Notes on age determination, size and age structure, longevity and growth of co-occurring macrourid fishes.

Nineteen species of the deep-water fish family Macrouridae inhabit the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) of the North Atlantic. Size and age structure, longevity and length at age were explored for seven of the more abundant species: Coryphaenoides armatus, Coryphaenoides brevibarbis, Coryphaenoides carapinus, Coryphaenoides guentheri, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus, Coryphaenoides rupestris and Macrourus berglax. The otoliths from these species had growth increments resembling those accepted as annuli in other deep-water species for which validation experiments have been conducted. Based on the counts of these growth increments, age estimates were derived as the basis for studies of age structure, growth and longevity. All the species appeared to have relatively low growth rates, but the interspecific variation in longevity illustrates that there is a considerable variation within the family and among species inhabiting the same deep-sea environment. Most of the species likely complete full life cycles on the MAR, but it is probable that both the youngest and the largest-oldest individuals of some of the species were not sampled adequately.

Experiences of caregivers by care recipient's health condition: A study of caregivers for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias versus other chronic conditions.

This study described experiences of caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (ADRD) and caregivers of persons with other chronic conditions on self-reported health, type of assistance they provide, perceptions of how caregiving interferes with their lives, and perceived level of support. A secondary analysis was conducted of the 2013 Porter Novelli SummerStyles survey data. Of the 4033 respondents, 650 adults self-identified as caregivers with 11.6% caring for people with ADRD. Over half of all caregivers reported that caregiving interfered with their lives to some extent. The greater the perceived support caregivers reported, the less they thought that caregiving interfered with their lives (p < .001). No significant differences were found between ADRD and non-ADRD caregivers regarding general health, types of assistance they provided, and perceived level of support. These findings have the potential to inform future research and practice in the development of supportive services for caregivers.

Evaluating Community-Academic Partnerships of the South Carolina Healthy Brain Research Network.

Community-academic partnerships have a long history of support from public health researchers and practitioners as an effective way to advance research and solutions to issues that are of concern to communities and their citizens. Data on the development and evaluation of partnerships focused on healthy aging and cognitive health were limited. The purpose of this article is to examine how community partners view the benefits and barriers of a community-academic partner group established to support activities of the South Carolina Healthy Brain Research Network (SC-HBRN). The SC-HBRN is part of the national Healthy Brain Research Network, a thematic research network funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is focused on improving the scientific and research translation agenda on cognitive health and healthy aging. Semistructured interviews, conducted at end of Year 2 of the 5-year partnership, were used to collect data from partners of the SC-HBRN. Reported benefits of the partnership were information sharing and networking, reaching a broader audience, and humanizing research. When asked to describe what they perceived as barriers to the collaborative, partners described some lack of clarity regarding goals of the network and opportunities to contribute to the partnership. Study results can guide and strengthen other public health-focused partnerships.

Public perceptions about risk and protective factors for cognitive health and impairment: a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Preventing and/or delaying cognitive impairment is a public health priority. To increase awareness of and participation in behaviors that may help maintain cognitive function or reduce risk of impairment, we need to understand public perceptions about risk and protective factors. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of studies examining the public's perceptions about risk and protective factors related to cognitive health and impairment published since the 2007 National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health. RESULTS: A search of five databases yielded 1,115 documents published between June 2007 and December 2013. Initial review of abstracts identified 90 potentially eligible studies. After full-article review, 30 met inclusion criteria; four additional articles identified in reference lists also met inclusion criteria. Of the 34, 16 studies addressed Alzheimer's disease (AD) specifically, 15 dementia broadly, 5 mild to moderate cognitive impairment, and 8 normal functioning, with some content overlap. Across studies, respondents reported genetics (n = 14 studies), older age (n = 8), stress (n = 7), brain/head injury (n = 6), and mental illness/brain disease (n = 6) as perceived risk factors for AD and dementia. Protective factors most commonly identified for maintaining cognitive health were intellectual/mental stimulation (n = 13), physical activity (n = 12), healthy diet (n = 10), and social/leisure activities (n = 10). CONCLUSIONS: Studies identified genetics and older age as key perceived risk factors more so than behaviors such as smoking. Individuals perceived that numerous lifestyle factors (e.g. intellectual stimulation, physical activity) could protect against cognitive impairment, AD, and/or dementia. Results can inform national and international education efforts about AD and other dementias.

Neighborhood characteristics and depressive symptoms in an older population.

OBJECTIVES: We explored relationships between depressive symptoms and neighborhood environment measures including traffic safety, crime, social capital, and density of businesses in community-dwelling older adults from four different regions of the United States. METHOD: The Healthy Aging Research Network walking study is a cross-sectional study of 884 adults aged 65+, which included a 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale of depressive symptoms, demographics, self-reported neighborhood perceptions, and objective neighborhood data. RESULTS: After adjusting for individual covariates, reports of neighborhood crime, unsafe traffic, and unwillingness of neighbors to help each other were significantly positively associated with depressive symptoms among participants. CONCLUSION: This research suggests an association between self-reported depressive symptoms and the social and built environment; examining causal association requires additional longitudinal research in diverse populations of older adults.

An audit of a diverse community for safe routes to age in place: environmental policy implications.

Physical and cognitive limitations often accompany aging, increasing the importance of a safe and supportive environment to help older adults maintain mobility. Neighborhood design and maintenance must be evaluated to promote physical activity, mobility, and safety. Audit tools, geographic information system data, and resident interviews are used for this purpose, but often fail to provide information that can be translated to practice. The current project is part of a larger Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative to create a metropolitan area that fosters a healthy environment for diverse adults of all ages and abilities. Safe Routes uses a toolkit based on the 5-E model providing practical resources to guide stakeholders in meeting the needs of the community. Findings include the Centers for Disease Control Healthy Aging Research Network Audit Tool assessment for environmental walkability factors. Results from street segment audits along with input from residents can be used to inform sound environmental policies.

Environments for healthy aging: linking prevention research and public health practice.

Safe and well-designed community environments support healthful behaviors that help prevent chronic conditions and unintentional injuries and enable older adults to be active and engaged in community life for as long as possible. We describe the work of the Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) and partners over the past decade to better understand place-based determinants of health and translate that knowledge to real-world practice, with a focus on environmental strategies. Using key components of the Knowledge to Action framework, we document the importance of a sustained, multidisciplinary, collaborative approach and ongoing interaction between researchers and communities. We share examples of practical tools and strategies designed to engage and support critical sectors with the potential to enhance the health and well-being of older adults and their communities. We conclude with a description of lessons learned in facilitating the translation of prevention research into practice.

Environmental and policy change to support healthy aging.

Given the growing evidence of the influence of the environment on older adult health, the need to design and implement effective environmental policy around healthy and vital aging is urgent. This article describes issues amenable to improvement through policy change, evidence supporting specific policy approaches and outcomes, and promising strategies for implementing those approaches. Key areas of focus are neighborhood design and safety, housing, transportation, and mobility. Strategies to build capacity for policy change are also addressed. Our goals are to foster greater attention to environmental change in support of healthy aging and to illuminate directions for policy change.

Effects of the built environment on physical activity of adults living in rural settings.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature to examine the influence of the built environment (BE) on the physical activity (PA) of adults in rural settings. DATA SOURCE: Key word searches of Academic Search Premier, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Sport Discus were conducted. STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies published prior to June 2008 were included if they assessed one or more elements of the BE, examined relationships between the BE and PA, and focused on rural locales. Studies only reporting descriptive statistics or assessing the reliability of measures were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Objective(s), sample size, sampling technique, geographic location, and definition of rural were extracted from each study. Methods of assessment and outcomes were extracted from the quantitative literature, and overarching themes were identified from the qualitative literature. DATA SYNTHESIS: Key characteristics and findings from the data are summarized in Tables 1 through 3. RESULTS: Twenty studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Positive associations were found among pleasant aesthetics, trails, safety/crime, parks, and walkable destinations. CONCLUSIONS: Research in this area is limited. Associations among elements of the BE and PA among adults appear to differ between rural and urban areas. Considerations for future studies include identifying parameters used to define rural, longitudinal research, and more diverse geographic sampling. Development and refinement of BE assessment tools specific to rural locations are also warranted.

Older Adult Strategies for Community Wayfinding.

Community wayfinding becomes more challenging with age and decrements in functioning. Given the growth in numbers of older adults, we need to understand features that facilitate or inhibit wayfinding in outdoor settings to enhance mobility and community engagement. This exploratory study of 35 short- ( n = 14) and long-term ( n = 21) residents in an ethnically diverse neighborhood identified relevant wayfinding factors. Data collection included an interview, map-drawing task, and walk along a previously audited, prescribed route to identify key wayfinding strategies. Most participants sought information from other people as a primary method of route planning. Street signs and landmarks were overwhelming favorites as helpful wayfinding features. When asked to recall the route following the walk, only half of participants gave completely correct directions. Findings reinforce the importance of landmarks and legible, systematic, and consistently available signage, as well as trustworthy person-to-person information sources. Findings also underscore the need for wayfinding research in diverse environments.

Concern about developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia and intention to be screened: An analysis of national survey data.

OBJECTIVE: Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia is important so that patients can express treatment preferences, subsequently allowing caregivers to make decisions consistent with their wishes. This study explored the relationship between people's concern about developing AD/dementia, likelihood to be screened/tested, if experiencing changes in cognitive status or functioning, and concerns about sharing the diagnostic information with others. METHOD: A descriptive study was conducted using Porter Novelli's SummerStyles 2013 online survey data. Of the 6105 panelists aged 18+ who received the survey, 4033 adults responded (response rate: 66%). Chi squares were used with case-level weighting applied. RESULTS: Almost 13% of respondents reported being very worried or worried about getting AD/dementia, with women more worried than men (p<.001), and AD/dementia caregivers more worried than other types of caregivers (p=.04). Women were also more likely than men to agree to be screened/tested if experiencing changes in memory and/or thinking (p<.001). The greater the worry, the more likely respondents would agree to be screened/tested (p<.001). Nearly 66% of respondents were concerned that sharing a diagnosis would change the way others think/feel about them, with women reporting greater concern than men (p=.003). CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate that level of worry about AD/dementia is associated with the reported likelihood that individuals agree to be screened/tested. This information will be useful in developing communication strategies to address public concern about AD/dementia that may increase the likelihood of screening and early detection.

Walking and Walkability: Is Wayfinding a Missing Link? Implications for Public Health Practice.

BACKGROUND: Research on walking and walkability has yet to focus on wayfinding, the interactive, problem-solving process by which people use environmental information to locate themselves and navigate through various settings. METHODS: We reviewed the literature on outdoor pedestrian-oriented wayfinding to examine its relationship to walking and walkability, 2 areas of importance to physical activity promotion. RESULTS: Our findings document that wayfinding is cognitively demanding and can compete with other functions, including walking itself. Moreover, features of the environment can either facilitate or impede wayfinding, just as environmental features can influence walking. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is still much to be learned about wayfinding and walking behaviors, our review helps frame the issues and lays out the importance of this area of research and practice.

Mobility Disability in Older Adults: At the Intersection of People and Places.

PURPOSE: Mobility disability is associated with poor lower body function among older adults. This study examines whether specific types of neighborhood characteristics moderate that association. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is based on a cross-sectional sample of 884 people aged ≥ 65 years identified through service organizations in Alameda County, CA; Cook County, IL; Allegheny County, PA; and Wake and Durham counties, NC. In-person interviews focus on neighborhood characteristics, physical and cognitive function, depression, and walking. Functional capacity is tested using objective measures of lower body strength, balance, and walking speed. Mobility disability, the main study outcome, is measured as self-reported level of difficulty in walking 2-3 neighborhood blocks. Estimates of main and interactive effects are derived from logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among older adults with poor lower body function, those who report less proximity to goods and services and barriers to walking report more mobility disability than other older adults. In contrast, among older adults with good lower body function, there is a low prevalence of mobility disability and little association between perceptions of the neighborhood and mobility disability. IMPLICATIONS: In addition to more refined longitudinal studies, this research provides a foundation for innovative place-based rehabilitation and hospital discharge programs for older adults newly diagnosed and treated for chronic health conditions.

Developing a framework and priorities to promote mobility among older adults.

Mobility, broadly defined as movement in all of its forms from ambulation to transportation, is critical to supporting optimal aging. This article describes two projects to develop a framework and a set of priority actions designed to promote mobility among community-dwelling older adults. Project 1 involved a concept-mapping process to solicit and organize action items into domains from a broad group of stakeholders to create the framework. Concept mapping uses qualitative group processes with multivariate statistical analysis to represent the ideas visually through maps. A snowball technique was used to identify stakeholders (n = 211). A 12-member steering committee developed a focus prompt, "One specific action that can lead to positive change in mobility for older adults in the United States is..." Project 2 included a Delphi technique (n = 43) with three iterations to prioritize four to six items using results from the concept mapping rating process. Project 1 resulted in 102 items across nine domains (Research to Practice, Independence and Engagement, Built Environment and Safety, Transportation, Policy, Housing and Accessibility, Community Supports, Training, and Coordinated Action). The number of items ranged from 6 to 18 per domain. Project 2 resulted in agreement on four items that reflect the importance of promoting environmental strategies through collaborative initiatives aimed at planning and best practices focusing on environmental enhancements or transit, training of professionals, and integration of mobility into state and local public health plans. These findings can be applied to support coordinated, multidisciplinary research and practice to promote mobility among older adults.

Environmental correlates of overweight and obesity in community residing older adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the role of environmental correlates of overweight and obesity among older adults independent of walking activity and lower body function. METHODS: In-person interviews were conducted with 789 adults aged 65 and older, residing in four areas in the U.S. Demographic information, general health, lower body function, walking behavior, and awareness of environmental infrastructure features using the modified Neighborhood Environment Walking Survey (NEWS) were obtained. Regression analyses examined the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and environmental infrastructure features, adjusting for demographics and lower body function. RESULTS: Older adults who perceived their neighborhood as less safe from crime and had reduced access to services were more likely to have higher BMI. Controlling for demographic and functional characteristics, access to services remained significant. This association remained significant for those with lower functional status. DISCUSSION: This research suggests that neighborhood environment may have an influence on BMI above and beyond walking activity.

Lower-body function, neighborhoods, and walking in an older population.

BACKGROUND: Poor lower-body capacity is associated with reduced mobility in older populations. PURPOSE: This study sought to determine whether neighborhood environments (e.g., land-use patterns and safety) moderate that association. METHODS: The study is based on a cross-sectional sample of 884 people aged > or =65 years identified through service organizations in Alameda County CA, Cook County IL, Allegheny County PA, and Wake and Durham counties NC. In-person interviews focused on neighborhood characteristics, physical and cognitive function, and physical activity and walking. Functional capacity was tested using measures of lower-body strength, balance, and walking speed. The main outcome was time spent walking in a typical week (<150 vs > or =150 minutes per week). Objective environmental measures were also included. Estimates of main and interaction effects were derived from regression models. RESULTS: Living in a residential area, compared to a mixed-use or commercial area, was associated with less time spent walking (<150 minutes per week; OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.04, 2.38). Living in a less-compact area (greater median block length) is also significantly associated with less walking for seniors, but only among those with excellent lower-body strength. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood type is associated with walking among older people, as it is among the general adult population. In individuals with poor lower-body function, no association was found between residence in a less-compact area and walking. For those people, the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and walking requires further study.