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Multidimensional Aging Care: Gait, Cognition, Sensory Decline, and Psychosocial Vulnerability...
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Multidimensional Aging Care: Gait, Cognition, Sensory Decline, and Psychosocial Vulnerability in Later Life

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, and Self-care Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 October 2026 | Viewed by 2260

Editors

Dr. Juan Francisco Velarde-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Research Group in Social Health Care Needs for the Population at Risk of Exclusion, School of Nursing, Red Cross University, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28003 Madrid, Spain
2. Research Nursing Group of Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Gregorio Maranon (IiSGM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
3. Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Hum&QRinHS), 28922 Alcorcon, Spain
Interests: emergency care; critical care; end-of-life care; clinical simulation; qualitative research; vulnerable populations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tomoko Kodama

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Policy, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama 351-0197, Japan
Interests: quality of long-term care; health service research; healthcare quality indicators; healthy aging; integrated care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging is a complex and heterogeneous process that impacts multiple interrelated domains such as physical function, cognition, sensory capacity, emotional well-being, and social connectedness. As populations around the world continue to age, it is increasingly important to understand the markers and modifiable factors that influence health trajectories and quality of life in older adults.

The aim of this Special Issue is to compile recent research addressing aging care from a multidimensional perspective, with particular attention paid to the interplay between motor, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial functions. We are especially interested in studies identifying early indicators of vulnerability—such as subtle changes in gait or executive function—that may precede more established syndromes such as frailty, disability, or dementia.

We welcome clinical, community-based, and interdisciplinary studies employing diverse methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, or digital health technologies.

Some suggested topics are included below:

  • Spatiotemporal gait analysis and its association with cognitive performance, sensory decline, or mental health.
  • Dual-task performance (motor–cognitive) as an early marker of decline.
  • The role of executive function and working memory in mobility.
  • Links between depressive symptoms, loneliness, and physical function in older adults.
  • The impact of visual or hearing impairment on autonomy and health outcomes.
  • Social determinants of health and the role of personal support networks in aging.
  • Early screening strategies for pre-frailty, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mobility disorders.
  • Innovative methodologies for multidomain assessment (e.g., wearable devices, network analysis, AI-assisted diagnostics).

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Juan Francisco Velarde-García
Dr. Tomoko Kodama
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aging
  • personal support networks in aging
  • psychosocial vulnerability
  • dual-task performance (motor–cognitive)
  • health outcomes

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 770 KB  
Article
The Mediating Role of Inner Strength in the Relationship Between Illness Perception and Self-Management in Older Adults with Advanced Lung Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Fangjia Shen, Yinlou Ling, Caixia Ke, Jing Chen, Xinyi Li, Mingfang Li, Yantong Xie, Zhiqi Yang, Siyu Guan, Yaqian Huang, Yuqi Qiu, Jie Mei, Yueli Wang and Jun Yan
Healthcare 2026, 14(10), 1257; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14101257 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 568
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations between inner strength (IS), illness perception (IP) and self-management (SM) in older adults with advanced lung cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 222 patients recruited via convenience sampling between December 2021 [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations between inner strength (IS), illness perception (IP) and self-management (SM) in older adults with advanced lung cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 222 patients recruited via convenience sampling between December 2021 and February 2023. SM, IP, and IS were measured using the Cancer Self-Management Assessment Scale, the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for lung cancer patients, and the Inner Strength Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Participants exhibited moderate levels of SM, with the lowest scores observed for the symptom management dimension. Both SM and IS were negatively associated with negative illness perception (NIP) (rSM: −0.500, −0.149, p < 0.05; rIS: −0.519, −0.250, p < 0.001), and positively associated with positive illness perception (PIP) (rSM: 0.360, 0.565, p < 0.001; rIS: 0.233, 0.467, p < 0.001). Among the various dimensions of IP, personal control (representing PIP) and emotional representations (representing NIP) exhibited the strongest associations with SM (rPIP = 0.565, p < 0.001; rNIP = −0.500, p < 0.001). A positive relationship was observed between SM and IS (r = 0.427, p < 0.001). SEM indicated that IS partially mediated the associations between SM and both NIP and PIP (βNIP = −0.120, 95%CINIP: −0.234, −0.013, p = 0.032; βPIP = 0.132, 95%CIPIP: 0.011, 0.246, p = 0.028). Conclusions: The SM of older adults with advanced lung cancer remains suboptimal. IS may play an important mediating role in the association of both NIP and PIP with SM. These findings highlight that both IP and IS are key factors associated with SM in older adults with advanced lung cancer. Therefore, future research and clinical interventions should target these factors to improve SM in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidimensional Aging Care: Gait, Cognition, Sensory Decline, and Psychosocial Vulnerability in Later Life)
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15 pages, 279 KB  
Article
Linking Motor and Cognitive Decline in Aging: Gait Variability and Working Memory as Early Markers of Frailty
by Elisa Valeriano-Paños, Mª Nieves Moro-Tejedor, Mª Jesús Santamaria-Martin, Susana Vega-Albala, María Valeriano-Paños, Juan Francisco Velarde-García and Luis Enrique Roche-Seruendo
Healthcare 2025, 13(24), 3201; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13243201 - 7 Dec 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1154
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Frailty is an age-related clinical syndrome characterized by diminished physiological reserves and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Growing evidence suggests that frailty involves shared brain networks that regulate both gait and cognitive functions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between frailty [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Frailty is an age-related clinical syndrome characterized by diminished physiological reserves and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Growing evidence suggests that frailty involves shared brain networks that regulate both gait and cognitive functions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between frailty status, spatiotemporal gait parameters, and cognitive functions in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 99 adults aged ≥70 years, classified as non-frail, prefrail, or frail according to the Fried phenotype. Gait parameters were measured under usual and fast walking conditions using the OptoGait® photoelectric system. Cognitive status was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with transitions between frailty stages. Results: The prevalence of frailty was 9.1%, with 51.5% prefrail and 39.4% non-frail. The transition from non-frail to prefrail was associated with shorter stride length at fast pace (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88–0.96), mild cognitive impairment (OR = 3.71, 95% CI: 1.08–12.69), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.26–2.62), and female sex (OR = 4.94, 95% CI: 1.20–16.77). The transition from prefrail to frail was linked to increased stride time variability at fast pace (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.34–6.44) and poorer working memory (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.16–0.97). Conclusions: Shorter stride length, mild cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms emerged as key markers of the transition from non-frailty to prefrailty, whereas increased stride time variability and poorer working memory distinguished prefrail from frail individuals. These findings highlight gait- and executive-function-related markers as sensitive early indicators of vulnerability. Incorporating quantitative gait assessment and brief cognitive screening into routine geriatric evaluations may substantially enhance early detection and support targeted preventive strategies for healthy aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidimensional Aging Care: Gait, Cognition, Sensory Decline, and Psychosocial Vulnerability in Later Life)
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