Incidence trends of adult glioma in Norway and its association with occupation and education: A registry-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas constitute 75 % of all malignant primary adult brain tumors. Being the most frequent histologic subtype, glioblastomas (GBMs) cause substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide and the Nordic countries have some of the highest incidence rates in the world. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of gliomas in Norway including time trends and associations with education and occupation. METHODS: We retrieved individual-level data from databases at Statistics Norway containing information on education and occupation and linked them to data on adult glioma patients diagnosed during 2004-21 from the Cancer Registry of Norway. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) (World Standard Population) were calculated and analyzed with regards to sex and morphology. Poisson regression was used to test for time-trends, and to analyze the associations between education, occupation and glioma incidence, adjusted for age, sex, and calendar year. Estimates were reported as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The overall ASIR of gliomas (per 100,000 person-years) was 7.1 (95 % CI 6.9-7.3), with no specific time trend during the study period. The incidence increased with age. Compared to the other subtypes, GBMs were diagnosed at older ages. The risks of developing glioma overall and GBM were associated with occupation but not with educational level. The relative risk of glioma and GBM were respectively 1.17 (95 % CI 1.05-1.31) and 1.17 (95 % CI 1.02-1.35) among high-skilled white-collar workers compared to blue-collar workers. CONCLUSIONS: The overall and sex-specific ASIRs of gliomas and GBMs did not show any noticeable time trends. The higher risk of developing glioma overall and GBM in high-skilled white-collar workers compared to blue-collar workers calls for further investigations.

Relationship between physical and cognitive performance in community dwelling, ethnically diverse older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Regular exercise training stimulates physiological adaptations to improve physical performance, reduce chronic disease risk, and slow age-related cognitive decline. Since the physiological mechanisms responsible for aging-associated cognitive decline are not yet fully understood, and training-induced physiological adaptations responsible for performance measure improvements are specific to the type (aerobic vs. strength) and intensity of training, studies are needed to assess the relationships between physical performance measures and cognitive performance in older adults. These results could be used to guide exercise prescriptions with the goal of improving age-related cognitive performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical performance measures and cognitive performance in a population of community dwelling, ethnically diverse older adults. METHODS: The cognitive performance of ninety independent, community dwelling participants (69 female, 21 male), aged 75 ± 9.5 years (mean ± SD) was measured with the Modified Mini-Mental State Test (3MS), Trailmaking Tests A and B (TMT A & B), and the Animal Naming test. Sociodemographic (age, sex, ethnicity, medication use, years of education) and anthropometric data were collected, physical activity was assessed with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), peak hand-grip strength, distance walked in the 6MWT, and heart rate pre-, during, and up to 5 min. post- 6MWT were measured. Forward stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed with each cognitive measure as a dependent variable. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Controlling for sociodemographic covariates, peak heart rate during the 6MWT (6MWT HRPEAK) was positively correlated with performance in the 3MS (p < 0.017), and TMT A (p < 0.001) and B (p < 0.029). Controlling for sociodemographic covariates, PASE was positively (p = 0.001), and ß-blocker use negatively (p = 0.035), correlated with performance on the Animal Naming test. Also, controlling for sociodemographic covariates, PASE was positively correlated with performance on the TMT A (p = 0.017). Here we show that higher peak heart rate during the 6MWT is positively correlated with cognitive performance in a population of community dwelling, ethnically diverse older adults (ages 60-95 years). CONCLUSION: Higher peak heart rate during the 6MWT was found to be independently and positively correlated with cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Although additional work is needed, these results are promising and suggest that physicians, exercise professionals, and/or fitness/fall prevention programs may use peak heart rate during the 6MWT to easily monitor exercise intensity to support cognitive health.

Demographic and clinical features of inclusion body myositis in North America.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies of the demographics, natural history, and clinical management of inclusion body myositis (IBM) have been performed in a large patient population. To more accurately define these characteristics, we developed and distributed a questionnaire to patients with IBM. METHODS: A cross-sectional, self-reporting survey was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of the 916 participants was 70.4 years, the male-to-female ratio was 2:1, and the majority reported difficulty with ambulation and activities of daily living. The earliest symptoms included impaired use and weakness of arms and legs. The mean time from first symptoms to diagnosis was 4.7 years. Half reported that IBM was their initial diagnosis. A composite functional index negatively associated with age and disease duration, and positively associated with participation in exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These data are valuable for informing patients how IBM manifestations are expected to impair daily living and indicate that self-reporting could be used to establish outcome measures in clinical trials.