Habitual Physical Activity and Sleep Duration in Institutionalized Older Adults.

Background: Physical activity and sleep quality are both major factors for improving one's health. Knowledge on the interactions of sleep quality and the amount of physical activity may be helpful for implementing multimodal health interventions in older adults. Methods: This preliminary cross-sectional study is based on 64 participants [82.1 ± 6.4 years (MD ± SD); 22 male: 42 female]. The amount of physical activity was assessed by means of an accelerometer (MyWellness Key). Self-reported sleep parameters were obtained using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The Barthel Index was used for physical disability rating. Bivariate correlations (Spearman's Rho) were used to explore relationships between the amount of physical activity and sleep quality. To analyse differences between categorial subgroups univariate ANOVAs were applied; in cases of significance, these were followed by Tukey-HSD post-hoc analyses. Results: No linear association between physical activity and sleep quality was found (r = 0.119; p > 0.05). In subgroup analyses (n = 41, Barthel Index ≥90 pts, free of pre-existing conditions), physical activity levels differed significantly between groups of different sleep duration (≥7 h; ≥6 to <7 h; ≥5 to <6 h; <5h; p = 0.037). Conclusion: There is no general association between higher activity levels and better sleep quality in the investigated cohort. However, a sleep duration of ≥5 to <6 h, corresponding to 7.6 h bed rest time, was associated with a higher level of physical activity.

Partial Inhibition of RNA Polymerase I Promotes Animal Health and Longevity.

Health and survival in old age can be improved by changes in gene expression. RNA polymerase (Pol) I is the essential, conserved enzyme whose task is to generate the pre-ribosomal RNA (rRNA). We find that reducing the levels of Pol I activity is sufficient to extend lifespan in the fruit fly. This effect can be recapitulated by partial, adult-restricted inhibition, with both enterocytes and stem cells of the adult midgut emerging as important cell types. In stem cells, Pol I appears to act in the same longevity pathway as Pol III, implicating rRNA synthesis in these cells as the key lifespan determinant. Importantly, reduction in Pol I activity delays broad, age-related impairment and pathology, improving the function of diverse organ systems. Hence, our study shows that Pol I activity in the adult drives systemic, age-related decline in animal health and anticipates mortality.

Os cuidados de longa duração e a percepção de idosos institucionalizados sobre velhice, velhice bem-sucedida e qualidade da atenção / Long term care and the institutionalized older adult perceptions about old age, successful aging and quality of care / Los cuidados de larga duración y la percepción de ancianos institucionalizados sobre vejez, vejez exitosa y calidad de la atención

O objetivo deste estudo foi levantar a percepção de idosos institucionalizados sobre a velhice, a velhice bem-sucedida e sobre os cuidados oferecidos na instituição. Foram entrevistados 10 idosos residentes em uma ILPI no município de São Paulo, e seus discursos foram analisados de forma qualitativa, sendo categorizados segundo a análise de conteúdo proposta por Minayo. Nas percepções sobre a velhice, valorizaram-se atributos positivos e negativos, sendo que alguns participantes almejaram reatar com suas famílias, rever projeto de vida e serem produtivos. No que se refere à velhice bem-sucedida, houve valorização do ambiente, das relações sociais, da família, e da religiosidade/espiritualidade. Quanto aos atributos institucionais, citaram a importância de terem suas necessidades atendidas, os conflitos com profissionais superados, a socialização e o descompasso entre necessidades atendidas, assim como seu projeto de vida. Acredita-se que esses dados podem auxiliar no planejamento de práticas que focalizem o cuidado centrado no indivíduo.

The purpose of this study was to raise the perception of institutionalized older adults about old age, successful old age and the care offered at the institution. We interviewed 10 older adults living in nursing home on São Paulo city. Their speeches were analyzed in a qualitative way, being categorized according to the content analysis proposed by Minayo. In the perceptions about old age, positive and negative attributes were discussed, and some participants sought to retake with their families, to review their life project and to be productive. With regard to successful old age, there was an appreciation of the environment, social relations, family, religiosity/spirituality, and institutional attributes cited the importance of having their needs met, but at the same time some of them expressed dissatisfaction with conflicts with professionals, socialization and the mismatch between their needs that was attended and their life project. It is believed that these data can help in the planning of practices that focus on individual centered care.

El objetivo de este estudio fue levantar la percepción de ancianos institucionalizados sobre la vejez, vejez exitosa y sobre los cuidados ofrecidos en la institución. Se entrevistó a 10 ancianos residentes en una ILPI en el municipio de São Paulo y sus discursos fueron analizados de forma cualitativa, siendo categorizados según el análisis de contenido propuesto por Minayo. En las percepciones sobre la vejez se valoraron atributos positivos y negativos, siendo que algunos participantes anhelaron reanudar con sus familias, revisar proyecto de vida y ser productivos. En lo que se refiere a la vejez exitosa hubo valorización del ambiente, de las relaciones sociales, familia, religiosidad / espiritualidad. En cuanto a los atributos institucionales citaron la importancia de tener sus necesidades atendidas, conflictos con profesionales, socialización y el descompaso entre necesidades atendidas y proyecto de vida. Se cree que estos datos pueden ayudar en la planificación de prácticas que enfocan el cuidado centrado en el individuo.

Retrospective life course data from European countries on how early life experiences determine health in old age and possible mid-life mediators.

The data presented in this article is related to the research paper entitled "The long arm of childhood circumstances on health in old age: Evidence from SHARELIFE" (E. Pakpahan, R. Hoffmann, H. Kröger, 2016) [1]. It presents the distribution of socioeconomic status (SES) and health from childhood until old age in thirteen European countries. In order to capture the characteristics of longitudinal data, which resembles life course data, we divide the data into three schematic periods: childhood (up to 15 years old), adulthood (30 to 60 years old), and old age (61 to 90 years old). This data set contains respondents' life histories, ranging from childhood conditions (such as housing and health) to detailed questions on education, adult SES (working history, income, and wealth) and old age health. The data can be used not only to understand on how early life experiences determine health in old age, but also to recognise the importance of possible mid-life mediators.

Validade e fidedignidade da Escala de Depressão Gerißtrica na identificação de idosos deprimidos em um hospital geral / Validity and reliability of the Geriatric Depression Scale for the identification of depressed patients in a general hospital

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar validade e fidedignidade da Escala de Depressão Gerißtrica (EDG) nas versões de 30 e 15 itens na identificação de suspeitas de depressão em idosos nas enfermarias de clínica médica do Hospital Universitßrio Lauro Wanderley, em João Pessoa, Paraíba. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo observacional e transversal, com aplicação da EDG-30 e da EDG-15 por uma entrevistadora treinada, efetuando-se no mesmo dia exame mental dos pacientes por um psiquiatra de acordo com critérios da CID-10. A fidedignidade das duas versões da EDG foi avaliada por meio da técnica do teste-reteste e da equivalência interobservadores. RESULTADOS: A concordância entre a aplicação da EDG30 e o exame psiquißtrico foi significativa e moderada (kappa = 0,48; p = 0,04), enquanto a EDG-15 não apresentou concordância estatística (p = 0,62). A EDG-30 apresentou sensibilidade de 83 por cento e especificidade de 57 por cento, mas a EDG-15 apresentou sensibilidade de 50 por cento e especificidade de 62 por cento. Os escores da EDG-30 apresentaram correlação estatisticamente significativa entre si no teste-reteste e na equivalência entre observadores, porém a versão de 15 itens não foi fidedigna. CONCLUSÕES: Conclui-se que a EDG-30 é mais sensível e fidedigna que a EDG-15. Assim, a EDG-30 é útil para detectar como negativos os pacientes que realmente não apresentem depressão, porém são necessßrios estudos posteriores para adequação dos itens dessa escala à nossa clientela, a fim de aumentar sua especificidade e valor preditivo positivo.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in the versions of 30 and 15 items for the identification of suspicion of depression in the elderly in the infirmary of general practice of the Hospital Universitßrio Lauro Wanderley, in João Pessoa, Paraíba. METHODS: An observational and transversal study, with the application of GDS-30 and GDS-15 by a trained interviewer, was held at the same day the mental exam of the patients by a psychiatrist, according to the criteria of ICD-10. The concordance of the two versions of the GDS was evaluated by the test-retest method and inter-observers equivalence. RESULTS: The concordance between the application of the GDS-30 and the psychiatric exam was significant and moderated (kappa = 0.48, p = 0.04), while the GDS-15 didn't present statistics concordance (p = 0.62). The GDS-30 presented sensitivity of 83 percent and specificity of 57 percent, but the GDS-15 presented sensitivity of 50 percent and specificity of 62 percent. Scores of GDS-30 presented significant statistically correlation in the test-retest method and inter-observers equivalence, but the version of 15 items weren't reliable. CONCLUSION: The conclusion was that the GDS-30 is more sensitive and reliable than the GDS-15, however its sensitivity was inferior to the numbers related in other studies, while his specificity was not high. Therefore, the GDS-30 is useful to detect as negatives the patients who really do not have depression, however further studies are necessary to adjust the items of this scale to our clientele, in order to enhance its specificity and positive predictive value.