Effects of statins on kidney function in older adults.

Background: The effect of statin therapy on kidney function among older adults is unclear.

Objectives: To examine the association between statin use and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), positive or negative, in an older adult cohort with versus without chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline.

Methods: This analysis included 18,056 participants aged ≥65 years with versus without CKD at baseline in a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin, who had no prior cardiovascular events, major physical disability, or dementia initially.

Classification of chronic kidney disease in older Australian adults by the CKD-EPI 2009 and 2021 equations: secondary analysis of ASPREE study data.

Objectives: To assess the clinical impact on generally healthy older Australians of changing from the 2009 CKD-EPI (CKD-EPI) to the 2021 CKD-EPI (CKD-EPI) equation for calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Study Design: Secondary analysis of data from the prospective ASPirin in Reducing events in the Elderly (ASPREE) cohort study.

Setting, Participants: Australians aged 70 years or older living in the community and without life-limiting medical conditions, recruited 1 March 2010 - 31 December 2014 for the ASPREE trial.

Depression Symptoms Do Not Worsen Over Time in a Cohort of CKD Patients: The BRINK Study.

Background: The prevalence of depression is high in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) (20-40%) and dialysis (30-50%) populations. Less is known about how depressive symptoms change over time in patients with CKD.

Methods: Participants in the Brain in Kidney Disease (BRINK) cohort study completed a depressive symptom questionnaire (PHQ-9) and serum creatinine testing annually.

Age-Related Hearing Loss: A cross-sectional study of healthy older Australians.

Introduction Hearing loss is common in ageing populations, but thorough investigation of factors associated with objective hearing loss in otherwise healthy, community dwelling older individuals is rare. We examined prevalence of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) in healthy, community-dwelling older adults, and determined whether sociodemographic, lifestyle or health factors associate with hearing thresholds. Audiometry assessment was investigated with self-reports of hearing loss and hearing handicap.

Epigenetic age acceleration and cognitive performance over time in older adults.

Introduction: This study investigated whether epigenetic age acceleration (AA) is associated with the change in cognitive function and the risk of incident dementia over 9 years, separately in males and females.

Methods: Six epigenetic AA measures, including GrimAge, were estimated in baseline blood samples from 560 Australians aged ≥70 years (50.7% female).

Antihypertensive medications and dementia in older adults with hypertension.

Background: Studies on middle-aged or individuals with cognitive or cardiovascular impairments, have established that intensive blood pressure (BP) control reduces cognitive decline risk. However, uncertainty exists on differential effects between antihypertensive medications (AHM) classes on this risk, independent of BP-lowering efficacy, particularly in community-dwelling hypertensive older adults.

Methods: A post-hoc analysis of the ASPREE study, a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin in adults aged 70+ years (65+ if US minorities) without baseline dementia, and followed for two years post-trial.

Validation of a machine learning algorithm for identifying infants at risk of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a large unseen data set.

Objective: To validate a hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) prediction algorithm to identify infants at risk of HIE immediately after birth using readily available clinical data.

Design: Secondary review of electronic health record data of term deliveries from January 2017 to December 2021.

Setting: A tertiary maternity hospital.

Short- and long-term impact of aspirin cessation in older adults: a target trial emulation.

Background: The net benefit of aspirin cessation in older adults remains uncertain. This study aimed to use observational data to emulate a randomized trial of aspirin cessation versus continuation in older adults without cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: Post hoc analysis using a target trial emulation framework applied to the immediate post-trial period (2017-2021) of a study of low-dose aspirin initiation in adults aged ≥ 70 years (ASPREE; NCT01038583).

Epigenetic age acceleration and the risk of frailty, and persistent activities of daily living (ADL) disability.

Background: Epigenetic ageing is among the most promising ageing biomarkers and may be a useful marker of physical function decline, beyond chronological age. This study investigated whether epigenetic age acceleration (AA) is associated with the change in frailty scores over 7 years and the 7-year risk of incident frailty and persistent Activities of Daily Living (ADL) disability among 560 Australians (50.7% females) aged ≥70 years.

Gender-specific analysis of social connection patterns and risk of dementia in community-dwelling older people.

Introduction: Poor social connection is considered a risk factor for dementia. Since socializing behaviors may cluster together or act compensatorily, we aimed to investigate social connection patterns and their association with dementia, for men and women separately.

Methods: A total of 12,896 community-dwelling older adults (mean ± SD age: 75.

Kidney Function and Physical Performance Decline: The Brain in Kidney Disease (BRINK) Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objective: Patients with kidney failure have poor physical performance, but its trajectory is less clear. We examined physical function over the course of kidney disease, including the transition to dialysis.

Study Design: Observational cohort.

Associations of body habitus and its changes with incident dementia in older adults.

Background: This study examined the associations of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), as well as their short- and long-term changes over time, with incident dementia in older individuals.

Methods: Data came from 18,837 community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ years from Australia and the United States, who were relatively healthy without major cognitive impairment at enrolment. Anthropometric measures were prospectively assessed at baseline, as well as change and variability from baseline to year two (three time-points).

Late-Life Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and its Association With Physical Disability and Dementia.

Background: The burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is growing rapidly, including among older adults. The number of older adults is also rising with concomitantly increasing rates of age-related physical and cognitive dysfunction. However, data on whether MASLD affects physical and cognitive function in older adults is limited.

Daily low-dose aspirin and incident type 2 diabetes in community-dwelling healthy older adults: a post-hoc analysis of efficacy and safety in the ASPREE randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes. This study investigated the randomised treatment effect of low-dose aspirin on incident type 2 diabetes and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations among older adults.

Methods: ASPREE was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of daily oral low-dose aspirin.

Post-Stroke Brain Health Monitoring and Optimization: A Narrative Review.

Significant advancements have been made in recent years in the acute treatment and secondary prevention of stroke. However, a large proportion of stroke survivors will go on to have enduring physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities from suboptimal post-stroke brain health. Impaired brain health following stroke thus warrants increased attention from clinicians and researchers alike.

Low-Density-Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Mortality Outcomes Among Healthy Older Adults: A Post Hoc Analysis of ASPREE Trial.

Background: The prognostic implication of cholesterol levels in older adults remains uncertain. This study aimed to examine the relationship between low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and mortality outcomes in older individuals.

Methods: This post hoc analysis examined the associations of LDL-c levels with mortality risks from all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and combined non-CVD/noncancer conditions in a cohort of individuals aged ≥65 years from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly trial (NCT01038583).

Reflections from the 'Hold the door open' project: Inviting older adults across the UK to shape dissemination of health research findings.

Background: This project sought to expand patient and public involvement (PPI) practices to the development of research finding dissemination with people aged 55+ years. The project is innovative due to its UK-wide approach and use of PPI to plan better ways to share findings of health research with older adults, extending PPI beyond research project initiation to support dissemination activities.

Objective: The aim of this study is to understand how to develop effective public engagement activities with older adults to disseminate findings of health research.

Intracranial Atherosclerosis Disease Associated With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerosis disease (ICAD) alters cerebrovascular hemodynamics and brain structural integrity. Multiple studies have evaluated the link between ICAD and cognitive impairment, with mixed results. This study aims to systematically review and summarize the current evidence on this link.