Uncovering the Biological Toll of Neighborhood Physical Disorder: Links to Metabolic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Older Adults.

Background: Neighborhood physical disorder has been linked to adverse health outcomes, yet longitudinal assessments of its relationship with metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in older adults remain limited. This study examined the association between patterns of neighborhood physical disorder exposure and biomarkers among older adults.

Methods: We included community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with 2017 biomarker data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (n = 4,558).

Social Relationships and Tooth Loss in Adults Aged 60 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To systematically assess current evidence on the extent to which social relationships are associated with tooth loss in adults aged 60 years and older.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies published from 1966 up to March 2024. Cross-sectional or cohort studies investigating the association between structural, functional and/or combined (structural and functional) components of social relationships and the number of remaining teeth or edentulism among community-dwelling or institutionalised older adults were included.

The temporal sequence and reciprocal relationships of frailty, social isolation and loneliness in older adults across 21 years.

Background: It is unclear whether social isolation and loneliness may precede frailty status or whether frailty may precipitate social isolation and loneliness. We investigated the reciprocal and temporal sequence of social isolation, loneliness, and frailty among older adults across 21 years.

Methods: We used seven waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam from 2302 Dutch older adults (M = 72.

Social cohesion as a modifier of joint air pollution exposure and incident dementia.

Social cohesion can reduce stress, increase social interaction, and improve cognitive reserve. These social mechanisms may modify the effects of air pollution on dementia risk. This cohort study examines the potential moderating effect of social cohesion on associations between joint air pollution exposure and incident dementia leveraging data from 5112 community-dwelling adults ≥65 years of age enrolled in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

Geriatric conditions and healthcare utilization among older adults living in subsidized housing.

Background: Nearly 2.9 million older Americans with lower incomes live in subsidized housing. While regional and single-site studies show that this group has higher rates of healthcare utilization compared to older adults in the general community, little is known about healthcare utilization nationally nor associated risk factors.

Hearing and vision impairment and social isolation over 8 years in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Little is known about the long-term impact of hearing and vision impairment on social isolation. This study quantifies the association between hearing, vision, and concurrent hearing and vision impairment (dual sensory impairment) and social isolation over 8 years among older adults.

Methods: Data were from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a cohort study (2011 - 2019) of U.

Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories: Innovating aging research and Alzheimer's care.

This perspective outlines the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories (AITC) at Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Massachusetts, highlighting their roles in developing AI-based technologies for older adult care, particularly targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD). These National Institute on Aging (NIA) centers foster collaboration among clinicians, gerontologists, ethicists, business professionals, and engineers to create AI solutions. Key activities include identifying technology needs, stakeholder engagement, training, mentoring, data integration, and navigating ethical challenges.

Association of Social Isolation With Hospitalization and Nursing Home Entry Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Importance: Social isolation is associated with adverse health outcomes, yet its implications for hospitalization and nursing home entry are not well understood.

Objective: To evaluate whether higher levels of social isolation are associated with overnight hospitalization, skilled nursing facility stays, and nursing home placement among a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults after adjusting for key health and social characteristics, including loneliness and depressive symptoms.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This observational cohort study included 7 waves of longitudinal panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, with community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older interviewed between March 1, 2006, and June 30, 2018 (11 517 respondents; 21 294 person-years).

Examining the Association of Social Isolation and Smoking in Older Adults.

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death among older adults, but few studies have examined social isolation as a risk factor for smoking in US. older adults. Using National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data, we conducted multivariate analyses of smoking in a sample of 8136 adults ages 65 and older.

The state of loneliness and social isolation research: current knowledge and future directions.

In this editorial, we consider the current state of loneliness and social isolation research around the world, including knowledge gaps in the empirical literature.

Social isolation and 9-year dementia risk in community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries in the United States.

Background: Social isolation can influence whether older adults develop dementia. We examine the association between social isolation and incident dementia among older adults in a nationally representative sample of community dwelling older adults in the United States (U.S.

Impact of technology on social isolation: Longitudinal analysis from the National Health Aging Trends Study.

Background: Social isolation is a key public health concern and has been associated with numerous negative health consequences. Technology is increasingly thought of as a solution to address social isolation. This study examines the longitudinal association between the access and use of technology and social isolation in older adults 65 and older, living in the United States.

Prevalence of Mental Health and Social Connection among Patients Seeking Tobacco Dependence Management: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: with regards to tobacco dependence management, there are certain barriers to successful smoking cessation for patients, such as untreated anxiety and depression. Complicating the impact of mental health morbidities on tobacco dependence may be the significant portion of patients whose mental health issues and limited social connections are undiagnosed and unaddressed. We hypothesize that patients with no prior mental health diagnoses who are treated for tobacco dependence have high rates of undiagnosed mental health morbidities.

Social isolation, homebound status, and race among older adults: Findings from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2011-2019).

Background: Multiple factors may influence the risk of being homebound, including social isolation and race. This study examines the relationship between social isolation and homebound status by race over 9 years in a sample of adults.

Methods: Utilizing a representative sample of 7788 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+ from 2011-2019, we assessed the odds of becoming homebound by social isolation.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic-related financial challenges on mental health and well-being among US older adults.

Background: Despite profound financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a gap in estimating their effects on mental health and well-being among older adults.

Methods: The National Health and Aging Trends Study is an ongoing nationally representative cohort study of US older adults. Outcomes included mental health related to COVID-19 (scores averaged across eight items ranging from one to four), sleep quality during COVID-19, loneliness during COVID-19, having time to yourself during COVID-19, and hopefulness during COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 in assisted living: Mortality and asymptomatic infection.

In response to a rapid rise in mortality within assisted living, facility-wide resident testing found 42% of 182 residents had SARS-CoV-2 infection; 68% of which were asymptomatic for 14 days before and after testing. Resident testing was a critical infection control measure needed to control transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection.