Longitudinal Associations of Diet, Food Insecurity, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Use with Global Cognitive Performance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Diet quality, food access, and food assistance policies may be key modifiable factors related to cognitive decline. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate whether diet quality, food insecurity, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use are associated with longitudinal changes in cognition among older adults in the United States. METHODS: Food intake data from the Health Care and Nutrition Study were linked with longitudinal health information from 5 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2012-2020). The analytic sample (n = 6968) included community-dwelling United States adults aged ≥51 y without cognitive impairment. Global cognition was measured using a telephone-based cognitive status interview (range: 0-27). Diet quality was measured with the Healthy Eating Index, using participants' average intake of 13 dietary components. Questions regarding food access and affordability were used to determine food insecurity and use of SNAP benefits. Linear mixed-effects regression models were used to estimate longitudinal associations between diet-related factors and cognitive score changes. RESULTS: Poorer diets [ß: -0.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.33, -0.15], food insecurity (ß: -1.08; 95% CI: -1.31, -0.85), and SNAP use (ß: -0.57; 95% CI: -0.82, -0.32) were associated with lower baseline cognitive scores. Poorer diets (ß: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.29, -0.05) and food insecurity (ß: -0.23; 95% CI: -0.47, -0.01) were associated with significantly steeper declines in cognitive scores over time, after 8 and 2 y of follow-up, respectively; however, SNAP use was not significantly associated with the rate of cognitive decline over time. Estimates were qualitatively similar when restricting the sample to participants aged ≥65 y. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that food access and adherence to healthy diet recommendations may be important elements to maintain cognitive health in aging. SNAP benefits may be insufficient to prevent negative cognitive effects of poor diet and limited access to nutritious foods.

Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors for Dementia Among Non-Hispanic White and Black Populations Aged 50-64 in the United States, 2006-2016.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Non-Hispanic Black populations (NHB) have a significantly higher prevalence of dementia than non-Hispanic Whites in the U.S., and the underlying risk factors may play a role in this racial disparity. We aimed to calculate risk scores for dementia among non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black populations aged 50-64 years over a period of 10 years, and to estimate potential differences of scores between NHW and NHB. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study from 2006 to 2016 was used to calculate the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) risk score, a validated score for predicting dementia risk. Weighted average CAIDE score, as well as CAIDE score for modifiable factors hypertension, obese, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity), and non-modifiable factors (age, sex, education) were calculated for adults aged 50-64 years with normal cognition for 2006-2008, 2010-2012, 2014-2016. The associations of race with CAIDE score and elevated CAIDE score were examined. RESULTS: A total of 10,871 participants were included in the analysis. The CAIDE score showed declining trends for NHB from 2006 to 2016, while NHB consistently had a higher total CAIDE score and CAIDE score for modifiable factors from 2006 to 2016, but not for non-modifiable factors. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: NHB had a higher level of dementia risk factors than NHW among adults aged 50-64 years in the U.S. from 2006 to 2016, and the difference is attributable to modifiable risk factors, which holds promise for risk reduction of dementia.

The Associations of Sensory Impairment With 10-Year Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: The Health and Retirement Study, 2010-2020.

BACKGROUND: Studies have examined the association between dual sensory impairment and late-life cognitive outcomes in the U.S with inconsistent findings. OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between sensory impairment and 10-year risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease among U.S. adults aged ≥ 50. METHODS: A prospective cohort study based on the Health and Retirement Study from 2010 to 2020. Individuals aged ≥ 50 years without self-reported dementia and Alzheimer's disease in 2010 were included in the analysis. Self-reported visual and hearing impairments were measures in 2010. Main failure events included self-reported incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease over a 10-year follow-up period. Participants were categorized as having no visual or hearing impairment, visual impairment only, hearing impairment only, and dual sensory impairment. Fine-Gray competing risk regression model was applied to estimate the associations of sensory impairment with incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease, adjusted for demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and health conditions at baseline. RESULTS: Of 20,248 identified individuals, 14.6% had visual impairment only, 11.2% had hearing impairment only, and 9.1% had dual impairment at baseline. After adjusting for all covariates, dual sensory impairment was associated with higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.23-1.73) and Alzheimer's disease (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03-1.76). Visual impairment only was also associated with incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease among individuals <65 years. CONCLUSION: Older adults in the U.S. with visual and hearing impairments simultaneously had a particularly greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, indicating the needs of targeted screening for timely treatment and further prevention of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of anesthesia administration method on apgar scores of infants born to women undergoing elective cesarean section.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal health at delivery as measured by apgar scores is an important outcome. This study was done to assess the impact of anesthesia on Apgar 1-minute and 5-minute scores of infants delivered through elective cesarean section in Zimbabwe. METHODS: We carried out a secondary analysis of data from the Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage (ETAPPH) clinical trial in Zimbabwe. Outcomes measured were infant Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, exposure was the administration of either a general (intravenous propofol/ketamine/sodium thiopental) or spinal (hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5%) anesthesia for anesthesia during the elective cesarean section procedure. Marginal Structural Logistic Modelling (MSM) using an unstabilized Inverse Probability Treatment Weight (IPTW) estimator was used to assess the relationship between anesthetic administration method and infant Apgar scores. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-one (421) women who had an elective caesarean section in the ETAPPH study had their infants assessed for Apgar scores. Comparing general anesthesia to spinal anesthesia, spinal anesthesia was related to good Apgar scores at 1-minute (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.0, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.5-10.7, sensitivity analysis E-value = 3.41). Spinal anesthetic administration was also related to good Apgar scores at 5 min (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.2, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.6-23.1, sensitivity analysis E-value = 4.42). CONCLUSIONS: When providing anesthesia for patients undergoing elective cesarean section, care should be taken on the method of administration of anesthetic agents. General anesthesia tends to depress Apgar scores at 1 min, although most neonates recover and have better scores at 5 min. Spinal anesthesia should be the first choice whenever possible. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial from which data of this study was abstracted was registered under clinical trials registration number NCT04733157.

The role of frailty in the association between depression and fall risk among older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Although there is a recognized association between depression and greater fall risk among older adults, the mechanisms explaining this association are unclear. This study evaluated the role of frailty, a common geriatric syndrome, in determining greater risk of falls among older adults with depression. METHOD: We used longitudinal data from three biennial waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2010-2014). The sample included community-dwelling survey respondents age ≥ 65 who participated in objective physiological measures. Major Depression (MD) was measured using Composite International Diagnostic Interview for depression short form. Frailty was measured using criteria outlined in the frailty phenotype model. Causal mediation analysis was used to differentiate the direct effect of depression and indirect effect mediated by frailty on falls, fall injuries, and multiple falls. RESULTS: Major depression was associated with significantly greater odds of experiencing a fall (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.31, 2.77), fall injury (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.17, 2.95), and multiple falls (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.52, 3.37) over a two-year period. Frailty was a significant mediator of the effects of depression on falls and multiple falls, accounting for approximately 18.9% and 21.3% of the total effects, respectively. We found no evidence of depression-frailty interaction. Sensitivity analyses showed that results were robust to unmeasured confounding and alternative operationalizations of depression. CONCLUSION: Frailty explains a significant proportion of increased likelihood of falls among older adults with depression. Treatment and management of frailty symptoms may be an important components of fall prevention among older adults with depression.

Synthesis of an Aminooxy Derivative of the GM3 Antigen and Its Application in Oxime Ligation.

The anomeric aminooxy GM3 trisaccharide cancer antigen (Neu5Acα2,3Galß1,4Glcß-ONH2) has been chemically synthesized using a linear glycosylation approach. The key step involves a highly α(2,3)-stereoselective sialylation to a galactose acceptor. The Neu5Acα2,3Gal intermediate was functionalized as a donor for a [2 + 1] glycosylation, including a glucose acceptor that featured an O-succinimidyl group on the reducing end as an aminooxy precursor. The fully deprotected anomeric aminooxy GM3 trisaccharide was then conjugated to the immunologically relevant zwitterionic polysaccharide PS A1 via an oxime link.

National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Research Gaps for Long-Term Drug Therapies for Osteoporotic Fracture Prevention.

On 30 and 31 October 2018, the National Institutes of Health convened the Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Workshop: Appropriate Use of Drug Therapies for Osteoporotic Fracture Prevention to assess the available evidence on long-term (>3 years) use of drug therapies to prevent osteoporotic fractures and identify research gaps and needs for advancing the field. The workshop was cosponsored by the NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and National Institute on Aging. A multidisciplinary working group developed the agenda, and an Evidence-based Practice Center prepared an evidence report through a contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to facilitate the discussion. During the 1.5-day workshop, invited experts discussed the body of evidence and attendees had the opportunity to comment during open discussions. After data from the evidence report, expert presentations, and public comments were weighed, an unbiased independent panel prepared a draft report that was posted on the ODP Web site for 5 weeks for public comment. This final report summarizes the panel's findings and recommendations. Current gaps in knowledge are highlighted, and a set of recommendations for new, strengthened research to better inform the long-term use of osteoporotic drug therapies is delineated.

A systematic review of interventions for loneliness among older adults living in long-term care facilities.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review loneliness interventions for older adults living in long-term care (LTC) facilities over the past 10 years, to categorize interventions by type, and to compare effectiveness of loneliness interventions in these settings. METHODS: Systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. Articles matching search criteria were collected from PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science from 2009 to 2019. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) English language, 2) intervention studies with a quantitative measure that compares pre-trial to post-trial changes, 3) loneliness as a primary or secondary outcome 4) subjects age >65, and 5) subjects living in a LTC facility, such as a nursing home, assisted-living, or hospice. RESULTS: A total of 15 intervention studies qualified for systematic review. Most of these interventions were psychological therapies and leisure/skill development interventions. Approximately, 87% of studies reported significant decreases in loneliness following intervention. Laughter therapy, horticultural therapy, and reminiscence therapy were associated with the greatest decreases in loneliness. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that, although less common than interventions in the community, there are several effective interventions to reduce loneliness among older adults living in LTC facilities. Lack of standardized measures and high-quality studies limits comparisons between intervention types and generalizability to different populations.

Examining the relationship between changes in personality and depression in older adult cancer survivors.

Objectives: Despite widespread agreement that personality traits change across the lifespan into older adulthood, the association between changes in personality and depression among older adult cancer survivors is unknown. It was hypothesized that older adults with (vs. without) a past cancer diagnosis would experience an increase in neuroticism, and decreases in conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and extraversion, and that changes in these traits would mediate the relationship between receiving a cancer diagnosis and change in depression. Two hypotheses were tested in a cancer survivor sample. First, that increased chronic stressors and decreased physical health would mediate the link between personality change and increased depression. Second, that personality change would mediate the link between changes in chronic stressors/health and increased depression.Method: Secondary data analysis utilizing three waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study. Data was compiled from 5,217 participants, among whom 707 received a cancer diagnosis.Results: Older adults with (vs. without) a cancer diagnosis decreased in conscientiousness, which was associated with increased depression. Among cancer survivors, worsening chronic stressors/health mediated many pathways between personality change and an increased depression. Increased neuroticism mediated the link between worsening health/chronic stressors and increased depression.Conclusion: With the exception of conscientiousness, changes in personality did not mediate the link between cancer survivor status and depression. Among older adult cancer survivors, changes in personality traits may increase depression through worsening physical health and chronic stressors, potentially informing targeted interventions. Interventions that target increased neuroticism may be particularly useful in older adult cancer survivors.

Mindfulness as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in people with fibromyalgia.

Background: Depressive symptoms complicate pain management for people with FM, with adverse consequences such as a greater need for pain medications and limited pain coping strategies. Determining risks and protective factors associated with depressive symptoms in persons with FM could inform the development and implementation of mental health interventions.Aims: To formulate and test a behavioral activation model of depression with mindfulness as a protective factor for people with FM.Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey with 117 adults with FM from community and clinic networks. Path analysis was used to assess the relationships of pain intensity, perceived stress, activity interference, pain catastrophizing and mindfulness with depressive symptoms.Results: Mindfulness has a negative direct association with depressive symptoms and a negative indirect association with depressive symptoms through perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing. Perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing had direct associations with depressive symptoms. Finally, perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing had indirect associations with depressive symptoms through pain intensity.Conclusions: Mindfulness seems to play an important role as a protective factor against the negative effects of stress and depression among people with FM and should be included in mental health interventions for chronic pain.

Comparative Study on the Effects of Picoloyl Groups in Sialylations Based on Their Substitution Pattern.

A novel 8-O-picoloylated sialyl donor has been developed, and the performance of various picoloylated sialyl donors in glycosylations with primary glycosyl acceptors has been evaluated. 8-O-Picoloyl and 4,9-di-O-picoloyl sialyl donors produced moderate to excellent yields of disaccharides with complete α-stereoselectivities. Synergistic effects between picoloyl and the accompanying O-protecting groups (benzoyl vs acetyl) were evaluated, as well as the effects of triflic acid concentration on the 8-O-picoloyl donor. 1H NMR analysis was also carried out to assess differences in the hydrogen-bonding net between sialyl donors.

The association of insomnia and depressive symptoms with all-cause mortality among middle-aged and old adults.

OBJECTIVES: Insomnia and depressive symptoms are commonly reported by adults and have independently been found to be associated with mortality, though contrasting findings are reported. Given the high comorbidity and interrelatedness between these symptoms, we tested whether insomnia symptoms explain risk of death independent of depressive symptoms. We examined insomnia symptoms and depressive symptoms, in addition to other health and demographic covariates, as predictors of all-cause mortality. METHODS: The sample included 15 418 adults aged 51 and older drawn from a nationally representative, population-based study of adults in the United States, the Health and Retirement Study. Cox survival models were used to analyze time to death between the 2002 and 2014 study waves (5 waves). Controlling for health and demographic covariates, in 3 separate models, depressive symptoms and insomnia symptoms were independently and then together considered as risk factors for all-cause mortality (drawn from the National Death Index). RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, insomnia symptoms (HR = 1.10, CI:1.07-1.13) and depressive symptoms (HR = 1.14, CI:1.12-1.16) each were associated with a greater hazard of death. When considered together, however, depressive symptoms fully accounted for the association between insomnia symptoms and mortality. CONCLUSION: Though their effects are small relative to health and demographic characteristics, both insomnia symptoms and depressive symptoms were associated with a greater hazard of death. Yet depressive symptoms accounted for the insomnia association when both were considered in the model. Screening for depression and providing validated treatments may reduce mortality risk in old adults with depressive symptoms.

Utility of functioning measures in the prediction of independent living status in older adults with serious mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the predictive utility of three commonly used functioning measures for people with serious mental illness in the prediction of independent living status. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis from the Helping Older People Experience Success study with adults aged 50 years and older with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, or major depressive disorder (N = 183). RESULTS: Total scores for the Independent Living Skills Survey, Multnomah Community Ability Scale, and UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment were modestly inter-correlated. For the overall sample, greater independent living status at baseline and 1-year follow-up was predicted by higher baseline functioning scores on both the self-reported Independent Living Skills Survey and the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment. However, by diagnostic subgroup, independent living status at 1-year follow-up was only predicted by the Independent Living Skills Survey for affective disorders and by the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. For the total sample, the Independent Living Skills Survey was associated with self-efficacy and employment status. Neither the Independent Living Skills Survey nor UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment was associated with medical or psychiatric hospitalizations or with subjective physical or mental health status. CONCLUSIONS: These commonly used functioning measures for people with serious mental illness examine different aspects of functioning. The choice of functional measurement should be based on the population under study and intervention goals. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Certified Peer Specialists and Older Adults With Serious Mental Illness' Perspectives of the Impact of a Peer-Delivered and Technology-Supported Self-Management Intervention.

We explored the perspectives of certified peer specialists and older adults with serious mental illness on the impact of a peer-delivered medical and psychiatric self-management intervention, "PeerTECH." Transcripts from interviews with consumers with serious mental illness and a focus group with certified peer specialists who were engaged in PeerTECH were analyzed. Consumer participants (n = 8) had a mean age of 68.8 years (SD = 4.9) and included individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (five people), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (two people), and bipolar disorder (one person). Certified peer specialists (n = 3) were aged 55 years or more. Themes included internal and external forces of accountability, confidence, internal and external locus of hope, human bonding, and peer support. This exploratory qualitative study found that human support from peers can potentially influence health behavioral change in a combined peer and technology-based medical and psychiatric illness self-management intervention.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Peer-Delivered and Technology Supported Self-Management Intervention for Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness.

To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a peer-delivered and technology supported integrated medical and psychiatric self-management intervention for older adults with serious mental illness. Ten older adults with serious mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder) and medical comorbidity (i.e., cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and/or high cholesterol) aged 60 years and older received the PeerTECH intervention in their homes. Three certified peer specialists were trained to deliver PeerTECH. Data were collected at baseline, one-month, and three-month. The pilot study demonstrated that a three-month, peer-delivered and technology-supported integrated medical and psychiatric self-management intervention ("PeerTECH") was experienced by peer specialists and participants as feasible and acceptable. PeerTECH was associated with statistically significant improvements in psychiatric self-management. In addition, pre/post, non-statistically significant improvements were observed in self-efficacy for managing chronic health conditions, hope, quality of life, medical self-management skills, and empowerment. This pre/post pilot study demonstrated it is possible to train peers to use technology to deliver an integrated psychiatric and medical self-management intervention in a home-based setting to older adults with serious mental illness with fidelity. These findings provide preliminary evidence that a peer-delivered and technology-supported intervention designed to improve medical and psychiatric self-management is feasible, acceptable, and is potentially associated with improvements in psychiatric self-management, self-efficacy for managing chronic health conditions, hope, quality of life, medical self-management skills, and empowerment with older adults with serious mental illness and chronic health conditions.

Smartphone Ownership, Use, and Willingness to Use Smartphones to Provide Peer-Delivered Services: Results from a National Online Survey.

Assess certified peer specialists' smartphone ownership, use, and willingness to use smartphones to provide peer-delivered services. Certified peer specialist from 38 states completed an online survey. The final sample of 267 certified peer specialists included respondents from 38 states. The majority of certified peer specialists were female (73%; n = 195) and Caucasian (79.8%; n = 213), with an average age of 50.9 (SD = 12) years, range from 21 to 77 years. More than half of the certified peer specialists (82.1%; n = 184) were currently working in peer support positions. Of those who reported their mental health diagnoses, 11% reported their diagnosis as schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 22% of respondents reported bipolar disorder, and 23% reported persistent major depressive disorder. Nearly all respondents owned a smartphone (94.8%; n = 253), and everyone indicated that smartphones and tablets could enhance the services they deliver. Certified peer specialists reported substantial ownership and use of smartphones, comparable to existing national data. They are willing to deliver smartphone interventions for mental health and physical health self-management, suggesting that smartphones may be an increasingly useful tool for offering evidence-based care. Without Medicaid mandate, certified peer specialists are naturally trying to enhance peer delivered services with technology. Peer support could act as a mechanism to promote consumer engagement in a smartphone-based intervention. Certified peer specialist own and utilize smartphones, and the majority are willing to deliver technology-based and technology-enhanced interventions using these devices to address medical and psychiatric self-management.

Hospitalization Risk and Potentially Inappropriate Medications among Medicare Home Health Nursing Patients.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalizations and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use are significant and costly issues among older home health patients, yet little is known about the prevalence of PIM use in home health or the relationship between PIM use and hospitalization risk in this population. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of PIM use and association with hospitalization among Medicare home health patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis using data from 132 home health agencies in the US. SUBJECTS: Medicare beneficiaries starting home health nursing services between 2013 and 2014 (n = 87,780). MAIN MEASURES: Prevalence of individual and aggregate PIM use at start of care, measured using the 2012 Beers criteria. Relative risk (RR) of 30-day hospitalization or re-hospitalization associated with individual and aggregate PIM use, compared to no PIM use. KEY RESULTS: In total, 30,168 (34.4%) patients were using at least one PIM, with 5969 (6.8%) taking at least two PIMs according to the Beers list. The most common types of PIMs were those affecting the brain or spinal cord, analgesics, and medications with anticholinergic properties. With the exception of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), PIM use across all classes was associated with elevated risk (10-33%) of hospitalization compared to non-use. Adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, patients using at least one PIM (excluding NSAIDs) had a 13% greater risk (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.17) of being hospitalized than patients using no PIMs, while patients using at least two PIMs had 21% greater risk (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.30). Similar associations were found between PIMs and re-hospitalization risk among patients referred to home health from a hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of PIM use and the association between PIMs and hospitalization risk, home health episodes represent opportunities to substantially reduce PIM use among older adults and prevent adverse outcomes. Efforts to address medication use during home health episodes, hospitalizations, and care transitions are justified.

Adapting a Psychosocial Intervention for Smartphone Delivery to Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of adapting an integrated medical and psychiatric self-management intervention to a smartphone application for middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illness using an adaptive systems engineering framework and user-centered design. METHODS: First, we determined the technical abilities and needs of middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illnesses using smartphones. Then, we developed smartphone content through principles of user-centered design and modified an existing smartphone platform. Finally, we conducted a usability test using "think aloud" and verbal probing. RESULTS: We adapted a psychosocial self-management intervention to a smartphone application and tested its usability. Ten participants (mean age: 55.3 years, SD: 6.2 years) with serious mental illness and comorbid chronic health conditions reported a high level of usability and satisfaction with the smartphone application. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illness and limited technical abilities were able to participate in a process involving user-centered design and adaptation of a self-management intervention to be delivered by a smartphone. High usability ratings suggest that middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illness have the potential to use tailored smartphone interventions. Future research is indicated to establish effectiveness and to determine the type and intensity of clinical support needed to successfully implement smartphone applications as a component of community-based services for older adults with psychiatric and medical conditions.

The Relation Between Mastery, Anticipated Stigma and Depression Among Older Adults in a Primary Care Setting.

The current study evaluates the interaction between mastery, depression, and psychological barriers to care among older adults in a primary care setting, including the longitudinal effects of anticipated stigma and mastery on depressive symptoms. The sample was composed of 70 depressed older adults (age ≥ 60) who were newly recommended antidepressant treatment by their physicians. This cohort is part of a larger study examining the usefulness of the Treatment Initiation and Participation program to improve medication adherence. Anticipated stigma significantly predicted greater depression among older adults with low mastery, but not among those with high mastery. Mastery was found to moderate the relationship between anticipated stigma and depressive symptoms among older adults. Increased mastery over 28 weeks was also associated with greater reductions in depressive symptoms at follow-up, controlling for antidepressant strength and adherence. Bolstering older adults' sense of mastery in treatment could provide a source of resilience for older adults facing depression.

Association Between Cardiovascular Risk and Depressive Symptoms Among People With Serious Mental Illness.

Depressive symptoms have debilitating effects on the physical health and functioning of people with serious mental illness. We examined change in depressive symptoms among overweight and obese adults with serious mental illness (n = 343) using data combined from two randomized trials comparing the 12-month In SHAPE program to a gym membership control condition. In SHAPE consists of a gym membership, weekly individual meetings with a fitness trainer, and instruction on healthy eating and nutrition. Depressive symptoms were measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Change in depressive symptoms did not differ between groups, but depressive symptoms decreased over time across the entire sample (p = 0.045). At 12 months, reduced depressive symptoms were associated with clinically significant improved cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.030), 10% or more weight loss (p = 0.044), and cardiovascular risk reduction (p = 0.028) across both groups. Our findings suggest that participation in health promotion programs resulting in cardiovascular risk reduction may be associated with reduced depressive symptoms.