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J. Ageing Longev., Volume 3, Issue 2 (June 2023) – 5 articles

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12 pages, 242 KiB  
Article
Artful Ageing, Not Just Successful Ageing
by Tine Fristrup and Jon Dag Rasmussen
J. Ageing Longev. 2023, 3(2), 179-190; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal3020014 - 14 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1378
Abstract
In this article, we develop a tentative philosophy to orchestrate and support possibilities for artful ageing. This effort argues that older adults need a broader range of opportunities to explore the manifold ephemeral, non-rational, and in-between elements of an ageing life. The philosophy [...] Read more.
In this article, we develop a tentative philosophy to orchestrate and support possibilities for artful ageing. This effort argues that older adults need a broader range of opportunities to explore the manifold ephemeral, non-rational, and in-between elements of an ageing life. The philosophy is rooted in the notion that older adults need space (literally and metaphorically) to explore and process their existence and that engaging in such processes can entail emancipatory effects in everyday life. The perspective unfolded throughout the article is a philosophical venture, or, rather, a preliminary work, developing the concept of artful ageing as a tool applicable in rethinking and broadening the range of activities occurring in institutional settings dedicated to older adults. Furthermore, the perspective also presents a critical stance towards normative footings and biopolitical agendas embedded in current regimes of active ageing. Artful ageing represents the ambition to enable and support artful lives, events, and activities among residents and participants in care homes and other contexts. We argue that physical and existential spaces are closely intertwined entities and that initiatives aimed at maintaining adequate measures of openness, ambiguity, and sensory intimacy, i.e., events that allow for the experience of metaphorical cracks, can afford artful pockets in which to reside for a while, seek refuge, recharge, stray from the beaten track, and obtain an always partial feeling of emancipation. In qualifying the concept of artful ageing, we hope to open new avenues to contemplate and subsequently initiate activities for older adults that are not just orientated towards physical health in later life. At the same time, our ambition is to develop a critical perspective aimed at challenging existing notions of successful ageing in (re)invigorating the importance of artful processes and experiences as an element inherent to successful ageing, as well. Full article
20 pages, 3073 KiB  
Article
Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Alterations Related to Declining Physical Function in Older Mice
by Ted G. Graber, Rosario Maroto, Jill K. Thompson, Steven G. Widen, Zhaohui Man, Megan L. Pajski and Blake B. Rasmussen
J. Ageing Longev. 2023, 3(2), 159-178; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal3020013 - 31 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1789
Abstract
One inevitable consequence of aging is the gradual deterioration of physical function and exercise capacity, driven in part by the adverse effect of age on muscle tissue. We hypothesized that relationships exist between age-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in skeletal muscle and age-associated [...] Read more.
One inevitable consequence of aging is the gradual deterioration of physical function and exercise capacity, driven in part by the adverse effect of age on muscle tissue. We hypothesized that relationships exist between age-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in skeletal muscle and age-associated declines in physical function and exercise capacity. Previously, male C57BL/6mice (6m, months old, 24m, and 28m) were tested for physical function using a composite scoring system (comprehensive functional assessment battery, CFAB) comprised of five well-validated tests of physical function. In this study, total RNA was isolated from tibialis anterior samples (n = 8) randomly selected from each age group in the parent study. Using Next Generation Sequencing RNAseq to determine DEGs during aging (6m vs. 28m, and 6m vs. 24m), we found a greater than five-fold increase in DEGs in 28m compared to the 24m. Furthermore, regression of the normalized expression of each DEG with the CFAB score of the corresponding mouse revealed many more DEGs strongly associated (R ≥ |0.70|) with functional status in the older mice. Gene ontology results indicate highly enriched axon guidance and acetyl choline receptor gene sets, suggesting that denervation/reinnervation flux might potentially play a critical role in functional decline. We conclude that specific age-related DEG patterns are associated with declines in physical function, and the data suggest accelerated aging occurring between 24 and 28 months. Full article
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6 pages, 235 KiB  
Brief Report
The Literary Old Age at the Intersection of Medical Practice and Public Health—A Cross-Disciplinary Reading of Ane Riel’s Clockwork
by Troels Mygind Jensen, Nicklas Freisleben Lund, Stine Grønbæk Jensen, Anne Hagen Berg, Anne Marie Mai, Klaus Petersen, Kaare Christensen, Jacob Krabbe Pedersen, Jens Søndergaard and Peter Simonsen
J. Ageing Longev. 2023, 3(2), 153-158; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal3020012 - 09 May 2023
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed the coming of age of ‘literary gerontology’, a discipline situated at the intersection of literary studies and gerontology. A key argument of this research is that literature and literary criticism can highlight the complexities and ambiguities of age, ageing [...] Read more.
Recent decades have witnessed the coming of age of ‘literary gerontology’, a discipline situated at the intersection of literary studies and gerontology. A key argument of this research is that literature and literary criticism can highlight the complexities and ambiguities of age, ageing and later life. As such, the discipline insists on the relevance of literature within the field of gerontology. This study explores this claim from an interdisciplinary perspective and presents the key findings of an exploratory collaboration between researchers representing literature studies, anthropology, history, public health and medicine. The members of the research team took part in a joint reading, analysis and discussion of Danish author Ane Riel’s novel, Clockwork, which depicts an ageing protagonist’s reconcilement with old age and death. These efforts resulted in dual dimensions of insight: a realistic dimension, which may be interpreted as a confirmation of the existing knowledge of ageing and wellbeing, characterized by physical and cognitive challenges; and an imaginary dimension, a type of knowledge distilled in the interaction between the reader and the literary work. The reader can be seen to be tasked with identifying with the protagonist, with this process providing a hitherto unknown perspective on how ageing is experienced, how it feels and what it means. The study exemplifies an approach fostering cross-disciplinary inspiration, which may stimulate novel research hypotheses and ultimately inform public health thinking and medical practice. Full article
11 pages, 871 KiB  
Article
Pet Ownership and Physical Activity in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Analyses from the NICOLA Study
by Ruth D. Neill, Conor Cunningham, Maeve O’Doherty, Lee Smith and Mark A. Tully
J. Ageing Longev. 2023, 3(2), 142-152; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal3020011 - 06 Apr 2023
Viewed by 2672
Abstract
Aging research indicates that there is increased sedentary behaviour and insufficient physical activity levels across the older adult population. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that pet ownership can have beneficial physical and mental health effects. Data were drawn from [...] Read more.
Aging research indicates that there is increased sedentary behaviour and insufficient physical activity levels across the older adult population. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that pet ownership can have beneficial physical and mental health effects. Data were drawn from the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA). This questionnaire measured general social demographics such as gender, age, and marital status while also examining elements of physical activity, lifestyle factors (drinking status, smoking status), and education. Two items from the short form International Physical Activity Questionnaire recorded moderate and vigorous activity. Respondents were asked if they owned a pet (Yes/No). The results are based on a secondary data analysis. An ordinal logistic regression revealed that an increase in moderate activity days was associated with pet ownership with an odds ratio of 0.111 (95% CI, −0.036 to 0.337), Wald χ2 (1) 15.013, p < 0.001. An increase in vigorous activity days was associated with pet ownership with an odds ratio of 0.039 (95% CI, 0.004 to 0.342), Wald χ2 (1) 8.952, p = 0.003). Amongst older adults in Northern Ireland, those with a pet were more likely to engage in regular physical activity. This study was based on a small specific sample of the population and showed differences in physical activity levels between pet owners and non-pet owners. Additionally, the study showed that physical activity is extremely low among the older adult population, therefore further investigation is warranted on the reasons for these low levels. Full article
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26 pages, 460 KiB  
Concept Paper
Development and Peer Review of an Evidence-Based Decision-Support Tool for Non-Drug Prescribing for Healthy Ageing
by Zara Quail, Mark Carter and Charles Young
J. Ageing Longev. 2023, 3(2), 116-141; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal3020010 - 31 Mar 2023
Viewed by 2193
Abstract
Introduction: Promoting healthy ageing is increasingly important to maintain functional ability and wellbeing in older age. However, there is a lack of consolidated evidence-based information to support the selection of non-drug interventions to support healthy ageing outcomes for individuals. Methods: A narrative review [...] Read more.
Introduction: Promoting healthy ageing is increasingly important to maintain functional ability and wellbeing in older age. However, there is a lack of consolidated evidence-based information to support the selection of non-drug interventions to support healthy ageing outcomes for individuals. Methods: A narrative review of the evidence-based literature on non-drug interventions to support healthy ageing was performed. Evidence for intervention benefits was evaluated and mapped into the Systematic Wellness Intervention Pathway framework and aligned to relevant goals, needs and outcomes relating to physical fitness and function, emotional wellbeing, cognitive health, sleep and diet and nutrition. Comments from a modified Delphi survey of 75 expert peer reviewers were analysed to inform the development of the next Pathway iteration. Results: The narrative review identified key healthy ageing interventions, including physical activity, social interaction, interventions for emotional wellbeing, creative and cognitively stimulating activities and diet and nutrition. Peer review survey results indicated majority agreement with all domains and non-drug interventions for healthy ageing in the Pathway, and suggested interventions and outcome revisions informed Pathway iteration. Conclusion: The Pathway could be a step forward in operationalising the delivery of non-drug interventions in an accessible and scalable way, supplementing conventional health and social care, to enable older people to live well for longer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy, Safe and Active Aging)
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