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Fulltext Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life

Awang H, Mansor N, Nai Peng T, Nik Osman NA

J Int Med Res, 2018 Jan;46(1):175-184.
PMID: 28760083 DOI: 10.1177/0300060517710857

Objectives Ageing is often associated with deteriorating mental and physical health and the need for long-term care, creating a fear of ageing. We investigated what people fear most in terms of disabling chronic diseases and their concerns regarding having long-term illnesses. Methods Data were obtained from an online survey of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected in May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. Results Of the most dreaded diseases, heart disease and cancer are life-threatening; however, dementia, diabetes, and hypertension persist and have a disabling effect for a long time. While there were variations in the diseases feared most across sex, ethnicity, and place of residence, the biggest worry for all respondents with regard to having a long-term illness was that they would become a burden to their family, a concern that superseded fear of dying. Conclusions We found our survey respondents had a fear of chronic diseases and placing a burden on others. Thus, there is a need to provide motivation for people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to remain healthy.

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Moderating effect of emotional support on the relationship between disability and life satisfaction in older adults

Haron SA, Foong HF, Hamid TA

Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2018 Sep;18(9):1361-1365.
PMID: 30044041 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13490

AIM: Disability is strongly linked to poorer life satisfaction among older persons. Such close correlations warrant better understanding of the underlying moderator in which negative effects of the former on the latter can be reduced. More specifically, it is the aim of this study to examine the moderating effect of emotional support on the relationship between disability and life satisfaction.
METHODS: The study included 2322 nationally represented community-dwelling older persons in Malaysia who participated in the baseline study of Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity. In order to test the moderating effect of emotional support on the association between disability and life satisfaction, a series of hierarchical multiple linear regression models were utilized, after controlling for potential covariates associated with life satisfaction.
RESULTS: Bivariate analyses showed that disability negatively predicted life satisfaction, whereas emotional support positively predicted life satisfaction. Furthermore, the moderated hierarchical regression analysis showed that emotional support moderated the association between disability and life satisfaction, after controlling for potential covariates, such that the negative relationship between disability and life satisfaction was stronger for individuals with lower levels of emotional support.
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of emotional support might reduce the negative effects of disability on life satisfaction. These findings have important clinical implications, especially in developing better strategies to help disabled older persons to cope with their disabilities; with the hope that in the long term, a society with healthy longevity can be established. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1361-1365.

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Behavioral Assessment and Blood Oxidative Status of Aging Sprague Dawley Rats through a Longitudinal Analysis

Achin NA, Kit TJ, Ngah WZW, Makpol S, Mazlan M, Hamezah HS, et al.

Curr Aging Sci, 2018;11(3):182-194.
PMID: 30338748 DOI: 10.2174/1874609811666181019141217

BACKGROUND: Cognitive frailty emerges as one of the threats to healthy aging. It is in continuum with advancing of age with uncertain indicator between pathological and physiological changes. Alterations in pathways associated with the aging process have been observed including oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. However, the exact mechanisms leading to cognitive decline are still unclear.
OBJECTIVE: This study was sought to assess the level of cognitive functions and linked with blood oxidative status during normal aging in rats.
METHODS: A longitudinal study using male Sprague Dawley rats was performed starting from the age of 14 months old to 27 months old. Cognitive functions tests such as open field, Morris water maze and object recognition were determined at the age of 14, 18, 23, and 27 months old and were compared with group 3 months old. Blood was collected from the orbital venous sinus and oxidative status was determined by measuring the level of DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and antioxidant enzymes activity.
RESULTS: Aged rats showed declining exploratory behavior and increased in the level of anxiety as compared to the young rats. The level of DNA damage increased with increasing age. Interestingly, our study found that both levels of malondialdehyde and plasma carbonyl content decreased with age. In addition, the level of superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased with age whereas catalase activity was significantly increased from 18 months of age. However, no significant difference was found in glutathione peroxidase activity among all age groups.
CONCLUSION: The progressions of cognitive impairment in normal aging rats are linked to the increment in the level of DNA damage.

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Midlife crisis perceptions, experiences, help-seeking, and needs among multi-ethnic malaysian women

Wong LP, Awang H, Jani R

Women Health, 2012;52(8):804-19.
PMID: 23127220 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2012.729557

In the present study, researchers explored attitudes toward midlife crises, experience with midlife crises, help-seeking, and needs among multi-ethnic Malaysian women. A total of 14 focus group discussions were conducted with 89 Malaysian women of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women expressed concern over physical aging and decline in their physical functional health. Having a midlife crisis was frequently reported. Issues that were frequently reported to trigger a midlife crisis, such as empty nest syndrome, impact of aging on sexual and reproductive function, extended parenthood, caring for aging or ill parents, and career challenges were noted by the study participants (listed here in order of most to least frequently reporting of these themes across the group discussions). Overall, these issues were associated with attitudes about aging. A comparatively less open attitude toward sexual attitudes and help-seeking for sexual problems were found among the Malay and Indian women. This may imply that intervention to increase positive attitudes concerning both sexuality and help-seeking intentions should be culturally specific. The use of religious coping for comfort and consolation was frequently reported; therefore, those providing midlife crisis prevention and intervention programs should consider involving faith-based interventions in the Malaysian setting.

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Fulltext The Association Between Diabetes and Cognitive Function in Later Life

Momtaz YA, Hamid TA, Bagat MF, Hazrati M

Curr Aging Sci, 2019;12(1):62-66.
PMID: 31589113 DOI: 10.2174/1874609812666190614104328

INTRODUCTION: Although diabetes through several possible mechanisms such as increased microvascular pathology and inefficiency of glucose utilization during cognitive tasks can be associated with cognitive impairment, there is inconclusive evidence that shows elderly diabetic patients under therapy have higher cognitive function compared to their non-diabetics counterparts. The present study was conducted to elucidate the association between diabetes and cognitive function in later life.
METHODS: Data for this study, consisting of 2202 older adults aged 60 years and above, were taken from a population-based survey entitled "Identifying Psychosocial and Identifying Economic Risk Factor of Cognitive Impairment among Elderly. Data analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS Version 23.0.
RESULTS: The mean of MMSE was found to be 22.67 (SD = 4.93). The overall prevalence of selfreported diabetes was found to be 23.6% (CI95%: 21.8% - 25.4%). The result of independent t-test showed diabetic subjects had a higher mean score of MMSE (M = 23.05, SD =4 .55) than their counterparts without diabetes (M = 22.55, SD = 5.04) (t = -2.13 p

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Fulltext Domains of quality of life affecting elderly patients with hand osteoarthritis: a qualitative study in the Asian perspective

Thumboo J, Wu L, Leung YY

Int J Rheum Dis, 2017 Sep;20(9):1105-1119.
PMID: 26990791 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.12843

OBJECTIVES: Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is common but little is known about how HOA has impact on disability and quality of life (QoL).We aim to identify important domains of concern among participants suffering from symptomatic HOA in Singapore, representing an Asian socio-cultural context.
METHODS: A qualitative study using a focus group technique was performed. We ran focus groups stratified by gender, ethnicity and language. Two independent, trained analysts identified relevant categories and assigned codes to text segments through open coding, with discrepancies resolved through consensus. The final lists of domains and subthemes descriptive of QoL were then compared to the following commonly used HOA specific instruments: Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA), Score for Assessment and quantification of Chronic Rheumatic Affections of the Hand (SACRAH), Australian/Canadian Hand Osteoarthritis Index (AUSCAN); and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).
RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (23 women, three men; 24 Chinese and two Malay; mean ± SD age 62.9 ± 7.5 years) with symptomatic HOA according to the American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria participated in seven focus groups. Two and five focus groups were conducted in Chinese and English, respectively. The qualitative analysis revealed pain, stiffness and functional disability as the main domains. However, psychological consequences, aesthetic concerns, participation in leisure activities, participation in family roles were important concepts from the focus groups which were not covered by existing instruments. Impact on work productivity by HOA and the unmet health care need is revealed.
CONCLUSION: The domains of concepts important to people with HOA in an Asian socio-cultural context are not fully represented in the most commonly used instruments. Further studies on the selection of main domains relevant to HOA patients are necessary.
Study site: Rheumatology outpatient clinic, Singapore General Hospital

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Spiritual reminiscence therapy for older people with loneliness, anxiety and depression living in a residential aged care facility, Malaysia: A qualitative approach

Syed Elias SM, Petriwskyj A, Scott T, Neville C

Australas J Ageing, 2019 Mar;38(1):E25-E30.
PMID: 30426630 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12598

OBJECTIVE: To explore how older people with loneliness, anxiety and depression experience a spiritual reminiscence therapy (SRT) program and to explore its acceptability within the Malaysian population.
METHODS: Unstructured observations and a focus-group discussion were carried out with 18 participants involved in a six-week SRT program in a residential care facility in Kuala Lumpur.
RESULTS: Analysis revealed four themes: (i) Enthusiastic participation; (ii) Connections across boundaries; (iii) Expressing and reflecting; and (iv) Successful use of triggers.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the process of reminiscence, on which the program was based, was enjoyable for the participants and created opportunities to form connections with other members of the group. The use of relevant triggers in the SRT program that related to Malaysian cultures, ethnicities and religions was helpful to engage the participants and was acceptable across the different religions and ethnicities.

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*
Intellectual and physical activities, but not social activities, are associated with better global cognition: a multi-site evaluation of the cognition and lifestyle activity study for seniors in Asia (CLASSA)

Lam LC, Ong PA, Dikot Y, Sofiatin Y, Wang H, Zhao M, et al.

Age Ageing, 2015 Sep;44(5):835-40.
PMID: 26271049 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afv099

population ageing will lead to a leap in the dementia population in Asia. However, information about potentials for low-cost and low-risk interventions is limited.

Matched MeSH terms: Aging/psychology*