Projecting the Likely Impact of COVID-19 Infections on the Prevalence of Dementia in the United States.

Background: The association between COVID-19 infection and the onset of dementia among adults 65 years and older has the potential to increase the burden of dementia worldwide significantly. Our research, which focuses on understanding the likely increase in the burden of dementia due to COVID-19 infection in the USA, has crucial public policy implications. By providing these insights, we aim to empower policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and public health officials to make informed decisions and plan for the future. Objective: Project the prevalence of dementia in the United States while accounting for the impact of COVID-19 infection on the onset of dementia. Methods: A dynamic multi-state population model was developed. The model was initialized with USA demographic data and estimates of age, gender, and race-specific transition rates from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Results: The projected increase in the burden of dementia among Americans 65 years and older is a staggering 14.838 million by 2050. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate an additional 265,000 to 677,000 older adults 65 years and older will be affected by dementia. This will escalate the burden of dementia to a potential 15.103 million to 15.515 million by 2050, a significant human toll that we must be prepared for. Conclusions: The projected dementia numbers underscore the urgent need for policy and intervention in social care services and healthcare needs planning. This includes providing robust support systems for caregivers and ensuring the healthcare staff is adequately trained to meet the healthcare needs of dementia patients and their families.

The importance of education for understanding variability of dementia onset in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Greater levels of education are associated with lower risk of dementia, but less is known about how education is also associated with the compression of dementia incidence. OBJECTIVE: We extend the literature on morbidity compression by evaluating whether increased levels of education are associated with greater dementia compression. We evaluate these patterns across race and gender groups. METHODS: We use the Health and Retirement Study (2000-2016), a nationally representative longitudinal study of older adults in the United States. To evaluate the onset and compression of dementia across education groups, we examine the age-specific distribution of dementia events, identifying the modal age of onset and the standard deviation above the mode (a measure of compression). RESULTS: While the modal age of onset is around 85 years among adults with a college degree, the modal age for adults with less than a high school education occurs before age 65 - at least a 20-year difference. The standard deviation of dementia onset is about three times greater for adults with less than a high school education compared to adults with a college degree. Patterns were consistent across race and gender groups. CONCLUSION: This research highlights the variability of dementia experiences in the older population by documenting differences in longevity without dementia and compression of dementia onset among more educated adults and less educated adults. CONTRIBUTION: We incorporate conceptual insights from the life span variability and compression literature to better understand education-dementia disparities in both the postponement and uncertainty of dementia onset in the US population.

Impact of physical activity on disability-free and disabled life expectancies in middle-aged and older adults: Data from the healthy aging longitudinal study in Taiwan.

AIM: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) promotes healthy aging; however, data on work-related physical activity (WPA) are inconsistent. This study was conducted to examine the disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) and disabled life expectancy (DLE) across physical activity levels, with a focus on WPA, in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: Data from 5663 community-dwelling participants aged ≥55 years and enrolled in the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan were evaluated. Energy expenditures from LTPA and WPA were calculated from baseline questionnaires and categorized into sex-specific cutoffs. Disability was based on repeat measures of participants' activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Mortality was confirmed via data linkage with the Death Certificate database. DFLE and DLE were estimated from discrete-time multistate life-table models. RESULTS: At age 65, women with low WPA had a DLE of 2.88 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67-4.08), which was shorter than that of women without WPA (DLE, 5.24 years; 95% CI, 4.65-5.83) and with high WPA (DLE, 4.01 years; 95% CI, 2.69-5.34). DFLE and DLE were similar across WPA levels in men. DFLE tended to increase as the LTPA increased in men and women. CONCLUSION: Women with low WPA had shorter DLE than did those with no or high WPA. To reduce the risks of disability associated with physical activity, public policy should advocate for older people to watch the type, amount, and intensity of their activities as these may go ignored during WPA. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 229-239.

Loss of Autonomy: Likely Dementia and Living Arrangement Transitions Among Mexicans and Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of probable dementia on changes in living arrangements and mortality among very old Mexicans and Mexican Americans in 2 different nations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We employ the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly and the Mexican Health and Aging Study, 2 comparable longitudinal data sets, to identify predictors of changes in living arrangements using multinomial logistic regression, controlling for cognitive status, demographic characteristics, and resources. RESULTS: In Mexico, women with dementia who lived alone at baseline were more likely to become part of an extended family household than men with similar levels of cognitive impairment. A similar pattern emerges for the oldest Mexican-American women. Spousal loss increases the likelihood of living alone for women in the United States regardless of dementia. Although dementia elevates the risk of mortality for men living alone in the United States, in both countries, women in their 90s who lived alone with dementia had a lower risk of mortality relative to men. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Longer life spans increase the risk of living alone with dementia in both countries, especially for women. Older individuals in both countries face financial hardships. Mexicans have limited formal options in dementia care. Mexican Americans with dementia continue to live alone despite low income although, unlike the Mexicans, they have access to Medicaid long-term care. For Mexico and the United States, the growing number of older individuals with dementia represents a growing public health concern.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Sleep Duration Life Expectancies among Men and Women in Mid-to-Late Life.

This analysis documents U.S. racial/ethnic and gender differences in life expectancies with different self-reported sleep durations among adults aged 50 and older. We used self-reported sleep duration and linked mortality information from the 2004-2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 145,015) to calculate Sullivan Method Lifetables for life expectancies with different self-reported sleep duration states: short (≤6 hours), optimal (seven to 8 hours), and long (≥9 hours) sleep duration per-day by race/ethnicity and gender. Non-Hispanic Black men (35.8%, 95% CI: 34.8%-36.8%) and women (36.5%, 95% CI: 35.7%-37.1%) exhibited the highest proportion of years lived with short sleep duration followed by Hispanic men (31.1%, 95% CI: 29.9%-32.3%) and women (34.1%, 95% CI: 33.1%-35.1%) and Non-Hispanic White men (25.8%, 95% CI: 25.4%-26.2%) and women (27.4%, 95% CI: 27.0%-27.7%). These results highlight how race/ethnic inequality in sleep duration and life expectancy are intertwined among older adults in the U.S.

Association of smoking status with non-small cell lung cancer patients harboring uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor mutation.

Introduction: Uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations include single and complex mutations. However, the association of the smoking status of patients with uncommon and complex EGFR mutations remains unclear. Methods: This retrospective study evaluates the spectrum of uncommon EGFR mutations and investigates the influence of smoking status on the frequency of various uncommon EGFR mutations using a multi-institutional medical database. Results: Between 2010 and 2019, 5,608 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were analyzed. EGFR mutations were detected in 3,155 (56.3%) patients. Among the 399 (12.6%) patients with uncommon mutations, 198 had single uncommon and 201 complex mutations, including 87 exon 20 insertions, 79 de novo T790M, 70 complex common, and 52 complex uncommon mutations. For comparison, we also included 402 patients with common EGFR mutations. The percentage of ever-smokers was significantly higher in patients with uncommon EGFR mutations than in patients with common EGFR mutations (25.8% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.005). Furthermore, the percentage of ever-smokers was higher in those with a complex mutation than in those with a single uncommon mutation (30.3% vs. 21.2%, p = 0.040). Among patients carrying uncommon EGFR mutations, ever-smokers had significantly more complex uncommon EGFR mutations than never-smokers (22.3% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.002). Among patients carrying G719X, L861Q, and S768I, ever-smokers tended to have complex EGFR mutations more frequently than never-smokers (64.7% vs. 28.7%, 50.0% vs. 18.7%, 88.9% vs. 81.2%, respectively). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates not only a comprehensive spectrum of uncommon EGFR mutations, but also a positive relationship between smoking status and uncommon EGFR mutation frequency, especially complex uncommon EGFR mutations. The results suggest that smoking contributes to the development of complex EGFR mutations.

Duration of Dementia and Social Service Use in the U.S.-Born and Foreign-Born Mexican-American Population.

OBJECTIVE: The study estimates the number of years after age 65 that Mexican Americans live with likely dementia and the impact of dementia on community-based services (CBS) use by nativity. METHODS: Using the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly Sullivan methods are employed to predict duration of dementia and logistic regressions identify the predictors of service utilization. RESULTS: Foreign-born women spend more years than other groups with dementia. The foreign-born are more likely to use out-of-home services, whereas U.S.-born are more likely to use in-home services. The foreign-born with dementia of relatively recent onset had the highest probability of service use. DISCUSSION: Given the high cost of institutional care and availability of family caregivers, community-based services are a potentially useful alternative for the growing Mexican-American population living with dementia. Expanded Medicaid and CBS programs could be an equitable and cost-effective alternative that should be investigated.

Gender, Age of Migration, and Cognitive Life Expectancies Among Older Latinos: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.

OBJECTIVES: Migration and gender are important factors that differentiate the Latino immigrant experience in the United States. We investigate the association between nativity status, age of migration, and cognitive life expectancies among a nationally representative sample of Latino adults aged 50 and older to explore whether age of migration and gender influence cognitive aging across the life course. METHODS: This study used data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2016) to estimate Sullivan-based life tables of cognitive life expectancies by nativity, age of migration, and gender for older Latino adults. Cognitive status was based on the Langa-Weir algorithm. We test for both within-group (i.e., nativity and age of migration) and gender differences to explore the overall burden of disease among this rapidly growing population. RESULTS: Foreign-born Latinos, regardless of age of migration or gender, spend a greater number of years after age 50 with cognitive impairment/no dementia than U.S.-born Latinos. However, the number of years spent with dementia varied by subgroup with midlife immigrant men and late-life immigrant men and women exhibiting a significant disadvantage relative to the U.S.-born. Furthermore, we document a gender disadvantage for all Latino women, regardless of immigrant status. DISCUSSION: The robust relationship between nativity, age of migration, and cognitive aging suggests that older foreign-born Latinos experiencing cognitive decline may place serious burdens on families. Future research should target the needs of different subgroups of older Latinos who are entering their last decades of life to develop culturally appropriate long-term care programs.

Overall Survival Improvement in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Bone Metastasis Treated with Denosumab.

The impact of an initial skeletal-related event (SRE) and denosumab adjuvant treatment on the survival outcome of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with bone metastasis remains unclear. This retrospective study included 400 metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. Among 190 bone metastasis patients, 61 had initial SREs and 73 received denosumab. We analyzed patient characteristics, SRE-free survival (SRE-FS), and overall survival (OS). In metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC, bone metastasis was associated with a poorer OS (21.7 vs. 33.0 months; p < 0.001). Bone metastasis patients with initial SREs at diagnosis had an even shorter OS, compared with those without initial SRE (15.4 vs. 23.6 months; p = 0.026). Denosumab reduced SRE incidence (hazard ratio (HR) 0.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34−0.94; p = 0.027) and was associated with improved OS (26.6 vs. 20.1 months; p = 0.015). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that denosumab treatment was correlated with a lower incidence of SRE (HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.37−0.98); p = 0.042) and better OS (HR 0.60 (95% CI 0.41−0.88); p = 0.008). In subgroup analyses, denosumab prolonged SRE-FS (HR 0.36 (95% CI 0.19−0.79); p = 0.009) in patients without initial SREs and was related to a better OS (25.3 vs. 12.9 months; p = 0.016) in patients with initial or pre-existing SREs. Osteonecrosis of the jaw was diagnosed in two patients (2.74%) receiving denosumab. Our study confirmed the association between initial SREs and a worse outcome and provided novel evidence of the survival benefit of denosumab for EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with bone metastasis.

Projecting the chronic disease burden among the adult population in the United States using a multi-state population model.

Introduction: As the United States population ages, the adult population with chronic diseases is expected to increase. Exploring credible, evidence-based projections of the future burden of chronic diseases is fundamental to understanding the likely impact of established and emerging interventions on the incidence and prevalence of chronic disease. Projections of chronic disease often involve cross-sectional data that fails to account for the transition of individuals across different health states. Thus, this research aims to address this gap by projecting the number of adult Americans with chronic disease based on empirically estimated age, gender, and race-specific transition rates across predetermined health states. Methods: We developed a multi-state population model that disaggregates the adult population in the United States into three health states, i.e., (a) healthy, (b) one chronic condition, and (c) multimorbidity. Data from the 1998 to 2018 Health and Retirement Study was used to estimate age, gender, and race-specific transition rates across the three health states, as input to the multi-state population model to project future chronic disease burden. Results: The number of people in the United States aged 50 years and older will increase by 61.11% from 137.25 million in 2020 to 221.13 million in 2050. Of the population 50 years and older, the number with at least one chronic disease is estimated to increase by 99.5% from 71.522 million in 2020 to 142.66 million by 2050. At the same time, those with multimorbidity are projected to increase 91.16% from 7.8304 million in 2020 to 14.968 million in 2050. By race by 2050, 64.6% of non-Hispanic whites will likely have one or more chronic conditions, while for non-Hispanic black, 61.47%, and Hispanic and other races 64.5%. Conclusion: The evidence-based projections provide the foundation for policymakers to explore the impact of interventions on targeted population groups and plan for the health workforce required to provide adequate care for current and future individuals with chronic diseases.

Are Religiosity and Spirituality Related to Self-Reported Health Expectancy? An Analysis of the European Values Survey.

Research on religiosity and health has generally focussed on the United States, and outcomes of health or mortality but not both. Using the European Values Survey 2008, we examined cross-sectional associations between four dimensions of religiosity/spirituality: attendance, private prayer, importance of religion, belief in God; and healthy life expectancy (HLE) based on self-reported health across 47 European countries (n = 65,303 individuals). Greater levels of private prayer, importance of religion and belief in God, at a country level, were associated with lower HLE at age 20, after adjustment for confounders, but only in women. The findings may explain HLE inequalities between European countries.

Loneliness and health expectancy among older adults: A longitudinal population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The population health impact of loneliness remains unknown. We quantified the impact of loneliness on total life expectancy (TLE) and health expectancy (the duration of remaining life lived in different health states) among older adults, aged ≥60 years. DESIGN: Multistate life table analysis of a nationally representative longitudinal survey. SETTING: Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: Survey participants (n = 3449) interviewed in 2009, 2011-12, and 2015. MEASUREMENTS: Health states were defined using self-rated health (SRH) status and activity of daily living (ADL)/instrumental ADL (IADL) status. Participants with somewhat or very unhealthy SRH were considered as unhealthy. Those reporting health-related difficulty with any ADL/IADL were considered to have limitation in ADLs/IADLs. TLE and health expectancy (healthy and unhealthy life expectancy (HLE and UHLE) in the context of SRH, and active and inactive life expectancy (ALE and IALE) in the context of ADLs/IADLs) were estimated using the multistate life table method with a microsimulation approach, considering loneliness as time varying. RESULTS: At age 60, 70, and 80, those sometimes lonely or mostly lonely generally had shorter TLE, HLE and ALE, similar UHLE and IALE, and a higher proportion of remaining life with unhealthy SRH or with ADL/IADL limitations versus those never lonely. For example, at the age of 60, those sometimes lonely versus never lonely had shorter TLE (by 5.4 [95% Confidence Interval: 3.4-7.9] years), shorter HLE (by 5.9 [4.1-8.6] years), similar UHLE (difference: 0.6 [-0.7-1.7] years), and higher proportion of remaining life with unhealthy SRH (by 6.2 [1.2-10.8] percentage points). For those mostly lonely versus never lonely, TLE was shorter by 3.6 (0.7-6.6) years, HLE was shorter by 4.8 (2.3-8.2) years, UHLE was similar (difference: 1.2 [-0.1-4.0] years), and proportion of remaining life with unhealthy SRH was higher by 7.2 (2.1-18.1) percentage points. CONCLUSION: Identification and management of loneliness may increase years of life with healthy SRH and without limitation in ADLs/IADLs among older adults.

Trends in functional disability and cognitive impairment among the older adult in China up to 2060: estimates from a dynamic multi-state population model.

BACKGROUND: Available evidence suggests that cognitive impairment (CI), which leads to deficits in episodic memory, executive functions, visual attention, and language, is associated with difficulties in the capacity to perform activities of daily living. Hence any forecast of the future prevalence of functional disability should account for the likely impact of cognitive impairment on the onset of functional disability. Thus, this research aims to address this gap in literature by projecting the number of older adults in China with functional disability and cognitive impairment while accounting for the impact of cognitive impairment on the onset of functional disability. METHODS: We developed and validated a dynamic multi-state population model which simulates the population of China and tracks the transition of Chinese older adults (65 years and older) from 2010 to 2060, to and from six health states-(i) active older adults without cognitive impairment, (ii) active older adults with cognitive impairment, (iii) older adults with 1 to 2 ADL limitations, (iv) older adults with cognitive impairment and 1 to 2 ADL limitations, (v) older adults with 3 or more ADL limitations, and (vi) older adults with cognitive impairment and 3 or more ADL limitations. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2060, the number of older adults 65 years and older in China is projected to increase, of which the number with impairment (herein referred to as individuals with cognitive impairment and/or activity of daily living limitations) is projected to increase more than fourfold from 17·9 million (17·8-18·0) million in 2015 to 96·2 (95·3-97·1) million by 2060. Among the older adults with impairment, those with ADL limitations only is projected to increase from 3·7 million (3·6-3·7 million) in 2015 to 23·9 million (23·4-24·6 million) by 2060, with an estimated annual increase of 12·2% (12·1-12·3); while that for cognitive impairment only is estimated to increase from 11·4 million (11·3-11·5 million) in 2015 to 47·8 million (47·5-48·2 million) by 2060-this representing an annual growth of 7·07% (7·05-7·09). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest there will be an increase in demand for intermediate and long-term care services among the older adults with functional disability and cognitive impairment.

Are Older Persons in China Living More Years in an Independent Living Arrangement? Estimates Using Multistate Life Tables.

Adopting a multistate life table approach, this study estimates number of years the very old in China expect to live in an independent living arrangement (alone or with spouse only)-an estimate we term "independent living life expectancy" (ILLE)-as opposed to in coresidence with adult children or others. We also estimate how ILLE and proportion of total life expectancy (TLE) residing independently has changed over time. The backdrop for this study is a society experiencing both increasing longevity and social changes that influence the tendency to live in an independent living arrangement. The study concentrates on assessing whether changes in ILLE match or surpass gains in TLE experienced by oldest-old Chinese adults. Data are from the 2002-2014 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, and estimation is conducted using the Stochastic Population Analysis for Complex Events software. Results suggest that on balance, gains in ILLE are proportionately greater than gains in TLE, indicating an expansion of ILLE for most Chinese elders. Males, septuagenarian females, and disabled septuagenarians are the most likely to be living proportionately longer lives in an independent living arrangement. In contrast, extremely old (nonagenarian and centenarian) females and extremely old disabled individuals are least likely to have experienced dramatic changes in proportion of life residing independently. The findings imply some support for the hypothesis that given the maintenance of family solidarity in China, those in greatest need are least likely to encounter the most extreme changes toward independent living arrangements.

Educational Benefits and Cognitive Health Life Expectancies: Racial/Ethnic, Nativity, and Gender Disparities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To examine racial/ethnic, nativity, and gender differences in the benefits of educational attainment on cognitive health life expectancies among older adults in the United States. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2014) to estimate Sullivan-based life tables of cognitively healthy, cognitively impaired/no dementia, and dementia life expectancies by gender for older White, Black, U.S.-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic adults with less than high school, high school, and some college or more. RESULTS: White respondents lived a greater percentage of their remaining lives cognitively healthy than their minority Black or Hispanic counterparts, regardless of level of education. Among respondents with some college or more, versus less than high school, Black and U.S.-born Hispanic women exhibited the greatest increase (both 37 percentage points higher) in the proportion of total life expectancy spent cognitively healthy; whereas White women had the smallest increase (17 percentage points higher). For men, the difference between respondents with some college or more, versus less than high school, was greatest for Black men (35 percentage points higher) and was lowest for U.S.-born Hispanic men (21 percentage points higher). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results provide evidence that the benefits of education on cognitive health life expectancies are largest for Black men and women and U.S.-born Hispanic women. The combination of extended longevity and rising prevalence of Alzheimer's disease points to the need for understanding why certain individuals spend an extended period of their lives with poor cognitive health.

Nativity and Country of Origin Variations in Life Expectancy With Functional Limitations Among Older Hispanics in the United States.

This study examined racial/ethnic, nativity, and country of origin differences in life expectancy with and without functional limitations among older adults in the United States. We used data from the National Health Interview Survey (1999-2015) to estimate Sullivan-based life tables of life expectancies with functional limitations and without functional limitations by sex for U.S.-born Mexicans, foreign-born Mexicans, U.S.-born Puerto Ricans, island-born Puerto Ricans, foreign-born Cubans, and U.S.-born Whites. We find that Latinos exhibit heterogeneous life expectancies with functional limitations. Among females, U.S.-born Mexicans, foreign-born Mexicans, and foreign-born Cubans spend significantly fewer years without functional limitations, whereas island-born Puerto Ricans spend more years with functional limitations. For men, U.S.-born Puerto Ricans were the only Latino subgroup disadvantaged in the number of years lived with functional limitations. Conversely, foreign-born Cubans spend significantly fewer years without functional limitations. To address disparities in functional limitations, we must consider variation in health among Latino subgroups.

Religiosity Dimensions and Disability-Free Life Expectancy in Taiwan.

Objectives: Eight years of panel data are used to investigate the association between three dimensions of religiosity and total and disability-free life expectancy (TLE/DFLE) in Taiwan. Method: Data come from the 1999 "Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging" (TLSA; N = 4,440; Age 55+). Dimensions of religiosity are public, private, belief, and coping. Mortality is linked to a national database. Disability is activities of daily living (ADLs). TLE/DFLE estimates use the Stochastic Population Analysis for Complex Events (SPACE) software. Results: Those who engage in public and private religiosity live longer and more years disability-free than others, but proportion of life disability-free does not differ across levels of religiosity. Coping is less associated with TLE and DFLE. Coping however associates with more years disabled among men. Findings are robust to model specifications. Discussion: The way in which religiosity associates with health depends upon the definition. When it does associate, religiosity increases TLE and DFLE proportionately.

Does Religious Activity Distinguish the Mortality Experiences of Older Taiwanese? An Analysis Using Eighteen Years of Follow-Up Data.

This paper extends investigation of religiosity and longevity to Taiwan using a 1989 survey: N = 3849, aged 60+, with 18 years of follow-up. Religious activity is measured as worship and performance of rituals. A Gompertz regression, adjusted and non-adjusted for covariates and mediating factors, shows the hazard of dying is lower for the religiously active versus the non-active. Transformed into life table functions, a 60-year-old religiously active Taiwanese female lives more than 1 year longer than her non-religious counterpart, ceteris paribus. Mainland Chinese migrants are examined carefully because of unique religious and health characteristics. They live longer, but the religiosity gap is similar.

Religion, Life Expectancy, and Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among Older Women and Men in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: Existing literature shows religion is associated with health and survival separately. We extend this literature by considering health and survival together using a multistate life table approach to estimate total, disability-free, and disabled life expectancy (LE), separately for women and men, for 2 disability measures, and by 2 indicators of religion. METHOD: Data come from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2014 waves). Predictors include importance of religion and attendance at religious services. The disability measures are defined by ADLs and IADLs. Models control for sociodemographic and health covariates. RESULTS: Attendance at religious services shows a strong and consistent association with life and health expectancy. Men and women who attend services at least once a week (compared with those who attend less frequently or never) have between 1.1 and 5.1 years longer total LE and between 1.0 and 4.3 years longer ADL disability-free LE. Findings for IADL disability are similar. Importance of religion is related to total and disabled LE (both ADL and IADL), but the differentials are smaller and less consistent. Controlling for sociodemographic and health factors does not explain these associations. DISCUSSION: By estimating total, disability-free, and disabled LE, we are able to quantify the advantage of religion for health. Results are consistent with previous studies that have focused on health and mortality separately.

Disabled life expectancy with and without stroke: a 10-year Japanese prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: A stroke is a debilitating condition that can cause lifelong disability, severely limiting the ability of individuals to perform daily activities. In Japan, strokes are the fourth leading cause of death; however, no previous studies have examined the influence of strokes on a disabled or disability-free life for older Japanese residents. This study aims to address this gap. METHODS: The study used data from the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging (NUJLSOA) and incidence-based multistate life tables to estimate disabled and disability-free life expectancy based on the stroke status of Japanese residents aged 65 and older. RESULTS: Japanese stroke survivors aged 65 who experienced an initial disability-free state could expect to live approximately 3 fewer total years of life, 4-5 fewer years in a disability-free state, and 1-2 more years in a disabled state compared to those without history of a stroke (p < 0.05). For those disabled at the beginning of the survey interval, the differences between individuals with and without stroke history were also similar to those disability-free at the beginning of the survey interval (2-4 and 5-6 fewer total and disability-free years, respectively) (p < 0.05). The same pattern was observed for older age groups. CONCLUSION: Older adults who have experienced a stroke could experience a shorter total life expectancy, shorter disability-free life expectancy, and longer disabled life expectancy than those who have not experienced a stroke. These results can inform policymakers and rehabilitation practitioners on stroke survivor long-term care needs and their post-stroke health status.