Interactive Relations of Body Mass Index, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Sex to Cognitive Function in Older Adults.

Objective: The course of cognitive aging is influenced by multiple health factors. This cross-sectional study investigated the interactive relations between body mass index (BMI), maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), and sex on neuropsychological outcomes in community-dwelling predominantly older adults.

Methods: Participants were 164 healthy adults [M (SD) = 64.

The Role of Companion Dogs in the VA Maryland Health Care System Whole Health(y) GeroFit Program.

GeroFit is a gym-based exercise program that promotes health and wellness among older sedentary veterans. The aims of the current study were to determine whether providing a companion dog as an alternative to gym-based exercise would similarly affect whole health outcomes. A total of 15 ( = 15) veterans (62 ± 11 years of age; 13 of 15 >54 years of age) underwent physical function testing, completed global and whole health questionnaires, and wore an accelerometer for 7 days before (baseline) and 3 months after a dog came into their home.

Longitudinal analysis of physical function in older adults: The effects of physical inactivity and exercise training.

Lack of exercise contributes to systemic inflammation and is a major cause of chronic disease. The long-term impact of initiating and sustaining exercise in late life, as opposed to sustaining a sedentary lifestyle, on whole-body health measures such as physical performance is not well known. This is an exploratory study to compare changes in physical performance among older adults initiating exercise late in life versus inactive older adults.

Plasma neurofilament light and brain volumetric outcomes among middle-aged urban adults.

Elevated plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is associated with dementia though underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We examined cross-sectional relationships of time-dependent plasma NfL with selected brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) prognostic markers of dementia. The sample was drawn from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, selecting participants with complete v (2004-2009) and v (2009-2013) plasma NfL exposure and ancillary sMRI data at v (2011-2015, n = 179, mean v to v time: 5.

Geriatric Syndromes and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Key Points: In older adults with CKD, geriatric syndromes are common and are associated with reduced quality of life. Addressing geriatric syndromes could potentially improve quality of life for older adults with CKD.

Background: Geriatric syndromes, which are multifactorial conditions common in older adults, predict health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

White matter integrity as a mediator between socioeconomic status and executive function.

Introduction: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poorer executive function, but the neural mechanisms of this association remain unclear. As healthy brain communication is essential to our cognitive abilities, white matter integrity may be key to understanding socioeconomic disparities.

Methods: Participants were 201 African American and White adults (ages 33-72) from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) SCAN study.

Plasma neurofilament light as blood marker for poor brain white matter integrity among middle-aged urban adults.

Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL)'s link to dementia may be mediated through white matter integrity (WMI). In this study, we examined plasma NfL's relationships with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging markers: global and cortical white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and trace (TR). Plasma NfL measurements at 2 times (v: 2004-2009 and v: 2009-2013) and ancillary dMRI (v: 2011-2015) were considered (n = 163, mean time v to v = 5.

Dietary Quality and Perceived Barriers to Weight Loss among Older Overweight Veterans with Dysmobility.

Healthier diets are associated with higher muscle mass and physical performance which may reduce the risk of developing frailty and disability later in life. This study examined the dietary quality and self-reported weight loss barriers among older (>60 years), overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) Veterans with dysmobility (low gait speed, impaired mobility diagnosis, or a comorbidity that results in impaired mobility). Habitual dietary intake and healthy eating index (HEI-2015) were assessed using 24-h recalls and compared to US nationally representative dietary intake data and national recommendations.

Effect of Long-term Exercise Training on Physical Performance and Cardiorespiratory Function in Adults With CKD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Rationale & Objective: The safety and efficacy of long-term exercise training in reducing physical functional loss in older adults with advanced CKD and comorbidity is uncertain.

Study Design: Multicenter, parallel group, randomized controlled trial.

Settings & Participants: Adults 55 years and older with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 15 to <45 mL/min/1.

Synergistic Associations of Depressive Symptoms and Executive Functions With Longitudinal Trajectories of Diabetes Biomarkers Among Urban-Dwelling Adults Without Diabetes.

Objective: Depressive symptoms and executive functions (EFs) have recently emerged as novel risk factors for type 2 diabetes, but it is unknown if these factors interact to influence diabetes pathophysiology across the life span. We examined the synergistic associations of depressive symptoms and EFs with longitudinal trajectories of diabetes diagnostic criteria among middle-aged and older adults without diabetes.

Methods: Participants were 1257 African American and White, urban-dwelling adults from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study who were assessed up to three times over a 13-year period (2004-2017).

Evaluating Test-Retest Reliability of Fatigability in Chronic Stroke.

Objectives: The subjective nature of fatigue may contribute to inconsistencies in prevalence rates for post-stroke fatigue. More objective performance fatigue measures may offer a more reliable construct of fatigue. Our goal was to establish test-retest reliability of fatigability in stroke during 6-minute walk (6MW) testing.

Red cell distribution width, anemia and their associations with white matter integrity among middle-aged urban adults.

Anemia (blood hemoglobin [Hb] <13 g/dL among males; <12 g/dL among females) and elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) are potential risk factors for reduced brain white matter integrity (WMI), reflected by lower fractional anisotropy or increased mean diffusivity. Cross-sectional data with exposure-outcome lag time was used, whereby hematological exposures (RDW and Hb) and covariates were compiled from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study with available visit 1 (v; 2004-2009) and/or v (2009-2013) data; while diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) outcome data were collected at HANDLS SCAN visit (v: 2011-2015, n = 214, mean follow-up from v ±SD: 5.6 ± 1.

Home Exercise Interventions in Frail Older Adults.

Purpose Of Review: Frailty is characterized by decreased physiological reserve and increased risk of falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Frail older adults may benefit from exercise interventions targeting their multiple problems and functional deficits; however, most research focuses on center-based interventions, which may present accessibility challenges for frail older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the most recently published home-based exercise interventions for frail older adults living at home.

Corrigendum: Vitamin D, Folate, and Cobalamin Serum Concentrations Are Related to Brain Volume and White Matter Integrity in Urban Adults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.

Red Cell Distribution Width, Anemia, and Brain Volumetric Outcomes Among Middle-Aged Adults.

Background: Anemia and red cell distribution width (RDW) have been linked to poor cognitive performance, pending studies of underlying mechanisms.

Objective: We examined cross-sectional relationships of initial RDW status (v1), RDW change (δ), and anemia with brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) markers, including global and cortical brain and hippocampal and white matter lesion (WML) volumes, 5-6 years later.

Methods: Data were used from three prospective visits within the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) study with complete v1 (2004-2009) and v2 (2009-2013) exposures and ancillary sMRI data at vscan (2011-2015, n = 213, mean v1 to vscan time: 5.

Low Back Pain and Substance Use: Diagnostic and Administrative Coding for Opioid Use and Dependence Increased in U.S. Older Adults with Low Back Pain.

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of pain and disability. Substance use complicates the management of LBP, and potential risks increase with aging. Despite implications for an aging, diverse U.

Changes in Self-Reported Fruit and Vegetable Intake following Nutritional Modification in High Risk Older Veterans.

This project aimed to determine the feasibility of implementing a dietary intervention in older Veterans participating in an exercise and health promotion program (Gerofit) and whether this intervention could improve self-reported fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake measured by BRFSS and diet quality measured by visual analog scale (0-10 scale). Participation consisted of optional group and individual counseling with a Registered Dietitian (RD). Out of 50 participants approached to participant in the program, 24 Veterans attended ≥2 group sessions (2.

Rapid Transition to Telehealth Group Exercise and Functional Assessments in Response to COVID-19.

Exercise is critical for health maintenance in late life. The COVID-19 shelter in place and social distancing orders resulted in wide-scale interruptions of exercise therapies, placing older adults at risk for the consequences of decreased mobilization. The purpose of this paper is to describe rapid transition of the Gerofit facility-based group exercise program to telehealth delivery.

PTSD Improvement Associated with Social Connectedness in Gerofit Veterans Exercise Program.

Objective: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in Veterans. Symptoms can perpetuate into late life, negatively impacting physical and mental health. Exercise and social support are beneficial in treating anxiety disorders such as PTSD in the general population, although less is known about the impact on Veterans who have lived with PTSD for decades.

Association between Physical Activity and Mortality in Patients with Claudication.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the association between light-intensity physical activity and the incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) limited by claudication followed for up to 18.7 yr.

Methods: A total of 528 patients with PAD and claudication were screened in Baltimore between 1994 and 2002, and 386 were deemed eligible for the study.

Circulating microparticle concentrations across acute and chronic cardiovascular disease conditions.

Unlabelled: Concentrations of different circulating microparticles (MPs) may have clinical and physiological relevance to cardiovascular disease pathologies.

Purpose: To quantify plasma concentrations of CD31+/CD42b-, CD62E+, and CD34+ MPs across healthy individuals and those with coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute cardiovascular events (non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)). Fasted blood was obtained from CAD patients (n = 10), NSTEMI patients (n = 13), and healthy older men (n = 15) 60-75 years old.

Vitamin D, Folate, and Cobalamin Serum Concentrations Are Related to Brain Volume and White Matter Integrity in Urban Adults.

Lower vitamin status has been linked to cognitive deficits, pending mechanistic elucidation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], folate and cobalamin were explored against brain volumes and white matter integrity (WMI). Three prospective waves from Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) study were used [Baltimore, City, MD, 2004-2015, = 183-240 urban adults (Age: 30-64 years)].

Effects of Proximity between Companion Dogs and Their Caregivers on Heart Rate Variability Measures in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive tool used to evaluate autonomic nervous system function and is affected by age, stress, postural changes, and physical activity. Dog ownership has been associated with higher 24-hr HRV and increased physical activity compared to nonowners. The current pilot study was designed to evaluate the effects of proximity to a dog in real time (minute-by-minute) on older dog caregivers' HRV measures and stress index during normal daily life over a 24-hr period.

Relations of Executive Function and Physical Performance in Middle Adulthood: A Prospective Investigation in African American and White Adults.

Objectives: Previous studies in older adults found robust associations between executive functions (EF) and physical performance, as well as sociodemographic variation in physical performance decline. To examine these associations earlier in the adult lifespan, we investigated relations of EF, race, and sex with age-related physical performance decline during middle adulthood.

Method: Participants were 2,084 urban-dwelling adults (57.

Association of Diastolic Dysfunction with Reduced Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adults Living with HIV.

Despite the high prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in adults living with HIV, the impact on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is understudied. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between cardiac function and CRF in adults with HIV. Adults receiving antiretroviral therapy with no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or heart failure were eligible to participate.