Search Results (386)

Background: With China’s rapidly aging population, frailty has become a growing concern among older adults. Physical activity (PA) is known to mitigate frailty-related decline, yet few studies have examined these associations longitudinally. Methods: Using five waves (2011–2020) of CHARLS data, we analyzed Chinese adults aged 60+ to assess the association between frailty—measured by a frailty index (FI)—and PA across various types (light, moderate, vigorous, total, and leisure). A generalized linear mixed-effects model was used, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. Results: All PA types were significantly associated with lower odds of concurrent frailty, including light (OR = 0.37), moderate (OR = 0.37), vigorous (OR = 0.40), total (OR = 0.23), and leisure PA (OR = 0.56). Lagged PA also predicted reduced frailty risk over time, except for light PA. Conclusion: Regular PA is linked to a lower risk of frailty among older Chinese adults. These findings underscore the importance of sustained PA as a strategy to promote healthy aging and inform public health interventions for this population. Full article

The aging of China’s population has created significant challenges for the mental health of older adults. However, limited research has examined how public sports facility availability in living communities supports older adults’ mental health. To explore this association, data were extracted from the 2016 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, which involved 7811 respondents. The ordinary least squares model and the instrumental variable approach were employed to test the association between public sports facility availability in Chinese older adults’ living communities and their mental health. The bootstrapping method was used to estimate the mediating effect of physical activity and life satisfaction. The results indicate that public sports facility availability in living communities was significantly correlated with a decrease in depressive symptoms among older people (coefficient = −0.225; p < 0.01), which suggests that a greater availability of public sports facilities in living communities is related to the better mental health of older adults. The results of the mediation analysis show that physical activity and life satisfaction were identified as mediating mechanisms. This study suggests that increasing the availability of public sports facilities in older adults’ living communities can alleviate depression and promote better mental health. Our findings provide valuable policy implications for enhancing public sports infrastructure and promoting healthy aging. Full article

Background: The mechanisms linking loneliness to frailty in older adults with diabetes remain unclear. Guided by the Loneliness–Health Outcomes Model, this study is the first to simultaneously validate the dual mechanisms (mediation and moderation) of social support in the loneliness–frailty relationship among older Chinese adults with diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 442 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years with type 2 diabetes in Beijing. Standardized scales assessed loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), frailty (Tilburg Frailty Indicator), and social support (SSRS). Analyses included Pearson’s correlations, hierarchical regression, and PROCESS macro to evaluate mediating/moderating effects, after adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. Results: The frailty prevalence was 55.2%. Loneliness was positively correlated with frailty (r = 0.327, p < 0.01), while social support showed inverse associations with both loneliness (r = −0.496) and frailty (r = −0.315) (p < 0.01). Social support partially mediated loneliness’s effect on frailty (indirect effect: 30.86%; 95% CI: 0.028–0.087) and moderated this relationship (interaction β = −0.003, p = 0.011). High-risk clusters (e.g., aged ≥80 years, widowed, and isolated individuals) exhibited combined “high loneliness–low support–high frailty” profiles. Conclusions: Social support reduces the frailty risk through dual mechanisms. These findings advocate for tiered clinical interventions: (1) targeted home-visit systems and resource allocation for high-risk subgroups (e.g., solo-living elders aged ≥80 years); and (2) the integration of social support screening into routine diabetes care to identify individuals below the protective threshold (SSRS < 45.47). These findings advance psychosocially informed strategies for diabetes management in aging populations. Full article

Improving community walkability can encourage older adults to walk, which is beneficial for enhancing their physical activity level (PAL) and keeping healthy. The first purpose of this study was to formulate an optimized community Walk Score measurement system from the perspective of Chinese seniors. It will be optimized from the aspects such as community service facility selection, weight determination, and distance decay function calculation. The second purpose was to verify its validity by exploring the correlation between Walk Score and subjective/objective community environment variables based on Spearman correlation analysis and the ANOVA method. The third purpose was to examine the relationship between Walk Score and Chinese seniors’ PAL and health outcomes by means of ordered/binary logistic regression. The results show the following: (1) Walk Scores are significantly correlated with partial objective environmental variables. (2) Walk Score was related to older adults’ physical activity level. (3) There was no significant relationship between Walk Score and two health outcomes. Walk Score can provide a supporting basis for urban renewal, older-community renovation, age-friendly community planning and design, and public health practitioners or policymakers. Full article

Following the emergence of COVID-19, breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections have demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in both occurrence and clinical severity. This case–control study aimed to elucidate the factors associated with the incidence, duration, and severity of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms among Chinese adults during the Omicron wave. The analysis was based on data from a national COVID-19 surveillance program encompassing six provinces—Jiangsu, Chongqing, Shandong, Hunan, Anhui, and Yunnan—and included both laboratory-confirmed and clinically diagnosed cases. Data were systematically collected between February and April 2023. For each confirmed case, a matched control was selected through simple random sampling, matched on sex, age (±5 years), and province of residence. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to assess a range of potential determinants, including demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and pre-existing medical conditions, in relation to the risk of infection, as well as the persistence and severity of symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection. A total of 10,426 cases and 10,426 matched controls were included in the final analysis. Among the infected individuals, 963 (9.24%) reported persistent symptoms, while 773 (7.41%) experienced moderate-to-severe clinical manifestations. Occasional alcohol consumption, presence of comorbidities, tea and coffee intake, overweight status, and a longer interval since the last vaccination dose were all significantly associated with increased odds of infection (OR > 1, FDR < 0.05). Conversely, weekly alcohol consumption and smoking were associated with a decreased risk (OR < 1, FDR < 0.05). Female sex was significantly associated with both persistent and moderate-to-severe symptoms. Additional risk factors for prolonged or severe symptoms included older age, being underweight or overweight, a history of immunotherapy, coffee consumption, and the presence of comorbidities. These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes and highlight the interplay between host characteristics and behavioral factors. The results support the development of personalized prevention strategies aimed at reducing the clinical burden and long-term impact of COVID-19. Full article

Introduction: Based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2020 (CHARLS 2020), we analyzed the effects of physical activity (PA) on chronic diseases and depression symptoms in older adults in urban and rural areas and examined differences by residential location. Methods: A total of 5481 individuals aged 65 years and above were selected from the CHARLS 2020 dataset. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, two-way analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to examine the influence of different intensities of PA on chronic diseases and depression symptoms. According to PA recommendations, PA participants were individuals who engaged in PA two or more times per week, while non-participants engaged in PA fewer than two times per week. Results: Urban and rural older adults showed different patterns in PA participation and its health impacts. Urban residents were more likely to engage in high-intensity PA, which was related to lower prevalence of chronic diseases and fewer depressive symptoms; moderate-intensity PA was also effective in relieving depressive symptoms. In contrast, rural residents primarily participated in low-intensity PA, which had some effect in alleviating depression symptoms but limited impact on chronic diseases. Conclusions: Public health interventions should be tailored to regional differences. In rural areas, the promotion of appropriate PA programs is essential to improve overall health, while urban areas should emphasize mental health strategies, social engagement, and support network development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability and dependence among older adults. Early screening may support timely intervention and risk management, contributing to better outcomes at the public health level. However, evidence relating to the factors influencing dementia screening acceptance and knowledge among older adults remains limited. This study aimed to assess dementia knowledge and screening acceptance among older adults, identify their associated factors, and explore the relationship between the two. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 272 older adults in three Chinese communities. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, dementia knowledge, and screening acceptance. The Dementia Knowledge Questionnaire and the Chinese version of the PRISM-PC scale were applied. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used. Results: The mean scores for dementia knowledge and screening acceptance were 18.86 ± 5.98 and 62.06 ± 22.18, respectively. Age and education level were negatively associated with screening acceptance. Women had higher knowledge scores than men. Income and social participation were positively associated with dementia knowledge. Knowledge level showed a weak positive correlation with screening acceptance. Conclusions: The study revealed that dementia knowledge and screening acceptance among older adults were moderate; nonetheless, both aspects warrant further improvement. Community-based efforts should prioritize health education, stigma reduction, and targeted interventions to enhance knowledge and promote proactive screening behavior. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition can lead to poor health outcomes and mortality. Older adults are at a high risk of malnutrition due to age-related changes in their body and their dietary intake. The dietary intake of community-dwelling older adults can be affected by material and biopsychosocial factors. Conventional interventions often omit the influence of social factors on dietary intake—a particularly significant omission in the Chinese culture which sees eating as a social affair. This scoping review aimed to identify and understand the social factors associated with the dietary intake or nutritional status of community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Methods: This scoping review followed stages of research question identification, studies identification and selection, data charting, and results reporting. A systematic search was conducted in December 2024 for primary studies from databases, and reference lists of review articles were screened. Data extracted included characteristics of the study, measures of nutritional status, measures of social factors, and key findings. Results: A total of 964 articles were identified. Twelve studies were included in the review. Five social factors were identified as associated with dietary intake or nutritional status: (1) marital status; (2) living arrangement; (3) eating arrangement; (4) loneliness, social support and social isolation; and (5) social frailty. Being single, eating alone, experiencing loneliness or isolation, and being socially frail were found to be associated with poorer dietary intake or nutritional status, though the impact of living alone remains inconclusive. Conclusions: The relationship between social factors and dietary intake or nutritional status has not been extensively studied. Among the factors identified, it was found that eating arrangement and social frailty are potentially modifiable. Interventions targeting these social aspects could be developed. Full article

This paper develops and presents a system for museums to evaluate behavioural and experiential gains of older adult visitors when engaging with digital interpretation exhibits. The evaluation system is based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), utilising existing evaluation methods for museum visitors and refining them into an approach suitable for investigating older visitors. Innovatively, it incorporates the universal design (UD) in museum digital exhibits, injecting strong momentum into creating inclusive museums. An in-depth evaluation was conducted on seven exhibitions across three newly constructed Chinese cultural tourism museums with different digital characteristics, presenting the results and findings through eighty-eight digital interpretation exhibits. Qualitative and quantitative data provide a nuanced picture of digital interpretation and interaction from the perspective of older visitors. The results demonstrate the factors influencing older adults’ engagement with digital interpretation exhibits in museums and how digital interpretation items attract or deter older visitors’ engagement in complex exhibition environments. This study utilised universal design principles to identify the limitations and barriers in digital interpretation for older visitors, analysed the correlation between UD and digital attraction power, explored the reasons behind these outcomes, and identified design recommendations for inclusive museum digital interpretation. Full article

Enhancing older adults’ social participation constitutes a critical strategy for actively addressing population aging. From a life course perspective, this study uses data from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey to analyze the impact of occupational characteristics of the pre-retirement of Chinese older adults on their social participation in later life through linear probability models and Logit regression analysis. Key findings reveal that the pre-retirement work sector, occupational roles, and job intensity significantly influence older adults’ social participation. Older adults who previously worked in the public sector are less likely to participate in labor and recreational activities than their non-public sector counterparts. Those who held managerial positions before retirement exhibit higher probabilities of volunteering and recreational activity participation than non-managerial retirees. Additionally, greater pre-retirement job intensity correlates with reduced likelihoods of volunteering and recreational activity participation. Thus, this study identifies inadequate social security provisions as the primary endogenous driver for labor participation in later life. In China’s current developmental phase, gradually delaying the legal retirement age could effectively boost labor supply. Ensuring comprehensive labor protections throughout occupational trajectories and developing tailored interventions based on pre-retirement occupational characteristics prove essential for advancing social participation among older adults. Furthermore, improving information accessibility and participation opportunities serves as crucial pathways for transforming older adults’ participation willingness into concrete behavioral outcomes. Full article

Australia’s aging migrant population experiences higher rates of chronic disease and social isolation, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate health promotion programs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of “Move Together”, a culturally adapted community-based group exercise and education intervention for Mandarin-speaking Chinese Australians aged 65+ years. The Model for Adaptation, Design, and Impact framework guided the adaptation of this program. This single-arm pre–post-intervention was delivered bilingually by accredited exercise physiologists over nine weeks to 101 adults (mean age: 72.3 ± 5.3 years; 38% male). The physical health assessments measured waist circumference, aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, and balance, while the questionnaires evaluated quality of life and social connectedness. The results showed significant improvements in all physical health measures (p < 0.001), with more participants meeting fitness standards for healthy independent living. Participants also reported significant improvements in self-perceived quality of life and social connectedness. The Move Together program effectively improved physical health and psychosocial well-being among older Chinese Australians through its culturally adapted, bilingual delivery model. These findings provide valuable insights for health professionals and policymakers adapting and implementing programs for culturally and linguistically diverse older populations to address chronic disease risks and social isolation. Full article

Background: Sarcopenia and buttock pain are highly prevalent in older adults and exert profound negative effects on quality of life. Little is known about the association between sarcopenia and buttock pain. Methods: This study performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses based on prospective cohort study data from the 2015 and 2020 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 12,884 community-dwelling adults aged ≥45 years were included in the cross-sectional analysis, and 10,511 of these participants, free of buttock pain at baseline, were further investigated to assess incident buttock pain. Sarcopenia status was categorized as non-sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia, and sarcopenia according to the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and the 2021 Chinese consensus criteria. Logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related covariates were performed to estimate associations between sarcopenia status and buttock pain. Results: After adjusting for covariates, possible sarcopenia, but not sarcopenia, was associated with prevalent buttock pain (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03–1.48). After 5 years of follow-up, participants with sarcopenia were more likely to develop incident buttock pain (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.03–1.81). Among sarcopenia components, poor physical performance was linked to prevalent pain (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.50) and low handgrip strength predicted incident pain in males (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.07–1.60). Appendicular muscle mass was not independently associated with either prevalent or incident buttock pain. Conclusions: In middle-aged and older Chinese adults, sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for incident buttock pain. Early screening and interventions of sarcopenia may help to mitigate the burden of buttock pain and its associated disability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Poor sleep quality is a prevalent health concern among older adults, impacting cognitive and physical functions. This study aimed to determine the association between sleep quality and self-reported health status among middle-aged and older adults in northern Taiwan. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from April to October 2017, assessed participants using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) with a cut-off of 5; scores above 5 indicated poor sleep quality. The self-reported health status was evaluated using a questionnaire. Statistical analyses included the chi-squared test, one-way ANOVA, Cochran–Armitage trend test, and multiple logistic regression models. Results: This study included 850 adults (243 males and 607 females). The participants were grouped according to their self-reported health status as follows: good (n = 278), fair (n = 499), and poor (n = 73). Poor health status was associated with worse sleep quality components, including sleep latency, efficiency, disturbances, medication use, and daytime dysfunction (p for trend < 0.001). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed higher dissatisfaction with health status among the participants with a CPSQI score of >5 (odds ratio, 4.12; 95% CI 2.26–7.50; p < 0.001). A poor health status was reported by 19.51% of the participants sleeping < 5 h, compared to 6.97% of the participants sleeping 5–6 h, 6.60% of the participants sleeping 6–7 h, and 6.34% of the participants sleeping > 7 h, showing a trend toward a shorter sleep duration (p for trend = 0.002). Conclusions: Our study findings indicate that a poor sleep quality and short sleep duration were independent risk factors for poor self-reported health status in middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. Addressing sleep quality is crucial for implementing preventive health measures in this demographic group. Full article

Background: China and the Republic of Korea, two countries facing rapid population aging, are actively promoting healthy aging. Physical activity (PA), aging, anxiety, depression, and discrimination determine the health and quality of life of older adults. This study compared the levels of PA, ageism, and aging anxiety among Chinese and Korean adults aged 55–64 years. In this study, we explored the effect of PA on ageism and aging anxiety in these individuals. Methods: We surveyed 200 pre-elderly individuals in Shaanxi Province, China, and 201 pre-elderly individuals in Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. The survey assessed PA, ageism, and aging anxiety levels and collected data on nationality, sex, body mass index, marital status, smoking status, and education level. The collected data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, t-tests, analysis of variance, and structural equation model path analysis, which were performed using SPSS and AMOS. Results: The PA level was higher among the Korean participants than among the Chinese participants (p = 0.027). In contrast, ageism (p < 0.001) and aging anxiety (p = 0.001) levels were higher among Chinese participants than among Korean participants. PA was negatively related to aging anxiety (p = 0.044) but did not affect ageism (p > 0.05). Furthermore, ageism was positively correlated with aging anxiety (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Pre-elderly Chinese and Korean individuals should be aware of the importance of PA and increase its presence in daily life. Pre-elderly individuals must be prepared for healthy aging. This can be achieved by implementing social policies and increasing awareness of healthy aging. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acoustically screened Five-Element Music combined with traditional Chinese mind–body exercises (Taijiquan and Baduanjin) on emotion regulation, working memory, and functional brain connectivity in older adults. A randomized repeated-measures design was employed, recruiting 42 healthy older adults aged 60–70 years. Participants were assigned to five groups: Five-Element Music alone (FE), Taijiquan (TJ), Baduanjin (BDJ), Five-Element Music combined with Taijiquan (FE+TJ), and Five-Element Music combined with Baduanjin (FE+BDJ). Emotion regulation, working memory, and functional brain connectivity were assessed using an emotion regulation choice task, the N-back task, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), respectively. Five-Element Music was selected using computational acoustic methods to identify music with therapeutic effects. Significant differences were observed in the acceptance rate of emotion regulation for high-intensity unpleasant pictures across different conditions (p = 0.001). Compared to baseline, the acceptance rate was significantly higher in the FE and FE+TJ conditions (p = 0.027, p = 0.021). Moreover, the acceptance rate in the FE+TJ condition was significantly higher than in the FE condition alone (p = 0.007). Significant differences were found in the average accuracy of the 2-back task across conditions (p = 0.001), with the FE+TJ condition showing significantly higher accuracy than baseline (p = 0.005). The average reaction time in the 2-back task also differed significantly across conditions (p = 0.001), with the FE condition demonstrating a significantly lower reaction time compared to baseline and the FE+BDJ condition (p = 0.003, p = 0.001). Significant differences in functional connectivity (FC) were observed between conditions. Specifically, the FC between CH45 and CH9 and between CH29 and CH6 was significantly higher in the FE+TJ condition than in other conditions (p < 0.02). The combination of Five-Element Music and Taijiquan significantly improved emotion regulation, working memory, and prefrontal–parietal connectivity in older adults. These findings underscore the synergistic benefits of integrating auditory stimulation with mind–body exercise, offering a promising intervention for cognitive and emotional health in aging populations. Future research should investigate long-term effects and broader applications. Full article