Examining mental health and autonomic function as putative mediators of the relationship between sleep and trajectories of cognitive function: findings from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA).

Objectives: This study investigates the mediating roles of autonomic function and mental health in the association between sleep and cognitive decline in adults aged 50 and above.

Method: A total of 2,697 participants with observations on sleep and mediators at baseline and repeated measures of cognitive function (MMSE) were included. Clusters of individuals with similar cognitive trajectories (high-stable, mid-stable and low-declining) were identified.

An investigation of what protective individual- and community-level factors are associated with life satisfaction in middle-aged and older family carers in Ireland.

Background: Family care plays an essential role in providing care in society. However, caring can cause stress, and mental and physical responses to caring vary widely. Different outcomes for carers may reflect different approaches or adaptability to caring and their ability to maintain or recover their mental health and wellbeing following an adverse event (psychosocial resilience).

The bi-directional association between loneliness and depression among older adults from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Older adults have both the highest risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and in many jurisdictions have had additional restrictions placed on the social interactions. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased depression and loneliness among older adults. Using data from an established cohort of older adults, the aims of this study was to describe changes in loneliness and depression and to examine the directionality of the association between depression and loneliness over a 5-year period that included the early months of the pandemic.

Religiosity and Quality of Life in Older Christian Women in Ireland: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

This study used a mixed methods approach to understand the ways in which religion and quality of life (QoL) are associated in later life in Ireland. Longitudinal quantitative data from 2112 Christian women aged 57 and over at baseline (2009-10) participating in the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), as well as qualitative data from semi-structured interviews from 11 Christian women aged 65 and over in 2018, were used. The quantitative data showed an association between lower religiosity and lower QoL.

Low folate predicts accelerated cognitive decline: 8-year follow-up of 3140 older adults in Ireland.

Objective: To examine associations of plasma folate concentrations and risk of global and domain-specific cognitive decline in older people.

Methods: Data of 3140 participants from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), a nationally-representative cohort of adults aged ≥50 years were used over 8-year follow-up. Biannual cognitive assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), verbal fluency and immediate and delayed word recall tests (Waves 1-5) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, (MoCA) (Waves 1 and 3).

Negative aging perceptions and cognitive and functional decline: Are you as old as you feel?

Background: Research has shown the associations between negative aging perceptions and cognitive and physical decline may be mediated through behavioral and psychological pathways, but they are rarely examined simultaneously. We aimed at assessing the difference in the probability of following a high-, mid-, or low-performing cognitive trajectory, and a high- or low-performing physical function trajectory by negative aging perceptions. We sought to test two competing pathway mechanisms for the associations.

Mini-mental state examination trajectories after age 50 by religious affiliation and practice in Ireland.

Unlabelled: Religious attendance is sometimes associated with better health outcomes, although the link between religion and cognitive ageing is inconclusive. We aimed to assess differences in cognitive performance trajectories by religious affiliation and religious attendance. We further sought to test possible mechanisms for an association.

Higher Parity Is Associated With Lower Mortality in a European Population of Women With High Fertility: Results From Ireland.

Research has often found a U- or J-shaped association between parity and mortality. Many researchers have suggested repeated pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation taxes the body beyond a certain parity level. Available research has concentrated on populations with controlled fertility or historic populations.

Translating Frailty Assessment Methodologies and Research-based Evidence to Clinical Education and Practice.

Frailty is a common clinical syndrome that predisposes older adults to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. With population aging, this will become an increasing challenge for the healthcare services; therefore, different models of healthcare training and provision are required to address these increasing demands. In Ireland, the National Clinical Programme for Older People (NCPOP) has partnered with The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) to deliver the National Frailty Education Programme.

Longitudinal Associations of Religiosity and Physical Function in Older Irish Adults.

Objectives: Research into the link between religion and physical function has shown inconsistent results. Most studies have used self-reported measures of physical function, and many have excluded those who are not religious and only compared levels of religious engagement within those groups that are religious. We aimed to assess the longitudinal associations of religious affiliation and religious attendance on two objective measures of physical function.

End-of-life experience for older adults in Ireland: results from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA).

Background: End-of-life experience is a subject of significant policy interest. National longitudinal studies offer valuable opportunities to examine individual-level experiences. Ireland is an international leader in palliative and end-of-life care rankings.

Orthostatic blood pressure variability is associated with lower visual contrast sensitivity function: Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background: Hypertension is established to cause vascular end-organ damage. Other forms of dysregulated blood pressure (BP) behaviour, such as orthostatic hypotension have also been associated with cardiovascular (CV) events. The eye is potentially vulnerable to dysregulated systemic BP if ocular circulation autoregulation is impaired.

Orthostatic hypertension as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration: Evidence from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing.

Purpose: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible visual loss in developed countries. It is associated with vascular risk factors including hypertension. Dysregulated blood pressure (BP) behaviour including orthostatic hypertension (OHTN), hypotension (OH) and BP variability (BPV) are associated with end-organ damage, particularly in the brain.

Choice and Constraint in the Negotiation of the Grandparent Role: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Few studies have examined how the allocation and consequences of grandchild care vary across different socioeconomic groups. We analyze qualitative data alongside data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), in a convergent mixed-methods approach. Regression models examined characteristics associated with grandchild care, and the relationship between grandchild care and depressive symptoms and well-being.

Phenotypes of orthostatic blood pressure behaviour and association with visual acuity.

Background: Manifestations of neurocardiovascular instability (NCVI), including orthostatic hypotension (OH) orthostatic hypertension (OHTN) and impaired blood pressure variability (BPV), have been associated with cardiovascular (CV) events. The eye is highly vascular and we propose an ideal target end organ to investigate pathological implications of NCVI.

Objective: To identify and define clinically applicable phenotypes of orthostatic blood pressure (BP) behaviour, analogous to OH, OHTN, and orthostatic BPV and to investigate their relationship to vision.

Orthostatic Blood Pressure Behavior in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment Predicts Conversion to Dementia.

Objectives: To compare the patterns of blood pressure (BP) behavior during orthostasis in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with those of controls and to investigate whether orthostatic BP behavior differs between individuals with MCI who convert to dementia and those who do not.

Design: Longitudinal study with 3 years of follow-up.

Setting: Memory clinic in Dublin, Ireland, between 2007 and 2012.

Neurocardiovascular instability may modulate end-organ damage: A review of this hypothesis investigating the eye and manifestations of NCVI.

Neurocardiovascular instability (NCVI) represents age-related changes in blood pressure and heart rate behaviour. It has been associated with increased leukoaraiosis in the brain and also conditions which are likely to be are related to cerebral end-organ damage, such as stroke and falls. The eye is a 'window' into the brain and cardiovascular (CV) system, changes in retinal microvasculature being independently predictive of cardiovascular events.

The impact of being the intermediate caring generation and intergenerational transfers on self-reported health of women in Ireland.

Objectives: To investigate the associations with being the "sandwich generation" in older women in Ireland and its impact on self-reported health.

Methods: Analysis of 3,196 women from wave 1 of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) was undertaken. Poisson regression was used to determine whether intergenerational transfers, were associated with self-rated physical health and depression, when controlling for other socio-demographic variables.

Investigating the relationship between HIV testing and risk behaviour in Britain: National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles 2000.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of, and identify factors associated with, HIV testing in Britain.

Design: A large, stratified probability sample survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles.

Methods: A total of 12,110 16-44 year olds completed a computer-assisted face-to-face interview and self-interview.

A comparison of sexual behaviour and attitudes of healthy adolescents in a Danish high school in 1982, 1996, and 2001.

AIM: To assess changes in sexual behaviour among students at a high school in Denmark from 1982 to 2001. METHODS: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used to compare data from three identical cross-sectional surveys performed in 1982, 1996, and 2001. RESULTS: Girls: More girls reported their first sexual intercourse before their 16th birthday in 2001 (42%) than in 1996 (29%) In 1982 it was also 42% (Chi-square for trend: p = 0.