@article { ISI:000545748200001, title = {Sarcopenia Definition \& Outcomes Consortium Defined Low Grip Strength in Two Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Cohorts}, journal = {JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY}, volume = {68}, year = {2020}, month = {JUL}, pages = {1438-1444}, type = {Article}, abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The extent to which the prevalence of muscle weakness in the US population varies by different putative grip strength constructs developed by the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) has not been described. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING Two nationally representative cohorts-2010 and 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey and round 1 (2011) of the National Health and Aging Trends Survey. PARTICIPANTS Adults aged 65 years and older (n = 12,984) were included in these analyses. MEASUREMENTS We analyzed three constructs of muscle weakness developed by the SDOC, and found to be associated with mobility disability for men and women, respectively: absolute grip strength (<35.5 kg and 20 kg); grip strength standardized to body mass index (<1.05 kg/kg/m(2) and 0.79 kg/kg/m(2)); and grip strength standardized to weight (<0.45 kg/kg and 0.337 kg/kg). We estimated the prevalence of muscle weakness defined by each of these constructs in the overall older US population, and by age, sex, race, and ethnicity. We also estimated the sensitivity and specificity of each of the grip strength constructs to discriminate slowness (gait speed <0.8 m/s) in these samples. RESULTS The prevalence of muscle weakness ranged from 23\% to 61\% for men and from 30\% to 66\% for women, depending on the construct used. There was substantial variation in the prevalence of muscle weakness by race and ethnicity. The sensitivity and specificity of these measures for discriminating slowness varied widely, ranging from 0.30 to 0.92 (sensitivity) and from 0.17 to 0.88 (specificity). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of muscle weakness, defined by the putative SDOC grip strength constructs, depends on the construct of weakness used.}, keywords = {Gait, muscle, Physical performance, sarcopenia}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.16419}, author = {Patel, Sheena M. and Kate A Duchowny and Douglas P Kiel and Correa-de-Araujo, Rosaly and Fielding, Roger A. and Travison, Thomas and Magaziner, Jay and Manini, Todd and Xue, Qian-Li and Anne B Newman and Pencina, Karol M. and Santanasto, Adam J. and Bhasin, Shalender and Peggy M Cawthon} } @article {8525, title = {Motoric cognitive risk syndrome and risk of mortality in older adults.}, journal = {Alzheimers Dement}, volume = {12}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 05}, pages = {556-64}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive impairment is associated with increased mortality. We examined the association between motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome, a predementia syndrome characterized by slow gait and cognitive complaints, and survival.

METHODS: A total of 11,867 nondemented participants aged >65 years from three established cohort studies in the United States and Europe were screened for MCR. Mortality risk of MCR was assessed with Cox and logistic regression models.

RESULTS: At baseline, 836 (7.0\%) participants had MCR. Over a median follow-up of 28~months, 1603 participants died (758 in first 2 years). MCR was associated with increased mortality overall (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.69; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-1.96) and 2-year mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.89; 95\% CI, 1.50-2.38). The association remained after accounting for established mortality risk factors as well as baseline gait speed and memory performance.

DISCUSSION: MCR is associated with increased mortality. Older adults should be screened for MCR to identify at-risk individuals for dementia and death.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Dementia, Early Diagnosis, Female, Gait, Humans, Male, Mortality, Risk Factors}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2015.08.167}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26545790}, author = {Emmeline Ayers and Joe Verghese} } @article {8316, title = {Improving the validity of activity of daily living dependency risk assessment.}, journal = {J Appl Gerontol}, volume = {34}, year = {2015}, note = {Times Cited: 1 0 1}, month = {2015 Apr}, pages = {329-42}, publisher = {34}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Efforts to prevent activity of daily living (ADL) dependency may be improved through models that assess older adults{\textquoteright} dependency risk. We evaluated whether cognition and gait speed measures improve the predictive validity of interview-based models.

METHOD: Participants were 8,095 self-respondents in the 2006 Health and Retirement Survey who were aged 65 years or over and independent in five ADLs. Incident ADL dependency was determined from the 2008 interview. Models were developed using random 2/3rd cohorts and validated in the remaining 1/3rd.

RESULTS: Compared to a c-statistic of 0.79 in the best interview model, the model including cognitive measures had c-statistics of 0.82 and 0.80 while the best fitting gait speed model had c-statistics of 0.83 and 0.79 in the development and validation cohorts, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Two relatively brief models, one that requires an in-person assessment and one that does not, had excellent validity for predicting incident ADL dependency but did not significantly improve the predictive validity of the best fitting interview-based models.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Female, Gait, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Independent Living, Interviews as Topic, Male, Quality Improvement, Reproducibility of Results, Risk Assessment}, issn = {1552-4523}, doi = {10.1177/0733464812471894}, author = {Daniel O. Clark and Timothy E. Stump and Tu, Wanzhu and Douglas K Miller} } @article {7778, title = {Gardening as a potential activity to reduce falls in older adults.}, journal = {J Aging Phys Act}, volume = {20}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Jan}, pages = {15-31}, publisher = {20}, abstract = {

This study examines whether participation in gardening predicts reduced fall risk and performance on balance and gait-speed measures in older adults. Data on adults age 65 and older (N = 3,237) from the Health and Retirement Study and Consumption and Activities Mail Survey were analyzed. Participants who spent 1 hr or more gardening in the past week were defined as gardeners, resulting in a total of 1,585 gardeners and 1,652 nongardeners. Independent t tests, chi square, and regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between gardening and health outcomes. Findings indicate that gardeners reported significantly better balance and gait speed and had fewer chronic conditions and functional limitations than nongardeners. Significantly fewer gardeners than nongardeners reported a fall in the past 2 yr. The findings suggest that gardening may be a potential activity to incorporate into future fall-prevention programs.

}, keywords = {Accidental Falls, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Chi-Square Distribution, Confidence Intervals, Exercise Test, Female, Gait, Gardening, Humans, Leisure activities, Male, Motor Activity, Odds Ratio, Postural Balance, Risk Assessment, Self Report, Task Performance and Analysis}, issn = {1543-267X}, doi = {10.1123/japa.20.1.15}, author = {Tuo-Yu Chen and Megan C Janke} } @article {7693, title = {Race/ethnic and nativity disparities in later life physical performance: the role of health and socioeconomic status over the life course.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {67}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Mar}, pages = {238-48}, publisher = {67B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: We examine race/ethnic and nativity differences in objective measures of physical performance (i.e., peak expiratory flow, grip strength, and gait speed) in a nationally representative sample of older Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. We also examine whether detailed measures of childhood and adult health and socioeconomic status (SES) mediate race/ethnic differences in physical performance.

METHOD: We use data from the Health and Retirement Study, a population-based sample of older Americans born before 1947, and 3 measures of physical performance. Nested ordinary least squares models examine whether childhood and adult health and SES mediate race/ethnic differences in performance.

RESULTS: We find large and significant race/ethnic and nativity differences in lung function, grip strength, and gait speed. Adjusting for childhood and current adult health and SES reduces race/ethnic differences in physical performance but does not eliminate them entirely. Childhood health and SES as well as more proximal levels of SES are important determinants of race/ethnic disparities in later life physical performance.

DISCUSSION: The analysis highlights that a large proportion of race/ethnic and nativity disparities result from health and socioeconomic disadvantages in both early life and adulthood and thus suggests multiple intervention points at which disparities can be reduced.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, ethnicity, Female, Gait, Hand Strength, Health Status, Health Status Disparities, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Racial Groups, Respiratory Function Tests, Social Class, United States}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbr155}, author = {Steven A Haas and Patrick M. Krueger and Leah Rohlfsen} } @article {7600, title = {Aging in a cultural context: cross-national differences in disability and the moderating role of personal control among older adults in the United States and England.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {66}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Jul}, pages = {457-67}, publisher = {66B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: We investigate cross-national differences in late-life health outcomes and focus on an intriguing difference in beliefs about personal control found between older adult populations in the U.K. and United States. We examine the moderating role of control beliefs in the relationship between physical function and self-reported difficulty with daily activities.

METHOD: Using national data from the United States (Health and Retirement Study) and England (English Longitudinal Study on Ageing), we examine the prevalence in disability across the two countries and show how it varies according to the sense of control. Poisson regression was used to examine the relationship between objective measures of physical function (gait speed) and disability and the modifying effects of control.

RESULTS: Older Americans have a higher sense of personal control than the British, which operates as a psychological resource to reduce disability among older Americans. However, the benefits of control are attenuated as physical impairments become more severe.

DISCUSSION: These results emphasize the importance of carefully considering cross-national differences in the disablement process as a result of cultural variation in underlying psychosocial resources. This paper highlights the role of culture in shaping health across adults aging in different sociopolitical contexts.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Culture, Disabled Persons, England, Female, Gait, Health Status, Humans, Internal-External Control, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mobility Limitation, Politics, Social Values, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbr054}, author = {Philippa J Clarke and Jacqui Smith} }