Prediction of adult height in girls: the Beunen-MalinaFreitas method

The purpose of this study was to validate and cross-validate the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method for non-invasive prediction of adult height in girls. A sample of 420 girls aged 10–15 years from the Madeira Growth Study were measured at yearly intervals and then 8 years later. Anthropometric dimensions (lengths, breadths, circumferences, and skinfolds) were measured; skeletal age was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 method and menarcheal status (present or absent) was recorded. Adult height was measured and predicted using stepwise, forward, and maximum R2 regression techniques. Multiple correlations, mean differences, standard errors of prediction, and error boundaries were calculated. A sample of the Leuven Longitudinal Twin Study was used to cross-validate the regressions. Age-specific coefficients of determination (R2) between predicted and measured adult height varied between 0.57 and 0.96, while standard errors of prediction varied between 1.1 and 3.9 cm. The cross-validation confirmed the validity of the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method in girls aged 12–15 years, but at lower ages the cross-validation was less consistent. We conclude that the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method is valid for the prediction of adult height in girls aged 12–15 years. It is applicable to European populations or populations of European ancestry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sarcopenia and physical activity predict falls in older adults from Amazonas, Brazil

Sarcopenia is a progressive and widespread skeletal muscle disorder involving loss of muscle mass and function, and is associated with several outcomes, including falls, functional decline, frailty, and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed: (1) to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia, falls, and the risk of falls considering age, sex, and the level of physical activity (PA), and (2) to identify which of these predictors better explained the likelihood that participants present risk of fall. A total of 701 participants (433 women) with a mean age of 70.4±6.9. Sarcopenia was determined according to the most recent guidelines from the European Working Group (EWGSOP2). The prevalence of falls and the level of physical activity were assessed by questionnaires. The risk of falls was assessed using the Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB) scale. This study provides evidence that women (OR: 2.5, p<0.001), the oldest people (OR: 1.1 p<0.001), and people who had identified sarcopenia (OR: 2.9 p<0.001), and lower level of physical activity (OR: 2.9 p<0.001), were more likely to present the risk of falls. Implications for vulnerable aging are discussed.La sarcopenia es un trastorno del músculo esquelético generalizado y progresivo que implica pérdida de masa y función muscular y se asocia con varios resultados, que incluyen caídas, deterioro funcional, fragilidad y mortalidad. Por lo tanto, este estudio tuvo como objetivo: (1) estimar la prevalencia de sarcopenia, caídas y el riesgo de caídas considerando la edad, el sexo y el nivel de actividad física (AF), y (2) identificar cuál de estos predictores explicaba mejor la probabilidad que los participantes presentan riesgo de caída. Un total de 701 participantes (433 mujeres) con una edad media de 70,4 ± 6,9 años. La sarcopenia se determinó de acuerdo con las guías más recientes del Grupo de trabajo europeo (EWGSOP2). La prevalencia de caídas y el nivel de AF se evaluaron mediante cuestionarios. El riesgo de caídas se evaluó mediante la escala Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB). Este estudio proporciona evidencia de que las mujeres (OR: 2,5, p <0,001), las personas mayores (OR: 1,1 p <0,001) y las personas que habían identificado sarcopenia (OR: 2,9 p <0,001) y un nivel más bajo de AP (OR: 2,9 p <0,001), tenían más probabilidades de presentar riesgo de caídas. Se discuten las implicaciones para el envejecimiento vulnerable

The relationship of obesity predicting decline in executive functioning is attenuated with greater leisure activities in old age

Objectives: We investigated the longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning over six years as measured through performance changes in the Trail Making Test (TMT). We also examined whether this longitudinal relationship differed by key markers of cognitive reserve (education, occupation, and leisure activities), taking into account age, sex, and chronic diseases as covariates. Method: We used latent change score modeling based on longitudinal data from 897 older adults tested on TMT parts A and B in two waves six years apart. Mean age in the first wave was 74.33 years. Participants reported their weight and height (to calculate BMI), education, occupation, leisure activities, and chronic diseases. Results: There was a significant interaction of obesity in the first wave of data collection with leisure activities in the first wave on subsequent latent change. Specifically, obesity in the first wave significantly predicted a steeper subsequent decline in executive functioning over six years in individuals with a low frequency of leisure activities in the first wave. In contrast, in individuals with a high frequency of leisure activities in the first wave, this longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning was not significant. Conclusion: The longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning may be attenuated in individuals who have accumulated greater cognitive reserve through an engaged lifestyle in old age. Implications for current cognitive reserve and gerontological research are discussed

The Relation of Having Experienced a Fall in the Past to Lower Cognitive Functioning in Old Age Is Mediated via Less Physical Activity Engagement as Cognitive Reserve Contributor

Physical activity and exercise contribute to the accumulation of cognitive reserve, which is instrumental for preserving cognitive health in old age. In a large sample of 701 older adults (mean age = 70.36 years), we investigated whether the relationship between having experienced a fall in the past and lower performance in cognitive functioning was mediated via less physical activity engagement as a cognitive reserve contributor. General cognition was assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), long-term memory using a word-pair delayed recall test and working memory using a backward digit-span test. In face-to-face interviews, individuals reported information on falls during the past 12 months and their habitual physical activity engagement. Our analyses demonstrated that the relationship between having experienced a fall in the past and lower performance in the cognitive functioning measures was partly mediated (by 16.3% for general cognition, 30.6% for long-term memory, and 33.1% for working memory, respectively) via less physical activity engagement. In conclusion, we suggest as a core bio-psychological mechanism that experiencing a fall at an older age is a critical life event that hinders sufficient physical activity engagement and thereby impedes cognitive reserve build-up, resulting in lower cognitive functioning outcomes.</p

Associations of Physical Activity and Television Viewing With Depressive Symptoms of the European Adults

Background:While mentally passive sedentary behavior such as television viewing (TV) is often related with depressive symptoms, some research shows that physical activity (PA) may attenuate this association. Thus, this study aimed to examine the associations between TV, PA, and depressive symptoms, considering sociodemographic covariates.Methods:A sample of 29,285 adults (13,943 men; 15,342 women) with a mean age of 50.9 ± 17.4 years (50.6 ± 17.3 men; 51.1 ± 17.5 women) from the European Social Survey agreed to be respondents for this study. Data for sociodemographic variables, TV watching, PA, and depressive symptoms were self-reported. Different statistical procedures were conducted to provide evidence for the association between study variables. ANCOVA was used to analyze the association between TV watching and depressive symptoms. Linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze the association between PA and depressive symptoms. General Linear Model was performed to analyze the association of TV watching and on depressive symptoms, controlling for PA.Results:European adults who responded watching more than 2 h per day showed higher scores for depressive symptoms. Higher participation in PA was negatively and significantly associated with depressive symptoms in men (β = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.18, -0.13), and women (β = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.26, -0.21). Men spending 1-2 h/day TV watching and engaging in PA ≥ 5 days/week presented the lowest scores on depressive symptoms. The lowest scores on depressive symptoms was observed in women engaging 2-4 days/week in PA and spending &lt;1 h/day in TV watching.Conclusions:More time spent in TV watching is related with increased scores on depressive symptoms. However, regular PA participation can weaken this association

How welfare regimes moderate the associations between cognitive aging, education, and occupation

Objectives Previous studies have shown the importance of individual markers of cognitive reserve, such as education and occupation, for cognitive health in old age. However, there has been only little investigation so far on how this relationship varies across contexts. Methods We analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe, using second-order latent growth models, to assess the moderating role of welfare regimes on the relationship between education and occupation skill level in explaining overall cognitive functioning and decline in old age. Our sample includes 13 European countries using data from 5 regular waves of the survey (2004-2007 and 2011-2015) and 2 retrospective ones (2008-2009 and 2017). Cognitive functioning was modeled as a latent variable measured by immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and numeracy. Results 74,193 participants were included from the survey. Our analysis showed that the association of education with cognition was weaker overall in Scandinavian countries, but stronger in Southern European countries, relative to Bismarckian ones. However, educational differences in the decline of cognition were more pronounced only in Scandinavian compared to Bismarckian countries. Additionally, higher-skilled occupations in Scandinavian countries had better overall functioning compared to the same occupations in Bismarckian countries, but there was no difference in the decline in cognitive functioning. Discussion Our findings indicate that the associations of cognitive functioning and its decline with individuals’ cognitive reserve markers (education and occupational skill level) vary according to welfare regimes, showing the importance of contextual factors in cognitive aging processes.</p