Journal of Ageing and Longevity

Cultural adaptation is essential for ensuring that interventions are relevant and effective across diverse sociocultural contexts. However, little is known about how these adaptations are conducted and whether they follow structured, evidence-based frameworks. This review critically evaluated how dementia-related interventions have been culturally adapted and assessed the extent to which these adaptations align with the three-step process outlined in the Integrated Strategy for Cultural adaptation of Evidence-Based Interventions. A total of 19 cultural adaptations reported in 23 publications were identified from PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus. Of the included interventions, six targeted behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, one addressed both people with dementia and their caregivers, and the remainder focused on informal caregivers. All adaptations were guided by structural frameworks and aligned mostly with the integrated strategy for cultural adaptation. Common adaptation processes included stakeholder engagement through focus group, pilot testing, and review and refinement. However, communities were not engaged in intervention selection, a critical gap in ensuring cultural relevance. Although many studies preserved core components, post-adaptation fidelity checks were not conducted in some of the studies. Future adaptations should prioritize stakeholder engagement in intervention selection and incorporate fidelity assessments to maintain both cultural fit and intervention integrity.

The specific postural control systems associated with falls and frailty in older adults remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine whether postural control systems are associated with, and can predict, the presence of falls over a 1-year period and frailty after 1 year. We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 127 community-dwelling older adults. Balance was assessed using the Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and frailty was determined according to the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Data were collected at baseline and 1-year follow-up. The results suggested that lower baseline scores in anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) and gait stability were related to falls, and that a decrease of ≥2 points in gait stability assessed by the Timed Up and Go test may indicate the presence of falls. At baseline, several postural control systems—biomechanical constraints, stability limits/verticality, APA, postural responses, and gait stability—were significantly associated with frailty status after 1 year. Furthermore, 1-year declines in sensory orientation and gait stability were also significantly associated with frailty status and showed potential predictive ability for it. These preliminary findings suggest that specific systems of postural control may be differentially related to falls and frailty, supporting outcome-specific approaches to intervention.

The global rise in the elderly population inherently escalates the demand for health and social care. Ensuring cognitive performance for healthy brain aging presents significant challenges for researchers and health professionals promoting self-care behaviors. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of the latest research on healthy brain aging by employing a biopsychosocial framework. It integrates biological, psychological, and social dimensions to elucidate their collective influence on cognitive health in older adults. Methodologically, this article provides a narrative review of the existing literature. A diverse array of bibliographic resources was obtained from prominent electronic databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, to ensure broad coverage of the topic. The search was designed to capture relevant studies published between 2010 and 2025, using key terms such as ‘aging’, ‘biomarker’, ‘neurodegeneration’, and ‘cognitive performance’. Following a rigorous selection process, two field specialists evaluated a total of 106 full-text articles to identify those that met the eligibility criteria, ultimately yielding 70 relevant studies. The findings reveal important connections between psychosocial and biological biomarkers and brain morphology, highlighting lifestyle factors—such as diet, exercise, and social engagement—as crucial for cognitive health. The article also underscores specific biomarkers relevant for assessing brain age and their relationship to neurodegenerative disorders. Notably, while biological markers like Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein (proteins that define the core molecular pathology of common neurodegenerative diseases) are present, they do not guarantee the onset of neurodegenerative diseases; psychosocial factors play an essential role in determining disease manifestation. In conclusion, these results support a holistic approach to healthy aging, which integrates psychosocial environments and lifestyle choices that enhance cognitive resilience. We propose further cross-sectional descriptive studies to better identify the biopsychosocial variables influencing cognitive performance and healthy brain aging, aiming to improve clinical practices and inform public health strategies.