Journal of Ageing and Longevity

Background: Language impairment is a core feature of Major Neurocognitive Disorder (MND), yet the domain-specific relationship between language functioning and everyday functional status remains insufficiently characterized. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in 125 older adults diagnosed with MND according to DSM-5 criteria with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment measured with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Language performance was assessed using semantic, phonemic verbal fluency and confrontation naming. Functional status was evaluated using basic (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Ordinal logistic regression models examined associations between language domains and functional outcomes, adjusting for global cognitive status (MMSE), demographic variables, multimorbidity, and depressive symptoms. Model fit was evaluated using the Akaike Information Criterion. Results: Semantic fluency emerged as the best-performing predictor of BADL across all hierarchical models, remaining statistically significant after full adjustment for MMSE and clinical covariates (β ≈ 0.60, p < 0.05). Phonemic fluency showed the most robust association with IADL, with a stable effect across models, reaching a trend toward statistical significance in the fully adjusted analyses (β ≈ 0.22–0.27, p = 0.069). Naming ability did not influence functional outcomes. All observed associations persisted after controlling for MMSE, demographic variables, multimorbidity, and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Language abilities showed differential associations across language domains with functional status in this sample of patients with MND. Semantic fluency was associated with basic self-care, while phonemic fluency showed a trend toward association with instrumental daily activities. These relationships remained observable after adjustment for global cognitive impairment, suggesting verbal fluency as a potentially sensitive marker of functional vulnerability.

Background: Medication adherence is essential for effective management of chronic conditions, particularly among older adults with complex chronic conditions (CCCs). The Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) is a brief self-report instrument widely used to assess adherence; however, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in Albanian older populations. Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the SMAQ in Albanian older adults with CCCs. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted among 727 adults aged ≥65 years with two or more chronic conditions recruited from primary healthcare centers in southern Albania. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s ω. Construct validity was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and correlations with clinical and behavioral variables. Discriminative validity was examined using known-group approach and independent samples t-tests, and criterion validity was assessed using Spearman correlations. Results: The SMAQ demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.799, ω = 0.821). Factor analyses supported a unidimensional structure, with all items loading significantly onto a single factor. Model fit indices indicated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.921; SRMR = 0.051), although RMSEA suggested some misfit (0.116). Non-adherent participants had significantly higher SMAQ scores than adherent participants (p < 0.001), indicating strong discriminative validity. Conclusions: The SMAQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing medication adherence among Albanian older adults with CCCs, supporting its use in primary healthcare and research settings.

As men age, systemic inflammation increases, whereas grip strength (GS) and testosterone levels tend to fall. This rate of decline is known to be influenced by gut microbial health, lifestyle and diet but the role for interventions to slow this decline are less well established. This double-blind randomised controlled trial evaluated the impact, and explored the synergistic potential, of boosting phytochemical rich foods and Lactobacillus probiotics on these physical and biological markers. Two hundred and eight men with untreated early prostate cancer managed with observation only (average age 74 years) received a phytochemical rich supplement (PRS) containing concentrated broccoli, green tea, pomegranate, ginger, cranberries and turmeric (YourPhyto). In addition, they were randomised to either a 5-blend Lactobacillus probiotic (PB) capsule (YourGutplus) or a placebo (P). Average GS improved by 2.5 kg from baseline to trial completion, at 4 months in men taking PRS +P (95% CI 1.8–3.4, p < 0.001). In the PRS+PB arm, GS improved by 4.4 kg (95% CI 3.6–5.2, p < 0.001). The odds of grip strength improving was 11.8% greater (p = 0.002, OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.04–1.20) in the PRS+PB arm. Improvements in systemic inflammation were better in the PRS+PB arm (−0.41 vs. +0.39, p = 0.04). Four-month testosterone levels were greater in the PRS+PB arms (14.75 vs. 13.02 ng/L, 95% CI 0.23 to 3.33 ng/L p = 0.046). In conclusion, boosting dietary phytochemicals was associated with improved GS. The addition of this blend of Lactobacillus further enhanced GS, and reduced markers of inflammation. These data justify longer studies exploring the synergy between phytochemicals and probiotics, on more objective markers of longevity.