Objective. To describe the demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, functional status (autonomy, strength), and health status (cognitive and thymic functions, cardiovascular risk factors, and nutritional status) of the oldest olds living on the Greek island of Ikaria. We also try to explain the longevity observed in this population. Methods. A cross-sectional observational study of people aged 90 and over living in both municipalities of north-western Ikaria (Evdilos and Raches) was conducted over one year, from October 21, 2012 to October 21, 2013. The participants were interviewed (medical history), had a brief clinical examination, and underwent standardized geriatric assessments including the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), the Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), the Instrumental ADL (IADL), and an assessment of grip strength. Results. Seventy-one persons (37 females, 34 males), aged 94.1 years on average, were interviewed at their homes. Seven percent were current smokers (females 5.4&#x0025;, males 8.8&#x0025;). Hypertension was diagnosed in 70.4&#x0025; of participants, diabetes in 19.7&#x0025;, hypercholesterolemia in 12.7&#x0025;, and obesity in 17.2&#x0025;; 66.0&#x0025; of the population had one chronic disease or more. The mean score for the GDS-15 scale was 3.7&#x002F;15.0, 23.7&#x002F;30.0 for the MMSE, 4.0&#x002F;6.0 for the ADL, and 4.2&#x002F;8.0 in females and 3.6&#x002F;5.0 in males for the IADL. Grip strength was 17.0&#x2009;kg in females and 26.5&#x2009;kg in males. Conclusions. This study provides an overview of the socio-demographic and medical characteristics of the oldest olds living in a longevity Blue Zone.

Romain Legrand

Patrick Manckoundia

Gilles Nuemi

Michel Poulain

Assessment of the Health Status of the Oldest Olds Living on the Greek Island of Ikaria: A Population Based-Study in a Blue Zone

Purpose. This study investigated denture and patient related factors associated with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of complete denture wearers and their association with general health and happiness. Methods. This retrospective cohort study comprised 130 participants with complete edentulism, with maxillary and mandibular complete dentures treated at Chulalongkorn University Dental School during 2010-2017. The primary outcome was the presence of overall and domain-specific Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP). Secondary outcomes were diagnosed and perceived general health, and happiness. Denture retention and stability were classified as acceptable or unacceptable following the CU-modified Kapur criteria. Five esthetic-assessment criteria of the harmonization and proportions between facial and dental anatomical landmarks were measured from patient&#x2019;s photographs. Age, sex, previous complete denture experience, and denture age were recorded. The associations between each variable and oral impacts were analyzed using bivariate logistic regression, and the factors with p &#x3c; 0.25 were further adjusted using multivariable analysis. Associations between oral impact scores and general health and happiness were assessed using Spearman&#x2019;s rank correlation. Results. The most frequent oral impacts were on physical domain, while social domain was the least affected. Denture retention/stability was significantly associated with both overall and specific domains of oral impact. Happiness was found to be strongly correlated with perceived general health, but marginally with oral impact scores. Conclusions. Unacceptable complete denture retention and stability are substantial risk factors for impaired OHRQoL in complete edentulism. Maintaining optimal denture retention and stability in denture wearers is essential for good oral health and well-being with the goal of enhancing happiness.

Nareudee Limpuangthip

Tewarit Somkotra

Mansuang Arksornnukit

Impacts of Denture Retention and Stability on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, General Health, and Happiness in Elderly Thais

Purpose. To investigate the pathological change of the glymphatic system in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis. Materials and Methods. 24 right-handed patients were referred to our hydrocephalus clinic for assessment of ventriculomegaly and gait impairment. 12 of 24 were diagnosed as pseudo-iNPH (piNPH) based on assessment by a neurologist. Diffusivity maps in the direction of the x-axis (right-to-left) (Dx), y-axis (anterior-to-posterior) (Dy), and z-axis (inferior-to-superior) (Dz) were computed. The diffusion map was coregistered to International Consortium for Brain Mapping (ICBM) DTI-81 atlas. The analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS) index was defined as mean (Dxpro, Dypro)/mean (Dypro, Dzasc), where Dxpro and Dxasc are Dx values in the projection and association fiber areas, respectively. Evans index and callosal angle were also assessed on each case. Results. ALPS indexes of the control, piNPH, and iNPH cases were 1.18 &#xb1; 0.08, 1.08 &#xb1; 0.03, and 0.94 &#xb1; 0.06, respectively, and there were significant differences among the groups (control vs. piNPH, P = 0.003; control vs. iNPH P &#x3c; 0.001; piNPH vs. iNPH, P &#x3c; 0.001). Area under curve (AUC) was 0.92, 1.00, and 1.00 on control vs. piNPH, control vs. iNPH, and piNPH vs. iNPH on ROC analysis. Between piNPH and NPH, ALPS index has higher diagnostic performance than Evans index and callosal angle (AUC = 1.00 vs. 0.84, P = 0.028; AUC = 1.00 vs. 0.74, P = 0.016). Conclusion. Atlas-based ALPS index using the DTI method differentiated among iNPH, piNPH, and controls clearly.

Hajime Yokota

Arvind Vijayasarathi

Milos Cekic

Yoko Hirata

Michael Linetsky

Michael Ho

Won Kim

Noriko Salamon

Diagnostic Performance of Glymphatic System Evaluation Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and Mimickers

Falls may cause devastating consequences in older people. Conducting surveys on falls and factors associated with falls will inform better preventive health practices among older people to improve their quality of life. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of falls and recurrent falls among rural community-dwelling older people in Southern Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Nagoda Divisional Secretariat area, Galle, with 300 participants (females=175) aged 65 years and above. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. To assess the prevalence of falls, participants were asked if they had fallen in the past year, and if so how many times. If any individual reported two or more falls, it was considered a recurrent fall. Biological, behavioral, environmental, and socioeconomic factors were documented as potential risk factors for falls. Multivariate logistic regression was performed with adjusted Odds Ratio (OR). Mean (SD) age was 73 (6.7) years. The prevalence of falls and recurrent falls were reported as 34.3&#x25; (95&#x25;CI; 29.03-40.04) (n=103) and 9.6&#x25; (95&#x25;CI; 6.68-13.73) (n=29), respectively. Out of 103 fallers, 37 (35.9&#x25;) had sustained injuries, with 40.5&#x25; affecting the wrist and 24.3&#x25; the hip. The associated factors for falls were age (OR=0.1), gender (OR=3.0), diabetes mellitus (OR=2.7), balance or gait problems (OR=4.2), use of antihypertensive medication (OR=0.2), and use of at least one long-term medication (OR=3.5). Associated factors for recurrent falls were age (OR=0.3), hypertension (OR=3.7), balance or gait problems (OR=3.8), sleep disturbances (OR=2.0), use of antihypertensive medication (OR=0.1), and use of at least one long-term medication (OR=3.4). A high prevalence of falls and low prevalence of recurrent falls among older people were observed. Biological and behavioral factors were reported as associated risk factors. This information is important to inform strategies to prevent falls in older people in Sri Lanka.

Nirmala Gamage

Nirmala Rathnayake

Gayani Alwis

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Falls among Rural Community-Dwelling Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study from Southern Sri Lanka

Cataract is still the leading cause of blindness. Many government institutes and voluntary organizations in Sri Lanka are providing free treatment services to patients with cataract. Still people are not patronizing the available free services; thus they have to live with impaired vision or blindness. This paper describes the barriers for cataract treatment among the population over 60 years of age. Out of 470 elders, 379 were found to have some kind of cataract. This study demonstrated lack of awareness and knowledge, socioeconomic factors, and misconceptions as the main barriers for cataract treatment which has led to a lower cataract surgery rate irrespective of the high cataract prevalence reported. Findings of this study highlight the importance of cataract as a common health problem in elderly and need for removal of the barriers for its treatment which should be given due prominence in the formulation of public health policy in Sri Lanka at the earliest.

Nilanga Nishad

S. A. Hewage

K. Arulmoly

M. S. Amaratunge

J. de Silva

K. T. A. A. Kasturiratne

P. K. Abeysundara

A. R. Wickramasinghe

Barriers for Cataract Treatment among Elderly in Sri Lanka

Objective. The study aims to investigate cognitive functioning and associated factors in a national general population-based sample of older Indonesians. Methods. Participants were 1228 older adults, 65 years and older (median age 70.0 years, Interquartile Range=6.0), who took part in the cross-sectional Indonesian Family Life Survey-5 (IFLS-5) in 2014-15. They were requested to provide information about sociodemographic and various health variables, including cognitive functioning measured with items from the Telephone Survey of Cognitive Status (TICS). Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association of sociodemographic factors, health variables, and cognitive functioning. Results. The overall mean cognition score was 14.7 (SD=4.3) (range 0-34). In adjusted linear regression analysis, older age, having hypertension, and being underweight were negatively associated with better cognitive functioning and higher education was positively associated with better cognitive functioning. Conclusion. Several sociodemographic and health risk factors for poor cognitive functioning were identified which can guide intervention strategies in Indonesia.

Supa Pengpid

Karl Peltzer

Indri Hapsari Susilowati

Cognitive Functioning and Associated Factors in Older Adults: Results from the Indonesian Family Life Survey-5 (IFLS-5) in 2014-2015

Introduction. Overutilization of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) both in ambulatory care and in the inpatient setting possesses economic implications and increases the risk for adverse drug reactions. This study was undertaken to identify factors associated with inappropriate PPI use among consecutively unplanned admissions of elderly patients at the time of admission. Materials and Methods. In 758 patients (54.2&#x25; women), mean age 80.3&#xb1;8.0 (M&#xb1;1SD), demographic characteristics, and medical and medication history were recorded. Parametric tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to identify the predictors of inappropriate PPI use. Results. 232 patients (30.6&#x25;) were receiving PPIs. 37 (4.9&#x25;) were receiving PPIs appropriately and 195 (25.7&#x25;) were receiving PPIs without a proper indication. Consequently, PPIs prescribing was inappropriate in 195/232 (84&#x25;). Moreover, 512 patients (67.5&#x25;) were not receiving PPIs appropriately and 14 patients (1.8&#x25;) were not receiving PPIs but they had a proper indication. When we compared patients receiving PPIs without a proper indication with those who were not receiving PPIs, a statistical difference was found according to Charlson Comorbidity Index (p&#x2264;0.001, U=37922.00), number of diseases (p&#x2264;0.001, U=33269.00) and medications (p&#x2264;0.001, U=31218.50), Katz Index score (p=0.01, U=45328.00), and the use of blood thinners (p&#x2264;0.001, &#x3c7;2=21.15). In multivariate analysis the only independent predictor of inappropriate PPI use was the number of medications (p=0.001, OR=1.16, 95&#x25;CI 1.06-1.27). Conclusions. The main predictor of inappropriate PPI use was the number of received medications. &#x395;fforts needed to apply the predefined criteria for PPI prescription and to deprescribe PPIs received inappropriately.

Panagiota Voukelatou

Ioannis Vrettos

Georgia Emmanouilidou

Konstantinos Dodos

Georgia Skotsimara

Dimitra Kontogeorgou

Andreas Kalliakmanis

Predictors of Inappropriate Proton Pump Inhibitors Use in Elderly Patients

About this journal

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research publishes research based on molecular, cellular, organismal aspects of gerontological research and in diagnosis, treatment, evaluation and educational aspects of geriatrics research.

Journal profile

Meet the editorial board

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

Editor spotlight

Submit your proposal

Do you think there is an emerging area of research that really needs to be highlighted? Or an existing research area that has been overlooked or would benefit from deeper investigation? Raise the profile of a research area by leading a Special Issue.

Special Issues

Author guidelines

Editorial board

Databases and indexing

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research - Table of contents 2019

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research | Hindawi

title

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research publishes research based on molecular, cellular, organismal aspects of gerontological research and in diagnosis, treatment, evaluation and educational aspects of geriatrics research.

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research