood

Background. Severe stress experienced in early life may have long-term effects on adult physiological and psychological health and well-being. We studied physical and psychosocial functioning in late adulthood in subjects separated temporarily from their parents in childhood during World War II. Methods. The 1803 participants belong to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, born 1934–44. Of them, 267 (14.8%) had been evacuated abroad in childhood during WWII and the remaining subjects served as controls. Physical and psychosocial functioning was assessed with the Short Form 36 scale (SF-36) between 2001 and 2004. A test for trends was based on linear regression. All analyses were adjusted for age…

Maternal body mass index in pregnancy and offspring physical and psychosocial functioning in older age: findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (HBCS)

Maternal obesity is associated with several adverse long-term health outcomes in the offspring. In this study, we examined the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and offspring physical and psychosocial functioning in late adulthood.The study included 1759 men and women born during 1934-1944 and belonging to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Data on maternal weight and height in late pregnancy and on offspring birth weight were retrieved from hospital birth records. Physical and psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Short Form 36 scale.Maternal BMI was positively associated with poorer physical and psychosocial functioning among men, but not among women. This associa…

Advanced glycation end products measured by skin autofluorescence are associated with melancholic depressive symptoms - Findings from Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Millions of people live with depression and its burden of disease. Depression has an increased comorbidity and mortality that has remained unexplained. Studies have reported connections between advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and various disease processes, including mental health. The present study evaluated associations between AGEs, depressive symptoms, and types of depressive symptoms. Methods: From the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, 815 participants with a mean age of 76 years were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Characteristics regarding self-reported lifestyle and medical history, as well as blood tests were obtained along with responses regarding depressive…

Birth Size and Brain Function 75 Years Later

BACKGROUND: There are several lines of evidence pointing to fetal and other early origins of diseases of the aging brain, but there are no data directly addressing the hypotheses in an older population. We investigated the association of fetal size to late-age measures of brain structure and function in a large cohort of older men and women and explored the modifying effect of education on these associations. METHODS: Within the AGES (Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility)-Reykjavik population-based cohort (born between 1907 and 1935), archived birth records were abstracted for 1254 men and women who ∼75 years later underwent an examination that included brain MRI and extensive cognitive ass…

Maternal adiposity in pregnancy and offspring asthma in adulthood.

High maternal body mass index in pregnancy was associated with an increased prevalence of offspring asthma in men in adult life

Work careers in adults separated temporarily from their parents in childhood during World War II.

Introduction: Traumatic experiences, such as separation from parents in childhood causing early life stress (ELS) may increase the risk of adverse long-term health outcomes and biological age-related changes. This may have an impact on work career. Our aim was to examine long term consequences of ELS due to temporary separation from parents during World War II (WWII) in relation to work career. - Material and methods: The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study comprises 13,345 individuals born in Helsinki, Finland, between the years 1934–1944. From the original cohort, 1781 individuals were identified as being separated temporarily from their parents due to World War II. Information on date and type o…

The relationship between health-related quality of life and melancholic depressive symptoms is modified by brain insulin receptor gene network

AbstractTo investigate whether expression-based polygenic risk scores for the insulin receptor gene network (ePRS-IRs) modifiy the association between type of depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This cross-sectional study includes 1558 individuals from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Between 2001 and 2004, the Short Form-36 questionnaire was employed to assess mental and physical components of HRQoL and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were categorized into minimal (BDI &lt; 10), non-melancholic and melancholic types of depression. The ePRS-IRs were calculated for the hippocampal (hePRS-IR) and the mesocorticolim…

Mental, Physical and Social Functioning in Independently Living Senior House Residents and Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Senior houses provide social interaction and support, potentially supporting older people’s physical and mental functioning. Few studies have investigated functioning of senior house residents. The aim was to compare functioning between senior house residents and community-dwelling older adults in Finland. We compared senior house residents (n = 336, 69% women, mean age 83 years) to community-dwelling older adults (n = 1139, 56% women, mean age 74 years). Physical and mental functioning were assessed using the SF 36-Item Health Survey. Loneliness and frequency of social contacts were self-reported. The analyses were adjusted for age, socioeconomic factors and diseases. Physical functioning …

Midlife Cardiovascular Status and Old Age Physical Functioning Trajectories in Older Businessmen

Objectives The associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and later physical functioning have been observed, but only a few studies with follow-up into old age are available. We investigated the association between cardiovascular status in midlife and physical functioning trajectories in old age. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Helsinki Businessmen Study. Participants We studied white men born between 1919 and 1934 in the Helsinki Businessmen Study (HBS, initial n = 3490). Measurements Three CVD status groups were formed based on clinical measurements carried out in 1974: signs of CVD (diagnosed clinically or with changes in ECG, chronic disease present or used medicati…

Social Participation Considered as Meaningful in old age − the Perceptions of Senior Housing Residents in Finland

AbstractAs populations across the world age, there is a recognised need for promoting social participation in older adults. Previous studies related to social participation have addressed that interactions perceived as meaningful may improve quality of life in old age. However, what is less clear is the nature of such participation from the perspective of older adults, as the vast majority of studies have been quantitative. The present study aimed to explore what characterises social participation that contributes to a meaningful everyday life, from the viewpoint of independently living Finnish older adults. Thematic analysis was used as an interpretative method drawing on semi-structured i…

Persistence of the effect of birth size on dysglycaemia and type 2 diabetes in old age: AGES-Reykjavik Study

We studied the effect of birth size on glucose and insulin metabolism among old non-diabetic individuals. We also explored the combined effect of birth size and midlife body mass index (BMI) on type 2 diabetes in old age. Our study comprised 1,682 Icelanders whose birth records included anthropometrical data. The same individuals had participated in the prospective population-based Reykjavik Study, where BMI was assessed at a mean age of 47 years, and in the AGES-Reykjavik Study during 2002 to 2006, where fasting glucose, insulin and HbA₁c were measured and homeostasis model assessment for the degree of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculated at a mean age of 75.5 years. Type 2 diabetes was…

The temporal association between executive function and life-space mobility in old age

Background Life-space mobility, an indicator of community mobility, describes person’s movements in terms of the distance from home, the frequency of movement, and the need of assistance for movement. Executive function (EF) is a higher-order cognitive function that supervises motor control and plays a key role in a person’s ability to function independently. Cognitive impairment often co-occurs with restricted life-space mobility; however, the direction of the longitudinal associations between EF and life-space mobility is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal associations between EF and life-space mobility among community-dwelling older people. Methods One hundred…

Multisite musculoskeletal pain trajectories from midlife to old age : a 28-year follow-up of municipal employees

ObjectivesWe studied the developmental trajectories of multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSP) to learn whether pain in midlife persists to old age, and whether pain trajectories associate with midlife work or lifestyle exposures or retirement from work.MethodsMunicipal employees aged 44–58 years were studied in 1981 (n=6257) with follow-ups in 1985, 1992, 1997 and 2009. Pain in the neck, low back, and upper and lower limbs was assessed in each survey. Trajectories of the number (0–4) of pain sites were defined using growth mixture modelling (n=3093). Workload, lifestyle and morbidity were elicited by questionnaire and retirement from registries. Associations of baseline factors with pain traj…

Objectively measured physical activity and physical performance in old age

Abstract Background: Physical performance is a key factor that determines how older people cope with daily tasks and maintain independency. There is strong evidence suggesting that physical activity (PA) is important in maintaining physical performance in old age. However, most studies have been done using self-reported PA. Our aim was to explore the association between objectively measured PA and physical performance in old age. Methods: We studied 695 participants (mean age 70.7 years, SD 2.7) from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Physical performance was assessed with the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and PA with a multisensory activity monitor SenseWear Pro 3 Armband. Results: Total volume …

Inverse Effects of Midlife Occupational and Leisure Time Physical Activity on Mobility Limitation in Old Age-A 28-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study

Objectives: To evaluate in a sample of initially middle-aged municipal employees whether leisure time (LPA) or occupational physical activity (OPA) was associated with mobility limitation (ML) in old age. Design: Prospective population-based follow-up. Setting: Municipalities in Finland. Participants: Public sector employees from the Finnish Longitudinal Study on Municipal Employees (FLAME) initially aged 44 to 58 (N = 5,200). Measurements: Baseline data were collected in 1981, including LPA (average exercise within previous year: inactive (no exercise), moderate (some form of exercise ?1 time per week), vigorous (brisk exercise ?1 time per week)) and OPA (usual activities at work within pr…

Environmental facilitators for outdoor walking and development of walking difficulty in community-dwelling older adults

Older adults who report environmental barriers in their neighborhood have a higher risk for walking difficulty. However, environmental facilitators that protect against walking difficulty are not well known. The objective of this study was to identify the effect of environmental facilitators for outdoor walking on development of walking difficulty in community-dwelling older people. This was a prospective study with a 3.5-year follow-up time on 261 community-dwelling people aged 75–81 years, who at baseline were able to walk 0.5 km without difficulty. Environmental facilitators for outdoor walking were self-reported with standardized questionnaires, including having features in one’s home w…

Age-dependency in mortality of family caregivers : a nationwide register-based study

Abstract Background Evidence on family caregivers' health is conflicting. Aim To investigate all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Finnish family caregivers providing high-intensity care and to assess whether age modifies the association between family caregiver status and mortality using data from multiple national registers. Methods The data include all individuals, who received family caregiver's allowance in Finland in 2012 (n = 42,256, mean age 67 years, 71% women) and a control population matched for age, sex, and municipality of residence (n = 83,618). Information on dates and causes of death between 2012 and 2017 were obtained from the Finnish Causes of Death Register. Results F…