Physical activity dynamically moderates the impact of multimorbidity on the trajectory of healthy aging over sixteen years.

BACKGROUND: Research examining the healthy aging trajectory of retired older adults with multimorbidity is limited, leaving uncertainties regarding the optimal physical activity (PA) intensity and frequency necessary to sustain healthy aging during retirement. METHODS: Our study investigated the moderating effects of PA on the healthy aging trajectories of retired older adults living with multimorbidity in the United States (US). We utilized data from 1,238 retired individuals aged 50 to 102 who contributed 11,142 observations over 16 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We employed mixed effects modeling to assess the impact of various classes of multimorbidity on this group and examine how different PA, PA intensities, and PA frequencies influence the disability, physical, and cognitive functioning domains of healthy aging. RESULTS: The results reveal that while outcomes differed significantly, retired older adults in the US attained healthy aging at baseline. However, their ability to maintain healthy aging declined over time, with multimorbidity, especially musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, accelerating this decline. Fortunately, PA, especially light to moderate intensities, is associated with improving healthy aging and moderating the impact of multimorbidity on the disability and cognitive functioning domains of healthy aging. However, the specific moderating effects of PA depend on its frequency, intensity, and chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The significant variability in healthy aging attainment among retired older adults underlies the need to consider these differences when addressing healthy aging issues in the US. Accounting for these variations would aid in evaluating the potential impact of future interventions and contribute to achieving health equity. Fortunately, our dynamic findings facilitate this objective by identifying specific frequencies and intensities of PA tailored to different aspects of multimorbidity and healthy aging. This highlights PA, especially light-to-moderate intensity, as an essential, cost-effective, and amenable strategy for alleviating the impact of multimorbidity on healthy aging.

Do Remittances Enhance Elderly Adults' Healthy Social and Physical Functioning? A Cross-Sectional Study in Nigeria.

Existing research demonstrates that the effect of remittances on different health outcomes of elderly adults in low-income countries with inadequate social security is inconclusive. The present study set out to fill this gap by examining the effects of receiving remittances on the healthy social and physical functioning of Nigeria's elderly adults. We also investigate the nonlinear association between remittances and social and physical functioning to identify the minimum amount required to engender healthy social and physical functioning in Nigerian elderly adults. This study utilized data from the 2018/2019 Nigerian Living Standard Survey (NLSS), which included 55,350 young people aged 12-44 (control group) and 18,937 elderly adults aged 45 and above (treatment group). We addressed our objectives using logistic regression-adjusted predicted probabilities and predictive margins. The results reveal that remittance recipients have higher healthy social functioning probabilities than non-recipients. We also found that the influence that remittances have on social functioning depends on the amount of the remittances received. Quantitatively, receiving more than NGN 1,200,000 in remittances ensures increased social functioning probabilities. Given the disparity between the average remittance amount of NGN 54,306.92 received by elderly adults and the NGN 1,200,000 threshold associated with healthy social functioning, bridging this gap is paramount for promoting social functioning among Nigerian elderly adults. We also discussed policy implications for fostering the healthy aging of the population in the interim.