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Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging
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Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Aging".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 18622

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marta Almada

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Guest Editor
Competences Centre on Active and Healthy Ageing, Porto4Ageing, University of Porto, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal
Interests: ageing; older people; digital health; FAIR data; fairification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few centuries, we have been facing an unprecedented rise in human life expectancy, which brings novel societal challenges. Aging is a major risk factor for chronic age-related diseases including cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, geriatric syndromes, such as frailty and sarcopenia, polypharmacy, and social isolation. Hence, a healthy and disease-free lifespan has not accompanied the increased lifespan. Public health measures to reduce the risk of cancer, metabolic and cardiovascular disease may be effective and monitored in primary care.

The aging of humans is a biological, physiological, and a social dynamic process. According to World Health Organization, at the biological level, aging results from the impact of the accumulation of multiple forms of molecular and cellular damage in different tissues over time, as consequence of failure of conserved signaling and cellular maintenance pathways. Sustaining aging with reduced disability requires an extensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of aging, which are yet unknown, on which genetics may pose as a powerful tool.

Preventive interventions aimed at slowing specific effects of aging remain a complex and an inconsistent process, and few intervention regimes have been successful. Going forward, we must further evoke the bio-psycho-social aspects of human aging while planning preventive interventions.

To face up to the challenges of aging, we need further understanding on the bio-psycho-social bases of this phenomena. On this basis, in this Special Issue, we aim to gather the ultimate knowledge regarding aging and identify the gaps that we further need to investigate in order to promote healthy and active aging.

Dr. Marta Almada
Guest Editor

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 395 KiB  
Article
Financial Burden of Medical Care, Dental Care, and Medicines among Older-Aged Population in Slovenia, Serbia, and Croatia
by Katarina Vojvodic, Zorica Terzic-Supic, Jovana Todorovic, Cristina Gagliardi, Milena Santric-Milicevic and Marina Popovic
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3325; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063325 - 11 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
The aim was to explore the factors associated with the financial burden (FB) of medical care, dental care, and medicines among older-aged people in Slovenia, Serbia, and Croatia using EU-SILC 2017. The highest frequency of FB of medical care and medicines was in [...] Read more.
The aim was to explore the factors associated with the financial burden (FB) of medical care, dental care, and medicines among older-aged people in Slovenia, Serbia, and Croatia using EU-SILC 2017. The highest frequency of FB of medical care and medicines was in Croatia (50% and 69.1%, respectively) and of dental care in Slovenia (48.5%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis with FB as an outcome variable showed that the FB of medical care was associated with being married (OR: 1.54), reporting not severe (OR: 1.51) and severe limitations in daily activities (OR: 2.05), having higher education (OR: 2.03), and heavy burden of housing costs (OR: 0.51) in Slovenia, with very bad self-perceived health (OR: 5.23), having the slight (OR: 0.69) or heavy (OR: 0.47) burden of housing costs, making ends meet fairly easily or with some difficulty (OR: 3.58) or with difficulty or great difficulty (OR: 6.80) in Serbia, and with being married (OR: 1.43), having heavy burden of housing costs (OR: 0.62), and making ends meet fairly easily or with some difficulty (OR: 2.08) or with difficulty or great difficulty (OR: 2.52) in Croatia. The older-aged have the FB of healthcare, especially the poorest or those with health problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
16 pages, 635 KiB  
Article
Respect in the Eyes of Non-Urban Elders: Using Qualitative Interviews to Distinguish Community Elders’ Perspective of Respect in General and Healthcare Services
by Yu-Hsien Tseng, Yu-Ling Li, Shyuemeng Luu and Dih-Ling Luh
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2171; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042171 - 15 Feb 2022
Viewed by 1936
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the connotation of respect for community elders in daily situations, and discuss the elderly’s views on respect for healthcare services. A qualitative research design was conducted to interview elders from a non-urban area in Changhua, Taiwan. Study sites [...] Read more.
This study aimed to describe the connotation of respect for community elders in daily situations, and discuss the elderly’s views on respect for healthcare services. A qualitative research design was conducted to interview elders from a non-urban area in Changhua, Taiwan. Study sites were Lukang and Ershui. A total of 52 people were interviewed, with an average age of 75 years old. Based on Grounded theory, the thematic analysis method was used to analyze data. This study found that respect from the perspective of the elderly can be divided into three categories: (1) verbal expression, (2) non-verbal behavior, and (3) behavior combined with appropriate language. We found that elders use the performance of healthcare service providers to discuss respect in the field of healthcare services. Respect can also be shown in the physical environment in healthcare settings. This study found that, for the community elders, respect is an individual’s subjective feelings regarding the process of interpersonal interaction. Compared to daily life, the respect of the elderly for the healthcare setting has increased the element of the environment. In addition, it was found that elderly people have lower expectations and requirements for respect in healthcare settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
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12 pages, 355 KiB  
Article
Do Social Timing and Gender Matter to Parental Depression Aroused by Traumatic Experience of Child Bereavement? Evidence from China
by Dan Chen and Yuying Tong
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 12058; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212058 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2165
Abstract
Child loss is a rare but traumatic life event that often has a detrimental effect on parental wellbeing. However, parents’ resources and strategies in coping with the stressful child bereavement event may depend on timing of the event. This study intends to examine [...] Read more.
Child loss is a rare but traumatic life event that often has a detrimental effect on parental wellbeing. However, parents’ resources and strategies in coping with the stressful child bereavement event may depend on timing of the event. This study intends to examine how parental depression could be aroused by the occurrence and timing of child bereavement, and how the influences vary by child gender. Drawing on the theoretical framework of the stress and life course, and using three waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we find that both the occurrence and timing of child bereavement are significantly associated with parental depression in later life. Bereaved parents are more likely to report depression than non-bereaved parents. Child bereavement in children’s young adulthood is more likely to spark off parental depression than that occurring in children’s midlife or later. Further analysis confirms that the timing effect of child bereavement differs by child gender. Parents whose son died during young adulthood are more likely to report depression than their counterparts whose daughter died. Future studies need to address how to build up a specific social welfare program targeting child bereavement groups in different life stages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
9 pages, 515 KiB  
Article
Predictors of Major Depressive Disorder in Older People
by Susana Sousa, Constança Paúl and Laetitia Teixeira
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11894; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211894 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2208
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders in older people. There are several biological, psychological, and social factors associated with this disorder. This study aimed to describe the depressive state to identify the associated factors and potential predictors [...] Read more.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders in older people. There are several biological, psychological, and social factors associated with this disorder. This study aimed to describe the depressive state to identify the associated factors and potential predictors of MDD in a population of community-dwelling older people with probable MDD. The sample consisted of 378 participants with probable dementia, with 47.3% of them presenting MDD. The factors that were found to be associated with MDD were sex, living status, mobility, and nutritional status. Knowing the factors that can predict a condition such as MDD is extremely important, both for prevention and for the customization of interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
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13 pages, 1067 KiB  
Article
Association between Lifetime Tobacco Use and Alcohol Consumption Trajectories and Cardiovascular and Chronic Respiratory Diseases among Older People
by Ignacio Madero-Cabib and Claudia Bambs
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111275 - 27 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2251
Abstract
Background: We identify representative types of simultaneous tobacco use and alcohol consumption trajectories across the life course and estimate their association with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases (CVDs and CRDs) among older people in Chile. Methods: We used data from a population-representative, face-to-face [...] Read more.
Background: We identify representative types of simultaneous tobacco use and alcohol consumption trajectories across the life course and estimate their association with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases (CVDs and CRDs) among older people in Chile. Methods: We used data from a population-representative, face-to-face and longitudinal-retrospective survey focused on people aged 65–75 (N = 802). To reconstruct trajectory types, we employed weighted multichannel sequence analysis. Then, we estimated their associations with CVDs and CRDs through weighted logistic regression models. Results: Long-term exposure to tobacco use and alcohol consumption across life are associated with the highest CVD and CRD risks. Long-term nonsmokers and nondrinkers do not necessarily show the lowest CVDs and CRDs risks if these patterns are accompanied by health risk factors such as obesity or social disadvantages such as lower educational levels. Additionally, trajectories showing regular consumption in one domain but only in specific periods of life, whether early or late, while maintaining little or no consumption across life in the other domain, lead to lower CVDs or CRDs risks than trajectories indicating permanent consumption in both domains. Conclusions: A policy approach that considers CVDs and CRDs as conditions that strongly depend on previous individual experiences in diverse life domains can contribute to the improved design and evaluation of preventive strategies of tobacco use and alcohol consumption across the life course. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
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Review

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15 pages, 871 KiB  
Review
Pre-Frailty and Frailty in Dialysis and Pre-Dialysis Patients: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Biochemical Markers
by Ana Pereira, Luís Midão, Marta Almada and Elísio Costa
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(18), 9579; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189579 - 11 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2769
Abstract
Patients under dialysis are known to be more vulnerable to frailty, a dynamic geriatric syndrome defined as a state of vulnerability to stressors, due to numerous metabolic changes. With rise of life expectancy globally, it is important to understand the complexity of the [...] Read more.
Patients under dialysis are known to be more vulnerable to frailty, a dynamic geriatric syndrome defined as a state of vulnerability to stressors, due to numerous metabolic changes. With rise of life expectancy globally, it is important to understand the complexity of the pathophysiology of frailty and identify possible markers that can help with the prognosis and diagnosis of frailty. The aim of this systematic review is to give an overview of the knowledge regarding clinical and biochemical markers associated with pre-frailty and frailty in dialysis and pre-dialysis patients. In November 2020, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Studies regarding biomarkers associated with (pre-)frailty in (pre-)dialysis patients were included. This systematic review identified clinical and biochemical markers in pre-frail and frail patients under dialysis or pre-dialysis published in the literature. This study shows that more investigation is necessary to identify markers that can differentiate these processes to be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in routine care and management of geriatric needs. Interventions that can improve health outcomes in pre-frail and frail older adults under dialysis or pre-dialysis are essential to improve not only the individual’s quality of life but also to reduce the burden to the health systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
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Other

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25 pages, 897 KiB  
Systematic Review
Purpose in Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review on Conceptualization, Measures, and Determinants
by PV AshaRani, Damien Lai, JingXuan Koh and Mythily Subramaniam
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 5860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105860 - 11 May 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4431
Abstract
Purpose in life (PIL) is a psychological construct that reflects one’s life goals and the desire or determination to pursue them. Having a purpose provides an intrinsic motivation to adopt healthy behaviors as we age, which will help us to achieve positive health [...] Read more.
Purpose in life (PIL) is a psychological construct that reflects one’s life goals and the desire or determination to pursue them. Having a purpose provides an intrinsic motivation to adopt healthy behaviors as we age, which will help us to achieve positive health outcomes. Thus, promoting PIL is the cornerstone for successful aging and better health outcomes. This systematic review aims to identify how PIL is conceptualized, measured in the existing literature and what are the determinants of PIL in older adults (≥65 years). Electronic searches were conducted in five databases (Medline, PsychInfo, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science). A total of 44 studies were included in the review. PIL was conceptualized in six different ways: health and well-being, meaningful goals and purpose, inner strength, social relationships, mattering to others, and spirituality and religiousness. There were six main questionnaires and semi structured interviews used to capture PIL. Female gender, higher education and income, being married, ethnicity, health and well-being, inner strength, social integration and spirituality were associated with PIL. Majority of the included studies had low to moderate Risk of Bias (RoB) assuring confidence in the results. The conceptual frameworks of PIL identified in the review underscore the complexity of the construct. Several sociodemographic and other determinants of PIL were identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: From an Evolutionary Perspective to Challenges for Healthy Aging)
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