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Predictors and prevalence of successful aging among older Malaysians

Hamid TA, Momtaz YA, Ibrahim R

Gerontology, 2012;58(4):366-70.
PMID: 22179496 DOI: 10.1159/000334671

Successful aging is an important and worldwide concept in gerontology. However, until recently, there has been very little known about successful aging in Malaysia. This study was designed to describe the prevalence and correlates of successful aging among older Malaysians.
Public awareness and knowledge of herpes zoster: results of a global survey

Paek E, Johnson R

Gerontology, 2010;56(1):20-31.
PMID: 19776543 DOI: 10.1159/000240046

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ), the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, occurs in 1 in 5 people worldwide and may result in a variety of complications, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Treatment of patients with HZ represents a considerable challenge, especially among the elderly who are prone to get a more severe form of the disease and its complications. Since May 2006, a vaccine was approved for the prevention of HZ or PHN among individuals aged 50 or 60 years and older.
OBJECTIVE: Since the success of any new vaccine initiative depends on public awareness of the disease, we conducted the HZ Global Awareness Survey to gauge existing levels of awareness and knowledge of HZ.
METHODS: The survey was conducted by telephone or face-to-face among 8,688 adults >OR=50 years of age in 22 countries between December 2006 and January 2007 and addressed awareness, knowledge, symptoms, and treatment of HZ.
RESULTS: Wide variation in HZ awareness was noted among countries. In some countries (New Zealand, Brazil, and Malaysia) nearly all individuals surveyed (97-100%) over the age of 50 years had heard of HZ. In contrast, less than 20% of individuals surveyed were aware of HZ in Turkey, India and Chile. The survey revealed almost universally poor knowledge of the causes and symptoms of HZ. Only 3% of respondents mentioned chicken pox as the cause of the disease. The majority of respondents were unaware of their risk of HZ, with 71% considering themselves unlikely or very unlikely to develop HZ. The survey also revealed that those respondents with prior HZ experience were much more likely to consider pain as the worst symptom of the disease than those without prior HZ experience. The misconception of HZ-related morbidity among individuals with no first-hand experience of the disease highlights the global educational need to raise awareness of the seriousness of HZ and its potential long-term complications.
CONCLUSIONS: This survey suggests a population-wide effort to improve global awareness of HZ would be required for a successful vaccine initiative. Further studies would be required to understand regional differences in the understanding of HZ.
Do depression and educational attainment mediate the association between ethnicity and dementia?

Momtaz YA, Hamid TA, Yusoff S, Ibrahim R

Gerontology, 2013;59(3):206-12.
PMID: 23147388 DOI: 10.1159/000342254

Research shows marked differences in the prevalence of dementia among different ethnic groups. However, there is a relative dearth of studies focusing on how ethnicity may influence dementia. The main aim of the current study is to test potential mediating effects of depression and level of education on the association between ethnicity and dementia.
Fulltext Development of Virtual Surveys for the COVID-19 Wave of the AGELESS Longitudinal Study in Malaysia

Aravindhan K, Mat S, Hamid TA, Shahar S, Abdul Majeed AB, Teh PL, et al.

Gerontology, 2021 Aug 17.
PMID: 34515120 DOI: 10.1159/000517946

BACKGROUND: Rapid population aging occurring in developing nations necessitates innovation to ensure we continue to gain ground on aging research despite pandemic threats. While developed nations have resorted to virtual communications, this is challenging in developing nations due to poor internet connectivity and digital literacy.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of virtual data collection for a longitudinal study of aging assessing cognitive frailty in a middle-income Southeast Asian country.
METHODS: The Transforming Cognitive Frailty into Later-Life Self-Sufficiency (AGELESS) longitudinal study of aging involved community-dwelling participants aged 60 years and above. A semi-structured focus group discussion was conducted via videoconferencing with selected representatives from existing participants. The survey instrument was compiled during a hybrid meeting and refined using a virtual Delphi process involving 51 AGELESS investigators. The final draft survey and recruitment strategy were then piloted among selected participants.
RESULTS: Twelve individuals participated in the virtual focus group interview. Smartphone, tablet computer, laptops, and desktop personal computers were used for information gathering, communication, banking, shopping, leisure, religion, and education, within this group. The survey instrument was redacted from 362 items in 18 sections to 141 items in 12 sections through 3 virtual Delphi rounds facilitated by email, social media messaging, and videoconferencing which attracted 213 comments. Of 45 participants selected for the pilot survey, 30 were successfully contacted after one attempt and 18 completed the survey. Cognitive frailty was present in 13%, cognitive impairment in 20%, frailty in 20%, and 47% were robust.
CONCLUSION: A virtual survey instrument was developed for the AGELESS longitudinal survey of aging which was vital for determining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our older population as well as sustaining research into aging despite barriers posed by the pandemic.
Fulltext Researching Institutional Elder Abuse in Malaysia: Challenges and Recommendations

Yunus RM

Gerontology, 2021;67(4):449-452.
PMID: 33592605 DOI: 10.1159/000513932
Fulltext Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy for Older Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Era: Proposed Paradigm by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group

Nguyen NP, Baumert BG, Oboite E, Motta M, Appalanaido GK, Arenas M, et al.

Gerontology, 2021;67(4):379-385.
PMID: 33784693 DOI: 10.1159/000514451

BACKGROUND: Older cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease may benefit from chemotherapy alone or combined with radiotherapy. However, chemotherapy is often omitted either because of physician bias or because of its underlying comorbidity, thus compromising their survival. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is compounding this issue because of the fear of immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy on the elderly which makes them more vulnerable to the virus.
SUMMARY: Immunotherapy has less effect on the patient bone marrow compared to chemotherapy. The potential synergy between radiotherapy and immunotherapy may improve local control and survival for older patients with selected cancer. Preliminary data are encouraging because of better survival and local control in diseases which are traditionally resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. Key Message: We propose a new paradigm combining immunotherapy at a reduced dose and/or extended dosing intervals and hypofractionated radiotherapy for older patients with selected cancer which needs to be tested in future clinical trials.