Effects of a Rehabilitation Program on Perceived Environmental Barriers in Older Patients Recovering from Hip Fracture: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2013

Objectives. To study effects of a one-year multicomponent intervention on perceived environmental barriers in hip fracture patients.Design. Randomized controlled trial of a 12-month home-based rehabilitation aiming to improve mobility and function (ISRCTN53680197); secondary analyses.Subjects. Community-dwelling hip fracture patients on average 70 days after trauma (n=81).Methods. Assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months later included perceived entrance-related barriers (e.g., indoor/outdoor stairs, lighting, floor surfaces, and storage for mobility devices) and perceived barriers in the outdoor environment (poor street condition, hilly terrain, long-distances, and lack of resting plac…

Genetic and Environmental Effects on Telomere Length and Lung Function: A Twin Study.

2015

Background The purpose of the study was to estimate the heritability of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and lung function and to examine whether LTL and lung function share genetic or environmental effects in common. Methods 386 monozygotic and dizygotic Finnish twin sisters (age 68.4±3.4 years) were included. Relative LTL was determined from peripheral blood DNA by qPCR. Lung function measures of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and PEF were derived from spirometry. Genetic modeling was performed with MPlus statistical software. Results Univariate analysis revealed that in LTL, 62% (95% confidence interval 50-72) of the variance was explained by additive genetic and 38% (28-50) by unique environmental…

Older women's personal goals and exercise activity: an 8-year follow-up.

2013

This study investigated the associations of personal goals with exercise activity, as well as the relationships between exercise-related and other personal goals, among older women. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs were used with a sample of 308 women ages 66–79 at baseline. Women who reported exercise-related personal goals were 4 times as likely to report high exercise activity at baseline than those who did not report exercise-related goals. Longitudinal results were parallel. Goals related to cultural activities, as well as to busying oneself around the home, coincided with exercise-related goals, whereas goals related to own and other people’s health and independent living…

Individual and environmental factors underlying life space of older people – study protocol and design of a cohort study on life-space mobility in ol…

2012

Abstract Background A crucial issue for the sustainability of societies is how to maintain health and functioning in older people. With increasing age, losses in vision, hearing, balance, mobility and cognitive capacity render older people particularly exposed to environmental barriers. A central building block of human functioning is walking. Walking difficulties may start to develop in midlife and become increasingly prevalent with age. Life-space mobility reflects actual mobility performance by taking into account the balance between older adults internal physiologic capacity and the external challenges they encounter in daily life. The aim of the Life-Space Mobility in Old Age (LISPE) p…

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

2016

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…

Associations of sensory-motor functions with poor mobility in 75- and 80-year-old people

1998

This study investigated the associations of sensory-motor functions with mobility in elderly people. All 75- and 80-year-old residents of the city of Jyväskylä, Finland, were invited to take part in the study. A total of 617 (93 % ) persons were interviewed, and 500 (75%) took part in laboratory examinations. Self-reported mobility was recorded during the interview. Basic mobility functions (maximal walking speed and stairmounting ability) and sensory-motor functions (maximal isometric muscle strength, standing balance, reaction time and visual acuity) were measured in the laboratory. Multivariate analyses showed that poor sensory-motor functions were significantly associated with poor perf…

A genome-wide association study of monozygotic twin-pairs suggests a locus related to variability of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

2012

Serum lipid levels have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes (Kannel et al., 1961; Miller & Miller, 1975; Pilia et al., 2006). Variation in lipids levels is highly influenced by heritable factors (Friedlander et al., 1997) and 95 loci have already been associated with levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in numerous study samples and replicated in various populations using genome-wide approaches (Aulchenko et al., 2008; Kathiresan et al., 2008; Kooner et al., 2008; Teslovich et al., 2010; Willer et al., 2008). However, the genetic associa…

The Association Between Transportation and Life-Space Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older People With or Without Walking Difficulties.

2016

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine whether a persons’ most frequently used mode of transportation is associated with life-space mobility and whether the association differs between persons with or without walking difficulties. Method: Life-space mobility was measured with the Life-Space Assessment in 848 community-dwelling men and women aged 75 to 90 years. Six separate mobility groups were formed according to the most frequently used mode of transportation (car driver, car passenger, public transportation) combined with the presence or absence of difficulties walking 2 km. Results: Car drivers without walking difficulties had the highest life-space mobility scores, and car pas…

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

2019

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…

Factors affecting the increased risk of physical inactivity among older people with depressive symptoms.

2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and physical inactivity, and whether motives for and barriers to exercise explain the potential association between depressive symptoms and physical inactivity in older people. The design of the study was cross-sectional. The study population comprised 645 people born between 1922 and 1928 who were residents in a city-center area of Jyväskylä in central Finland. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Center for the Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, physical activity using Grimby's (1986) validated scale, and motives for and barriers to exercise using a questionnaire and mobility limitation with a…

Telomere Length and Frailty: The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

2018

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 …

Muscle cross-sectional area and structural bone strength share genetic and environmental effects in older women

2009

The purpose of this study was to estimate to what extent muscle cross-sectional area of the lower leg (mCSA) and tibial structural strength are influenced by common and trait-specific genetic and environmental factors. pQCT scans were obtained from both members of 102 monozygotic (MZ) and 113 dizygotic (DZ) 63- to 76-yr-old female twin pairs to estimate the mCSA of the lower leg, structural bending strength of the tibial shaft (BSIbend), and compressive strength of the distal tibia (BSIcomp). Quantitative genetic models were used to decompose the phenotypic variances into common and trait-specific additive genetic (A), shared environmental (C), and individual environmental (E) effects. The …

Genome-wide association study identifies five loci associated with lung function

2009

Pulmonary function measures are heritable traits that predict morbidity and mortality and define chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and the ratio of FEV(1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) in the SpiroMeta consortium (n = 20,288 individuals of European ancestry). We conducted a meta-analysis of top signals with data from direct genotyping (n < or = 32,184 additional individuals) and in silico summary association data from the CHARGE Consortium (n = 21,209) and the Health 2000 survey (n < or = 883). We confirmed the reported locus at 4q31 and identified associations with FEV(1) or FEV(1)/FVC and co…

Is Complexity of Daily Activity Associated with Physical Function and Life Space Mobility among Older Adults?

2022

Purpose Information about mobility, and physical function may be encoded in the complexity of daily activity pattern. Therefore, daily activity pattern complexity metrics could provide novel insight regarding the relationship between daily activity behaviour and health. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between the complexity of daily activity behaviour, and mobility and physical function among community-dwelling older adults aged 75, 80, and 85 years-of-age. Methods A total of 309 participants wore accelerometers concurrently on the thigh and the trunk for at least 3 consecutive days. Five activity states (lying, sitting, standing, walking, or activity other t…

Response to The Letter “Overadjustment in Regression Analyses: Considerations When Evaluating Relationships Between Body Mass Index, Muscle Strength,…

2014

Shared Genetic and Environmental Effects on Strength and Power in Older Female Twins

2005

Purpose: This study examined the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on maximal leg extensor power and also investigated whether leg extensor power and maximum voluntary isometric knee extensor strength share a genetic component. Methods: Muscle functions were measured as part of the Finnish Twin Study on Aging in 101 monozygotic (MZ) and 116 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 63–76 yr. Leg extensor power was measured using the Nottingham Leg Extensor Power Rig and maximum voluntary isometric knee extensor strength using an adjustable dynamometer chair. The analyses were carried out using the maximum likelihood method in Mx-program on the raw data set. Results: A b…

Contribution of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in maximal walking speed with and without second task in older women

2005

Background. Among older people, distraction while walking may increase the risk of falls. Factors underlying individual differences in dual tasking are not fully understood. Our aim was to study the effect of a second task on maximal walking speed and to examine whether individual differences in walking speed measured with and without a second task are accounted for by genetic and environmental influences shared across tasks or specific to each task. Methods. The data were collected from the 101 monozygotic and 116 dizygotic twin pairs aged 63–76 years recruited from the Finnish Twin Cohort. Maximal walking speed (MWS) over 10 m was measured on a laboratory corridor and timed with photocell…

Depressed mood and body mass index as predictors of muscle strength decline in old men

2000

OBJECTIVE: To study depressed mood as a predictor of strength decline within body weight categories over a 3-year follow-up period. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study over 3 years. SETTING: Honolulu, Hawaii. PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were 2275 men participating in the Honolulu Heart Program with an average age of 77.1 years (range 71–92 years), who were not cognitively impaired at baseline (Exam 4), and who participated in maximal hand grip strength measurements at baseline and 3 years later (Exam 5). MEASUREMENTS: Hand grip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Depressive symptoms were studied using an 11-item version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale with 9 as a c…

TENACIOUS GOAL PURSUIT AND LIFE-SPACE MOBILITY AMONG OLDER PEOPLE WITH WALKING DIFFICULTIES

2017

Life-space mobility, defined as the spatial extent of movement in daily life, is strongly dependent on functional ability. However, active striving to reach one’s goals might inspire older people to move in a larger life-space regardless of their physical abilities. We aimed to study whether tenacious goal pursuit differs according to walking difficulties and whether it is associated with life-space mobility in old age.

Oral and Poster Papers Submitted for Presentation at the 5th Congress of the EUGMS “Geriatric Medicine in a Time of Generational Shift September 3–6,…

2008

Effects of comprehensive geriatric intervention on physical performance among people aged 75 years and over.

2012

Background and aims: We studied the effects of comprehensive geriatric assessment and multifactorial intervention on physical performance among older people. Methods: In a 3-year geriatric development project with an experimental design, 668 participants aged 75–98 were assigned to intervention (n=348) or control (n=320) groups. The intervention group received comprehensive geriatric assessment with an individually targeted intervention for 2 years. The outcome measures—performance in the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), 10-meter walking and Berg Balance Scale tests 2 were gathered annually during the intervention and the 1-year follow-up after it. Results: With linear mixed models, over the 2-year i…

The Associations of Activity Fragmentation with Physical and Mental Fatigability among Community-Dwelling 75-, 80- and 85-Year-Old People

2020

Abstract Background Fatigue related to task standardized by duration and intensity, termed fatigability, could manifest as shortening of activity bouts throughout the day causing daily activity to accumulate in a more fragmented pattern. Our purpose was to study the association of activity fragmentation with physical and mental dimensions of fatigability. Methods A cross-sectional study of 485 community-dwelling 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old people using a thigh-worn accelerometer for 3–7 days. Activity fragmentation was studied as Active-to-Sedentary Transition Probability for 2 operational definitions of physical activity: accelerations equivalent to at least light physical activity and for u…

Association between mid- to late life physical fitness and dementia: Evidence from the CAIDE study

2014

Objectives. This study investigated the association between perceived physical fitness at midlife, changes in perceived fitness during the three decades from mid-to late life and dementia risk. Design. Prospective cohort study. Setting. Cardiovascular risk factors, ageing and incidence of dementia (CAIDE) study. Subjects. Subjects were selected from four independent, random samples of population-based cardiovascular surveys and were first examined in 1972, 1977, 1982 or 1987, when they were on average 50 years old. The CAIDE target population included 3559 individuals. A random sample of 2000 individuals still alive in 1997 was drawn for re-examinations (performed in 1998 and 2005-2008) tha…

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

2021

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…

Accumulation of disparity in physical activity in old age

2012

Background and aims: The level of physical activity often declines in old age, although many older people would like to be more active than what they are capable of. This leads to unmet physical activity need, the feeling that one’s level of physical activity is inadequate, which is a manifestation of disparity in physical activity in old age. The accumulation of risk factors, including mobility limitations, low socioeconomic status (SES) and lack of social support may increase disparity in physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate how the accumulation of risk factors is associated with unmet physical activity need in older community-living people. Methods: The study was b…

Gait Variability Using Waist- and Ankle-Worn Inertial Measurement Units in Healthy Older Adults

2020

Gait variability observed in step duration is predictive of impending adverse health outcomes among apparently healthy older adults and could potentially be evaluated using wearable sensors (inertial measurement units, IMU). The purpose of the present study was to establish the reliability and concurrent validity of gait variability and complexity evaluated with a waist and an ankle-worn IMU. Seventeen women (age 74.8 (SD 44) years) and 10 men (73.7 (4.1) years) attended two laboratory measurement sessions a week apart. Their stride duration variability was concurrently evaluated based on a continuous 3 min walk using a force plate and a waist- and an ankle-worn IMU. Their gait complexity (…

Work strain in midlife and 28-year work ability trajectories

2011

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…

Individualized counselling for active aging: protocol of a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial among older people (the AGNES intervention stu…

2019

Background: Active aging has been established as a policy goal for aging societies. We define active aging at the individual level as striving for elements of well-being through activities in relation to a person’s goals, functional capacities and opportunities. Increasing evidence suggests that any meaningful activity is beneficial for different aspects of well-being in older people. The aim of the present randomized controlled trial is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a one-year community-based intervention on active aging. The AGNES intervention aims at increasing older peoples’ participation in self-selected valued activities. Methods: The proposed study is a two-arm single-…

Hearing as a Predictor of Falls and Postural Balance in Older Female Twins

2009

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to examine, first, whether hearing acuity predicts falls and whether the potential association is explained by postural balance and, second, to examine whether shared genetic or environmental effects underlie these associations. METHODS: Hearing was measured using a clinical audiometer as a part of the Finnish Twin Study on Aging in 103 monozygotic and 114 dizygotic female twin pairs aged 63-76 years. Postural balance was indicated as a center of pressure (COP) movement in semitandem stance, and participants filled in a fall-calendar daily for an average of 345 days after the baseline. RESULTS: Mean hearing acuity (better ear hearing threshol…

Vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden kokemuksia vastavuoroisuudesta ikääntyneiden ihmisten vapaaehtoistyössä

2019

Sosiaalisen vaihdon teorian mukaan vastavuoroisuus on tärkeää ikääntyneiden ihmisten suhteissa. Vapaaehtoistyössä vastavuoroisuus on oleellista, mutta sitä ei ole juuri tutkittu eläkeikäisten vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden kannalta. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on selvittää, kuinka eläkeikäiset vapaaehtoistyöntekijät kokevat vastavuoroisuuden vapaaehtoistyössä. Kolme kuukautta kestäneen toimintajakson aikana vapaaehtoistyöntekijät auttoivat liikkumiskyvyn ongelmista kärsiviä ikäihmisiä osallistumaan kodin ulkopuoliseen toimintaan osana Vapaaehtoistyö, ulkoliikunta ja vanhusten hyvinvointi (VAU) -tutkimushanketta. Tämän laadullisen osatutkimuksen 17 osallistujaa olivat 61 - 72-vuotiaita. Tutki…

Genetic effects in common on maximal walking speed and muscle performance in older women

2007

The purpose was to examine whether maximal walking speed, maximal isometric knee extensor strength, and leg extensor power share genetic or environmental effects in common. The data was collected from 103 monozygotic and 114 dizygotic female twin pairs aged 63–76 years. Maximal walking speed over 10 m was measured in the laboratory corridor using photocells for timing. Isometric knee extensor strength and leg extensor power were measured using an adjustable dynamometer. The genetic models showed that strength, power, and walking speed had a genetic effect in common which accounted for 52% of the variance in strength, 36% in power, and 34% in walking speed. Strength and power had a non-share…

The continuity of physical activity - a retrospective and prospective study among older people

2000

This study investigated the continuity of life-span physical activity by examining the predictors of the maintenance of a high level of physical activity over 8 years among subjects aged 65-84 years at the baseline, in 1988, in Jyvaskyla, Finland. Age, education, marital status and chronic conditions and past physical activity were studied at the baseline. In men and women, self-reported competitive sport participation from as early as 10-19 years of age was a significant predictor for maintaining activity in old age. Also women's participation in recreational sports at the age of 40-64 years predicted activity. We concluded that past physical activity is strongly connected to maintaining a…

Association Between Free-Living Sit-to-Stand Transition Characteristics, and Lower-Extremity Performance, Fear of Falling, and Stair Negotiation Diff…

2022

Abstract Background Good sit-to-stand (STS) performance is an important factor in maintaining functional independence. This study investigated whether free-living STS transition volume and intensity, assessed by a thigh-worn accelerometer, is associated with characteristics related to functional independence. Methods Free-living thigh-worn accelerometry was recorded continuously for 3–7 days in a population-based sample of 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old community-dwelling people (479 participants; women n = 287, men n = 192). The records were used to evaluate the number and intensity (angular velocity of the STS phase) of STS transitions. Associations with short physical performance battery (SPP…

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Skeletal Muscle Properties in Older Women Alone and Together with Physical Activity

2008

BackgroundMuscle strength declines on average by one percent annually from midlife on. In postmenopausal women this decrement coincides with a rapid decline in estrogen production. The genetics underlying the effects of estrogen on skeletal muscle remains unclear. In the present study, we examined whether polymorphisms within COMT and ESR1 are associated with muscle properties and assessed their interaction and their combined effects with physical activity.Methodology/principal findingsA cross-sectional data analysis was conducted with 434 63-76-year-old women from the population-based Finnish Twin Study on Aging. Body anthropometry, muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA), isometric hand grip a…

Physical activity compensates for increased mortality risk among older people with poor muscle strength

2006

The aim of the study was to determine whether habitual physical activity can compensate for the increased mortality risk among older people with poor muscle strength. Mortality was followed up for 10 years after laboratory examination in 558 community dwelling 75- and 80-year-old men and women. Maximal isometric strength of five muscle groups was measured and tertile cut-off points were used to categorize participants. Participants, who reported moderate physical activity for at least 4 h a week, were categorized as physically active and the others as sedentary. High muscle strength and physical activity both protected from mortality, but their effect was not additive. Within each muscle st…

Walking Ability and All-Cause Mortality in Older Women

2010

In this study self-reported ability to walk 2 km and six-minute walking test (6MWT) performance were examined as predictors of all-cause mortality in 434 women, aged 63-76 years. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality (follow-up: 8 years). Predictors were self-reported difficulties in walking 2 km and 6-min walking distance tertiles of ≤495, 496-560 and ≥561 m, and no test result due to refusal by the physician to grant permission to perform the test or participant's inability or unwillingness to perform the test. During the follow-up, 39 participants died. Participants reporting minor (age- and body mass index-adjusted hazard ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.12-5.69) or m…

Promoting Mobility in Older People

2013

Out-of-home mobility is necessary for accessing commodities, making use of neighborhood facilities, and participation in meaningful social, cultural, and physical activities. Mobility also promotes healthy aging as it relates to the basic human need of physical movement. Mobility is typically assessed either with standardized performance-based tests or with self-reports of perceived difficulty in carrying out specific mobility tasks. Mobility declines with increasing age, and the most complex and demanding tasks are affected first. Sometimes people cope with declining functional capacity by making changes in their way or frequency of doing these tasks, thus avoiding facing manifest difficul…

Day-to-Day Variability and Year-to-Year Reproducibility of Accelerometer-Measured Free-Living Sit-to-Stand Transitions Volume and Intensity among Com…

2021

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the day-to-day variability and year-to-year reproducibility of an accelerometer-based algorithm for sit-to-stand (STS) transitions in a free-living environment among community-dwelling older adults. (2) Methods: Free-living thigh-worn accelerometry was recorded for three to seven days in 86 (women n = 55) community-dwelling older adults, on two occasions separated by one year, to evaluate the long-term consistency of free-living behavior. (3) Results: Year-to-year intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the number of STS transitions were 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.86, p < 0.001), for mean angular velocity-0.81 (95% c…

Promoting safe walking among older people : the effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on mobility and…

2018

Abstract Background Safe and stable walking is a complex process involving the interaction of neuromuscular, sensory and cognitive functions. As physical and cognitive functions deteriorate with ageing, training of both functions may have more beneficial effects on walking and falls prevention than either alone. This article describes the study design, recruitment strategies and interventions of the PASSWORD study investigating whether a combination of physical and cognitive training (PTCT) has greater effects on walking speed, dual-task cost in walking speed, fall incidence and executive functions compared to physical training (PT) alone among 70–85-year-old community-dwelling sedentary or…

Mobility Modification Alleviates Environmental Influence on Incident Mobility Difficulty among Community-Dwelling Older People: A Two-Year Follow-Up …

2016

Background Environmental barriers increase risk for mobility difficulties in old age. Mobility difficulty is preceded by a phase where people try to postpone a difficulty through mobility modification. We studied whether perceived environmental mobility barriers outdoors correlate with mobility modification and mobility difficulty, predict development of mobility difficulty over a two-year follow-up, and whether mobility modification alleviates the risk for difficulty. Methods At baseline, 848 people aged 75–90 were interviewed face-to-face. Telephone follow-up interviews were conducted one (n = 816) and two years (n = 761) later. Environmental barriers to mobility were self-reported using …

Mobility Limitation and Changes in Personal Goals Among Older Women.

2016

Objectives. Several theoretical viewpoints suggest that older adults need to modify their personal goals in the face of functional decline. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinally the association of mobility limitation with changes in personal goals among older women. Method. Eight-year follow-up of 205 women aged 66–78 years at baseline. Results. Health-related goals were the most common at both measurements. Goals related to independent living almost doubled and goals related to exercise and to cultural activities substantially decreased during the follow-up. Higher age decreased the likelihood for engaging in new goals related to cultural activities and disengaging from g…

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

2007

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…

Health literacy supports active aging

2020

From the individual viewpoint, active aging refers to the ability of older persons, depending on their goals, functional capacity and opportunities, to engage in desired activities. This study investigated the role of health literacy in active aging among persons differing in their number of chronic conditions. Data were collected from 948 individuals, 57% women, aged 75, 80 and 85 in 2017–2018 in the city of Jyväskylä in Central Finland. Health literacy was assessed with the 16-question version of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q16), active aging with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (UJACAS) and self-reported physician-diagnosed chronic conditions. Both health l…

Do Associations Between Perceived Environmental and Individual Characteristics and Walking Limitations Depend on Lower Extremity Performance Level?

2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze whether the associations between perceived environmental and individual characteristics and perceived walking limitations in older people differ between those with intact and those with poorer lower extremity performance. Method: Persons aged 75 to 90 ( N = 834) participated in interviews and performance tests in their homes. Standard questionnaires were used to obtain walking difficulties; environmental barriers to and, facilitators of, mobility; and perceived individual hindrances to outdoor mobility. Lower extremity performance was tested using Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Results: Among those with poorer lower extremity perf…

The effect of advice by health care professionals on increasing physical activity of older people

2003

The aim of this study was to investigate whether advice by health care professionals is associated with increased exercise activity in older people. As part of the Evergreen follow-up study, self-report data on exercise related advice were collected in 1996 and physical activity in 1988 and 1996 among 611 non-institutional people initially aged 65-84 years. Logistic regression analyses were used to study the association of recollection of having received exercise counseling with increased activity. Of all the subjects, 92% reported having been in contact with health care professionals during the follow-up period, and 58% of them recalled having been advised to exercise. Those men and women …

Life-space mobility and quality of life in community-dwelling older people

2013

Hormone Replacement Therapy Associated White Blood Cell DNA Methylation and Gene Expression are Associated With Within-Pair Differences of Body Adipo…

2015

The loss of estrogen during menopause causes changes in the female body, with wide-ranging effects on health. Estrogen-containing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) leads to a relief of typical menopausal symptoms, benefits bone and muscle health, and is associated with tissue-specific gene expression profiles. As gene expression is controlled by epigenetic factors (including DNA methylation), many of which are environmentally sensitive, it is plausible that at least part of the HRT-associated gene expression is due to changes in DNA methylation profile. We investigated genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression patterns of white blood cells (WBCs) and their associations with body compo…

Genetic effects on life-space mobility in older women.

2013

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

2011

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

2016

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…

Heritability of Intraocular Pressure in Older Female Twins

2006

Purpose To examine the heritability of intraocular pressure (IOP) among older women not diagnosed as having glaucoma. Design Cross-sectional twin study. Participants 94 monozygotic (MZ) and 96 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 63–76 years and not diagnosed as having glaucoma. Methods Intraocular pressure was measured using a noncontact tonometer. The contributions of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in IOP were estimated by applying an independent pathway model to twin data. Main Outcome Measures Contribution of genetic and environmental effects to the variation in IOP among MZ and DZ twins. Results Mean IOP of the study population was 14.1 mmHg (± standard de…

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

2018

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…

Self-rated resilience and mobility limitations as predictors of change in active aging during COVID-19 restrictions in Finland : a longitudinal study

2021

AbstractSocial distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased older people’s opportunities to lead an active life. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether walking difficulties predict changes in leading an active life during the COVID-19 social distancing recommendation compared to 2 years before, and whether self-rated resilience moderates this association among older people. Data were collected during social distancing recommendation in May and June 2020 and 2 years before (2017–18) among community-living AGNES study participants initially aged 75, 80, or 85 years (n = 809). Leading an active life was assessed with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (UJACAS; to…

Heritability of Lung Function: A Twin Study Among Never-Smoking Elderly Women

2011

Most studies on lung function heritability have been conducted in smokers and non-smokers using cross-sectional study design. Smoking patterns may, however, confound the contribution of genetic factors. We investigated heritability of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio longitudinally, excluding the effects of smoking. A sample of never smoking female twins (n = 374), aged 63–76 at baseline, answered health questionnaires and attended spirometry in years 2000 and 2003. Bivariate structural equation modeling, restricted to adequate spirometry performances (baseline n = 339, follow-up n = 252), was used to estimate genetic and environ…

Life-space mobility assessment in older people in Finland; measurement properties in winter and spring.

2014

Background: Life-space mobility refers to the spatial area an individual moves through, the frequency and need for assistance. Based on the assumption that measurement scale properties are context-specific, we tested the scale distribution, responsiveness, and reproducibility of the 15-item University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging Life-Space Assessment in older people in Finland, specifically accounting for season. Methods: Community-dwelling older men and women in cent ral Finland aged 75-90 y ears were interviewed to determine life-space mobility (score range 0-120). Baseline (January-June 2012) and one-year follow-up data (January-June 2013; n = 806) from the cohort study “ Lif…

Associations Between Environmental Characteristics and Life-Space Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older People

2015

Objective: To examine the association between perceived environmental barriers to and facilitators for outdoor mobility with life-space among older people. Methods: Community-dwelling, 75- to 90-year-old people ( n = 848) were interviewed face-to-face using standard questionnaires. The Life-Space Assessment (LSA), indicating distance and frequency of moving and assistance needed in moving (range 0-120), was used. Environmental barriers and facilitators outdoors were self-reported. Results: Altogether, 41% ( n = 348) of the participants had restricted life-space (LSA score &lt; 60). Those reporting one or more environmental barriers had more than double the odds for restricted life-space co…

Quality of Life and Barriers in the Urban Outdoor Environment in Old Age

2010

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between barriers in the outdoor environment and perceived quality of life (QoL) in old age and to assess whether fear of moving outdoors and unmet physical activity need contribute to this association. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Community and research center. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred eighty-nine, community-dwelling people aged 75 to 81 took part in face-to-face home-interviews and examinations in the research center. MEASUREMENTS: QoL was assessed using the LEIPAD questionnaire. Environmental barriers were studied based on self-reports of lack of resting places or long distances (distances), noisy traffic or dangerous crossroads (traffic), and…

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

2018

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…

Environmental Features Associated With Older Adults' Physical Activity in Different Types of Urban Neighborhoods.

2020

The authors studied associations of nature- and infrastructure-based features with physical activity (PA) in different urban neighborhood types; 848 community-dwelling people aged 75–90 years reported PA and three perceived nature-based destinations and seven infrastructure-based features as outdoor mobility facilitators. Neighborhood type was defined using a geographic information system based on proximity to central service areas and residential density (city center, subcenter, and dense and dispersed areas outside centers). PA was higher in dense areas and the city center. Binary logistic regression showed that perceiving nature-based destinations increased the odds for higher PA in the …

Genetic contribution to the relationship between personality and depressive symptoms among older women.

2009

BackgroundPrior studies suggest that certain types of personality are at higher risk for developing depressive disorders. This study examined the relationship between old age depressive symptoms and two middle-age personality dimensions, neuroticism and extraversion.MethodThe present study is part of the Finnish Twin Study on Aging, where altogether 409 female twins who had completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory at the age of 38–51 years were studied for depressive symptoms 28 years later using Center for the Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Logistic regression analysis suitable for dependent data and univariate and Cholesky models for decomposing the genetic and environmental f…

Associations Between Reasons to Go Outdoors and Objectively-Measured Walking Activity in Various Life-Space Areas Among Older People.

2015

This cross-sectional study investigated associations between reasons to go outdoors and objectively-measured walking activity in various life-space areas among older people. During the study, 174 community-dwelling older people aged 75–90 from central Finland wore an accelerometer over seven days and recorded their reasons to go outdoors in an activity diary. The most common reasons for going outdoors were shopping, walking for exercise, social visits, and running errands. Activities done in multiple life-space areas contributed more to daily step counts than those done in the neighborhood or town and beyond. Those who went shopping or walked for exercise accumulated higher daily step count…

Obesity History as a Predictor of Walking Limitation at Old Age*

2007

Objective: To study whether walking limitation at old age is determined by obesity history. Research Methods and Procedures: In a retrospective longitudinal study based on a representative sample of the Finnish population of 55 years and older (2055 women and 1337 men), maximal walking speed, body mass, and body height were measured in a health examination. Walking limitation was defined as walking speed <1.2 m/s or difficulty in walking 0.5 km. Recalled height at 20 years of age and recalled weight at 20, 30, 40, and 50 years of age were recorded. Results: Subjects who had been obese at the age of 30, 40, or 50 years had almost a 4-fold higher risk of walking limitation compared to non-obe…

Environmental mobility barriers and walking for errands among older people who live alone vs. with others

2013

Background. Walking is the most popular form of physical activity among older people and for community-dwelling older people walking for errands is especially important. The aim of this study is to examine the association between self-reported environmental mobility barriers and amount of walking for errands among older people who live alone compared to those who live with others. Methods. This observational study is based on cross-sectional data on 657 people aged 75–81 living in Jyväskylä, Central Finland. Self-reports of environmental mobility barriers were collected under four categories: Traffic, Terrain, Distances and Entrance. Persons who reported walking for errands ≤ 1.5 km/week or…

Muscle strength, disability and mortality

2003

The aims of this review are to address (1) the role of muscle strength in the disablement process and (2) muscle strength as a predictor of length of life using data from prospective studies. Functional limitations, such as slow walking speed, predispose older people to disabilities. How much strength is needed for daily motor tasks such as walking varies according to other impairments present. For example, when postural balance is good, only minimum amount of strength is needed for walking. However, in the presence of balance impairment, having good level of strength may help to compensate for the deficit. Having strength well above the required level indicates reserve capacity. It was stu…

Effects of comprehensive geriatric assessment and targeted intervention on mobility in persons aged 75 years and over: a randomized controlled trial

2011

Objective: To assess the effect of a comprehensive geriatric assessment and individually tailored intervention on mobility in older people. In addition, the effectiveness of the geriatric intervention was evaluated among a subgroup of persons with musculoskeletal pain. Design: Three-year geriatric development project with randomized assignment to intervention and control group. Setting: Research centre, community and assisted living facilities. Participants: Seven hundred and eighty-one Finnish persons aged 75–98 years were assigned to an intervention ( n = 404) or control ( n = 377) group. Intervention: A comprehensive geriatric assessment with a multifactorial intervention lasting two ye…

Associations of physical activity in detailed intensity ranges with body composition and physical function : a cross-sectional study among sedentary …

2020

Background Physical activity is crucial to maintain older adults’ health and functioning, but the health benefits of particular activity intensities remain unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to peruse the distribution of physical activity, and to investigate the associations of particular physical activity intensities with body composition and physical function among older adults. Methods The sample comprised of 293 community-dwelling sedentary or at most moderately active older adults (42% men, mean age 74 ± 4 years). Physical activity was measured with a hip-worn tri-axial accelerometer over seven consecutive days, and investigated in detailed intensity range and in catego…

Outdoor Mobility and Use of Adaptive or Maladaptive Walking Modifications among Older People

2020

Background. In old age, decline in functioning may cause changes in walking ability. Our aim was to study whether older people who report adaptive, maladaptive or no walking modifications differ in outdoor mobility. Methods. Community-dwelling people aged 75–90 years (N=848) were interviewed at baseline, of whom 761 participated in the 2-year follow-up. Walking modifications were assessed by asking the participants whether they had modified their way of walking 2 kilometers due to their health. Based on the responses, three categories were formed: no walking modifications (reference), adaptive (e.g., walking more slowly, using an aid) and maladaptive walking modifications (reduced frequency…

A twin study on the heritability of walking ability among older women

2006

BACKGROUND This study examined the role of genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in women's walking ability in old age. METHODS A maximal walking speed test over 10 meters and a 6-minute walking endurance test were done under standard conditions among 92 monozygotic and 105 dizygotic pairs of twin sisters reared together, aged 63-75 years. RESULTS The mean maximum walking speed was 1.73 +/- 0.32 m/s and the mean distance covered in the 6-minute walking test was 525.6 +/- 77.3 m. Multivariate genetic modeling showed that a minor part of the variances in walking speed (16%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0%-54%) and endurance (20%, 95% CI: 0%-56%) were accounted f…

Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Changes in Life-Space Mobility Among Older People

2015

Background Our aim was to study the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and subsequent changes in life-space mobility over 2 years among older people. Life-space mobility refers to the area a person moves through in daily life, taking into account frequency, and need of assistance. Life-space mobility and physical activity correlate, but whether different intensities of objectively assessed physical activity predicts decline in life-space mobility is not known. Methods Prospective cohort study of the "Life-space Mobility in Old Age" (LISPE) project accelerometer substudy. Participants were community-dwelling older people aged 75-90 (n = 164). Life-space mobility was …

Coimpairments as Predictors of Severe Walking Disability in Older Women

2001

OBJECTIVE: Severe disabilities are common among older people who have impairments in a range of physiologic systems. It is not known, however, whether the presence of multiple impairments, or coimpairments, is associated with increased risk of developing new disability. The aim of this study was to determine the combined effects of two impairments, decreased knee-extension strength and poor standing balance, on the risk of developing severe walking disability among older, moderately-to-severely disabled women who did not have severe walking disability at baseline. DESIGN: The Women's Health and Aging Study is a 3-year prospective study with 6 semi-annual follow-up data-collection rounds fol…

Supplemental_tables – Supplemental Material for Associations between Perceived Outdoor Environment and Walking Modifications in Community-Dwelling Ol…

2020

Supplemental Material, Supplemental_tables for Associations between Perceived Outdoor Environment and Walking Modifications in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study by Heidi Skantz, Taina Rantanen, Timo Rantalainen, Kirsi E. Keskinen, Lotta Palmberg, Erja Portegijs, Johanna Eronen and Merja Rantakokko in Journal of Aging and Health

Association between physical performance and sense of autonomy in outdoor activities and life-space mobility in community-dwelling older people

2014

Objectives. To study the relationship between physical performance and sense of autonomy in outdoor activities with life-space mobility—the spatial area a person purposefully moves through in daily life—in community-dwelling older people. Design. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data of the Life-Space Mobility in Old Age cohort study. Setting. Structured interviews in participants' homes. Participants. Community-dwelling people aged 75 to 90 (N = 848). Measurements. Sense of autonomy outdoors (Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire subscale), life-space mobility (Life-Space Assessment; University of Alabama, Birmingham Study of Aging), and Short Physical Performance Battery.…

Hilliness and the Development of Walking Difficulties Among Community-Dwelling Older People

2018

Objective: The objective of this study is to study the associations of objectively defined hilliness with the prevalence and incidence of walking difficulties among community-dwelling older adults, and to explore whether behavioral, health, or socioeconomic factors would fully or partially explain these associations. Method: Baseline interviews ( n = 848, 75-90 years) on difficulties in walking 500 m, frequency of moving through the neighborhood, and perceived hilliness as a barrier to outdoor mobility were conducted. Two-year follow-up interviews ( n = 551) on difficulties in walking 500 m were conducted among participants without baseline walking difficulties. Hilliness objectively defin…

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

2017

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…

Associations Between Accelerometer-Based Free-Living Walking and Self-Reported Walking Capability Among Community-Dwelling Older People

2021

The authors examined whether accelerometer-based free-living walking differs between those reporting walking modifications or perceiving walking difficulty versus those with no difficulty. Community-dwelling 75-, 80-, or 85-year-old people (N = 479) wore accelerometers continuously for 3–7 days, and reported whether they perceived no difficulties, used walking modifications, or perceived difficulties walking 2 km. Daily walking minutes, walking bouts, walking bout intensity and duration, and activity fragmentation were calculated from accelerometer recordings, and cut points for increased risk for perceiving walking difficulties were calculated using receiver operating characteristic analys…

Infant and childhood growth and frailty in old age : the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

2018

BackgroundEvidence from life course studies highlights the importance of infant and childhood growth as risk factors for adulthood chronic diseases.MethodsIn this sub-study of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, we studied 1078 individuals who had both information on body size from birth to 12 years of age and who were assessed for frailty according to the Fried criteria at the mean age of 71 years.ResultsGreater BMI gain between 2 and 11 years in boys was associated with frailty in old age (age-adjusted RRR 2.36, 95% CI 1.21, 4.63). No similar associations were observed in girls.ConclusionsMen who were frail in old age experienced accelerated BMI gain in childhood compared with those men who …

A Genome-Wide Screen for Interactions Reveals a New Locus on 4p15 Modifying the Effect of Waist-to-Hip Ratio on Total Cholesterol

2011

Recent genome-wide association (GWA) studies described 95 loci controlling serum lipid levels. These common variants explain ∼25% of the heritability of the phenotypes. To date, no unbiased screen for gene–environment interactions for circulating lipids has been reported. We screened for variants that modify the relationship between known epidemiological risk factors and circulating lipid levels in a meta-analysis of genome-wide association (GWA) data from 18 population-based cohorts with European ancestry (maximum N = 32,225). We collected 8 further cohorts (N = 17,102) for replication, and rs6448771 on 4p15 demonstrated genome-wide significant interaction with waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR) on …

Muscle strength before and mortality after a bone fracture in older people

2002

We studied whether muscle strength measured before a bone fracture predicts mortality following the fracture. The participants were a sub-cohort of 82 people of a total of 493 Evergreen project participants initially aged 75- and 80 years, who had participated in knee extension strength tests as part of the baseline examinations, and who subsequently suffered at least one bone fracture. Maximal isometric knee extension strength was measured at baseline using an adjustable dynamometer chair. Fracture surveillance was carried out from patient records for 5 years, and mortality surveillance from population register for 10 years after baseline examinations. Average time till a fracture occurred…

Type of surgery is associated with pain and walking difficulties among older people with previous hip fracture

2015

Aim The aim was to assess the level of lower body pain among people with previous femoral neck fracture, and whether the type of surgery was associated with pain and physical function a mean of 2 years after surgery. Methods The study included 115 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older with previous femoral neck fracture, and 31 reference subjects without previous lower limb injuries. A total of 30 patients had internal fixation surgery, 70 had hemiarthroplasty and 15 had total hip replacement. All patients had surgery in the same hospital and received typical inpatient rehabilitation. From 1.6 months to 7.5 years after the fracture, the patients underwent examination inclu…

Associations between the dimensions of perceived togetherness, loneliness, and depressive symptoms among older Finnish people

2017

Objectives: We studied the associations between perceived togetherness, depressive symptoms, and loneliness over a six-month period among 222 people aged 75–79 who reported loneliness or depressive mood at baseline. Method: The present cross-lagged models utilized baseline and six-month follow-up data of a randomized controlled trial that examined the effects of a social intervention on loneliness and depression (ISRCTN78426775). Dimensions of perceived togetherness, i.e. attachment, social integration, guidance, alliance, nurturance, and reassurance of worth, were measured with the Social Provisions Scale, depressive symptoms with a short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale, and lonelin…

Disability, physical activity, and muscle strength in older women: The women's health and aging study

1999

Abstract Objective: To study associations of motor disability, physical activity, and muscle strength in older women, in particular to investigate whether model of spiraling decrease is expressed in the data. Design: Cross-sectional analysis using data from the base-line measurements of The Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS). Setting: Participants' homes. Participants: A total of 1,002 disabled women aged 65 years and older living in the community. Outcome Measures: Motor disability was measured by the number of self-reported difficulties in grasping, lifting 101b, walking across a small room, walking 14 mile, climbing 10 steps, and doing heavy housework. Level of physical activity was d…

Heritability of refractive astigmatism: a population-based twin study among 63- to 75-year-old female twins.

2013

PURPOSE: To examine the heritability of refractive astigmatism in older women. METHODS: Astigmatism was measured with an autorefractor in 88 monozygotic and 82 dizygotic female twin pairs aged 63 to 75 years. The prevalence and distribution of astigmatism and polar values J0 and J45 were estimated by standard statistical methods. Bivariate maximum likelihood model fitting was used to estimate genetic and environmental variance components using information from both eyes. RESULTS: Mean astigmatism of the more astigmatic eye was 0.93 diopters (D; SD ±0.58). Astigmatism of at least 0.25 D, 0.5 D, 0.75 D, or 1.0 D in either eye was present in 99.7%, 88.5%, 66.5%, and 46.2% of cases, respectivel…

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

2009

Personal goals and changes in life-space mobility among older people

2015

Abstract Objective Life-space mobility – the spatial extent of mobility in daily life – is associated with quality of life and physical functioning but may also be influenced by future orientation expressed in personal goals. The aim of this study was to explore how different personal goals predict changes in older people's life-space mobility. Methods This prospective cohort study with a 2-year follow-up included 824 community-dwelling people aged 75 to 90 years from the municipalities of Jyvaskyla and Muurame in Central Finland. As part of the Life-Space Mobility in Old Age study (LISPE), which was conducted between 2012 and 2014, the participants responded to the Life-Space Assessment an…

Heritability of anterior chamber depth and axial length: a population-based twin study among 66 to 79-year old female twins.

2014

Map-based assessment of older adults’ life space: validity and reliability

2020

Background Map-based tools have recently found their way into health-related research. They can potentially be used to quantify older adults’ life-space. This study aimed to evaluate the validity (vs. GPS) and the test-retest reliability of a map-based life-space assessment (MBA). Methods Life-space of one full week was assessed by GPS and by MBA. MBA was repeated after approximately 3 weeks. Distance-related (mean and maximum distance from home) and area-related (convex hull, standard deviational ellipse) life-space indicators were calculated. Intraclass correlations (MBA vs. GPS and test-retest) were calculated in addition to Bland-Altman analyses (MBA vs. GPS). Results Fifty-eight older …

Prevalence and Risk Factors of PAD among Patients with Elevated ABI

2008

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence and clinical significance of elevated ankle-brachial index (ABI) in patients referred to vascular consultation.DesignRetrospective clinical study.Material and methodsIn 1,762 patients referred with a suspicion of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), ABI and toe brachial index (TBI) were measured by photoplethysmography. ABI≥1.3 was considered falsely elevated and TBI<0.60 was the diagnostic criterion for PAD.ResultsThe prevalence of elevated ABI was 8.4% and that of PAD among these patients 62.2%. PAD was significantly more prevalent among subjects with severe symptoms (rest pain, ulcers or gangrene) than in those with intermittent claudication (83.8% and 45…

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

2014

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…

SNPs associated withHHIPexpression have differential effects on lung function in males and females

2019

AbstractAdult lung function is highly heritable and 279 genetic loci were recently reported as associated with spirometry-based measures of lung function. Though lung development and function differ between males and females throughout life, there has been no genome-wide study to identify genetic variants with differential effects on lung function in males and females. Here, we present the first genome-wide genotype-by-sex interaction study on four lung function traits in 303,612 participants from the UK Biobank. We detected five SNPs showing genome-wide significant (P&lt;5 × 10−8) interactions with sex on lung function, as well as 21 suggestively significant interactions (P&lt;1 × 10−6). T…

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

2017

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…

Does telomere length predict decline in physical functioning in older twin sisters during an 11-year follow-up?

2016

Background: Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is known to be associated with mortality, but its association with age-related decline in physical functioning and the development of disability is less clear. This study examined the associations between LTL and physical functioning, and investigated whether LTL predicts level of physical functioning over an 11- year follow-up. Methods: Older mono- (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin sisters (n=386) participated in the study. Relative LTL was measured by qPCR at baseline. Physical functioning was measured by 6-min walking distance and level of physical activity (PA). Walking distance was measured at baseline and at 3-year follow-up. PA was assessed by q…

Individual Scaling of Accelerometry to Preferred Walking Speed in the Assessment of Physical Activity in Older Adults

2020

Abstract Background Walking forms a large portion of physical activity (PA) of older adults. We assessed free-living PA using acceleration corresponding to preferred walking speed as a relative cut-point and studied how it relates to age. We compared the relative cut-point to a common absolute cut-point of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Method Four hundred forty-four community-dwelling adults aged 75, 80, and 85 years wore an accelerometer on the thigh during a PA surveillance period and a modified 6-minute walking test (6MWT) at preferred speed. Each individual’s mean acceleration (g) during the 6MWT was used as a cut-point for relative PA. Acceleration corresponding to thr…

The Association Between Epigenetic Clocks and Physical Functioning in Older Women: A 3-Year Follow-up

2021

Abstract Background Epigenetic clocks are composite markers developed to predict chronological age or mortality risk from DNA methylation (DNAm) data. The present study investigated the associations between 4 epigenetic clocks (Horvath’s and Hannum’s DNAmAge and DNAm GrimAge and PhenoAge) and physical functioning during a 3-year follow-up. Method We studied 63- to 76-year-old women (N = 413) from the Finnish Twin Study on Aging. DNAm was measured from blood samples at baseline. Age acceleration (AgeAccel), that is, discrepancy between chronological age and DNAm age, was determined as residuals from linear model. Physical functioning was assessed under standardized laboratory conditions at b…

Neighborhood walkability and older people's participation in leisure activities

2022

Background The neighborhood environment may enhance or restrict older people's opportunities to participate in leisure activities, and thus impact quality of life. Walkability depicts the environment's suitability for walking to different destinations. Little is known concerning about the relation between environment walkability and participation in leisure activities. Our purpose was to study whether neighborhood's objective and perceived walkability were related to participation in various leisure activities outside the home. Methods Cross-sectional data of LISPE consisted of 848 community-dwelling people aged 75-90 living in the municipalities of Jyväskylä and Muurame, Finland. Participa…

Meta-analysis of gene-environment-wide association scans accounting for education level identifies additional loci for refractive error

2016

Myopia is the most common human eye disorder and it results from complex genetic and environmental causes. The rapidly increasing prevalence of myopia poses a major public health challenge. Here, the CREAM consortium performs a joint meta-analysis to test single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) main effects and SNP × education interaction effects on refractive error in 40,036 adults from 25 studies of European ancestry and 10,315 adults from 9 studies of Asian ancestry. In European ancestry individuals, we identify six novel loci (FAM150B-ACP1, LINC00340, FBN1, DIS3L-MAP2K1, ARID2-SNAT1 and SLC14A2) associated with refractive error. In Asian populations, three genome-wide significant loci AREG…

Short telomere length is associated with impaired cognitive performance in European ancestry cohorts

2017

AbstractThe association between telomere length (TL) dynamics on cognitive performance over the life-course is not well understood. This study meta-analyses observational and causal associations between TL and six cognitive traits, with stratifications on APOE genotype, in a Mendelian Randomization (MR) framework. Twelve European cohorts (N=17 052; mean age=59.2±8.8 years) provided results for associations between qPCR-measured TL (T/S-ratio scale) and general cognitive function, mini-mental state exam (MMSE), processing speed by digit symbol substitution test (DSST), visuospatial functioning, memory and executive functioning (STROOP). In addition, a genetic risk score (GRS) for TL includin…

Telomere Length in Circulating Leukocytes is Associated with Lung Function and Disease

2014

Several clinical studies suggest the involvement of premature ageing processes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using an epidemiological approach, we studied whether accelerated ageing indicated by telomere length, a marker of biological age, is associated with COPD and asthma, and whether intrinsic age-related processes contribute to the interindividual variability of lung function. Our meta-analysis of 14 studies included 934 COPD cases with 15 846 controls defined according to the Global Lungs Initiative (GLI) criteria (or 1189 COPD cases according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria), 2834 asthma cases with 28 195 controls, and s…

Heritability of Spherical Equivalent

2010

Purpose To examine the heritability of spherical equivalent (SE) in older women. Design Population-based twin study. Participants Ninety monozygotic (MZ) and 86 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 63 to 76 years who were born from 1924 through 1937. Methods Ocular refraction was measured using an autorefractor and controlled by the subjective method. The contributions of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in SE were estimated by applying an independent pathway model to twin data. Main Outcome Measures Contribution of genetic and environmental effects to the variation in SE. Results Mean SE of the study population was 1.68 (standard deviation, ±1.82) with no differ…

Midlife muscle strength and human longevity up to age 100 years: a 44-year prospective study among a decedent cohort

2011

We studied prospectively the midlife handgrip strength, living habits, and parents’ longevity as predictors of length of life up to becoming a centenarian. The participants were 2,239 men from the Honolulu Heart Program/Honolulu–Asia Aging Study who were born before the end of June 1909 and who took part in baseline physical assessment in 1965–1968, when they were 56–68 years old. Deaths were followed until the end of June 2009 for 44 years with complete ascertainment. Longevity was categorized as centenarian (≥100 years, n = 47), nonagenarian (90–99 years, n = 545), octogenarian (80–89 years, n = 847), and ≤79 years (n = 801, reference). The average survival after baseline was 20.8 years (…

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

2014

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 …

Genome-wide association study identifies five loci associated with lung function

2010

Pulmonary function measures are heritable traits that predict morbidity and mortality and define chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC) in the SpiroMeta consortium (n = 20,288 individuals of European ancestry). We conducted a meta-analysis of top signals with data from direct genotyping (n ≤ 32,184 additional individuals) and in silico summary association data from the CHARGE Consortium (n = 21,209) and the Health 2000 survey (n ≤ 883). We confirmed the reported locus at 4q31 and identified associations with FEV1 or FEV1/FVC and common variants at five ad…

Electrocardiographic Indices of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Repolarization Phase Share the Same Genetic Influences: A Twin Study

2009

Background: Both left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and repolarization phase (RP) are known to be attributable to genetic influences, but less is known whether they share same genetic influences. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent individual differences in electrocardiographic (ECG) LVH and RP are explained by genetic and environmental influences and whether these influences are shared between these two traits. Methods: Resting ECG recordings were obtained from 186 monozygotic and 203 dizygotic female twin individuals, aged 63 to 76 years. Latent factors, called LVH and RP, were formed to condense the information obtained from LVH indices (Cornell voltage and Cornell pr…

Neighborhood Mobility and Unmet Physical Activity Need in Old Age: A 2-Year Follow-Up

2020

Background: Many older people report a willingness to increase outdoor physical activity (PA), but no opportunities for it, a situation termed as unmet PA need. The authors studied whether lower neighborhood mobility and PA precede the development of unmet PA need. Methods: Community-dwelling 75- to 90-year-old people (n = 700) were interviewed annually for 2 years. Unmet PA need, neighborhood mobility, and PA were self-reported. In addition, accelerometer-based step counts were assessed among a subgroup (n = 156). Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed that lower baseline neighborhood mobility (odds ratio 3.02, 95% confidence interval [1.86, 4.90] vs. daily) and PA (odds ratio 4.37…

Is frailty associated with life-space mobility and perceived autonomy in participation outdoors? A longitudinal study

2016

Background: essential aspects of independence in community mobility among older people concern the control over where, when and how to participate (perceived autonomy), and actual mobility (life-space mobility; frequency, distance and need of assistance). We studied relationships between frailty and life-space mobility and perceived autonomy in participation outdoors among community-dwelling 75–90 years old people. Methods: longitudinal analyses of the ‘Life-space mobility in old age’ cohort study (n = 753). Life-space mobility (Life-Space Assessment, range 0–120) and perceived autonomy in participation outdoors (Impact on Participation and Autonomy subscale ‘autonomy outdoors’, range 0–20)…

Muscle Cross-Sectional Area and Structural Bone Strength Share Genetic and Environmental Effects in Older Women

2009

The purpose of this study was to estimate to what extent muscle cross-sectional area of the lower leg (mCSA) and tibial structural strength are influenced by common and trait-specific genetic and environmental factors. pQCT scans were obtained from both members of 102 monozygotic (MZ) and 113 dizygotic (DZ) 63- to 76-yr-old female twin pairs to estimate the mCSA of the lower leg, structural bending strength of the tibial shaft (BSIbend), and compressive strength of the distal tibia (BSIcomp). Quantitative genetic models were used to decompose the phenotypic variances into common and trait-specific additive genetic (A), shared environmental (C), and individual environmental (E) effects. The …

Peripheral arterial disease, diabetes and postural balance among elderly Finns: a population-based study

2008

Background and aims: Little is known about the role of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)in the development of balance impairment. The aim of this study was to assess postural balance among people having PAD or PAD combined with diabetes. Methods: As part of the comprehensive health examination of the Health 2000 survey (two-stage stratified cluster sampling), 1323 people aged 65 years or older took part in balance assessments using a force platform system. The presence of PAD was confirmed with data from the National Hospital Discharge Registry. Individuals with hospitalization due to PAD were regarded as having severe disease, whereas those with solely self-reported diagnosis were consider…

Benefits of formal voluntary work among older people. A review

2011

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…

Genetic architecture of circulating lipid levels

2011

Serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs) and total cholesterol (TC) are important heritable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Although genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of circulating lipid levels have identified numerous loci, a substantial portion of the heritability of these traits remains unexplained. Evidence of unexplained genetic variance can be detected by combining multiple independent markers into additive genetic risk scores. Such polygenic scores, constructed using results from the ENGAGE Consortium GWAS on serum lipids, were applied to predict lipid levels in an independen…

Mobility decline in old age.

2012

Mobility is important for community independence. With increasing age, underlying pathologies, genetic vulnerabilities, physiological and sensory impairments, and environmental barriers increase the risk for mobility decline. Understanding how mobility declines is paramount to finding ways to promote mobility in old age. peerReviewed

Do opposite ends of same factors underlie life satisfaction vs. depressive symptoms among older people?

2021

Abstract Background Although depressive symptoms are more common among older than younger age groups, life satisfaction tends to remain stable over the life course, possibly because the underlying factors or processes differ. Aim To study whether the factors that increase the likelihood of high life satisfaction also decrease the likelihood of depressive symptoms among older people. Methods The data were a population-based probability sample drawn from community-dwelling people aged 75, 80, and 85 years (n = 1021). Participants’ life satisfaction was measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale and depressive symptoms with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Phy…

Factors associated with maximal walking speed among older community-living adults.

2011

Background and aims: The relative contribution of different domains on walking speed is largely unknown. This study investigated the central factors associated with maximal walking speed among older people. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the SCAMOB study (ISRCTN 07330512) involving 605 community-living ambulatory adults aged 75–81 years. Maximal walking speed, leg extensor power, standing balance and body mass index were measured at the research center. Physical activity, smoking, use of alcohol, chronic diseases and depressive symptoms were self-reported by standard questionnaires. Results: The mean maximal walking speed was 1.4 m/s (range 0.3–2.9). In linear regre…

Contribution of musculoskeletal pain to postural balance in community-dwelling people aged 75 years and older.

2010

Background. Balance is among the most important prerequisites for safe and independent mobility. Whether musculoskeletal pain is related to standing balance impairment has received limited attention. The aim of this study was to examine the association of musculoskeletal pain with the control of balance in older people. Methods. A total of 605 participants aged 75 years and older (mean age 80.4, 71 % women) were interviewed about presence and severity of musculoskeletal pain. Balance was measured by a force platform, and impaired balance was defined as a high sway velocity moment or inability to maintain semitandem standing. Results. Musculoskeletal pain was reported by 48% of the participa…

FLEXIBLE AND TENACIOUS GOAL PURSUIT IN RELATION TO OUTDOOR MOBILITY IN OLD AGE

2018

Goal pursuit may affect older people’s outdoor mobility, a correlate of quality of life. This study investigated associations of flexible and tenacious goal pursuit with perceived autonomy in participation outdoors and life-space mobility. Participants were community-dwelling older people aged 79–93 years (n=185). Tenacious goal pursuit (TGP) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA) were self-reported with separate scales (ranges 5–25). Perceived autonomy in participation was assessed with the Impact on Participation and Autonomy ‘outdoors’-subscale (range 0–20), and life-space mobility with the Life-Space Assessment (range 0–120). Two-step cluster analysis was used to create data-driven goal pur…

Clustering of reported activity destinations and use of active transport among older adults

2022

Background Conducting everyday activities out-of-home may accumulate a large share of older adults' daily physical, especially if active transportation is used. Environmental features in home neighborhood may motivate for higher physical activity, but the role of features around destinations is less known. Our goal was to study 1) clustering of older adults' reported activity destinations, and 2) whether transport mode to a destination was associated with characteristics of destination clusters. Methods Data comprise AGNES study participants (901 community-dwelling people aged 75-85 years living in city of Jyväskylä, Finland; 57% women) combined with geospatial data. Using digital mapping, …

Personal Goals of Older Female Twins

2009

This study examined genetic and environmental influences on older women’s personal goals by using data from the Finnish Twin Study on Aging. The interview for the personal goals was completed by 67 monozygotic (MZ) pairs and 75 dizygotic (DZ) pairs. The tetrachoric correlations for personal goals related to health and functioning, close relationships, and independent living were higher in MZ than DZ twins, indicating possible genetic influence. The pattern of tetrachoric correlations for personal goals related to cultural activities, care of others, and physical exercise indicated environmental influence. For goals concerning health and functioning, independent living, and close relationsh…

Fear of falling and coexisting sensory difficulties as predictors of mobility decline in older women.

2012

BACKGROUND: Mobility decline, the coexistence of several sensory difficulties and fear of falling (FOF) are all common concerns in older people; however, knowledge about the combined effect of FOF and coexisting sensory difficulties on mobility is lacking. METHODS: Data on self-reported FOF, difficulties in hearing, vision, balance, and walking 2 km were gathered with a structured questionnaire among 434 women aged 63-76 years at baseline and after a 3-year follow-up. Logistic regression models were used for analyses. RESULTS: Every third participant reported difficulties in walking 2 km at baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, the odds ratio for difficulties in walking 2 km was higher amo…

Maintenance of high quality of life as an indicator of resilience during COVID-19 social distancing among community-dwelling older adults in Finland

2021

Abstract Purpose Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced possibilities for activities of choice potentially threatening quality of life (QoL). We defined QoL resilience as maintaining high quality of life and studied whether walking speed, absence of loneliness, living arrangement, and stress-coping ability predict QoL resilience among older people. Methods Community-dwelling 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old persons (n = 685) were interviewed and examined in 2017–2018 and were followed up during COVID-19 social distancing in 2020. We assessed QoL using the OPQOL-brief scale and set a cut-off for ‘constant high’ based on staying in the highest baseline quartile over the follow-up and…

Accumulation of sensory difficulties predicts fear of falling in older women

2013

Objectives: To explore whether the accumulation of sensory difficulties predicts fear of falling (FOF), and whether the traits correlate with each other regardless of familial factors. Methods: Self-reported hearing, vision and balance difficulties, and FOF were assessed using structured questionnaires at the baseline and after a 3-year follow-up in 63- to 76-year-old women (n = 434). Results: Among the women without FOF at baseline (n = 245), 41% reported FOF at follow-up. Increasing numbers of sensory difficulties at baseline predicted higher incidence of FOF. The relationship between accumulated sensory difficulties and FOF was not mediated by familial factors. Discussion: The accumulati…

Musculoskeletal pain and use of analgesics in relation to mobility limitation among community-dwelling persons aged 75 years and older

2012

Pain and factors related to it constitute serious health problems in the older population. This populationbased cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether musculoskeletal pain is associated with mobility limitation and whether the relationship between pain and mobility limitation varies according to the use of analgesics among community-dwelling older people. A total of 622 community-dwelling participants aged 75 years and older (mean age 80.4, 74% women) were interviewed about presence and severity of musculoskeletal pain. Self-reported analgesic drug utilization was verified against medical records. Mobility limitation was assessed by the Timed Up & Go test (TUG) time of >13.5 s o…

The Older Finnish Twin Cohort : 45 Years of Follow-up

2019

AbstractThe older Finnish Twin Cohort (FTC) was established in 1974. The baseline survey was in 1975, with two follow-up health surveys in 1981 and 1990. The fourth wave of assessments was done in three parts, with a questionnaire study of twins born during 1945–1957 in 2011–2012, while older twins were interviewed and screened for dementia in two time periods, between 1999 and 2007 for twins born before 1938 and between 2013 and 2017 for twins born in 1938–1944. The content of these wave 4 assessments is described and some initial results are described. In addition, we have invited twin-pairs, based on response to the cohortwide surveys, to participate in detailed in-person studies; these …

Assimilative and Accommodative Coping and Older People’s Leisure Activities

2019

Objectives: Assimilative and accommodative coping strategies have hardly been studied in relation to leisure activities in old age. We investigated whether tenacious goal pursuit (TGP) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA) influence the association between physical performance and participation in leisure activities. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 187 community-dwelling people aged 79 to 93 years. TGP, FGA, and leisure activity participation were asked with questionnaires. Physical performance was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Results: TGP moderated the relationship between physical performance and leisure activity participation. Despite…

Age-related variation in mobility independence among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study

2016

To evaluate age-related variation in mobility independence among community-living wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).Community Survey (2011-2013) as part of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study.Community.Individuals aged 16 years or older with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI permanently residing in Switzerland and using a wheelchair for moving around moderate distances (10-100 m).Not applicable.Mobility-related items of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure-Self Report were matched to the three principal domains "changing basic body position," "transferring oneself" and "moving around." Binary outcomes ("independence" vs. "no independence") were created for every domain and a…

Socioeconomic Status and Life-Space Mobility in Old Age.

2016

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,…

Recommendations for and warnings against physical activity given to older people by health care professionals.

2005

Abstract Background Little is known about how health care professionals advice older people with chronic conditions about physical exercise. This study investigated exercise counseling in the context of health care as perceived by older people, and factors associated with perceived advice. Design and methods Participants were 580 non-institutional 73- to 92-year-old people who reported at least one contact with health care during the previous 12 months. Results Of all the participants, 23% recalled solely recommendations to exercise, and 9% solely warnings against exercise. Additionally, 34% recalled receiving both recommendations for and warnings against physical activity, and 34% did not …

Walking recovery after a hip fracture: A prospective follow-up study among community-dwelling over 60-year old men and women

2014

Purpose. Recovery of walking outdoors after hip fracture is important for equal participation in the community. The causes of poor recovery are not fully understood. This study investigates recovery of walking outdoors and associated determinants after hip fracture.Methods. A prospective follow-up study, among clinical sample of 81 community-dwelling hip fracture patients over 60 years. Perceived difficulty in walking outdoors and 500 meters was assessed before fracture, at discharge to home (3.2 ± 2.2 weeks after surgery), and on average 6.0 ± 3.3 weeks after discharge. Potential determinants for walking recovery were assessed. Linear latent trajectory model was used to analyse changes dur…

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

2016

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

Life-Space Mobility and Active Aging as Factors Underlying Quality of Life Among Older People Before and During COVID-19 Lockdown in Finland—A Longit…

2020

Abstract Background Social distancing, that is, avoiding places with other people and staying at home, was recommended to prevent viral transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potentially, reduced out-of-home mobility and lower activity levels among older people may lower their quality of life (QOL). We studied cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of and changes in life-space mobility, active aging, and QOL during COVID-19 social distancing compared to 2 years before. Methods Altogether 809 community-living participants initially aged 75, 80, or 85 years of our active aging study (AGNES) conducted in 2017–2018 took part in the current AGNES-COVID-19 survey in May and June 2020. …

Outdoor and indoor falls as predictors of mobility limitation in older women

2009

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

2006

&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…

Psychometric properties of the MOBITEC-GP mobile application for real-life mobility assessment in older adults

2022

Aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the life-space measures and walking speed delivered by the MOBITEC-GP app. Participants underwent several supervised walking speed assessments as well as a 1-week life-space assessment during two assessment sessions 9 days apart. Fifty-seven older adults (47.4% male, mean age= 75.3 (±5.9) years) were included in the study. The MOBITEC-GP app showed moderate to excellent test-retest reliability (ICCs between 0.584 and 0.920) and validity (ICCs between 0.468 and 0.950) of walking speed measurements of 50 meters and above and of most 1-week life-space parameters, including life-space area, time spent out-of-home, and action range. T…

Square-stepping exercise versus strength and balance training for fall risk factors

2008

Background and aims: Feasible and low-cost exercise programmes targeting fall risk factors may decrease the risk of falling in older adults. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of square-stepping exercise (SSE) training, which is a new and low-cost method designed to improve lower-extremity functional fitness, with strength and balance (SB) training. Methods: The study included 39 community-dwelling adults aged 65 to 74 years. The participants were randomized to either group SSE (n=20) or SB (n=19). They engaged in 70-min group exercise sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. The efficacy of the program was measured with both a 9-item test battery for assessment of physical per…

Fear of falling and coexisting sensory difficulties as predictors of mobility decline in older women

2012

Background. Mobility decline, the coexistence of several sensory difficulties and fear of falling (FOF) are all common concerns in older people; however, knowledge about the combined effect of FOF and coexisting sensory difficulties on mobility is lacking. Methods. Data on self-reported FOF, difficulties in hearing, vision, balance, and walking 2 km were gathered with a structured questionnaire among 434 women aged 63–76 years at baseline and after a 3-year follow-up. Logistic regression models were used for analyses. Results. Every third participant reported difficulties in walking 2 km at baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, the odds ratio for difficulties in walking 2 km was higher amo…

Fatigue and Depressive Symptoms in Older People

2014

Fatigue is considered an important indicator of aging-related declines in health and functional abilities. Previous studies have indicated strong associations between fatigue and depressive symptoms among younger populations and in patient groups with specific diseases. However, it is not known how different measures of fatigue are associated with depressive symptoms among general older populations. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults reporting mobility-related or general feelings fatigue. The study population consisted of 75-year-old community-living individuals ( n = 561). Both, mobility-related and general …

Genetic effects on life-space mobility in older women

2013

Muscle strength and history of heavy manual work among elderly trained women and randomly chosen sample population.

1993

The association between a history of heavy work and muscle strength was studied among 51 physically active women aged 66–85 years trained in sports and 41 women aged 70–81 years selected randomly from the population register. Maximal isometric muscle strength of hand grip, arm flexion, leg extension and trunk flexion and extension were measured using specially constructed dynamometers. The capacity of the abdominal muscles was evaluated by means of a sit-up test. The study included an interview dealing with the subjects' histories of heavy manual employment. The mean histories of heavy work for the trained and untrained women were 24 and 36 years, respectively. The trained women showed sign…

Self-reported hearing difficulties and changes in life-space mobility among community-dwelling older adults: a Two-year follow-Up study

2015

Background Life-space mobility reflects individuals’ actual mobility and engagement with society. Difficulty in hearing is common among older adults and can complicate participation in everyday activities, thus restricting life-space mobility. The aim of this study was to examine whether self-reported hearing predicts changes in life-space mobility among older adults. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults aged 75–90 years (n = 848). At-home face-to-face interviews at baseline and telephone follow-up were used. Participants responded to standardized questions on perceived hearing at baseline. Life-space mobility (the University of Alabama at Birmi…

Genome-wide association analysis identifies six new loci associated with forced vital capacity

2014

Forced vital capacity (FVC), a spirometric measure of pulmonary function, reflects lung volume and is used to diagnose and monitor lung diseases. We performed genome-wide association study meta-analysis of FVC in 52,253 individuals from 26 studies and followed up the top associations in 32,917 additional individuals of European ancestry. We found six new regions associated at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8) with FVC in or near EFEMP1, BMP6, MIR129-2–HSD17B12, PRDM11, WWOX and KCNJ2. Two loci previously associated with spirometric measures (GSTCD and PTCH1) were related to FVC. Newly implicated regions were followed up in samples from African-American, Korean, Chinese and Hispanic in…

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

2013

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…

Does the epigenetic clock GrimAge predict mortality independent of genetic influences : an 18 year follow-up study in older female twin pairs

2021

Background: Epigenetic clocks are based on DNA methylation (DNAm). It has been suggested that these clocks are useable markers of biological aging and premature mortality. Because genetic factors explain variations in both epigenetic aging and mortality, this association could also be explained by shared genetic factors. We investigated the infuence of genetic and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, chronic diseases, body mass index) and education on the association of accelerated epigenetic aging with mortality using a longitudinal twin design. Utilizing a publicly available online tool, we calculated the epigenetic age using two epigenetic clocks, Horvath D…

Genome-wide association and large-scale follow up identifies 16 new loci influencing lung function

2011

Pulmonary function measures reflect respiratory health and are used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity in 48,201 individuals of European ancestry with follow up of the top associations in up to an additional 46,411 individuals. We identified new regions showing association (combined P &lt; 5 x 10(-8)) with pulmonary function in or near MFAP2, TGFB2, HDAC4, RARB, MECOM (also known as EVI1), SPATA9, ARMC2, NCR3, ZKSCAN3, CDC123, C10orf11, LRP1, CCDC38, MMP15, CFDP1 and KCNE2. Identification of these 16 new loci may p…

Effects of resistance training on lower-extremity impairments in older people with hip fracture

2008

Abstract Portegijs E, Kallinen M, Rantanen T, Heinonen A, Sihvonen S, Alen M, Kiviranta I, Sipila S. Effects of resistance training on lower-extremity impairments in older people with hip fracture. Objective To study the effects of resistance training on muscle strength parameters, mobility, and balance. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Research laboratory and senior gym. Participants Population-based sample of eligible 60- to 85-year-old community-dwelling men and women 0.5 to 7.0 years after hip fracture. Forty-six people had no contraindications and were willing to participate in the exercise trial. Intervention Twelve-week intensive progressive strength-power training (n=24),…

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

2008

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…

Factors underlying tiredness in older adults.

2007

Background and aims: The purpose of the present study was to examine for factors related to tiredness, cross-sectionally at the age of 75 years, and factors related to subsequent onset of tiredness, from age 75 to 80 in a non-disabled community-living population. Methods: The study is part of the prospective Nordic Research on Aging Study (NORA) on the 1914 cohort in Jyvaskyla, Finland and Glostrup, Denmark. In total, 546 non-disabled older men and women participated in the cross-sectional study at age 75, and 299 persons without tiredness and disability at baseline took part in the follow-up study, from age 75 to 80. Tiredness was measured by a validated scale based on the following items:…

Impact of mobility restrictions on active aging; cross-sectional associations and longitudinal changes parallel to COVID-19 restrictions

2021

Background: Meaningful activities can be done in or around home, but opportunities for participation and active aging decrease when moving in smaller areas. Active aging refers to having an active approach to life in line with one's goals, ability and opportunities. In adults over 75 years with different baseline neighborhood mobility levels, we studied active aging scores two years prior to and amid COVID-19, when governments restricted mobility of residents to slow the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: AGNES cohort data were collected in 2017-2018 and spring 2020. Individuals were queried about their will, ability, and opportunity, and extent of doing 17 activities, and subsequently, item, comp…

Large scale international replication and meta-analysis study confirms association of the 15q14 locus with myopia. The CREAM consortium.

2012

Myopia is a complex genetic disorder and a common cause of visual impairment among working age adults. Genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility loci on chromosomes 15q14 and 15q25 in Caucasian populations of European ancestry. Here, we present a confirmation and meta-analysis study in which we assessed whether these two loci are also associated with myopia in other populations. The study population comprised 31 cohorts from the Consortium of Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM) representing 4 different continents with 55,177 individuals; 42,845 Caucasians and 12,332 Asians. We performed a meta-analysis of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 15q14 and 5 SNPs on …

DO FLEXIBLE AND TENACIOUS GOAL PURSUIT ALLEVIATE THE INFLUENCES OF FUNCTIONAL DECLINE TO ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION?

2018

Assimilative and accommodative coping strategies have hardly been studied in relation to activity participation when facing functional decline. We investigated whether tenacious goal pursuit (TGP) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA) influence the association between physical or cognitive performance, and physical activity or participation in other hobbies. Participants were 78-93-year-old community-dwelling people (n=187). TGP and FGA were self-evaluated with distinct scales (ranges 5–25). Physical performance was assessed with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; 0–12) and cognitive performance with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE; 0–30). Physical activity (0–5) and participation i…

Perceived barriers in the outdoor environment and development of walking difficulties in older people

2012

SIR—Older people with mobility limitations often report more barriers in their outdoor environment than people with intact mobility [1]. However, it is uncertain whether older people perceive their environment as problematic because of their mobility limitations or whether the environmental barriers precede incident mobility limitation, as most studies have been limited to cross-sectional analyses [2–5]. Only a few longitudinal studies have shown that barriers in the outdoor environment, such as poor street conditions, poor lighting and heavy traffic, increase the risk for overall functional loss [6, 7] and decrease physical activity participation [8]. More knowledge is needed about the cha…

Prestroke Weight Loss Is Associated With Poststroke Mortality Among Men in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study

2014

Objective To examine baseline prestroke weight loss and poststroke mortality among men. Design Longitudinal study of late-life prestroke body mass index (BMI), weight loss, and BMI change (midlife to late life) with up to 8-year incident stroke and mortality follow-up. Setting Community-based aging study data. Participants Japanese-American men (N=3581; age range, 71–93y) who were stroke free at baseline. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure Poststroke mortality: 30 days poststroke, analyzed with stepwise multivariable logistic regression; and long-term poststroke (up to 8y), analyzed with stepwise multivariable Cox regression. Results Weight loss (4.5kg decrements) was associ…

Perceived and objective entrance-related environmental barriers and daily out-of-home mobility in community-dwelling older people

2017

Abstract Purpose We studied whether entrance-related environmental barriers, perceived and objectively recorded, were associated with moving out-of-home daily in older people with and without limitations in lower extremity performance. Methods Cross-sectional analyses of the “Life-space mobility in old age” cohort including 848 community-dwelling 75–90-year-old of central Finland. Participants reported their frequency of moving out-of-home (daily vs. 0–6 times/week) and perceived entrance-related environmental barriers (yes/no). Lower extremity performance was assessed (Short Physical Performance Battery) and categorized as poorer (score 0–9) or good (score 10–12). Environmental barriers at…

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

2014

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…

The effect of individualized, theory-based counselling intervention on active aging and quality of life among older people (the AGNES intervention st…

2020

Abstract Background We define active aging as a striving for activities as per one’s goals, capacities and opportunities. Aim To test the 1-year counselling intervention effects on active aging. Methods In this two-arm single-blinded randomized controlled trial, the intervention group received individually tailored counselling supporting autonomous motivation for active life (one face-to-face session, four phone calls and supportive written material, n = 101) and the control group written health information (n = 103). Participants were community-dwelling men and women aged 75 or 80 years with intermediate mobility function and without cognitive impairment. The primary outcome was active agi…

EFFECTS OF A HOME-BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAM ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

2017

Health-Related Quality of life (HRQoL) decreases after a hip fracture (HF) and may remain low for a long time. Knowledge is needed on effective rehabilitation strategies after HF. Purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of individualized home-based rehabilitation on HRQoL among community-dwelling older people after HF.

Accumulation of sensory difficulties predicts fear of falling in older women

2013

Objectives: To explore whether the accumulation of sensory difficulties predicts fear of falling (FOF), and whether the traits correlate with each other regardless of familial factors. Methods: Self-reported hearing, vision and balance difficulties, and FOF were assessed using structured questionnaires at the baseline and after a 3-year follow-up in 63- to 76-year-old women ( n = 434). Results: Among the women without FOF at baseline ( n = 245), 41% reported FOF at follow-up. Increasing numbers of sensory difficulties at baseline predicted higher incidence of FOF. The relationship between accumulated sensory difficulties and FOF was not mediated by familial factors. Discussion: The accumul…

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

2010

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…

Assessing physical performance and physical activity in large population-based aging studies: home-based assessments or visits to the research center?

2019

Abstract Background The current study aims to compare correlations between a range of measures of physical performance and physical activity assessing the same underlying construct in different settings, that is, in a home versus a highly standardized setting of the research center or accelerometer recording. We also evaluated the selective attrition of participants related to these different settings and how selective attrition affects the associations between variables and indicators of health, functioning and overall activity. Methods Cross-sectional analyses comprising population-based samples of people aged 75, 80, and 85 years living independently in Jyväskylä, Finland. The AGNES stud…

Heritability of corneal refraction and corneal astigmatism: a population-based twin study among 66- to 79-year-old female twins.

2012

. Purpose:  To examine the heritability of corneal refraction power (CR) and corneal astigmatism (AST) in older women. Methods:  Corneal refraction and AST were measured by IOL master in 52 monozygotic (MZ) and 47 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 66–79 years. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in CR was estimated by applying an independent pathway model to the twin data and AST by intraclass correlations (ICC). Results:  For the right eye, mean CR was 44.58 dioptres (D) (standard deviation (SD) ±1.28) When comparing CR of the right and left eye between MZ and DZ, no significant difference was found. Mean AST was 0.77 D (SD ±0.44) wi…

A comprehensive evaluation of potential lung function associated genes in the SpiroMeta general population sample

2011

Lung function measures are heritable traits that predict population morbidity and mortality and are essential for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Variations in many genes have been reported to affect these traits, but attempts at replication have provided conflicting results. Recently, we undertook a meta-analysis of Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) results for lung function measures in 20,288 individuals from the general population (the SpiroMeta consortium). OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively analyse previously reported genetic associations with lung function measures, and to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genomic regions…

Heritability of maximal isometric muscle strength in older female twins.

2003

The purpose of the present study was to examine genetic and environmental effects on maximal isometric handgrip, knee extension, and ankle plantar flexion strength. In addition, we wanted to investigate whether the strength of these three muscle groups shares a genetic component or whether the genetic effect is specific for each muscle group. Muscle strength was measured as part of the Finnish Twin Study on Aging in 97 monozygotic (MZ) and 102 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs, aged 63-76 yr. The MZ and DZ individuals did not differ from each other in age, body height, weight, or self-related health. The age-adjusted pairwise (intraclass) correlations of the MZ and DZ twins were, respective…

Regular exercise history as a predictor of exercise in community-dwelling older Japanese people

2012

A physically active lifestyle is important across the entire life span. However, little is known about life-long participation in regular exercise among older people. The purpose of the present study was to describe regular exercise throughout a person&apos;s lifetime and evaluate the impact of exercise earlier in life on participation in exercise at age 60 and over. The participants were 984 community-dwelling older people aged 60 to 86 years. Each participant&apos;s life was divided into five age categories: 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-59, and 60 years and over. The association between exercise at an earlier age and that at 60 years and over was assessed using logistic regression analysis adj…

The effect of obesity combined with low muscle strength on decline in mobility in older persons: results from the InCHIANTI study.

2009

Both obesity and muscle impairment are increasingly prevalent among older persons and negatively affect health and physical functioning. However, the combined effect of coexisting obesity and muscle impairment on physical function decline has been little studied. We examined whether obese persons with low muscle strength experience significantly greater declines in walking speed and mobility than persons with only obesity or low muscle strength.Community-dwelling adults agedor = 65 years (n = 930) living in the Chianti geographic area (Tuscany, Italy) were followed for 6 years in the population-based InCHIANTI study.On the basis of baseline measurements (1998-2000), obesity was defined as b…

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

2019

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…

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND LIFE-SPACE MOBILITY IN OLD AGE

2017

Mobility is important for maintaining independence and active participation in old age. Life-space mobility assessment incorporates the extent of mobility in terms of the distance from home, the frequency of mobility and the need of assistance for mobility. Executive function (EF) is one of the most important higher-order cognitive abilities that control and guide goal-directed actions. The aim of the study was to examine the association between EF and life-space mobility.

Iäkkäiden ihmisten ja eläkeikäisten vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden kokemuksia kanssakäymisestä vapaaehtoistyössä

2022

Kotona asumista korostavan hoivapolitiikan seurauksena on paljon iäkkäitä henkilöitä, jotka eivät pääse ulos kodistaan ilman apua. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan huonokuntoisten iäkkäiden ihmisten ja eläkeikäisten vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden kokemuksia keskinäisestä kanssakäymisestään vapaaehtoistyöhön perustuvalla toimintajaksolla. Vapaaehtoistyöntekijät auttoivat kodin ulkopuolisiin aktiviteetteihin yksin asuvia iäkkäitä ihmisiä, joilla oli liikkumiskyvyn ongelmia. Tutkimuksessa oli mukana viisi iäkkään ihmisen ja eläkeikäisen vapaaehtoistyöntekijän muodostamaa paria. Tutkimusaineisto koostui iäkkäiden (79–87-vuotiaiden) ihmisten ja vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden (61–71-vuotiaiden) yksilöhaastattel…

Genetic and Environmental Effects on Telomere Length and Lung Function : A Twin Study

2017

Background The purpose of the study was to estimate the heritability of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and lung function and to examine whether LTL and lung function share genetic or environmental effects in common. Methods 386 monozygotic and dizygotic Finnish twin sisters (age 68.4±3.4 years) were included. Relative LTL was determined from peripheral blood DNA by qPCR. Lung function measures of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and PEF were derived from spirometry. Genetic modeling was performed with MPlus statistical software. Results Univariate analysis revealed that in LTL, 62% (95% confidence interval 50–72) of the variance was explained by additive genetic and 38% (28–50) by unique environmental…

Effect of a social intervention of choice vs. control on depressive symptoms, melancholy, feeling of loneliness, and perceived togetherness in older …

2016

Objectives: This study examined effects of a social intervention on depressive symptoms, melancholy, loneliness, and perceived togetherness in community-dwelling Finnish older people. Method: Promotion of mental well-being in older people (GoodMood; ISRCTN78426775) was a single-blinded randomized control trial lasting 1.5 years. Two hundred and twenty-three persons aged 75–79 years reporting symptoms of loneliness or melancholy were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group was allowed to choose among supervised exercise, social activity, or personal counseling. Follow-up measurements were conducted at the end of 6-month intervention, and at 3, 6, and 12 months…

Sarcopenic obesity: definition, cause and consequences.

2008

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Older obese persons with decreased muscle mass or strength are at special risk for adverse outcomes. We discuss potential pathways to muscle impairment in obese individuals and the consequences that joint obesity and muscle impairment may have on health and disability. Tantamount to this discussion is whether low muscle mass or, rather, muscle weakness should be used for the definition. RECENT FINDINGS: Excess energy intake, physical inactivity, low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance and changes in hormonal milieu may lead to the development of so-called 'sarcopenic obesity'. It was originally believed that the culprit of age-related muscle weakness was a reduction in…

Genetic and environmental influences on hearing at different frequencies separately for the better and worse hearing ear in older women

2007

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on the air-conducted hearing threshold levels at low (0.125-0.5 kHz), mid (1-2 kHz), and high (4-8 kHz) frequencies separately for the better and worse hearing ear in older women. We also examined the distribution of audiogram configurations. Data was analysed using quantitative genetic modelling. As part of the Finnish twin study on aging (FITSA), hearing was measured in 103 monozygotic and 114 dizygotic female twin pairs aged 63-76 years. Approximately every third subject had a flat type, and two-thirds a descending type of audiogram configuration. No significant difference was o…

Reliability and concurrent validity of spatiotemporal stride characteristics measured with an ankle-worn sensor among older individuals

2019

Background. Wearable inertial sensors have been shown to provide valid mean gait characteristics assessments, however, assessment of variability is less convincingly established. Research question. What level of concurrent validity, and session-to-session reliability does an ankle-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based gait assessment with a novel angular velocity-based gait event detection algorithm have among older adults? Methods. Twenty seven (women N = 17) participants volunteered (age 74.4 (SD 4.3) years, body mass 74.5 (12.0) kg, height 165.9 (9.9) cm). Right leg stance, swing, and stride duration and stride length, and stride velocity were concurrently assessed with motion captu…

G×E Interaction Influences Trajectories of Hand Grip Strength.

2016

Age-related decline in grip strength predicts later life disability, frailty, lower well-being and cognitive change. While grip strength is heritable, genetic influence on change in grip strength has been relatively ignored, with non-shared environmental influence identified as the primary contributor in a single longitudinal study. The extent to which gene-environment interplay, particularly gene-environment interactions, contributes to grip trajectories has yet to be examined. We considered longitudinal grip strength measurements in seven twin studies of aging in the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies consortium. Growth curve parameters were estimated for same-sex …

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 …

2019

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…

Associations between muscle strength, spirometric pulmonary function and mobility in healthy older adults

2014

Background: Pathological obstruction in lungs leads to severe decreases in muscle strength and mobility in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interdependency between muscle strength, spirometric pulmonary functions and mobility outcomes in healthy older men and women, where skeletal muscle and pulmonary function decline without interference of overt disease. Methods: 135 69 to 81‐yr‐old participants were recruited into the cross‐sectional study, which was performed as a part of European study MyoAge. Full, partial and no mediation models were constructed to assess the interdependency between muscle strength (handgr…

Does Social Activity Decrease Risk for Institutionalization and Mortality in Older People?

2012

Objectives. Social inactivity predicts adverse health events, but less is known about how different dimensions of social activity are related to health. The aim of this study was to investigate collective (e.g., cultural and organizational activities) and productive (e.g., helping others) social activity as predictors of risk for mortality and institutionalization in old age. Method. A total of 1,181 community-living people aged 65–84 years at baseline were interviewed face to face as part of the Evergreen project, in Jyvaskyla, Finland in 1988. Time to institutionalization and mortality were analyzed in separate models for proportional hazard regression on mortality and competing risks ana…

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

2014

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

2018

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…

Effect of co-morbidity on the association of high body mass index with walking limitation among men and women aged 55 years and older.

2007

Background and aims: Obesity among older persons is rapidly increasing, thus affecting their mobility negatively. The aim of this study was to examine the association of high body mass index (BMI) with walking limitation, and the effect of obesity-related diseases on this association. Methods: In a representative sample of the Finnish population of 55 years and older (2055 women and 1337 men), maximal walking speed, chronic diseases, and BMI were ascertained in a health examination. Walking limitation was defined as maximal walking speed of less than 1.2 m/s or difficulty in walking 500 meters. To analyze the effects of chronic conditions, smoking, marital status, and education on BMI class…

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

2019

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 trajectories of MLs.…

Midlife fitness predicts less burden of chronic disease in later life.

2013

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between midlife fitness in healthy adults and the development of nonfatal chronic conditions (CCs) in older age. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Data on participants were drawn from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study and linked with US Medicare claims made in the years 1999 through 2009. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort included 18 670 participants (median age, 49 years; 21% women) who had received a comprehensive clinical examination between 1970 and 2009 at the Cooper Center, were ≥65 years of age and covered by Medicare between 1999 and 2009, and who reported no baseline history of CCs such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The participa…

Prestroke Weight Loss Is Associated With Poststroke Mortality Among Men in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study

2013

Abstract Objective To examine baseline prestroke weight loss and poststroke mortality among men. Design Longitudinal study of late-life prestroke body mass index (BMI), weight loss, and BMI change (midlife to late life) with up to 8-year incident stroke and mortality follow-up. Setting Community-based aging study data. Participants Japanese-American men (N=3581; age range, 71–93y) who were stroke free at baseline. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure Poststroke mortality: 30 days poststroke, analyzed with stepwise multivariable logistic regression; and long-term poststroke (up to 8y), analyzed with stepwise multivariable Cox regression. Results Weight loss (4.5kg decrements) w…

Contribution of genetic and environmental effects to postural balance in older female twins

2003

The aim of the present study was to determine the relative roles of genetic and environmental influences on postural balance in older women. The participants were 97 monozygotic (MZ) and 102 dizygotic (DZ) female twins, aged 64–76 yr. Postural sway was measured during side-by-side stance with eyes open and eyes closed, and during semitandem stance with eyes open on a force platform. Sway data were condensed into four first-order and one second-order latent factors. The second-order factor, named balance, incorporates sway data from multiple tests and thus best describes the phenotype of postural balance. The contribution of genetic and environmental influences on the variability of the lat…

Lowered vision as a risk factor for injurious accidents in older people

2008

Poor vision in older people is often related to increased fall risk. However, the association of the severity between visual deficit and risk for all kind of injurious accidents has not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to examine whether visual loss is associated with higher incidence of injurious accidents and whether walking speed or physical activity play a mediating role in the association.416 persons aged 75 and 80 years at baseline underwent visual acuity measurements. Visual acuity (VA)0.3 in the better eye, with spectacle correction when necessary, was defined as visual impairment, VAor=0.3 butor=0.5 as lowered vision, and VA0.5 as normal VA. Hospital records of accide…

Mobility difficulties and physical activity as predictors of mortality and loss of independence in the community-living older population.

2000

OBJECTIVE: In older people, mobility impairments and physical inactivity are risk factors for further disability and death. We studied the interaction of physical activity and mobility impairment as a predictor of dependence and mortality. DESIGN: A population-based, prospective study. The data were collected in structured interviews in the year 1988 and 8 years later in the year 1996 as part of the Evergreen Project. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 1109 independently living, at baseline 65- to 84-year-old people in the city of Jyvaskyla, in central Finland. METHODS: Participants were ranked into four groups: (1) Intact mobility and physically active (Mobile-Active), (2) Intact mobility and sed…

Task Modifications in Walking Postpone Decline in Life-Space Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older People: A 2-year Follow-up Study

2017

Background Task modification refers to performing a task differently than before. While task modification in walking may be a sign of looming walking difficulty, it may also be adaptive in and postpone the decline in life-space mobility. However, this has not been studied. This study examined whether changes in life-space mobility over a 2-year period differ between people who at baseline report no walking difficulty and no task modification, those who report no walking difficulty but task modification, and those who report walking difficulty. Methods Community-dwelling people aged 75–90 years were interviewed face-to-face at baseline (N = 848), and over phone one (n = 816) and two (n = 761…

Association of tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment with out-of-home mobility among community-dwelling older people

2018

Background As people age, functional losses may limit the potential to get outside the home and participate in desired activities and community life. Coping with age-related losses has been reported to be important for psychological well-being. Hitherto is not known whether active use of coping strategies also helps maintain out-of-home mobility. Aims We investigated how two coping strategies, tenacious goal pursuit (TGP; persistency in reaching one’s goals) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA; adjusting one’s goals to changed circumstances), are associated with life-space mobility and perceived autonomy in participation outdoors among community-dwelling older people. Methods Participants (n …